Do you ever get tired of fat salaried pastors telling everyone else how they should 'serve' for free

[JustRachel]

I'm almost certain that Jesus told us to serve. Somewhere in Philippians it also says to not grumble.

 

[Sparagmos]

No, I'm only going to multiply it by 2 at most. I live in a large metro area and protestant churches stopped meeting Sunday nights decades ago, with maybe one service mid-week, so that's two total.
You're joking, right? That doesn't even happen in small churches, much less the ones you describe that are so big they supposedly meet 4 times per week. No, that's what all the assistant pastors do, with each assistant getting their own secretary.
I'll pass on the book since I'm sure he doesn't explain how he can show up to 'work' at 10 am, take a 90 minute lunch, and leave at 4 pm while having such a heavy burden of so much responsibility on his shoulders.

If pastors ever form a union, you might be qualified as their bargaining representative. Did you ever belong to a union?

Even if all the things you describe were true and legitimate full-time job functions, the pastor is still going to complain about not enough volunteer service from others while he gets paid for everything he does. Maybe we should divide the pastor's salary by each hour he puts in, then pay the volunteers that much per hour.

Then he'll get up and complain about the complainers, which means he's no better than they are cause he's complaining. But that's another topic. It all falls under the heading of 'what's good enough for you isn't good enough for me' hypocrisy.

I'll take it that your answer to my original post is a resounding NO, even though you never actually answer the question, it's pretty obvious. Are you a pastor? Is there one in your family? Why the bias? Why the support of hypocrisy?

Have you noticed no one is agreeing with you? In our experience pastors work long hours, and most of us believe people must volunteer in order for a church to be viable. Volunteers aren’t paid because they are not being asked to quit their job to serve the church full time, and because the church could never afford to pay them all. And why should a volunteer need to be paid?

If your pastor is truly misusing church funds by not working the hours expected, you have a duty to raise that with the elders/leadership group. Complaining here won’t change anything.

 

[Dave-W]

You're joking, right? That doesn't even happen in small churches, much less the ones you describe that are so big they supposedly meet 4 times per week.

If a pastor is to do what he/she is called to do - that MUST happen. Or do you not believe this verse?

Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.​

IOW, your pastor and the elders have to give an account to God for everything you do, good or bad. How can they do that without knowing everyone personally?

That is part of the job description of a pastor.

 

[Dave-W]

If you are expecting your part-time pastor to be working full time hours, then you are being unrealistic.

It was my reading that he was complaining the pastor was only working part time but pulling a full time salary.

 

[Norbert L]

Anyone who would write such a post as this certainly has NO IDEA what goes into pastoring a congregation of any size. It is not part time. It is more like 80 hours a week.

Pastor's as a group are not one homogeneous kind of a person as the apostle warns in Acts of the Apostles 20:30. So naturally there will also be some that are the opposite to the OP's description of them.

 

[Peter J Barban]

Especially when the part-time pastor is seen coming into the office at 10 am, taking a leisurely 90 minute lunch at noon, then leaving the office at 4. And you'd never see them volunteering if they were to quit. They'd sit at home on Sunday morning updating their resumes for the next PAID ministry position which they apparently feel they are entitled to cause they went to seminary and therefore fall into another category than the layperson who has been studying their Bible their entire lives and also knows it forward and backward but perhaps aren't as 'eloquent' at putting a sermon together. Nor is the pastor's schedule booked solid with counseling sessions like some sort of high priced psychologist.

"But....but...they have families to support!"

So do the part-time volunteers. They have other jobs. A few relatively rare pastors of smaller churches may work full-time at other jobs, like school teacher, but still get paid by the church. They aren't volunteering.

Everything everyone is doing can be made to be part-time. It's called LESS THAN 40 HOURS OF WORK PER WEEK!

No, this has never bothered me. What does bother me is when tight-fisted church boards refuse to hire more workers because they insist everyone should do the work for free. The pastors I know would love to pay for more help, they just aren't allowed to make financial decisions.

 

[IntriKate]

...

 

[Mountainmanbob]

Especially when the part-time pastor is seen coming into the office at 10 am, taking a leisurely 90 minute lunch at noon, then leaving the office at 4. And you'd never see them volunteering if they were to quit. They'd sit at home on Sunday morning updating their resumes for the next PAID ministry position which they apparently feel they are entitled to cause they went to seminary and therefore fall into another category than the layperson who has been studying their Bible their entire lives and also knows it forward and backward but perhaps aren't as 'eloquent' at putting a sermon together. Nor is the pastor's schedule booked solid with counseling sessions like some sort of high priced psychologist.

"But....but...they have families to support!"

So do the part-time volunteers. They have other jobs. A few relatively rare pastors of smaller churches may work full-time at other jobs, like school teacher, but still get paid by the church. They aren't volunteering.

Everything everyone is doing can be made to be part-time. It's called LESS THAN 40 HOURS OF WORK PER WEEK!

Pastors are held to a higher accounting with God.

That should keep the good ones on track.
Bad ones are headed where they are headed.

