6 figure income pastors

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. - John 10:11-13

Two types....
1. The Shepherds - Good pastors who love people
2, The Hirelings - Pastors who are in ministry for the career move

Up to you to decide! Every human is unique and you have got to get to know the guy before making any judgements. If he is indeed a hireling you have got to discuss the issue with the elders of the church and then make the decision on where you go from there.

yuppers said:

I go to a large church. There’s probably somewhere around 4K people that come over 5 services. I found out a month or so ago that 2 pastors in my church make 6 figure incomes. I used to tithe at my church with a joy in helping out. After hearing about the income levels I haven’t tithed in a few weeks. The joy I had isn’t there anymore knowing that my money is just going to our pastor. I’m all for pastors getting paid but not at such a high level. Could I get everyone’s perspective on this topic? Am I “right” in not feeling comfortable with that income level, or is it something that is ok because they are doing God’s work? Also on a side note, I do really like my church and they are doing Gods work. Please don’t talk negatively about it. Thanks

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I don't have a problem with pastors of large churches earning six figures. After all, they have a lot of responsibility, make a lot of decisions, (hopefully) are very active almost all the time in their church and community, etc. Consider how much money a CEO of a 4,000-person company might be earning.

I'm in a suburb of Los Angeles here in California. It's pretty hard to raise a family on less than $100,000 total family income. Granted, I'm considering a comfortable lifestyle that includes a car for all the teenage children and money for college, etc. So six figures is a relative sum. I want my pastor to be comfortable.

With that understanding, I do not believe a pastor should desire to live in luxury. For me, it's impossible to understand how a man of God can spend money on luxury items knowing their are people in his own congregation who are suffering financially. It makes no sense to me.

dysert said:

I don't have a problem with pastors of large churches earning six figures. After all, they have a lot of responsibility, make a lot of decisions, (hopefully) are very active almost all the time in their church and community, etc. Consider how much money a CEO of a 4,000-person company might be earning.

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If a man cares for his flock I do not begrudge his income.

Their God is probably Mammon.

Be careful who you follow.

I know preachers who have in their care orphanages and all the donations go for helping children.This is just a side note for everybody who thinks that if you give your life to God totally you deserve to use some of the donations received for your own good.Nobody says to not use this money for day to day living, but there are some limits.

Sorry, I don't want to judge, there are many who preach the Word but they are multi-millionaires.

I get a 6 figure income as well from preaching.
I am always trying to figure out 6 ways from Sunday how I am going to get together the income to pay the next bill.
SIGH!!!!

maintenance man said:

I'm in a suburb of Los Angeles here in California. It's pretty hard to raise a family on less than $100,000 total family income. Granted, I'm considering a comfortable lifestyle that includes a car for all the teenage children and money for college, etc. So six figures it a relative sum. I want my pastor to be comfortable.

With that understanding, I do not believe a pastor should desire to live in luxury. For me, it's impossible to understand how a man of God can spend money on luxury items knowing their are people in his own congregation who are suffering financially. It makes no sense to me.

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We need to be careful. If *we* live in luxury and don't take care of the poor among us, we should be judged just as harshly as if we were the pastor in the same boat. Just because his "job" is to oversee the flock does not mean that he has to live at the poverty line.

yuppers said:

I go to a large church. There’s probably somewhere around 4K people that come over 5 services. I found out a month or so ago that 2 pastors in my church make 6 figure incomes. I used to tithe at my church with a joy in helping out. After hearing about the income levels I haven’t tithed in a few weeks. The joy I had isn’t there anymore knowing that my money is just going to our pastor. I’m all for pastors getting paid but not at such a high level. Could I get everyone’s perspective on this topic? Am I “right” in not feeling comfortable with that income level, or is it something that is ok because they are doing God’s work? Also on a side note, I do really like my church and they are doing Gods work. Please don’t talk negatively about it. Thanks

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I would have to say that I would want my tithe to be working in the Kingdom of God.
I would be very hesitant to tithe anywhere that I did not see where the money was indeed being used.
The money has to be used for ministry so where is the bulk going? Do they announce this and if not why? I volunteer of course, However we use our tithes for food/help/medicine/diapers/bibles/etc:

yuppers said:

I go to a large church. There’s probably somewhere around 4K people that come over 5 services. I found out a month or so ago that 2 pastors in my church make 6 figure incomes. I used to tithe at my church with a joy in helping out. After hearing about the income levels I haven’t tithed in a few weeks. The joy I had isn’t there anymore knowing that my money is just going to our pastor. I’m all for pastors getting paid but not at such a high level. Could I get everyone’s perspective on this topic?

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There is no absolute command in the NT for Gentile Christians to pay a tithe. (aka 1/10) But many do and I believe are blessed for doing so.

