Something that gets lost in this thread is that what we did in TF is the same type of thing churches do. We had all kinds of services. Anybody who lived in a home for a few months would had been exposed to a lot of those and after a couple of years even been in different positions of leadership as part of the organizing team.
The money collection was done differently but it all ended up the chain anyway.
Pastor Don makes a good point about the checks and balances in the church organization to prevent abuses, and I agree that not everybody is in the church business to get the wool. But the parallel exists, and after my painful experience in TF I am not about to relinquish my responsibilities to others. I consider it my responsibility to know where that money I give is going. I may have very little say but my stewardship would be irresponsible if I let bad decision pass without my objection or participation and then I can then vote with my feet and walk away.
Also, Pastor Don talks about the general budget of the church, that has a fixed amount. I have been talking more in terms of the Pastor's salary and life. When I see the gold ring and other jewelry in those TV pastors, and of other churches I have visited, I feel it is wrong for them to ask for money to a family with children and who only has a 15 year-old car. Their salary should be about the same as the rest of people in their congregation, not more, and this is including the different allowances they normally do not count as salary (such as the new car, or house, furniture, travel expenses, etc.) For what I know, this is not a general point of annual examination in any church other than among catholics and mormons.