Should Pastors be paid?
I've been struggling with a question. Should pastors be paid?
Here is a quick run down of why i'm questioning it.
1. Is ministry a career?
2. Is it about sacrifice?
3. Paul in the NT modeled "tent making"
4. If it's about money, no one would go to the small churches
5. Pastors are required to attend Bible college for 4 years. Just like the world is required to go to school. They graduate, get a job and get paid according to their schooling. Pastors graduate and if they go to a small church, get paid a bare minimum. How can they ever pay off their student loans?
6. Does financial stress make a pastor less effective?
7. Should they rely more on faith?
8. Do pastors wish to live beyone their needs?
What are your thoughts?
posted by Little Worshiper @ 11:56 AM
3 Comments:
At 9:54 AM,
jpunk5 said…
it's not neccessary for a church to have paid staff, but paul also advocated the church paying pastors even though he was a tent-maker. i view as the church paying you compensation so you are freed up to do ministry. you're not getting paid for your job, your getting paid so you can do your job.
At 1:03 PM,
Anonymous said…
Hi Paul & Jen, last two didn't work this will be short.
one-career is just something we train for and prepare for longterm so, yes it is. Two-I think all Christians are called to sacrifice, there is no secular work for believers, all are priests. Three-yes he did, he wasn't a pastor like Timothy though and was paid, 1Cor9:7 & 2Cor11:8. Four-we already have this problem, not just small but north, we have to remember its about following God, not our wants. Five-denominations should look at helping forgive education debts over time, but we have to look at paying off before entering as well, both apply to some degree. Six-financial stress makes everybody less effective. Seven-we have faith or we don't, but we should lean on God,not our faith, in reality. All Xn's should. Eight-don't think so but like everyone else, look to being secure in life, thats just human. Write me an email, you can find me at www.peacecommunity.org. look forward to talking to you further.
Wally from Central.
At 5:20 PM,
Julie said…
Jenn... this is late, but just another perspective. The Levites were designated as priests in the OT, and the other 11 tribes all gave a tenth of whatever they "earned" or "produced" in order to make sure the priests were taken care of.
So, they were freed up to do ministry while the others supported them.
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