What is an acceptable salary for a Pastor?

[ForeverBlessed]

Originally Posted by ChicagoPastor

Ok, so here's another question....

what is acceptable pay for an Evagelist/Prophet/Teacher (traveling preacher)

I think #1 you need to pay all their expenses to get them to your church (airfare or gas, hotel, meals, ect)
I think whether an Evangelist preaches 1 time or 5 times, you need to pay him for the FULL week.
I know outside the Apostolic circle this might not be alot but I don't think we should pay an Evangelist less than $1000.00 .

I think this would depend upon the size of the church. Unless the church is larger, it could be a burden to some churches to pay $1k and more and still pay their expenses.

[ForeverBlessed]

Originally Posted by revrandy

It's called Ministry... and the rewards go far beyond monetary value...

I recall the Words of the Good Samaritan to the "InnKeeper"...

"Whatsoever thou spend...When I come again I will repay thee"....

Many times I have remembered this scripture...

exactly... it is a ministry.

These high powered ministries pulling in all the money and living lavish lifestyles is so the opposite of the New Testament church.

Some need to get priorities right. Ministry is just not about the money at all. A true evangilist and pastor at heart, realizes that...

[Felicity]

I think I could be quite comfortable with about $100,000 a year.

[Sandra]

Originally Posted by ChicagoPastor

Considering the events that are now going before Congress, and other money scandals/questions about other ministers my questions are the following;

What IS an acceptable salary/compensation for a Pastor

What IS an acceptable salary/compensation for an Evangelist/Prophet/Teacher (minister without a local church)



Is it wrong for a Pastor of a 300-500 member church to make $100,000 plus the church buy their car and pay their mortgage?

What about a Pastor of a 100 member church who makes 50K plus house allowance and cars???


In the UPCI I'd say that our "top" Evangelists don't make more than $50k a year from preaching. Is that reasonable? should it be more?

I'd bet that the typical UPCI Evangelist does not make more than 30K.


Anyhow, what would be fair compensation???????

I say at least 10% of what the church brings in. I know many UPC pastors that does this. They do well.

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by Sherri

We require office hours of all of our staff, even the music guys!!! We are pretty structured. So......if I were paid a salary, I would feel like I had to be there as much as everyone else and I just don't want to. If I get my work done, I'm out of there!

Eddie goes in by 5:30-6:00 A.M. almost every day, so he comes home sometimes in the early afternoon. The other staff all works 9-4 or 8-3 four days a week, plus all their other weekend stuff and practices, etc.

Our pastor, (and bishop) has always had regular office hours, and we have office staff 5 days a week. He also has always had the policy never to drive a nicer car than the majority of the congregation, and I think currently there are MANY people in our congregation driving nicer cars and living in nicer homes than our pastor.

At our annual business meeting, the salaries of the combined staff is disclosed (as was stated earlier, this is for the discretion of the office staff) and ALL income and expenditures are reported. Our pastor has always taken a salary, I think it is a base amount, and then a percentage if the tithes are above a certain amount. They have never lived high, never had expensive "toys".

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Hmmm...start asking folks to give of their time, effort, and sweat, and see where that gets you. Most folks would RATHER throw money in the offering and leave work to others. JMO.

Look, my Daddy pastored a home missions church at one point, and there were many times when he HAD to get up and let the church folks know that if they didn't get a certain amount in the offering, the lights would be turned off. That is just a practical matter. I also have known my parents to turn around and put half (or more) of their scant tithes right back into the church to keep it running, not once, but on countless occasions.

Running a church requires addressing practical matters, and the church is supposed to have all things in common...aren't they? If there is a bill to be paid, it SHOULD be brought before the church and worked out TOGETHER. The pastor shouldn't have to bear that burden alone. I, quite frankly, would be upset if there was a need in our church, and we weren't informed, and therefore allowed to contribute or help, monetarily or otherwise.

Some of ya'll act like talking about money is wrong. They certainly discussed it and addressed it in the New Testament church.


Then shame on them for their unchristian attitudes and lack of generosity. Funny you should make excuses for wealthy saints. Ironic, almost.

The pastor shouldn't have to pander to the "wealthy" in order to pay bills and take care of his family. Those who withhold funds as a way of controlling their pastor and the church...well, they are going to answer to God for their ungodliness.

Just a note on that topic, I recently heard the statistic that 1 out of every 4 verses in the New Testament deal with money and it's affects.

[Hegavmelif]

Originally Posted by tv1a

Whatever the market dictates. Most people don't realize Paula White and a lot of other big name preachers put over 30-50 percent if not more back into the Kingdom. Congress should butt out. If the preachers are abusing the money, people will stop giving. Robert Tilton is as irrelevant as a legalist renting a video. Other than the occasional late night scam, he's rather used up.

I believe this about like I believe it rains cats and dogs....literally!

[Hegavmelif]

Originally Posted by triumphant1

Or the people could stop being jealous and be thankful for the blessing of the Lord in their pastor's life....these folks that always nitpick those who have it better might just try having some initiative to get out there and do something with their talents and such, instead of gripping and complaining about what everybody else has.

This really bugs the soup out of me....all this talk about keeping the pastor poor and his wife barefoot and pregnant....sickoes....the pastor has the right to be rich too so get over it!

Too many church folks have the "poor is me, the other side of the tracks, just give me a cabin in the corner of gloryland" mentality and it is rooted in a culture that keeps it's kids from going to college and becoming the doctors and lawyers and wealthy business owners in town....shoot everyone knows that all the kids need is two or three years of non-accredited bible school to get deeply indoctrinated and to find a bed partner.....then come home, with a worthless diploma and work at walmart, live in a trailer, and join us in gripping about the pastor's new boat....

Usually the one doing the gripping about what the pastor drives, lives in, and what the pastor wears...have much deeper issues of insubordination and jealosy and control...usually have no more drive than to sit around gripping and complaining about everything they can gossip about....instead of using that same energy to better themselves....

You need to pray through..plain and simple.

[Hegavmelif]

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

But Norris also taught not to save. "The end is near don't save it" kinda thing. It is not a wise thing not to save. Sure you can not take it with you, but you can save it incase of emergencies here. Bro Norris was very wise, but not everything he chose to teach was thought out well.

Personal pet peave....preachers who preach against savings. The old testament says that 'a good man leaves to his children's children.' Sounds a lot like saving to me.

[Joseph Miller]

Originally Posted by tv1a

Most people don't realize Paula White and a lot of other big name preachers put over 30-50 percent if not more back into the Kingdom.

I know that I will get attacked for this, but if someone has not repented, been baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost they are not part of the Kingdom.

Has Paula done this?