In many churches, the pastor’s salary is a quiet issue. There is a sense of discomfort from both the pastor and the members when the topic is broached. Such discomfort is unfortunate, however, because a number of churches will not seek every year to make certain the pastor is paid fairly.
A couple of prefatory comments are in order. First, we all know of the extreme examples of pastors living lavishly or mismanaging money. Those stories, though true, represent a small minority. Most pastors are not overpaid. And most pastors manage their limited finances well. Second, I am aware that many people are unemployed and that anyone who has a job should be grateful. That is still not a good reason to pay a pastor unfairly. As a final note, this brief article is relevant to all paid church staff, though my focus is here on the pastor.
In my 25 years of consulting and working with churches, I have discovered five common issues that are not always known by most church members. And lack of awareness of any one of these issues can have a detrimental impact on fair compensation for the pastor.
- A pay or compensation package is not the same as a salary. I cringe when I hear churches state a package to be the pay for the pastor. The package includes benefits such as health insurance and expense reimbursements such as business use of the automobile. No worker in a secular company adds their benefits and expenses and calls it their pay. Anything other than the cash payment (before taxes) the pastor receives should be reported in a totally separate category.
- There are many resources to find out what the fair compensation for a pastor should be. Many denominations provide their own compensation studies. But you can do an Internet search for “pastor pay” and see a plethora of resources that are available. And as a rule of thumb, you could seek to estimate what the mean income is for families in the church, and use that as a basis for compensation for the pastor. Churches that do not do their homework on pastoral compensation tend to underpay their pastors.
- Many pastors request no raises but would still appreciate one. Some pastors simply don’t want to deal with a critic who might question any raise given to a pastor. Others feel extremely uncomfortable talking about money in general, and use the “no raise” request to deflect further conversation. Some think it’s just the noble thing to do. But most pastors, in reality, would appreciate a fair raise to keep up with growing expenses. Don’t accept their requests as the last word.
- Many pastors are under extreme stress because they do not have adequate income to meet their financial obligations. Like anyone else who is under heavy financial burdens, a pastor can find his thoughts consumed with worry. Because he is so distracted, he naturally is less effective in his ministry. Both he and his family feel the pressure.
- Some pastors leave their churches because of pay issues. You will not likely hear a pastor announce in his resignation that he is leaving because of financial pressures. The reality is that, for a number of pastors, the issue of compensation is a major push from one church to another, or from the church to a secular vocation. It’s not that the pastor is in his job for the money; it’s that the compensation for his vocation is insufficient to meet his family’s needs.
Paul wrote these words to his young protégé, Timothy, in 1 Timothy 5:17-18: “The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain and, the worker is worthy of his wages’” (HCSB).
It is unfortunate that the few indulgent pastors who live lavish lifestyles get most of the attention. The reality is that most of the some 400,000 pastors in America are not overpaid; indeed many are underpaid. Those are the pastors who need our attention.
Posted on December 17, 2012
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
More from Thom
522 Comments
Thanks for your insight Dr. Rainer. I’m in a church plant that is about to eclipse 5 years. Budget decisions are only made by 3 pastors on the Elder Board (but we have 5 Elders) with no congregational input and little transparency. Pastor salaries are displayed as a line item instead of individually and the lead pastor is still soliciting about half of the budget from outside support. Out total budget last year was disclosed as $800K and we have a weekly attendance of about 300. Is this problematic? Should I be concerned about moral hazard here?
Paul actually discourages Pastors freeloading off of the congregation. For some reason, people often cherry pick the verses you’ll find above but read those before and after what is posted above for context. Yes, they can receive support such as food. But Paul himself, provided his own housing via his Tentmaking skils. That was his vocation. Our Lord was a Carpenter. Yes, those that rule well, preach and teach, can benefit but that certainly doesn’t mean benefitting to the point the members are paying all your bills. The model for church taught by Apostle Paul is an ELDER LED church. A pluralty of Elders. Not a pyramid scheme with one guy called Pastor and Elders below him. And many Elders can serve. No need to keep the same Elders Pastors as they may get burned out.
