I am a Pagan minister and I do not charge for religious services (weddings, funerals,blessings, house cleansings etc.)
most people find this to be odd and still want to offer payment.
I have even had some that would ask me why i did not have a standard fee for services. I try to explain that i am doing the work of my gods and that i do not believe that this should be a profitable business. is this really so strange?
ps, i will choose a best answer in a speedy fashion. within an hour of posting.
2006-09-02 15:55:02 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
i have no problem accepting small token gifts. as long as they are not monetary.
and as long as the people giveing it to me are able to afford it with no possible hardship. and again as long as it is small.
basicaly a token of thanks.
2006-09-02 16:02:24 · update #1
no this is not what i do full time. i work 12 hour shifts in a warehouse. in a fashion that gives me 15 days a month off of my full time job.
i am not really asking people to validate my practices here, just trying to figure out why people (even of pagan religion) always seem to expect to pay for everything...
the air that we breathe may be free but so are the words that we speak.
2006-09-02 16:09:19 · update #2
Vim,
thanks for the response. i will choose speedily because i am a very decisive person. i feel that most of the people that i have come to respect as fellow pagans and tolerant people of other faiths will answer this question within a few hours after that it will be several pages back in the archives and just collecting dust for a few days.
2006-09-02 16:15:11 · update #3
KeAhi.
I never once mentioned Christian ministries in my question. i made no boastful or degrading remarks. I asked a question on a matter that has been bothering me for some time. Never once did i say that i was better than any other minister. I asked a question about my practices that many find odd in my area.
Actually i got my ethics from a small town christian preacher that used to be my neighbor.
my question was actually more in the mind of the Pagan folks and mystics that charge for everything...palm reading tarot readings.
healings, cleansings..spiritual advisory..
i make it evident that i am a Pagan Minister because I want Pagans to answer my questions, tolerant people of all religions are welcome. i know that i will get the occasional intolerant fundamentalist this way but at least everyone knows what context my question is asked in.
2006-09-02 16:31:48 · update #4
batchlor of the arts, you seem to have missed the point of the question.
it is not about what i believe or preach.
it is about the ethics of chargeing people a set fee for religious services.
2006-09-02 16:35:23 · update #5
KeAhi.
i remember your name from somewhere,,and as i was looking back through questions that i could not answer i came acrost one...
that you answered...
the question was..
"Dosent it bother you to give money to pastors"
there were more details but that is the heading... to which you answered
*********************************************
"
KeAhi
Level 3
I give my tithes to where I get my help from and that is from my church and I don't care what the pastor uses it for as long as he/she is there for me when I need advice or spiritual help.
******************************************
this was 2 days ago... am i to believe that you have elevated yourself from a tithing member to an ordained minister in 2 days?
not only a minister but the head of your church?
or are you a head minister that pays tithes to a higher church?
would you care to edit your answer to clear this up for me?
2006-09-02 16:53:02 · update #6
Gandreal,
I was taught for free by people that again would not accept any payment.
i continue to learn fro free from many people.
2006-09-02 19:13:43 · update #7
I can see both sides of the issue.
On the one hand...
I think that services rendered deserve some kind of compensation. The clergyman is taking time out of his/her day to help me- meet with me or give me guidance, perform some service, etc.
On the other hand...
Salvation doesn't come with a price. (Yes, I'm Christian, so that's where I'm coming from.) Jesus gave his life freely, and I feel it's wrong to charge money for anything related or that pertains to salvation.
In my own church, the clergy, teachers, etc serve out of love, not for a fee or payment or salary. (In fact, the current leader of my congregation- his "day-job" is as a civil engineer! And the man who served before him is a heart surgeon.)