I mainly pay attention to the Pastor at our Church.
Until further notice.
Obviously a man of God.

M-Bob

 

[GOD Shines Forth!]

Especially when the part-time pastor is seen coming into the office at 10 am, taking a leisurely 90 minute lunch at noon, then leaving the office at 4. And you'd never see them volunteering if they were to quit. They'd sit at home on Sunday morning updating their resumes for the next PAID ministry position which they apparently feel they are entitled to cause they went to seminary and therefore fall into another category than the layperson who has been studying their Bible their entire lives and also knows it forward and backward but perhaps aren't as 'eloquent' at putting a sermon together. Nor is the pastor's schedule booked solid with counseling sessions like some sort of high priced psychologist.

"But....but...they have families to support!"

So do the part-time volunteers. They have other jobs. A few relatively rare pastors of smaller churches may work full-time at other jobs, like school teacher, but still get paid by the church. They aren't volunteering.

Everything everyone is doing can be made to be part-time. It's called LESS THAN 40 HOURS OF WORK PER WEEK!

I know of ONE dispensationalist pastor who is a professor full time and is the preacher at his church part time...for free. He preaches what he believes and goes through whole books/letters of Scripture.

 

[topher694]

This guy just dropped a bunch of baseless accusations, then, when no one agree with him disappeared... sad

 

[Hammster]

This guy just dropped a bunch of baseless accusations, then, when no one agree with him disappeared... sad

Yeah. I’m not sure why anyone would assume that all pastors are the same. My elders don’t reflect what’s described in the OP.

 

[topher694]

Yeah. I’m not sure why anyone would assume that all pastors are the same. My elders don’t reflect what’s described in the OP.

Yeah, it's silly. Or assume that we do it for money or out of laziness. I've been pastoring for nearly 5 years and have paid myself nothing that entire time. While most don't do that, every pastor I know has sacrificed in major ways for their flock.

 

[bekkilyn]

The only way I have been able to live on my pastor's salary is because I am single and have no debt. If I had to support an entire family on it, we would be impoverished. I could be making a whole lot more money elsewhere and am very highly qualified to do so based on both education and former work experience, but I choose to remain where I am currently called to be.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Roman's 10:15

 

[RBPerry]

Especially when the part-time pastor is seen coming into the office at 10 am, taking a leisurely 90 minute lunch at noon, then leaving the office at 4. And you'd never see them volunteering if they were to quit. They'd sit at home on Sunday morning updating their resumes for the next PAID ministry position which they apparently feel they are entitled to cause they went to seminary and therefore fall into another category than the layperson who has been studying their Bible their entire lives and also knows it forward and backward but perhaps aren't as 'eloquent' at putting a sermon together. Nor is the pastor's schedule booked solid with counseling sessions like some sort of high priced psychologist.

"But....but...they have families to support!"

So do the part-time volunteers. They have other jobs. A few relatively rare pastors of smaller churches may work full-time at other jobs, like school teacher, but still get paid by the church. They aren't volunteering.

Everything everyone is doing can be made to be part-time. It's called LESS THAN 40 HOURS OF WORK PER WEEK!

Bingo!, We have all seen it over and over. You must remember that is between the Pastor and God. Too many church members put a pastor on a pedestal and the church board doesn't hold him accountable.

 

[topher694]

Bingo!, We have all seen it over and over. You must remember that is between the Pastor and God. Too many church members put a pastor on a pedestal and the church board doesn't hold him accountable.

Don't buy into that op garbage, it's all bitterness and conjecture.

 

[RBPerry]

Don't buy into that op garbage, it's all bitterness and conjecture.

I have no way of knowing her motives, but I have seen a few pastors that get paid very well and do very little as the op has stated. I've also known pastors that gave some much more than most would expect and for very little. God will sort all that out, I'm not their judge but some things are just obvious. As for me if God called me to preach at a church for free I would do it.

 

[topher694]

I have no way of knowing her motives, but I have seen a few pastors that get paid very well and do very little as the op has stated. I've also known pastors that gave some much more than most would expect and for very little. God will sort all that out, I'm not their judge but some things are just obvious. As for me if God called me to preach at a church for free I would do it.

You don't know how much they do. And much of it is not appropriate for you to know.

 

[RBPerry]

Don't buy into that op garbage, it's all bitterness and conjecture.

Hit post before finishing my post, comes with age. Wife and I drove two hours so I could fill in for the pastor, poor church, free will offering was eighteen dollars. I asked the deacon to give it to someone in need. However, I'm retired and have a good retirement so someone needed that money more than me. Also, I'm not an ordained pastor, but I am an Evangelist because I love to share God's love.

 

[topher694]

Hit post before finishing my post, comes with age. Wife and I drove two hours so I could fill in for the pastor, poor church, free will offering was eighteen dollars. I asked the deacon to give it to someone in need. However, I'm retired and have a good retirement so someone needed that money more than me. Also, I'm not an ordained pastor, but I am an Evangelist because I love to share God's love.

Filling in for a sermon is not the same as leading a church.