In fact, there is more scripture discouraging financially benefiting from the Lord work than encouraging it. Paul received some food, maybe a pair of sandles. Items to meet his basic needs. No more. Car payments, homes, and paying for the Ministers Children is excessive and unbiblical. 1 Timothy says all men are to support their own households especially, otherwise they are worse than infidels (unbelievers). Meaning all men with families are to EARN money to pay for their families. NO where in scripture do you find this as an example. Even the Priests in the Temples served about 2 weeks a year, all because they probably had real jobs and needed to support their families. Trust me, the average office of Pastor is so unbiblical anyhow. Please study Paul’s early church model, the examples of monetary compensation to meet basic needs, etc. And you’ll find the truth. Blessings, M
Thank you for your comments on cherry-picking scriptures. I don’t think any of us want to be guilty of that.
It’s refreshing to know that you seek to abide by all of the teachings of the early church.
I wasn’t sure that anyone actually followed Acts 2: 44-45 anymore (44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.) But from your response above, I’m now convinced you must, since to do otherwise would mean you picked cherries right around those two verses.
Laziness is condemned in other passages of Scripture while hard work is praiseworthy (For example Romans 12:8; 1 Thess. 5:12). I join the chorus of Scriptures that would warn pastors against that sin. Most pastors I have been around are anything but lazy.
Now, in an effort to ensure that we are not cherry picking what Scripture teaches about pastoral salary, lets look at 1 Timothy 5: “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.
Many pastors do follow Paul’s example as tentmakers and many churches follow Paul’s words to Timothy about paying their pastors well. Let us not flatten out what the Scripture teaches about paying pastors. Many seem to pick and choose the passages that support their position. Both sides have Scriptural support, but when you deny the legitimacy of the other biblically supported position you do so at great risk to the church and to the authority of Scripture. If a church needs a full time pastor, then they should pay him a full time salary given that he will not be able to manage the demands of full time ministry and another job, at least not for long. Likewise he will end up being an absentee father because all he will have left for his wife and kids will be scraps. If a church does not need a full time pastor, then he should be willing to work a second job to support his family…and no pastor I know of is unwilling to do this for His Lord and His family. If you believe you have an example of a lazy pastor I would refer you to 1 Timothy 5:19.
Blessings brethren
DK
What verse says that pastors should be ‘paid well’?
There is no such thing as a full or part time pastor. God has given ALL of us gifts and we are to use them WHENEVER we can. There are supposed to be multiple pastors in a church anyways because no one person can pastor hundreds of people effectively so there shouldn’t be any reason why one person is suffering a burn out.
No need for the sarcasm. And we should have all things in common. Let all Christians get a 9 to 5 so as to not burden others for money and donate to those who are TRULY in need- children and widows. Not to those who are able bodied and able to work a regular job!
Mark, you mean like you just cherry picked and took these verses in Acts out of context? No where in that passage is an allusion that the people gave all they had to pay a pastor.
Using your examples, Paul was a traveling evangelist with no spouse or kids, and made mention, several times, of other churches supporting his ministry while at churches that were unable or unwilling to do so. Also, Jesus laid down carpentry when He entered into full-time ministry, as did Peter, and Matthew, etc… Jesus’ full-time ministry was supported by those He ministered to enough so that he required a treasurer. And there was evidently enough petty cash in the treasurer’s charge that he was able to skim off the top and the ministry was not severely impacted. Is it safe to state that most churches require more of the average pastor than what the Bible lays out as so-called pastoral duties? I would say so. Many times if a person carries the title pastor, it is assumed by many congregations that pastor is Greek for indentured servant. while there are a FEW who lavishly abuse their position, that should not be leverage used to force the average pastor into indentured servitude. If you take issue with paying a pastor, I have a compromise for you. stop paying your pastor for being a pastor, but pay them well for the mountain of tasks they are responsible for on a daily basis that go waaaay outside the biblical model of pastoral duty.
