We are officially a family without a church

[Real Realism]

I don't think the majority of folks on here would criticize a pastor earning a regular salary with appropriate amount of time off (vacation) as well as regular, appropriate increases in salary.

The issue comes with the perceived lack of commitment on the part of some who choose that profession to actually pastor in a Biblical fashion. On the one hand, you have pastors who lord over their congregations. On the other hand, you have pastors who open the doors of the church, preach their due, and are emotionally distant and don't have a true attitude of leadership and mentorship to those in their congregations.

I've experienced both. I've also experienced the rare gem of a pastor who - even looking back now - it surprises me how he and his wife find time to make real connections and relationships with people. When we go back to visit that area, they are still so happy to see us and make time out for us. I wish circumstances were different and we could move back, but we can't at the moment.

It's not about receiving money for a job. It's about going through the motions and expecting the pay check. I have someone who provides me a salary based on my performance. And while I don't think that pastors should be on a performance plan, necessarily, is it fair for them to just sit back and collect the cash when they're not doing much, if anything, to grow their church physically and spiritually?