Editing Alms (section)

=== In Western Christianity ===
[[File:Collecting the Offering in a Scottish Kirk by John Phillip YORAG 384.jpg|thumb|''Collecting the Offering in a Scottish Kirk'' by [[John Phillip]]]]
The [[offertory]] is the traditional moment in the [[Mass (Catholic Church)|Roman Catholic Mass]], [[Divine Service (Lutheran)|Lutheran Divine Service]], and [[Anglican eucharistic theology|Anglican Eucharist]], when alms are collected. [[Baptist]]s and Methodists, among other denominations, collect [[tithe]]s and offerings (alms) during the offertory in church services. A tithe, the first tenth of one's income, is seen as what is owed to God, while an offering (alms) includes anything contributed beyond that.<ref name="Prince2011">{{cite book |last1=Prince |first1=Derek |title=The Promise of Provision: Living and Giving from God's Abundant Supply |date=1 October 2011 |publisher=Baker Books |isbn=978-1-4412-6328-5 |language=English}}</ref><ref name="ClaydonClarke2010">{{cite book |last1=Claydon |first1=Tony |last2=Clarke |first2=Peter Bernard |title=God's Bounty?: Papers Read at the 2008 Summer Meeting and the 2009 Winter Meeting of the Ecclesiastical History Society |date=2010 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |isbn=978-0-9546809-6-1 |language=English}}</ref> Some fellowships practice regular giving for special purposes called "love offerings" for the poor, destitute or victims of catastrophic loss such as home fires or medical expenses. Traditionally, deacons and deaconesses are responsible for distributing these gifts among [[widow]]s, orphans, and others in need. Many Christians support a plethora of charitable organizations, not all of which claim a Christian religious affiliation. Many American educational and medical institutions were founded by Christian fellowships giving alms.