What is an acceptable salary for a Pastor?

[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???????

[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.

[RandyWayne]

Congress has/should have, NO authority over what people make period. Having said that, I believe there needs to be FULL disclosure for all salaries when tied to non-profit organizations which include churches.

[rkentsmith]

A pastor should be able to live as good as the folks in his church....

Not too far above them....

Definitely not beneath them....

[triumphant1]

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???????

Most preachers in the UPC are under compensated...but I have been told that some of the top UPC evangelist do make right up near 6 figures.....but most do not.

Many churches UPC still pay in the $600 range for a week, which is what I was being paid 20 years ago (and is not enough)...when I left the field in 1995 I was making more than that on average because of several churches in my annual schedule that paid considerably more--but it was not uncommon to schedule a whole week in a church and get $150....pulling a 5th wheel trailer to get to those churches usually put us in the hole for the week maybe even the month....

[Blubayou]

I agree with RKS- that said I think the Baptist have a great policy. They publish every thing once a month in their church bulletin. They publish the revenue/ giving and the expenses including the pastor's salary. I guess because I was a public employee and my salary was public knowledge, I never had a problem with someone knowing how much I made.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Blubayou

I agree with RKS- that said I think the Baptist have a great policy. They publish every thing once a month in their church bulletin. They publish the revenue/ giving and the expenses including the pastor's salary. I guess because I was a public employee and my salary was public knowledge, I never had a problem with someone knowing how much I made.

Well, if the people are paying his salary, why shouldn't they know how much he makes? And there are always opportunities to get extra money for doing weddings and funerals.

[Sam]

Whenever the subject of ministers' salaries comes up I think of the deacon who prayed,
"Lord, keep our pastor poor and humble.
We'll keep him poor.
You keep him humble.

[Neck]

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 as high as $125,000.00 per year without the free homes, cars and planes.

If they write books or have other ventures they should be disclosed fully to the church board or supporting leadership.

There is too much wrong going on in churches today.

Because people do not think they have the right to know how or where the money given to the church is going.

[triumphant1]

Originally Posted by Neckstadt

I say as high as $125,000.00 per year without the free homes, cars and planes.

If they write books or have other ventures they should be disclosed fully to the church board or supporting leadership.

There is too much wrong going on in churches today.

Because people do not think they have the right to know how or where the money given to the church is going.

I think I am reading you right...you are saying that if the pastor has alternative income separate from his church, then his intake of his own personal talents and energy should be subject to the church board?

I totally disagree if that is what you are saying.