I think we are missing the point the most important thing is the LOVE of GOD n the teaching of his word !! Should it matter who’s getting paid n who’s not ?? Who are we to judge ?? I personally believe pastors should get paid why not I. The Old Testament GOD always wanted the high priest n his family to get a part of the sacrifices..I am not a pastor and I wasn’t raised in a church but I love my Heavenly Father n I have given my life to him in JESUS name I hope I never get caught up in things like this I pray that my love n innocence will always remain !!! If there is a chance that a pastor is doing wrong with money or whatever they will be judged accordingly …. I give my tithe n my offering not to my church n not to a pastor but to the kingdom of my GOD what they choose to do with it that’s not my problem as long as I’ve givin with the right heart. And I’m glad my pastor doesn’t have another job and that we the church and the word of GOD is his one n only priority !! Stay blessed all of u xo !
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d certainly donate to this brilliant blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for bookmarking
and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
I look forward to brand new updates and will share this blog with my Facebook group.
Talk soon!
You’re kind. No donations are requested, but I do appreciate your readership support!
I am pursuing seminary and didn’t realize how much of a debate this brings up. I have faith going in. I feel very few men will answer the call in my generation. I could be wrong. 2 Timothy 2:3, 2 Cor. 5:7.
Awesome post. Korean churches are known to have this huge difference from senior pastor and associate pastors. Even in financially well established churches, while senior pastor is paid enough to make a living, most full-time associate pastors are paid part-time.
I didn’t become a pastor to live an extravagant life and God’s grace is sufficient to barely get by, but I’m not sure where that balance is anymore. I’m not starving or anything, but I really don’t understand how our family lives every month with what I make at the church. Stress and pressure is definitely there, but I do see God’s provision in somehow making ends meet. However, it would be very nice to see and know that numbers do add up for the month and I don’t have to scavenge hunt. I’m constantly debating if I should find another job, or if I’m supposed to stick around and let God sort of do His thing like He had every month.
isn’t it out of order for a pastor to receive a salary before the church has a building?
I have been watching this post since it was first made a month or two ago. One thing that has surprised me is how many people don’t think that pastors should be compensated. I am stunned to read how many of my brothers and sisters seem comfortable with a pastor not being well compensated for working up to 60 hours a week. Buildings are important, but generally speaking, if the church is poorly pastored because you won’t pay a skilled/qualified pastor enough to care for his family, your congregation will accomplish far less for the Kingdom than it should, and you might not get to keep your building when it is all said and done.
DK
Believing the pastor should not get paid, is a long standing belief that’s goes back to the early days when the preacher was given “a handshake and an invitation to come back.”.
First, the handshake and an invitation to come back may be rooted in tradition but it is not rooted in Scripture. Secondly, If all a preacher was asked to do in service to the church was preach, most (including me) would do that for free, even though the Scriptures teach that the one who feeds the sheep should be compensated (1 Cor. 9:9; 1 Tim. 5:8). Paul did not accept financial support from the Corinthians for a practical reason, namely, that they seemed to think that if they supported him financially they could sway his message and ministry. However, he still accepted payment from other churches in order to do his ministry in Corinth. So even the unmarried and childless Paul had financial needs.
DK
well stated
There should be MANY pastors (plural) in a church and ,therefore, no need for a full time salary!
The modern day pastors office is NOT biblical.
Dear Ellen,
While there is no exact compensation package called forth in Scripture, your assertion that pastors should not receive a full-time salary is simply not Biblical. For example, in 1 Corinthians 9:14 Paul writes: “In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.” Two thoughts:
1. First, this passage unambiguously endorses pastors receiving full time salaries; and
2. Second, please note the strong language Paul uses. He doesn’t say that the Lord suggested but that the Lord commanded that those who preach the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
Best wishes,
David
Ive joined this conversation late, but want to say THANK YOU all of you that have dedicated your life to helping others see the kingdom of God.
I pay my tithes faithfully and if you pastors go iout and buy a mansion I could care less. If it makes you happy please do it do when I see you Wednesday for Bible study and Sunday for some of the best lessons I’ll ever learn, I WANT you happy..
