English Deutsch Français Italiano Español Português 繁體中文 Bahasa Indonesia Tiếng Việt ภาษาไทย
All categories

Do you think that having paid clergy is a good idea? Why or why not? Do you think that paying someone to espouse their belief in God or scripture would make them more likely to "fake it"? Or do you think that the work they do is worth the moeny and other benefits they would/do receive?

2007-09-01 18:09:40 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

Makemeaspark - There ARE religions that do not have paid clergy. They manage to live without a welfare check. They have paying jobs as well as being a clergy member. It's not unthinkable.

2007-09-01 18:16:18 · update #1

Oregon Flower, you make a good point. Should other churches split the workload? Is it necessary to have one specific "preacher"?

2007-09-01 18:21:14 · update #2

18 answers

My dad is one of the senior elders (pastors) at a church that practices a group leadership concept with three or four "senior elders" that share the pastoral duties. My father does most of the teaching (they don't use the term "preaching"). They do not pay anyone on the team, all of the elders have (or had) a full time job to support themselves and their families.

Personally, I think this is the best way to do it from a biblical perspective. In several places in the bible, it suggests that those things you receive rewards for doing on earth are not going to be rewarded in heaven in the same measure as the things you do to serve the Lord without reward.

The church I attend now does pay its pastor. The biggest difference between my dad's church (and the other "unpaid pastor") churches is growth. The pastor's compensation is not tied to growth but because he (and a small team of paid "sub-pastors" and staff) can focus their attention full time on ministry, they reach a far greater number of people with the message of Christ. I certainly think that he work our pastor does is worth the benefits he receives...given his qualifications, perhaps quite a bit more if he had pursued other options!

Yes, I do think paying someone COULD make someone more likely to "fake it"...certainly seemed to do that for several widely-publicized televangelists (Jim Baker comes to mind). However, I don't believe they could keep it up for long if the church is following God's instructions to hold their pastors accountable for their words and their actions. If my church suddenly started giving my pastor a "cut" of all the offerings and he suddenly started preaching about tithing, I'd suspect something fishy (as would others).

2007-09-01 18:39:33 · answer #1 · answered by KAL 7 · 2 0

The system of paid clergy in the UK Anglican church is becoming an increasing problem. Clergy are paid a salary by the central organisation. People are now muttering that they're not worth the money. They have little or no accountability to their congregation and can virtually do what they like. There is a system by which the congregation pays the central organisation so much a year, which if they don't do, faces the ultimate sanction of closure. This is fast becoming the latest tyranny, with small congregations unable to pay up.

2007-09-01 18:19:18 · answer #2 · answered by cheir 7 · 1 0

The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians that clergy are entitled to be supported by the church. St. Paul chose not to accept the support of the church and continued working as a tent builder.

I believe that clergy should be supported by the Church as the Bible says they should. However, this support should not be so great that the clergy become wealthy. I think that the average salary of the community at large would be a good guide as to how much clergy should be paid.

2007-09-01 18:23:50 · answer #3 · answered by ozchristianguy 4 · 0 1

i do not have a problem paying someone a living expense if they are giving their entire life to the church. much like the Catholic Priest does.

however these big time Tent Preachers and Telivision preachers that solicit donations form people that can barely afford to keep their busted up chevy on the road. while they themselves drife around in fancy cars and have million dollar homes. thoes guys piss me off.

if your church agrees to support your preacher. his lifestyle should be the same as the majority of the congregation. ..

Myself I am an ordained Minister. and i Refuse to take money for ANYTHING. i work a full time job. and am behind on many of my bills. the only thing that i will accept form someone that i provide a service for is hospitality. which means if i come to your home and you offer me dinner i can accept that. if i travel to your home to help you i can accept an offer to stay in a guest room instead fo renting a hotel. etc.

however that is a personnel preferance of mine. and is in accordance with my beliefs. if your church wants to suport it's clergy. then good for you. but support and making them rich is a fine line to try and walk.

2007-09-01 18:21:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2 0

I can only speak for myself, but I want my pastor to be available to me and others in the congregation for such things as grief counseling, daytime funerals, weddings, hospital and shut-in visits, and charity work. I suppose there are some that do it for the money, but the average pastor doesn't really make a whole lot of money.

Paul says this in 1 Timothy 5:17-18:

17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages."

2007-09-01 18:21:04 · answer #5 · answered by frenzy-CIB- Jim's with Jesus 4 · 3 0

I think paid clergy is one thing, over paid clergy is another. I'm always saddened by the shocking displays of wealth some preachers and evangelists. The majority of clergy do not make much money, barely enough to get their families by...

2007-09-01 18:14:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3 0

I believe that having a set salary for a minister is a bad idea. However, I also believe that the church members should help and bless their minister financially as much as possible. So I think the answer is yes to both of the last two questions.

2007-09-01 18:16:48 · answer #7 · answered by JesusFirst2Day 3 · 0 0

I think if you wish to have a full time, always available minister or pastor, then he or she should recieve a salary for that devotion of time. Having worked for a minister, I know that job goes well beyond the standard 40 hours per week - some weeks it's an 80 to 100 hour job.

2007-09-01 18:27:44 · answer #8 · answered by Cheese Fairy - Mummified 7 · 1 0

They should be paid for their work like anyone else. They have families, power bills, car payments, house payments , groceries, gas, medication, household needs,etc. to buy just like the rest of us. Most major denomination preachers have college and seminary school education. They know what they are talking about. Not only do they preach (which can take days to prepare a sermon) they do counseling, marriages, funerals, office work, teach classes, attend meetings, etc. Most of them put in over a forty hour work week. Should they be penalized for their vocation? I think not. Theirs is an important position.

2007-09-01 18:21:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2 0

Paid clergy is VERY acceptable and necessary for a full-time minister. If a minister has to work ANOTHER job to feed himself and his family, as well as take care of a busy church and all the duties involved in it, his "flock" will suffer because of it.

While Mormons are quite happy not paying their "bishops," it's also fact that their bishops don't act as full-time ministers as do most who have Christian churches. Nor do Mormon "bishops" have a degree in teaching the Bible.

2007-09-01 18:19:22 · answer #10 · answered by Devoted1 7 · 1 1

fedest.com, questions and answers