Salary for Pastor

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Would it annoy you to learn that the church your looking at joining pays the pastor a pretty generous salary that really isnt in keeping with what the church can afford.

This particular pastor, Im told by the trustees is really a contractor with the duties of conducting Sunday services & visiting with the sick. He doesnt conduct Sunday School or any bible studies or anything requiring him to spend enormous time at church & he isnt a Seminary trained guy.....so why is the fellas salary so high?

 

[Revmitchell]

More importantly why is he pastor.

 

[Jacob_Elliott]

More importantly why is he pastor.

My thoughts exactly

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

More importantly why is he pastor.

Maybe cause he gives a good sermon? but I didnt pick him. The church members did. now I know why the head trustee didnt want me sittin in on the annual business meeting. But Im glad I did. given that gathered data, I should look for a job in ministry. Ohhh, I cant cause I believe in Free Churches. Guess I cant go there.

 

[Yeshua1]

Would it annoy you to learn that the church your looking at joining pays the pastor a pretty generous salary that really isnt in keeping with what the church can afford.

This particular pastor, Im told by the trustees is really a contractor with the duties of conducting Sunday services & visiting with the sick. He doesnt conduct Sunday School or any bible studies or anything requiring him to spend enormous time at church & he isnt a Seminary trained guy.....so why is the fellas salary so high?

Does he preach like Spurgeon, maybe?

other than that, why did the church hire him at all?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Does he preach like Spurgeon, maybe?

other than that, why did the church hire him at all?

No, but he did reinforce doctrine......Quite rare in these parts.

And as I said, I had nothing to do with hiring him & Im not a member of the church. And they are secretive.....I had to ask 3 times in order to get a constitution. apparently they dont offer to provide it when you come in. There are still members who have never seen one. Others did not like my sitting in on the business meeting w/o being a member. I was accosted by the primary trustee for being there (but I had prior permission from the Pastor) so he could go jump in a lake for all I cared.

 

[JamesL]

Kind of reminds me of when I was a little kid back in the late 70s. I overheard some conversations between some older people in the church when the pastor to retired and a new one came in

The prior pastor worked for himself as a locksmith, full time. He didn't accept a salary from the church, for two reasons:
1) He was already amply compensated through his business, and didn't feel the need to impose hardship on the church
2) He was not available, nor required, full time at the church. He had a job.

A couple of years before he retired, the church board apparently began to pressure him to take a salary - if for nothing else, just by virtue of being the pastor. He finally agreed to a $100.00 per week salary, which he then put back into the offering. He simply didn't think it was right to take the money.

The next pastor who came in, though, thought differently. After being there only a few months, talked to the board about a raise. I don't know the ins and outs of how much talking there was about it, but they reluctantly agreed to raise his salary to $500.00 per week. I remember thinking back then in the 70s that's a ton of money

But to make matters worse, the new pastor also had a full time job, working for General Motors. This was the part I heard older folks talking about. This guy already had a good salary from his job. And to boot, wasn't available to be a full time pastor.


I've never looked real kindly upon what I perceive as excessive pastor salaries. One church I went to had a congregation of about 60 people including children, and the average income was about 20k. But the pastor got a salary of twice that much. I often wondered how in the world they could afford his salary. The bottom line is they couldn't. But that didn't stop him from taking it. He just preached that people needed to give til it hurts.


However, I don't really put much consideration into whether or not the pastor is Semitary trained. The call of God does not necessarily run a pastor through the halls of academia.

 

[preachinjesus]

A general rule of thumb for me has been:

If you don't have ready access to budget, giving, governing documents and general figures for the entire personnel budget the church is likely operating unethically.

Even at the church where I serve, any member can come and ask for staff salary figures (we provide the entire package number.) However, we do ask why the want it and ask them to sign a limited non-disclosure agreement. We basically ask them to respect the privacy of the staff and not post, write about, or publicly talk about specific staff salaries outside of appropriate business and personnel team meetings.

We do provide these numbers.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Kind of reminds me of when I was a little kid back in the late 70s. I overheard some conversations between some older people in the church when the pastor to retired and a new one came in

The prior pastor worked for himself as a locksmith, full time. He didn't accept a salary from the church, for two reasons:
1) He was already amply compensated through his business, and didn't feel the need to impose hardship on the church
2) He was not available, nor required, full time at the church. He had a job.

A couple of years before he retired, the church board apparently began to pressure him to take a salary - if for nothing else, just by virtue of being the pastor. He finally agreed to a $100.00 per week salary, which he then put back into the offering. He simply didn't think it was right to take the money.

The next pastor who came in, though, thought differently. After being there only a few months, talked to the board about a raise. I don't know the ins and outs of how much talking there was about it, but they reluctantly agreed to raise his salary to $500.00 per week. I remember thinking back then in the 70s that's a ton of money

But to make matters worse, the new pastor also had a full time job, working for General Motors. This was the part I heard older folks talking about. This guy already had a good salary from his job. And to boot, wasn't available to be a full time pastor.


I've never looked real kindly upon what I perceive as excessive pastor salaries. One church I went to had a congregation of about 60 people including children, and the average income was about 20k. But the pastor got a salary of twice that much. I often wondered how in the world they could afford his salary. The bottom line is they couldn't. But that didn't stop him from taking it. He just preached that people needed to give til it hurts.


However, I don't really put much consideration into whether or not the pastor is Semitary trained. The call of God does not necessarily run a pastor through the halls of academia.

