Prominent Memphis Area Pastor Resigns

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

Not to be argumentative, but the church absolutely is a business. The fact that many don't run it that way is the main reason pastors wind up in financial trouble.

A true business should keep in line with all accounting policies, and major decisions that affect the financial, social, and or spiritual welfare of the church should be discussed among all stakeholders, or in this case, tithe payers.

I do agree that a son or daughter should not be placed in a position of authority just because they are family, but also hold the position that they should not be EXCLUDED because they are family. There are times when the pastor's children shares the pastor's burden more than any outsider, and that son or daughter is absolutely the right person to be in a ministry role.

The Bible is replete with examples of the good and bad of children succeeding parents in ministry roles, so you can't take a broad brush to either position.

My experience has been that when it is right for a sibling to follow a parent into a ministry role, the congregation feels it and supports it.

In that way, it's extremly similar to a business. A business owner wants to put the person in to succeed them who will share the same passion and dedication that started the business in the first place.

Great post!

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by LooneyLucy

And I am not totally against it, so long as it is GOD'S will and not just mans.

No, as long as stockholders ok with it.

[The Lemon]

I suppose i see the similarity between business structure in terms of accountability and fiscal responsibility and the church...where I disagree is modeling a church after secular business practices. Business do provide goods and services for a price, and they exist to do one thing...make a profit.

I am not even going to get into the differences between Tithes and free will offerings, as that has been beaten to death. We should be responsible to give both to one another and to those who honor is due...that said, there is a very fine line between building Gods kingdom and building a personal kingdom using donations from hard working people to live off of, but I digress.

[LooneyLucy]

Originally Posted by The Lemon

I suppose i see the similarity between business structure in terms of accountability and fiscal responsibility and the church...where I disagree is modeling a church after secular business practices. Business do provide goods and services for a price, and they exist to do one thing...make a profit.

I am not even going to get into the differences between Tithes and free will offerings, as that has been beaten to death. We should be responsible to give both to one another and to those who honor is due...that said, there is a very fine line between building Gods kingdom and building a personal kingdom using donations from hard working people to live off of, but I digress.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by The Lemon

I suppose i see the similarity between business structure in terms of accountability and fiscal responsibility and the church...where I disagree is modeling a church after secular business practices. Business do provide goods and services for a price, and they exist to do one thing...make a profit.

I am not even going to get into the differences between Tithes and free will offerings, as that has been beaten to death. We should be responsible to give both to one another and to those who honor is due...that said, there is a very fine line between building Gods kingdom and building a personal kingdom using donations from hard working people to live off of, but I digress.

I agree with you from the point of view that a church should be non-profit, although even non-profit organizations pay out salaries to employees.

This thread is going off on a tangent, but I will say this: some pastors accumulate wealth because they take too much of what is given; others accumulate wealth because they are good stewards of what they are given and/or because they have earned money from private efforts. Those who fall into the latter category should be respected for their stewardship, not criticized for it.

Our pastor takes a far-too-modest-salary (IMO) and has to supplement by working outside jobs. I really dislike that, because I know he would be more productive for the church and community if he didn't have to work the extra jobs. When a church asks a pastor to come and work for them, I don't see the problem with the church offering compensation. A pastor is ultimately still a man who needs to provide for his family, first and foremost. I fail to see how working for the church and earning a living should be mutually exclusive.

[Cindy]

I find these conversations distasteful. personally. Especially if I don't know the people involved. Even then it hurts my heart that Pastors or Saints fall from grace, and are publicly talked about. I will pray for all involved, but I don't need to know why this Pastor resigned.

[tv1a]

Too many people are concerned about the garbage in someone else's backyard they forget they have junk in their trunk.

Originally Posted by Cindy

I find these conversations distasteful. personally. Especially if I don't know the people involved. Even then it hurts my heart that Pastors or Saints fall from grace, and are publicly talked about. I will pray for all involved, but I don't need to know why this Pastor resigned.

[endtimer]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I agree with you from the point of view that a church should be non-profit, although even non-profit organizations pay out salaries to employees.

This thread is going off on a tangent, but I will say this: some pastors accumulate wealth because they take too much of what is given; others accumulate wealth because they are good stewards of what they are given and/or because they have earned money from private efforts. Those who fall into the latter category should be respected for their stewardship, not criticized for it.

Our pastor takes a far-too-modest-salary (IMO) and has to supplement by working outside jobs. I really dislike that, because I know he would be more productive for the church and community if he didn't have to work the extra jobs. When a church asks a pastor to come and work for them, I don't see the problem with the church offering compensation. A pastor is ultimately still a man who needs to provide for his family, first and foremost. I fail to see how working for the church and earning a living should be mutually exclusive.

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[Dordrecht]

Threads like this should be deleted right from the start.
I find this disgusting.

[Bishop Cleatus]

Originally Posted by Dordrecht

Threads like this should be deleted right from the start.
I find this disgusting.

Which part, exactly?