Subject: Re: I.R.S. Says Churches Can Endorse Candidates
My father was a Deacon of his (our) church. He eventually figured out that they were using less than 3% of “tithes” on charitable work, the rest went into heating, cooling, redoing the rugs, painting the parking lot, landscaping, and all the other things that go with running an organized social.

And salaries. Normal. Though I will point out that churches don't usually hide this. All the churches I've been involved with published their annual accounts for members to see. It's no secret that they spend mostly on church-related stuff. Big, drafty buildings, full-time staff. It all costs a lot.