Amish/Mennonite Benefit Dinners & Auctions

[Undershepherd]

Yeah the auctioneers rarely get paid at these kind of events in Anabaptist circles. But in the larger non-profit world it is customary for the auctioneer to get paid much like any other professional working the event such as caterers, musicians, etc.

[mike]

US, that seems like a rationalisation. When I see people bidding 10X what an item is worth, they are simply making the amount of their donation publicly known. It seems to be the exact opposite of what we should be doing.

One downside of course is that this is actually not technically a donation and thus does not qualify as a tax deduction. Undershepherd can correct me if I’m wrong. I’d be interested in knowing if some people actually wrangle large buys like this into a write off.

[Undershepherd]

Maybe Hebrews 10:24 applies here?

[Undershepherd]

US, that seems like a rationalisation. When I see people bidding 10X what an item is worth, they are simply making the amount of their donation publicly known. It seems to be the exact opposite of what we should be doing.

One downside of course is that this is actually not technically a donation and thus does not qualify as a tax deduction. Undershepherd can correct me if I’m wrong. I’d be interested in knowing if some people actually wrangle large buys like this into a write off.

That is correct. The only amount that could potentially qualify as a donation is the amount over and above the retail value of the item. In order for any additional amount to qualify there has to be proper documentation from the charity and donor as to what the retail value was.

The way that some items get figured as a write off is when a company buys an item at a benefit auction that they can legitimately use in the normal course of their business.

[Neto]

Yeah the auctioneers rarely get paid at these kind of events in Anabaptist circles. But in the larger non-profit world it is customary for the auctioneer to get paid much like any other professional working the event such as caterers, musicians, etc.

When our children were attending a Christian HS, we were (at least once) on the committee that organized the benefit auction, and the auctioneer donated his time. I have no idea whether the normal fee is legally a donation, and obviously I don't know if he reported it, even if it was legally qualified as such.

Another associated question: In the case of school benefit auctions, how common is it for students to offer work time or services as a donation of their own? (They are "sold" as "slaves" for a certain amount of time, for certain types of work. Uncomfortable terminology, but ....)

[Valerie]

US, that seems like a rationalisation. When I see people bidding 10X what an item is worth, they are simply making the amount of their donation publicly known. It seems to be the exact opposite of what we should be doing.

One downside of course is that this is actually not technically a donation and thus does not qualify as a tax deduction. Undershepherd can correct me if I’m wrong. I’d be interested in knowing if some people actually wrangle large buys like this into a write off.

When you bid on an item, your receipt when you pick it up tells you the real value. Anything over that amount you paid can be a tax write off if you choose to do that.

[Valerie]

I will just share my perspective as an outsider of the Anabaptist world to these.

When I first started attending the various benefit auctions in Holmes County it greatly touched my heart. I saw it as a Christian witness in many different ways. It’s surprising to me to see such critical comments about it, but I feel like the motives of the heart are being judged here.

As far as over eating at these, same is true at restaurants, all you can eat, buffets, etc. But I was impressed that everything was by donation, and that they just trusted people to put in whatever they felt led to put in.

They’re always on a Saturday, but they usually have a kickoff to them on Friday nights at the larger benefit auctions that is full of prayer and singing to commit to the Lord. I think for the average person that attend these that don’t know the Lord or even those that do but aren’t of your circles see this as a Christian witness to see the community working together people volunteering people donating. If people overpay for their items is for a good cause, and I don’t think that we should judge their motive as if they’re trying to impress anyone by their donation. Most people have no idea who the winner is so that doesn’t even matter.

[JohnH]

I don’t think that we should judge their motive as if they’re trying to impress anyone by their donation.

A large part of Anabaptism is choosing that we do indeed judge each other, as the New Testament teaches us to do so. We reject the modern notion that you can never say anything is wrong.

[Ernie]

Maybe Hebrews 10:24 applies here?

Are all ways of provoking one another to love and good works equally valid? Or are some more preferred or more in harmony with Christ's teachings than others? I think that is the core question being discussed in this thread.

[Valerie]

I don’t think that we should judge their motive as if they’re trying to impress anyone by their donation.

A large part of Anabaptism is choosing that we do indeed judge each other, as the New Testament teaches us to do so. We reject the modern notion that you can never say anything is wrong.

We are supposed to judge and make sure we remove the log out of our own eyes. But who can know the heart of those that are giving that is what I mean. You aren’t directly involved with these people so you can’t judge them out of the of their hearts when they are giving of themselves