Is a salary of over $100,000 too much for a Christian preacher? Is it wrong somehow?

Question

I have learned bigger churches pay this, even mainstream denominations. Many pastors even specifically request a salary of at least $70,000+ I have heard.

In a society with so much poverty, and a difficult economy do pastors really need to be paid this much?

I know of one pastor of a mainstream denominational church in a large city (Southern Baptist I believe it was) that makes over $200,000, and drives a Mercedes-Benz.

Is there something not wrong and materialistic about this? In a society with poverty, in a world where 30,000 children die a DAY from poverty-related conditions (Disease, Starvation, etc.)

For some reason I feel like ministers are particularly accountable for at least trying to be less worldly than others, living by example if they can, am I wrong?

I don't mean to be fake or try to be perfect, but there seems to be something wrong with this.

Answer 1

$100,000 is peanuts compared to some. The big time televangelists and superchurch leaders pull in many millions per year.
Some of the fundamentalist churches make you sign a tithe agreement, and begin calling if you are late and charging late fees. No, that's not a joke.
The money changers that got Jesus all worked up in the story were a common fixture by that time. The exchanged roman coin for shekels which were allowed in the temple. But why would you need money at the temple? To pay for rites and services and purchase sacrificial animals.
Religion has always been a big business.

Answer 2

Why are you concerned with a PASTOR'S salary?

Why does the average CEO makes hundreds of times more than the average employee? Is 50 times more than an employee not enough??

Why do doctors make so much money -- and it doesn't matter if they are wrong or right? Why do you have to pay MORE to a Doctor if you don't have insurance, and less if you do have insurance -- why does some of the bill disappear with insurance, and the non-insured are stuck with all of the bill?

Why would you decide what a pastor's salary is, without even considering what the responsibilities are, and how large the church is?

Who gets called in the middle of the night when someone's in the hospital, drops everything when someone else dies, performs the funeral and supports the family emotionally, runs the Wednesday night Bible study, and then is expected to 'perform' flawlessly at the end of the week at an 11 a.m. Sunday morning?

How many jobs are on-call 24/7 and make only the nation's average salary of $40,000?

Fewer than 15 percent of the nation has more than a college degree, including most Ministers who have at least a Masters of Divinity and many with Doctorate. How many of those 15 percent make less than $70,000?

Most of the time pastors pay their own Social Security and pay their own taxes. They often pay their own health insurance. Church salaries also often include car and housing allowances.

The question isn't why are pastors paid so much in a broken world of injustice -- the question is why does everyone else do so little to help change a broken and unjust world when they are paid so well?

Godspeed.

Answer 3

You know, I work hard, sometimes, and sometimes I don't. I guess I pull about 30 grand. It's really not enough. I think in an ideal world, pastors would make less and need less and also be less overworked. I do think organized religion probably doesn't resemble Jesus' Picture of the Church very closely, and of course Paul said we had a responsibility to provide for our Teachers physical needs. He also made it a point to mention that he accepted no pay for His evangelizing and teaching because he wanted to remove the possibility of his motives being questioned for that particular reason. The Gospel was important enough to him, his love for Jesus was so consuming, that rather than take the chance that the materialistic question would arise, he simply eliminated the possibility. He chose to stack the odds of his message being heard with an open mind a little more in his favor. Of course, He didn't have to study as much...a senior Pharrisee pretty much had the old testament memorized, and the new testament wasn't written yet. Also, Paul had full duplex communication with the Big Guy. You know, Conversational prayer..."Concerning this thing thrice the Lord did I call upon, that it might depart from me, and He said to me, ‘Sufficient for thee is My grace," I myself would take the salary, give somewhat generously, and also get a jet ski, and take a trip. I would be okay with that. Would you?

Answer 4

In the bible it says in Matthew 19:24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." It depends on how they use there money. As is written in 2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. If he follows these examples and helps those in need with the portion of his money he feels is right then I do not see any problem with the amount he makes. As you said a minister should show by example. However that does not mean he needs to be a poor man to lead a good Christian life. What it does mean is that no matter how much he makes he should show a good example by using his money in good and respectful ways. This is just my personal opinion.