I’ll even come clean it for you.. Just ask.. You teach me what God has taught you, giving tithes and offering is the least I can do.. Stephanie..
“faithful till the end”
I’m one of those pastors struggling from month-to-month just to get by. My status is part-time, but I do full-time ministry. In my denomination, the pastors who have Full-Time status receives full-time pay, insurance, travel pay, free housing and all utilities provided free, and other perks. The deacons and elders get royal treatment. Many of the full-timers have church service on Sunday morning only. But for those of us who are considered Part-Time, we have no set salary and no free housing and utilities. The local church decides “if” they will provide us insurance and travel pay. Not one church that I have pastored ever provided insurance,travel pay or housing for me. Why should the church provide me anything when they don’t have to? They can still get full-time work out of me?
Compared to many of the full-timers in my denomination, I have church service every Sunday morning and every Sunday evening. I visit those in the hospital. I visit the sick, the shut-ins, I do funerals and weddings. I visit in the church community. I help with certain maintenance work on the church building. I personally believe “every” pastor, regardless of his or her educationally accomplishments, should be provided the best of everything. Why? Because we pastors are the ones who bring the Good News.
I don’t get paid for using my spiritual gifts which is why I work! I bring the Good News too.
Ellen:
I am self-employed outside the church–plus I serve the church full-time. Many preachers work outside the church for their living.
That was an awfully curt response. there are many duties required of a pastor besides using their spiritual gifts. As i have said previously, dont pay the pastor for performing their pastoral duties, but pay them well for the myriad of duties they perform outside of using their spiritual gifts and the numerous hours of overtime they put in.
I have a strange story. At the age of 18 I was called to preach. I am very aware of it and have been shuffling my feet to go to seminary school. When it came down to choose either Seminary school or Culinary school I chose culinary. Fast-forward 10 years and I am feeling the burden to go to seminary school. My finances aren’t clicking, I am having issues at work and my heart is heavy over this issue. I currently make about $22,000/year and I just don’t want to switch careers and put my family in a worse position. I know I should be faithful but sometimes taking a leap of faith is much harder than it seems. Can someone offer any insight into my issue? It would be much appreciated.
Joseph,
Don’t be a lone ranger. Go to the leadership of your church and talk with them about your inward sense of calling. Specifically ask for their evaluation of your gifts for ministry and for them to provide mentoring to you. They should provide you with some helpful feedback. Also, be candid with the leaders of your church about your financial situation.
In Christ,
David
My comment here is not advice for your current situation. Your situation doesn’t appear to be similar to the following person’s situation. I know a guy who was pressured by his pastor to attend seminary full-time. His had a good paying job. He told me that it was the pressure from his pastor that caused him to decide to attend seminary. The 2 years he spent attending seminary were difficult for him. He and his family barely got by. His wife went from a stay-at-home mom, to having to work outside the home to pay the bills and put food on their table. He was miserable. The stress from attending seminary, coupled with a mounting educational debt, made their lives unnecessarily difficult. Finally he started praying and seeking God’s guidance for his life and for the lives if his family. In the end, he made the decision to drop out of seminary, and went back to his previous vocation. The last time I talked with him, he told me he had his peace back and his family were much happier, too.
Seminary isn’t for everyone. Seminary is basically for people who are looking for a career path. People from well-to-do families, and people who are well-off themselves, are good candidates for seminary. Otherwise, a person, if fortunate, will graduate seminary burdened with a huge debt. With such debt hanging over ones head, it makes it very difficult to minister effectively. I sometimes wonder if the burden of debt is what has caused some pastors to become crooks.
Good perspective and insight. I’d like to read legal statutes on Pastors involved in networking marketing schemes they pitch to church members. Any laws on the books governing this?
Paul F Davis – author of ‘God vs. Religion’
Dear Paul,
I am not a lawyer so I have nothing to say about legal issues.
I am, however, a pastor and I find it appalling that any pastor would be trying to sell things to members of his congregation. Yikes! That is just horrible.
Best wishes,
David