What is an acceptable salary for a Pastor?

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by Felicity

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

You know in today's economy that is not as much as it used to be! With the prices of homes these days--I do no think that is much to ask considering.

I would even say 150k-200k

[Hoovie]

I think the median income plus a parsonage allowance as a benefit would be fair.

[Nahum]

Pastors get paid?!!!!

[Joseph Miller]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Pastors get paid?!!!!

Someone indicated that evangelist do to. I am wondering when will this start?

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Joseph Miller

Someone indicated that evangelist do to. I am wondering when will this start?

Actually, after seven years of church planting, Tina and I finally decided to accept part-time pay this year.

It's not a whole lot, but it's does help pay the bills.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Jeanie

You know in today's economy that is not as much as it used to be! With the prices of homes these days--I do no think that is much to ask considering.

I would even say 150k-200k

Here in our area given the cost of housing, $100k is not unreasonable. Of course you have to take the size of the church and congregation and overall income of the church into consideration.

I also don't think the pastor's remuneration should put the church in a hardship position. A good pastor wouldn't allow this to happen as a result of maintaining or demanding a salary above and beyond what the church i.e. congregation is able to afford.

[commonsense]

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....

I'm not against God's blessings, but I'm against "hurting" a church. I have seen the pastor beg for money...and live quite well and the saints were 2 steps from food stamps.
Having money isn't wrong...and a pastor can be wealthy from any source, it doesn't matter...just be prudent.
Bro Norris had a very nice brick ranch home (this is the 60's) in a rather nondescript neighborhood; he and Sis Norris both drove 2 yr old Cadillacs.
He had income from the church, ABI and I believe wise investments...but no one had cause to question his lifestyle. I'm sure his life was very comfortable.

I live 5 miles as a crow flies from W Buffet; now we're talking "wealth"!!!
His car is several years old, the house(mansion) is a great home in a lovely older neighborhood a half mile east of the college campus. No turrets or a moat to be seen. He lives rich, but not flashy. If one of the richest men on the planet doesn't flaunt it, why would a pastor need to live in such a manner?

[commonsense]

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.

I attended 3 yrs of ABI, plus several years worth of Camp Galilee and I do not recall any teaching against saving. My memory is overloaded at this age but I just do not remember this.
He did teach on the True Riches on more than one occasion.

[commonsense]

Since the UPC is an organization of ministers and not churches or church boards there are as many methods of ministers income as there are rabbits.

One pastor I knew took the tithes of the top 12 tithes payers (based on 12 tribes) and the rest was for church expenses etc.

Another took all of the tithes and this was put in his bank account... ( to insure privacy...for all concerned) A wife of previous treasurer blabbed about who did or did not pay tithes and felt that those who gave lots should have a greater say in the church operation. Offerings went in a church account; if there was a need for additional money to pay bills for the church , the pastor transfered money over to the church account.

I've known of a pastors' family who ate popcorn since the church withheld their tithing and there was no more money.

But I also am aware of a guy who gave "everything", since this is what the pastor taught and demanded. He ended up living in his car. He quit going to church when he found out the pastor lived quite well and was in the process of building a summer home in the mountains.

Yes these are extremes, but I could name the pastors and cities.

It's back to that good sense, commonsense mentality!!

[Truly Blessed]

Originally Posted by commonsense

I'm not against God's blessings, but I'm against "hurting" a church. I have seen the pastor beg for money...and live quite well and the saints were 2 steps from food stamps.
Having money isn't wrong...and a pastor can be wealthy from any source, it doesn't matter...just be prudent.
Bro Norris had a very nice brick ranch home (this is the 60's) in a rather nondescript neighborhood; he and Sis Norris both drove 2 yr old Cadillacs.
He had income from the church, ABI and I believe wise investments...but no one had cause to question his lifestyle. I'm sure his life was very comfortable.

I live 5 miles as a crow flies from W Buffet; now we're talking "wealth"!!!
His car is several years old, the house(mansion) is a great home in a lovely older neighborhood a half mile east of the college campus. No turrets or a moat to be seen. He lives rich, but not flashy. If one of the richest men on the planet doesn't flaunt it, why would a pastor need to live in such a manner?

To affirm that they are successful, because in North America, even in the church, we tend to measure success by the things that one possesses, unfortunately.