Answer 5

Is it wrong for Jim Carey to make $21 million a movie.

A lot depends on the education and stature of a given minister.

If they hold a Doctorate Degree $100,000 a year is not out of line for a PH D with experience.

The people who pick up your trash make from $40 to $75,000 a year and have no college at all.

A marriage and family counseller with a MAsters Degree and 10 years experince can easily make $200,000 a year off people's misery and disatsified lives. They don't dontate their time for free, you know, unless they have a Goverment Grant.

I knew a guy who ran a bait and tackel store who got a $30,000 grant to measure the stream levels in his area once a week.

The Presidential Candidates are going to spend $5 to $15 million dollars each to get elected in 16 months.

And the average CEO of the average big company makes $2 to $20 million a year and if you fire them they get a bonus of $100 million or more for early retirment.

Most Catholic Priests only get Stipend and retirement package. Food, travel and lodging are included as perks.

Answer 6

You know, I guess the salary would be based on the income status of the congregation. For example, if the church is located in an upscale environment, this is probably not excessive.

I personally believe that the excess is not necessary and does make the Shepard of the Church look materialistic and thus, worldly. Notice I did not judge, I said it looks like upon observation.

We are to store up our treasures in heaven, not here on earth. I do have a problem with it, but again, it would be between them and God. God sees and knows all.

Answer 7

Well, you can always take the addage I once heard, "We'll keep him poor, and God can keep him humble."

I wonder why the CEO where I work gets paid more than me, when I (and others at my level) do all the work!

Guess what - life isn't fair. And if these ministers are actually wolves in sheep's clothing fleecing the flock, etc, they will have to have a greater account before God because of their position.

You should read what God said would happen to them! (It's somewhere in the Bible, but I forgot where. Perhaps if you start at Genesis, you'll eventually discover the passage that condemns these kinds of people.)

Just be careful that you don't fall into the trap of judging other people's motives. Leave that up to God - He'll do a much better job. He even said "Vengeance is mine. I WILL repay."

But what about you? Have you made peace with God yet? Have you asked Jesus to forgive you for all YOUR sins and repented?

I only ask as a courtesy, since I don't know anything about you.

Answer 8

We reward other people for skills and knowledge. Most pastors of large congregations have college educations plus seminary training -- as much as eight years of post high school education. Additionally, they frequently spend a number of years as bi-vocational pastors or they live on a salary that is minimum wage.

To lead a congregation of 250 people or more takes a lot of skill, additional education, long, long hours and the ability to plan and administer. I think a good pastor should be well compensated because of the above reasons and because the Bible actually teaches that he who preaches the Gospel should also live by the Gospel.

Answer 9

And where does that $100,000.00 go? Maybe they dump a bunch of it into charity. It's really nobody's place to judge. If the church is willing to pay it - then....

Truly - it bothers me too. It's something I've been working on. The teachings of my church (Religious Science) are that we live in an abundant Universe. So - if you have something - rejoice. There is no lack. And yet - I still believe that there is lack. Not for me - but for folks in third world countries and such.

I have always lived simply. I don't want a fancy car or house - and I work at being philanthropic - and all of that. But if we truly believe that God is our Source - we can have whatever we want. The question becomes - WHY do you want it? Do you want THINGS so you can be a better person to the world? Or do you want THINGS so you can impress - etc. Only they know what their intent truly is - so I'm thinking it's wrong for us to make assumptions or judge.

Namaste!

Answer 10

Receiving large income as a Pastor is not a problem with the Lord "if" that Pastor is giving back to the Lord in missions, tithing, etc. When any one holds their money in tight hands, they will lose it. What I have more of a problem with is these professional athletes getting paid ludricrous, over-the-top salaries to throw a football or slam a few dunks "while children are dying and starving." Get real! A football won't lead me to heaven, but a godly pastor will.