A pitiful pastor

You might have heard of the pastor who refused to accept the automatically assessed 18% gratuity for parties of 6 or more at Applebee's. The pastor didn't just scratch the tip out, though: she explained why she did so on the bill.

I give God 10% why do you get 18

According to the Smoking Gun, when a photo of the bill hit the 'net, complete with her signature, the pastor was mortified. She complained to the franchise manager, and the server who posted the photo — who did not wait on the pastor — was fired.

Where to begin?

The fired server exercised poor judgment; she should not have posted the pastor's signature. If she had uploaded a picture of my signature to the Web, I would have pushed for her firing, too.

On the other hand, I wouldn't have left such a note on the receipt. As the server observed, “If this person wrote the note, obviously they wanted it seen by someone. It’s strange to me that now that the audience is wider than just the server, the person is now ashamed.”

Bingo. As Bugs Bunny once observed, "But always remember — you asked for it!"

Pastor Alois Bell, after being identified as the customer, said, “I’ve brought embarrassment to my church and ministry.”

No, Pastor, you have brought embarrassment solely on yourself. Your "flock" is responsible neither for your inattentiveness nor your rudeness.

You should have noticed the tip had been added to the original bill: that's when people are supposed to notice these things. Instead, you carelessly waited until after your credit card had been billed, then attempted to dock the server the tip you failed to protest when you should have. Adding insult to injury, you left a sanctimonious, literally holier-than-thou note to your hard-working server that invoked your God to justify your meanness (in both senses). Dropping God's name requires balls, Pastor, and that's not a compliment.

And the only emotion you have expressed is embarrassment that you got caught.

Pastor Bell, do you have any idea how petty you are?

You seem singularly devoid of the generosity of spirit and humility I would seek in a spiritual advisor.

On a lighter note, I wouldn't eat out with Pastor Bell anytime soon. I don't like to think of what restaurant staffs might be doing to her food.