Listen.....I live in New Jersey & Its expensive cost of living .....but when I saw what the guy draws from a church of approx., 60 people, I stood amazed. So then I started to look for other reasons to justify the guys salary (including seminary). It just does not make sense. But like anything, if a guy is a good negotiator & can cost justify his position, good for him & more power to him. As far as me supporting him.....thats another story. Id want to see ROI & performance......and I dont see it.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

A general rule of thumb for me has been:

If you don't have ready access to budget, giving, governing documents and general figures for the entire personnel budget the church is likely operating unethically.

Even at the church where I serve, any member can come and ask for staff salary figures (we provide the entire package number.) However, we do ask why the want it and ask them to sign a limited non-disclosure agreement. We basically ask them to respect the privacy of the staff and not post, write about, or publicly talk about specific staff salaries outside of appropriate business and personnel team meetings.

We do provide these numbers.

I have a good friend who is an Elder at a Old Regular church. Since its a NT Free church, they put a box in the back with a offering sign. They have monthly business meetings where anyone can attend & see 1st hand where the money goes. He doesn't draw a salary, he drives all over to do services for other like churches, and he pays for his own gas, lunches & tolls. Their operating budget is $10,000.00. God love, protect & bless this man. He is for real!

 

[annsni]

I always figure that a pastor's salary should be about the average of his congregation's income. Is his significantly higher than that?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I always figure that a pastor's salary should be about the average of his congregation's income. Is his significantly higher than that?

Yes......If he gave 25K back, then he would hit the mark.

 

[Yeshua1]

I always figure that a pastor's salary should be about the average of his congregation's income. Is his significantly higher than that?

believe read that Billy Graham accepted 'only" salary of 85,000 annually, for if based upon the tithes and offerings to hisministry over years...

 

[padredurand]

Yes......If he gave 25K back, then he would hit the mark.

Give it back? I think a pastor's salary should be high enough that he would be free from coveting. A pastor should be able to present his weekly paycheck at the bank and hear the teller say, "Mercy. Mercy."

Salary should only be part of the total compensation package. I've been coveting a Cadillac CTS-V wagon at $73,035. I'm not a hog. The lease is only 665.00. Pay that and we're on our way to being released from the coveting burden. madre needs a ride, too. She can drive a Fiesta or something.

I can't be expected to work 48 days a year, finish by noon on my work day and be well rested. I need a four week retreat to rest my weary soul. I've been coveting this modest log cabin with a lake. $2.5m should cover it as long as I get a housing allowance to cover the utilities. Hunting season should not interfere with vacation time.

I'm not going to list the library, grand piano, new furniture to replace my early attic or a sabbatical every five years....

~or~

Help me with the rent and some gas money for the paying job and we will trust the Lord for daily bread.

 

[Berean]

No, but he did reinforce doctrine......Quite rare in these parts.

And as I said, I had nothing to do with hiring him & Im not a member of the church. And they are secretive.....I had to ask 3 times in order to get a constitution. apparently they dont offer to provide it when you come in. There are still members who have never seen one. Others did not like my sitting in on the business meeting w/o being a member. I was accosted by the primary trustee for being there (but I had prior permission from the Pastor) so he could go jump in a lake for all I cared.

Please don't take this question as flippant, first if you are not a member why are you participating in a business meeting. Doesn't' sound like this church is one for you.

 

[Yeshua1]

Give it back? I think a pastor's salary should be high enough that he would be free from coveting. A pastor should be able to present his weekly paycheck at the bank and hear the teller say, "Mercy. Mercy."

Salary should only be part of the total compensation package. I've been coveting a Cadillac CTS-V wagon at $73,035. I'm not a hog. The lease is only 665.00. Pay that and we're on our way to being released from the coveting burden. madre needs a ride, too. She can drive a Fiesta or something.

I can't be expected to work 48 days a year, finish by noon on my work day and be well rested. I need a four week retreat to rest my weary soul. I've been coveting this modest log cabin with a lake. $2.5m should cover it as long as I get a housing allowance to cover the utilities. Hunting season should not interfere with vacation time.

I'm not going to list the library, grand piano, new furniture to replace my early attic or a sabbatical every five years....

~or~

Help me with the rent and some gas money for the paying job and we will trust the Lord for daily bread.

For a moment there, thought you had just 'converted" to word of faith teaching and their lifestyles!

 

[go2church]

The church approved the amount. If you don't like it, move on. Can salaries be too high, lavish even, yep, but as long as he isn't determining by himself what the amount is, you need to take it up with the congregation.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Please don't take this question as flippant, first if you are not a member why are you participating in a business meeting. Doesn't' sound like this church is one for you.

I like to know where the money is going.....especially if I am expected to contribute.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

The church approved the amount. If you don't like it, move on. Can salaries be too high, lavish even, yep, but as long as he isn't determining by himself what the amount is, you need to take it up with the congregation.

You read my mind. Its a shame too, they are only 10 Minutes from the house.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Give it back? I think a pastor's salary should be high enough that he would be free from coveting. A pastor should be able to present his weekly paycheck at the bank and hear the teller say, "Mercy. Mercy."

Salary should only be part of the total compensation package. I've been coveting a Cadillac CTS-V wagon at $73,035. I'm not a hog. The lease is only 665.00. Pay that and we're on our way to being released from the coveting burden. madre needs a ride, too. She can drive a Fiesta or something.

I can't be expected to work 48 days a year, finish by noon on my work day and be well rested. I need a four week retreat to rest my weary soul. I've been coveting this modest log cabin with a lake. $2.5m should cover it as long as I get a housing allowance to cover the utilities. Hunting season should not interfere with vacation time.

I'm not going to list the library, grand piano, new furniture to replace my early attic or a sabbatical every five years....

Yea.....ya know the guy. :laugh: