Paying the Parson: by PW

First - I agree that we are a priesthood of all believers and as such we are all in ministry together. I also believe that some are called to serve as clergy. My path to becoming a pastor began in my early 40's.

As a student in seminary I served a small community that provided our home, paid most utilities and a small stipend/salary (as a result we took out some pretty heavy student loans). From time to time there would be fresh veggies, some baked goods, etc. While I was considered part time we all know there is no such thing as part time ministry, and as a student with a family we were forced to have free/reduced lunch for our children and even to have the children's insurance through state aid. I am not complaining, I understood that to be a second career seminary student and to minister in that context that is what we needed to do, and it gave me an understanding of how various systems work.

I do not however believe that serving in the semi-rural community where I am now a full time ordained pastor I should be making any more or any less than any other college educated person. My denomination sets as the standard salary at a starting teacher's wage. I do not believe that a pastor and his or her family should live in poverty, it is a distraction to being free to serve. The church does provide a parsonage, which frees us from all of the burdens of home ownership (but then we don't have the tax benefit either) aside from basic maintenance.

I think that if I was dependent on the community for dental work, car repairs, etc we could be in a tough situation if our church didn't have those types of skills, plus I would think there would be a sort of beholdenness to whomever provided the service for 'free' - sounds more like the old English Vicar who was hired by the wealthy to be the priest of the estate.

I have no problem living simply, we made that choice, but I don't think we should live below the median standards of the community either. Just my 2 cents worth.

Dave,

Better yet, why don't those who are dentists take care of everybody's teeth? And those who are builders build houses for those who are not?

...how about Paul's comments that he didn't take anything from the church, but rather worked in a trade so that he could minister?

Where does that fit into the 'scriptural' admonitions towards pastoral salaries?

I am a bi-vocational church planter, I would love to have a salary that would free me up to focus on the people more, however, if I had to choose between Paul's example of going now; financing the spread of the gospel with the sweat of my own brow, or waiting until some wealthy congregation could pay me; I will choose Paul's example every time...

I wouldn't trade my life/work for anything, I will be grateful when I don't have to do menial labor to feed my family, but i will do it till I die, if that is what it takes to continue in the task God has allowed me...