Should Churches Charge for Toilet Use? Question of Faith, Compassion, Ethics

In a world where the drive to monetize skills and charge for value is increasingly emphasized, the idea of offering services for free often feels countercultural. There’s no denying the importance of earning a living, being paid for expertise, and placing value on one’s time and effort.

Yet, there are moments that challenge this belief—not because value has been lost, but because a higher principle is at play.

Recently, an incident highlights this tension. A full day was spent at a police station, drafting a formal petition that led to the arrest of individuals involved in a pressing matter. The task demanded time, emotional investment, and legal expertise. Still, no payment was requested—not because it wasn’t warranted, but because it wasn’t necessary. In that moment, service took precedence over profit. Compassion and purpose outweighed compensation.

This reflection became even more profound in light of a separate but related incident. At one of the largest church denominations in Nigeria, a toilet ticket was issued to worshippers. Initially priced at ₦100, it had been manually altered to ₦200. The image of a modified ticket for a basic human need, inside a place of worship, stirred a deeper concern.

It raised fundamental questions: Should a church charge its members to use the toilet? Should access to basic facilities come at a cost in a space meant to provide spiritual, emotional, and communal refuge?

The issue isn’t about challenging the right of institutions to manage their resources. It’s about reevaluating the role of the church as a model of generosity, service, and compassion. When financial considerations begin to override the core mission of love and care, something vital is lost.

Churches have long been seen as sanctuaries—places where the weary find rest, where burdens are shared, and where help is extended without conditions. Introducing fees for essential services, no matter how minor, risks eroding that foundation of trust and service.

While it is fair to advocate for sustainability and operational efficiency, the heart of ministry must remain intact. There must be room for giving without expectation, for serving without invoices, and for extending grace without gatekeeping.

In a society increasingly driven by profit and personal gain, perhaps the church should remind us all that some things—like dignity, compassion, and access to basic needs—should never carry a price.

 

 

*The above experience from Bishop JOHNREWARD