How many churches are willing to "pay out" for their help?
 

This thread springs from one of Rhoni's posts.

1. Do most churches "pay out" reasonably for their staff help?
2. Or do most do the "here's a small token of our appreciation" poverty pay?
3. Are there pastors out there that soak up most, if not all, available wages-salaries, then are reluctant to pay out for other "needed" ministry help in their church?
   
4. Pastors, what are your usual guidelines in these types of situations?
5. How do you determine how many volunteer positions to paid positions?
6. How many young ministry couples are forced to leave their current church situations to find sufficient wages to meet end's meat?

Of course, there will always be smaller churches that actually cannot pay their ministry help due to their small size and that would be considered acceptable.

In another thread, Deacon's Blues is a fine example of a person willing to spread out available resources to pay additional ministry help.

This will most likely stir up a hornet's nest, but lets talk about.

My church is small and we have never paid anybody for any position.

When we were bigger, we paid for housing for the youth pastor we had at the time.

I don't agree that if a church can't adequately pay for a position then that church isn't large for that ministry. If that were the case, my church shouldn't have a pastor!

Good thing the youth leader isn't there to get paid, cause otherwise the teens wouldn't have the excitement in their life because of her ministry!

Thankfully, the women's leader isn't in that position to get paid. Most of the time, she puts in her own money to further that ministry without reimbursement.

The men's leader doesn't get paid either. I hope he doesn't leave the church over it.

The children's church minister....that's right. They aren't paid either. Not a penny. Thankfully, they don't believe that since they aren't paid, the church isn't large enough for their ministry.

According to Rhoni, if they can't afford it, they are too small for that ministry.

:nah

Rhoni? Any comments?

But if they don't get paid then they are just amateurs not professionals ....:toofunny

*donk!*

I should have had a V-8!



:happydance

Yes...I have comments. There is a difference if you were born and raised in a church, work an outside job, and volunteer to teach a Sunday School Class or work with the Youth Department. This is right and good...

I am talking about churches who have the money to adequately support other ministries and want free workers. I believe the tithes are to support the ministries of the church, not the Pastor only.

For instance: A fair wage for a decent size church, 120-250, for the Pastor would be 45-50% of the tithes or a base salary of $50,000.00 plus benefits. 30% of the tithe could go to support other ministries, such as asstant Pastor, or Youth Pastor or Minister of Music. As the church grows it could add on Counselors, and Outreach workers.

I am NOT of the opinion that ministry workers should work free. The Bible tells us that a servant is worthy of his hire. What I hate is taking advantage of volunteer laborers, such as; media people, musicians, and even counselors who give time and money [ususally have to buy their own materials to work with], and take time away from their place of employment and or their families.

You want quality help...you should pay for it. It is easy to say that if they loved God they'd do it free...why don't the Pastors get a job and do the same thing..free!

Blessings, Rhoni

This was said TIC but it is not necessarily true. I know many people that donate time and services who are professionals and never expect any return.

If they have the time and the money then it is possible, but most of us have to work for a living.

Blessings, Rhoni

People on church payrolls include:

Pastors
Assistant Pastors
Youth Pastors
Ministers of Music
Church Administrators
Janitors
Child Care workers
Counselors
Media Personnel