So if you are giving as unto the Lord, it does not matter what the congregation does with the money. Of course we want accountability, but that does not diminish the blessing.

The college I was in during and after my college days had a formula that all tithes went to pastors' salaries; and building expenses came from general fund offerings (above and beyond the tithe) That meant (in theory) they could have one full time pastor for every 10 families that tithed.

I don’t know the man in question. That said, ideally a pastor will have a median salary for the area imho. Our parish each year determines the median salary of the area and adjusts his salary accordingly. He isn’t struggling, but isn’t making a bunch of money beyond the average parishioner. In my area, that’s in the mid 5 figures.

yuppers said:

I go to a large church. There’s probably somewhere around 4K people that come over 5 services. I found out a month or so ago that 2 pastors in my church make 6 figure incomes. I used to tithe at my church with a joy in helping out. After hearing about the income levels I haven’t tithed in a few weeks. The joy I had isn’t there anymore knowing that my money is just going to our pastor. I’m all for pastors getting paid but not at such a high level. Could I get everyone’s perspective on this topic? Am I “right” in not feeling comfortable with that income level, or is it something that is ok because they are doing God’s work? Also on a side note, I do really like my church and they are doing Gods work. Please don’t talk negatively about it. Thanks

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I don't know specifically about your pastors.

I guess I would want to know what the finances of the church are like. If budget of the church is paying out 95% of their income, in doing the things a church should do, and only 5% of their budget is going to salaries..... then I don't see a problem.

They are fulfilling their purposes, and I think if they are doing what they should for the Kingdom of G-d, then I don't mind the workers being paid.

On the other hand, if 55% of the church budget is salaries for the staff..... ok then I'm wondering if we are making good use of the resources G-d has brought to this church.

To me it is all about balance. If the church is spending the vast majority of its money working for Christ, then whatever they pay the pastor is fine.

If only a fraction of the money is going to good use, and half the budget is paying for the pastors sports car..... then that is a big issue.

What kind of ratio are we talking about. 5% for staff, and 95% for services to the poor, and outreach? Then fine. If it's 50% for staff, and 40% on a Christmas ball, and 10% is going to service in the community.... then something is wrong.

I think it all depends upon where the pastor resides. Six figures is not much in the metro areas of the NE and West coast. However, it may be excessive in much of the MidWest and South, except in the most expensive metro areas.

Southernscotty said:

I get a 6 figure income as well from preaching.
I am always trying to figure out 6 ways from Sunday how I am going to get together the income to pay the next bill.
SIGH!!!!

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The purpose of Tithing is to get your spending under control.

Our pastors earn $65,000 & 75,000 a year. Which I think is fair for their education level (MDiv) & (DTh) and the hours they put in.

There is six figures, and then there is six figures. Which is it? $100k is not excessive at all. $999k is pretty generous. Pastors can have wrong motivation at any income level, but at stratospheric heights I would say you're asking for trouble.

As far as the relationship of your giving and the pastor's salary, you need more context. Probably the pastor's salary is a small percentage of the church's budget. Why don't you request a copy of the church's annual budget or financial statement. Almost certainly they spend a lot of money on ministry, outreach, charity, and keeping the lights on.

I think it's the business of every gathering of believers to decide these things. It's their money not mine nor anyone else on these boards. There are things I wonder about at times though. Do some of these type ministers really have empathy towards many in his congregation which aren't quite as fortunate who are in the real world struggling to pay their bills. Of course not with all but with some I think there can become a real disconnect and really being able to relate with people where they're at.

It can seem so right if you're a church that insists that people pay a tithes and that is a tithes of their gross and to share with people believe God and he'll bless you. Have they ever been in the place where they can say they've really demonstrated giving much and having to absolutely have God to make up the difference? I know of one minister who said they Pastored for years and then God called them out on the field ministry.

He said while pastoring all was wonderful from a financial standpoint but you get out there where it's YOU that has to believe God well he found that was a different thing all together. Very hard, but very good he said because he said he really had to use his faith and believing God in prayer like he never had done as much before.

I think as well for some of these high paid pastors (and I'm not saying I'm against it) but maybe at certain times they need to be giving an overabundance in order to keep them in that realm where they have to believe God for resources to be coming in, that is not through pay checks but through miraculous ways. I truly think God would honor that for he'd know they're keeping their ability to depend on him current. Just something I'm wondering.

dysert said:

I don't have a problem with pastors of large churches earning six figures. After all, they have a lot of responsibility, make a lot of decisions, (hopefully) are very active almost all the time in their church and community, etc. Consider how much money a CEO of a 4,000-person company might be earning.

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The captain of a 5,000-sailor aircraft carrier is making five figures.