2006-09-03 02:14:06 · answer #1 · answered by Yoda's Duck 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I belong to a southern Baptist church, and our preacher does not charge to perform weddings. I know some do, but ours considers it a blessing or a priviledge to be a part of the special day. The same goes for funerals, he is honored when a family member entrusts him to perform that service. When my first husband died, my parents gave that preacher $50 out of appreciation, but he didn't charge us. When my daughter was married in the same church, it was completely free. We gave $50 to the church as a love offering (to cover use of the facilities and utilities but it wasn't requested?required) and gave our pastor a gift of appreciation ( a sculpture of Jesus at the temple) As far as other denominations, I am not sure of the practice of charging for these things. I suppose if a minister's only income is from these services it is ethical. I know some preachers do make a nice living but it has been my experience that my pastors give as much as they receive and make enough to live, not much of a profit. I do think it is awesome that you do your services free of charge though. Blessings to you!
2006-09-02 23:04:14 · answer #2 · answered by Nelita C 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What does a pagan minister believe? What is a pagan's "bible"?What is the belief system that you base your ministering upon?
People pay for value created. The more value the individual feels you have provided the more they will want to donate/pay you. If the people you are ministering to find value in your service they will want to pay/ donate to your cause/service. You might as well accept the money. And then go to Malachi 3:8 from the bible and follow that guidance. But what guidance can a pagan take from the Bible? This is cracking me up. Laughing out loud.
2006-09-02 23:16:39 · answer #3 · answered by Batchlor of the Arts 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Well, the pastor, minister, whatever is working beyond what they normally would, so yes, I do believe that it is ethical. They have to make a living too. Should this be some crazy huge fee? No. And if someone chooses not to charge, then that is ok too.
2006-09-02 23:00:32 · answer #4 · answered by Lilah 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. It isn't ethical to charge for religious services. All the leaders of my church don't get paid for their time or anything they do in the church.
We pay tithing, but that is out of faith, not to better the financial situation of our church. We don't charge for weddings, funerals, blessings, meetings with church leaders or anything like that. It is all done through service and love to our fellow man.
Even the leader of our whole religion doesn't get paid for what he does. He was called to the position, and he leads out of faith, love and devotion to our religion.
I think it is very commendable that you don't charge for your services. It shows you are about faith and love more then money. Keep up the good work!!
2006-09-02 23:11:44 · answer #5 · answered by odd duck 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If this is what you do full time, then I don't see a problem in attaching a fee for your services. But if this is something you do on the side, and you have a comfortable standard of living, then if you want to volunteer your services, more power to you.
You also might want to consider that almost every religion embraces the principle of giving back to God. If you should choose to accept a fee for your services, you could simply give the money back to your chosen ministry.
2006-09-02 23:01:47 · answer #6 · answered by freedomnow1950 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I am an Ordained and Licensed Christian Minister that is the Head Minister at the Church I attend and I don't charge for ANY services either..... so what? Do we commend ourselves for that? No.
So I don't get what you're looking for..... Are you trying to say that you being a pagan minister along with your practice are better than those who do require payment?
Well it seems to me that you pay yourself with pride.... So go pat yourself on your shoulder and congratulate yourself and stop passing judgment on others. The difference is..... you pay yourself with compliments and boastings.
And I don't do this for the points either.
2006-09-02 23:16:04 · answer #7 · answered by KeAhi 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Our pastor charges NON members of the church for use of the building and facilities- not necessarily his service. If you are a member and tithe, you already pay for the facilities. I don't think it is UN ethical to accept donations at all. In fact, I think you should. Greed is different form earnings. Greed is a different from paying the electric/heat and water bills at your worship place.
2006-09-02 23:03:29 · answer #8 · answered by rottymom02 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Chris,
A difficult question to answer.
I have always have a hard time
with this, however, I also understand
that money has to come from somewhere
to support and continue the work.
If you can do it by not charging, more
power to you, and may you continue
to do so. Where do you get money to
practice, live, etc.? Can you share
your ways with the rest of us?
By the by, why did you post you would
be choosing a best answer speedily?
Do not understand you - why?
2006-09-02 23:02:30 · answer #9 · answered by vim 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't see it as odd, unusual yes.
If you are offered a gratuity accept it as a thank you.
If you don't feel it is right donate it to a charity of your choice or ask the recipient of your services to make a donation.
Also as I see it accepting money for said religious services could pay for vehicle expenses, A nominal fee to pay these is not an unreasonable request.
2006-09-02 23:05:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