Peace, all these things, to result in actual understanding, require relationship. Ask friends at local churches where the money at their church goes.

Most churches are governed, on the business side of things, by local members. The clergy preside at governing board meetings in many cases, but they are bound by the group's decisions. And the assets were given, usually by members, who wanted the assets to be used to serve people. And as non-profits, they have to generate annual reports which are to be made available upon request.

Another statistic you might want to hunt up is, how much "service" is done by religious institutions the costs of which would be borne by gummint units (taxes) if they stopped doing them.

~S~