Pastor's Salary

MH, I stand amazed.

 

in here there you'll find a pastor who would not know if he's going to eat a good meal for the coming dinner, good meal being a cup of rice plus one small piece of meat. OTOH, there would be a minister who has bought his own multi-storey building due to offerings of his members who are normally unable to afford to buy a small house.

how i want to shout: #$%#$%^&#

 

I don't advocate a pastor not getting paid at all, but hypothetically, a pastor should be willing to do whatever the ministry has in store regardless of whether he knows there is something in it for him or not. Technically, what is the difference between a pastor and a missionary, other than the location. A pastor shouldn't be expected to live without sustenance, but maybe it could be based on charity rather than these big-shot beaurocratic hierarchical convention boards (I don't see where these are in the Bible). Whether the charity is a little or a lot wouldn't matter much, but the pastor should then be faithful, thankful, and generous with whatever he receives.
I just don't see how these large, denominational, layered, government-bound, 501(c)3-incorporated, convention-operated, staff-salaried organizations are what God intended His church to be.

 

Hey, I speak the truth.

 

MatthewHenry,

While I can understand what you're saying, and to some degree, I agree with you, I do have one question, and it's not meant to be mean or a put down in any way, so please don't take it that way.

I am just curious, how do you live? If you don't get paid, do you work another job?

You say you're a Minister of the Gospel, what does that mean, if you're not a Pastor? Street Preach? Jail Pastor? Community Service Minister?

Again, I don't mean for these questions to sounds mean, just trying to understand how you live and what you do.

Just curious.

Jamie

 

It was NEVER Intended to be that way!

If I was ever gonna operate a Church, it'd be a 501D and NOT a 501c3 Church

click to read about 501(D) Tax Exempt Status... from the IRS's website..

Correct me if I'm wrong, is it saying there that the church MUST live communally?

Thanks,

MH

 

I understand... I'm a SoulWinner! However, my trade in this world is a "truck driver"... however, I'm between jobs at the moment... All I'm gonna say about my location is, it's in the great lakes region. Jobs are hard to find here... Especally if you don't got a speciailized trade. and I don't. So, It's tough... But The Lord's never let me down. so, Because of Christ, Go I.

Sorry if I came across to anyone as brash, I just get my "Tighty Whiteys in knot", over money and preaching...

MH

 

It is my undersatnding that Pres. Reagan instituted 501(c)(3) to limit the liability of the church. Many insurance companies will not insure a church which is not 501(c)(3).

If a church is not 501(c)(3) then the membership can be held liable if the church is not incorporated and is sued.

A few years ago I saw a church completely fall apart and lose everything it had because a non-member sued the church.

 

Hmmm, Alright, What if someone like me, who's got a web based ministry and also does speaking at Churches? Would that be a good reason to go 501(d)?

MH

 

To be a corporation you need a minimum number of officers. It is best if they are not related in a non-profit corporation.

I would think your risk of being sued would be nil.

If people give to your ministry their giving may not be tax deductible if you do not have a legitimate minstry according to the government. I did a ministry which was not a 501(c)(3) but did all the necessary paperwork to be recognized as a church ministry. We did have insurance and all the legal things done right. We did that because we did not want to spend all of the money on a lawyer or spend all the time if we did not hire a lawyer. Churches by their very nature are recognized by the IRS but not always other ministries.

 

We did have insurance and all the legal things done right. We did that because we did not want to spend all of the money on a lawyer or spend all the time if we did not hire a lawyer. Churches by their very nature are recognized by the IRS but not always other ministries. </font>[/QUOTE] Dumb Question Alert!

Insurance for what? A Church Building? or the Ministry itself?

Why would anyone want to insure a Ministry?

Gotta realize man, I ain't never done this sort of thing before. (Paperwork and working with Government before on things like this.)

Not to mention, my ministry is like just a webpage at the moment... I haven't started speaking yet, but would like to, I've got a awesome testimony.

MH

 

Education be hanged! Does the pastor rule well? Pay him well, he's worthy of double honor. BTW, the pastor described in the OP makes a low salary IMO.

 

Insurance for you and the building. If you give someone advice or preach and the person wants to come back and sue you they can. Insurance is mostly in case someone gets hurt but preachers and counselors have been sued by people who claim they were given poor advice.

Do not give people advice in things you are not trained for. Refer them to a trained person in the area where they need help. You can get into some serious trouble giving advice to someone if you are not trained to deal with them in that area. You can damage people by giving them wrong advice in areas in which you are not trained to deal with.

You can always call the IRS office in your state to find out what you need to know.

 

Base pay $24,300.
Pastor Ins/Annuity $3,600 (this is what HE pays)
Pastor Housing $7,200
Pastor Professional expense $2000
Pastor Medical Reimbursement $8000

The average household income in OK in 1999 was $33,400 http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40000.html

The pastor at 31,500 is essentialy paid below the average household wage in 1999. In a regular job the employer pays the all or part of the medical insurance, retirement, unemployement insurance and wages. Some employers pay dental and disability insurance.

As soon as I quit pastoring and became self employed again my medical insurance was slightly less than 1/2 of what it was as a pastor. I asked why and the insurance agent told me a lot of pastors are older and are in poor health physically and mentally.

 

1. The majority of pastors in the SBC are bi-vocational. I am a counselor for our (large) church and I am bivocational.

2. I teach school to support my "ministry habit." I made a lot more money when working as an industrial manager. As a public school teacher with two Master's degrees, I make less than my 28-year-old, non-degreed daughter who manages a "blue jean boutique," (company name left out).

3. The only Rolls Royce preachers are on TV or in the imagination of a Hollywood writer. I don't know if you've priced a Rolls lately, but unless your income is $1,500,000 a year or more, you would find it pretty pricey.

I have a friend who is a retired D.O.M. Once, when meeting with a pulpit committee to advise them in finding a pastor, he told them that they needed to consider raising pastoral pay and benefits so they could have a full-time pastor: their church was big enough. The head deacon remarked that they just could not afford to do that. The D.O.M. got up, raised the blinds on the meeting room windows so the fifteen or so very expensive and new SUVs, Lincolns, Caddies, and "Dualie" pickups (belonging to the committee) in the parking lot could be seen, and he said, "Then find out who owns those vehicles and get the money from them."

They did, they did, and they found a good pastor who was there for several years, enjoying a wonderful ministry.

[ December 23, 2005, 01:18 AM: Message edited by: Major B ]

 

Insurance for you and the building. If you give someone advice or preach and the person wants to come back and sue you they can. Insurance is mostly in case someone gets hurt but preachers and counselors have been sued by people who claim they were given poor advice.

Do not give people advice in things you are not trained for. Refer them to a trained person in the area where they need help. You can get into some serious trouble giving advice to someone if you are not trained to deal with them in that area. You can damage people by giving them wrong advice in areas in which you are not trained to deal with.

You can always call the IRS office in your state to find out what you need to know. </font>[/QUOTE]Right. I hear ya, I don't forsee getting a building or giving personal advice. so, insurance might not be needed.

Ecclesiastical Articles of Incorporation might be an option. and MAYBE 501(d) status, if I can get it.

otherwise, I'd be good to go.

Thanks for answering my question ya'll! Sorry of Hi-Jacking ya'lls thread!

MH

 

Acts 20
33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

This is the testimony of Paul, a man who wrote 13 or 14 books of the New Testament. Paul was an educated Pharisee who gave up a position of power and influence, to end up being the poster boy for NT abuse, and to finally give his life for the cause of advancing the faith. What did he say? In my opinion, no man deserves a paycheck for preaching the gospel. If people want to support the pastor from the abundance of their heart, then this is good.