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Church Administration & Management
Most American pastors do not like to talk about money from the
pulpit, and asking for pay increase makes them uncomfortable,
with the result that most pastors preach to their congregations
about tithing once a year or less. Meanwhile, thirty-eight per
cent of all churches have no policy of giving pastors pay
increases, and the policy at an additional twenty per cent is to
give the pastor only a cost-of-living increase when the church
can afford it. The idea among the laity is that "you pay the
pastor as little as possible, not as much as possible," points
out David Goetz, associate editor of Leadership magazine.
Pastors make well below the median salaries of professionals in
other fields. Three fourths of the pastors tithe, but they are
uncomfortable preaching what they practice. Ninety per cent of
the ministers said it is inappropriate for a minister to ask for
raise in pay, and two thirds of those had never asked for a pay
increase. However, of those who did ask, two thirds received the
raise requested, and another fifth got an increase, though not
for the amount requested. As Jesus said, "Ask, and ye shall
receive."
Although ministers usually don't ask for pay increases, the low
salaries take their toll. The pastors cannot ignore financial
issues, so more than two thirds of ministers surveyed said their
families have at least some tension about insufficient money and
two thirds reported anxiety about family financial future. A
quarter of the ministers said they consider at least annually
the choice of leaving the ministry, and another quarter said
they consider this twice a year. Some small churches with
full-time, fully credentialed pastors would like to pay them
better, but simply don't have the money. Perhaps the section
pastor system used in NE India would be a better model to
follow.
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