Congregation Appreciation Month

[AreYouReady?]

I couldn't think of a better gift myself.

[deacon blues]

Originally Posted by trialedbyfire

You sho is smart...

...when was the last time you took a whole congregation to dinner there buddy?

Or anybody for that matter?

I'm glad you had it so rough as a church secretary. Many of us that have been called one day to pastor and have worked and labored tirelessly in the ministry of reconciliation will understand why this statement is foolish at best. I've fixed vehicles free of charge, I've helped my past pastors repair and restore saints houses free of charge. I've watched my pastors scrub the church floors, cut saints lawns, etc. I've helped pay individuals rent. I've helped pay for gas. I've filled tanks of strangers while I was witnessing to them, bought them food, and prayed for them. I've watched the men of God who have trained me in the ministry do this. I wake up at 2 in the morning for saints who need random assistance. At the same time I'm expected to go to work, go to church on time, pay my bills on time, tithe, and keep a strong relationship with God and prayer life. I can't imagine being a pastor on top of all this. It's not a calling that any sane man should want, especially with people like yourself constantly attacking and accusing pastors, and I find what you said to be an attack, unwarranted on someone who I've watched grow old with a genuine burden for the souls he oversees and a man I respect and revere. The ministry is not "easy", nor is it "fun and games" and some of us spend our lives on reaching out to others trying to see God's plan of salvation fulfilled and people's lives changed. Now... what are you doing?

For every prima donna pastor and high roller, there are dozens of humble servants who get paid little or have to work another job, do a lot of physical labor of the church, that do so many behind the scenes things that many others wouldn't do.

Just because you sat under a minister who abused his office doesn't mean that many aren't worthy of any recognition and acts of appreciation by those willing to give it. (Not talking to you Tried By Fire)

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

For every prima donna pastor and high roller, there are dozens of humble servants who get paid little or have to work another job, do a lot of physical labor of the church, that do so many behind the scenes things that many others wouldn't do.

Just because you sat under a minister who abused his office doesn't mean that many aren't worthy of any recognition and acts of appreciation by those willing to give it. (Not talking to you Tried By Fire)

Sorry Deacon Blues... didn't mean to leave you out from my pastor appreciation thankfulness!

I am not in any way knocking the acts of service by the wonderful men who are doing a genuine work for the Lord. Never have done or said that.

What I am against is the system that tends to corrupt those good men. The failure of the church system as a whole is something I am standing up against. Not the good men who get caught in its web.

Think... Absolute power corrupts.

And my original statement that got TrialedByFire so fired up was in connection to his post that his former pastor had taken a whole group of people out to dinner. I just made him aware of the fact that because of the way church's are set up, the pastor likely paid for that dinner with the church credit card, or if he used his own card, he will turn in the receipt to the IRS, and receive credit for it that way... so be honest... did that dinner really come out of his pocket? More than likely not. That was just my observation.

[deacon blues]

I understand about paying for a bunch of people with the church credit card. He's spending church money that may or may not be justified. I wouldn't say in every case that a pastor doing that was not being generous. Even if it's not out of is pocket, if he's the only one authorized to spend money like that, if he's not abusing the privilege, it could actually be a justifiable expense to show appreciation to a group of leaders, volunteers, or to bless some young people.

If the pastor paid out of pocket and is able to get a tax right off for it, how would that be any different than a member of the church getting tax credit for their tithes and offerings? Is it any less generous if you can lower your tax bill by giving to a church function?

[KeptByTheWord]

And I assume most likely the pastor is paying tithes also... so... that point is that the pastor gets some sort of "accolades" for doing good deeds like buying dinner for people... yet, the saint paying his tithes... just doing his duty

Don't get me wrong Deacon... I believe good men and women do things for the work of Christ and don't expect anything in return, and no one may even know about it as they are just doing it as unto the Lord.

It just makes me have to speak up when people don't realize that the "good deeds" done such as buying dinner for a bunch of people, ... often times come right out of the tithe and offering fund of the church, but yet the pastor is the one who receives the thanks/accolades. That's all.