Something I've always wondered.

[draper]

Do Priests/Pastors get paid?

And if not how do they live?

I heard somewhere they have they're house, groceries, and other things paid for by the church but aren't given an actual salary.

Can anyone tell me this?

God I'm nosy. lol.

 

[altya]

In SA they get paid

 

[theseed]

Usually clergy get paid, and sometimes they get free housing and transportation (car) as long as they work at the church. It varies widely too.

 

[marc]

Some get paid, some don't, some are responsible with God's money and unfortunately lots aren't. I've heard of lots of pastors with very humble beginnings being sucked in by money when their churchs get huge. After all a 200,000 dollar a year salary is not much if the church is taking in millions. It's a huge struggle for many.

 

[Beanface]

But a salary of 200,000 is more than enuogh, especially for someone who is supposedly so devoted to the church. They should be spending more money on repairing and charity work than paying them a kings salary!

 

[wonderbread7]

I go to a church with 11,000 members. our church has a $7 million a year budget. my pastor makes thirty grand a year after being there 25 years and he still lives in the same house that was donated to him. And hes the most awesome man of God i've ever met. But yes, they do get paid.

 

[marc]

But a salary of 200,000 is more than enuogh, especially for someone who is supposedly so devoted to the church. They should be spending more money on repairing and charity work than paying them a kings salary!

Oops, don't get all fired up everyone. This was meant to represent the thoughts of a pastor that has stumbled and is trying to justify his huge salary.

 

[pmarquette]

Do Priests/Pastors get paid?
Most Catholic and Protestant ministers live on a salary which may or may not
contain a " rectory - house for pastor " ; vehicle ; expenses for food , heat , etc.
And if not how do they live?
Jehovah's Witnesses do not pay their minister's ...
meet expenses out of their own pocket

I heard somewhere they have they're house, groceries, and other things paid for by the church but aren't given an actual salary.
not sure , varies .... like a soldier's salary 25-75 cents per hour , but free room & board and discount disposable goods at PX ....
Can anyone tell me this?

God I'm nosy. lol.

 

[Beanface]

Oops, don't get all fired up everyone. This was meant to represent the thoughts of a pastor that has stumbled and is trying to justify his huge salary.

I'm not getting fired up dude

But the fact that some people working for the church can be making so much money, while there are so many better places it could go really bothers me. I would say it's the main reason why I do not go. That and the fact that some ask for a tithe. I Don't think a requirement for being a Christian should be giving 10% of your money to the church. that is not that I'm cheap or anything, I'm only 17 and I still do what I can financially to spread the word of God, such as helping friends fund missions trips.

 

[PRMan]

Beanface, it's too bad you have such a negative view of tithing. You really should try it before you knock it. God really does open the "floodgates of heaven".

Anyway, personally I believe a pastor should make the same as the average household income in his church. This way, he will fit in better with his parishoners. If it's a church of CEO's why should the pastor make $30K when they make $200K? Conversely, if it's a blue-collar church, it seems wrong for the pastor to make $200K when the average household is making $35K.

I went to a church in an area that was becoming increasingly urbanized. The salaries of the people dropped and the church income dropped but the pastor's salary never did. There's something that feels wrong there.

Anyway, when you think about the fact that everyone is giving 10%, it makes even more sense.

 

[Svt4Him]

I'm not getting fired up dude

But the fact that some people working for the church can be making so much money, while there are so many better places it could go really bothers me. I would say it's the main reason why I do not go. That and the fact that some ask for a tithe. I Don't think a requirement for being a Christian should be giving 10% of your money to the church. that is not that I'm cheap or anything, I'm only 17 and I still do what I can financially to spread the word of God, such as helping friends fund missions trips.

Welcome to earth. But are you saying that you don't go to church because some take a larger salary? Give me a break. Did you go to school?

I give money to a church because they have a good vision. If the leaders abuse it, they will answer to God. Once I give it, I don't feel I then have a right to dictate how it's used. I then use wisdom in how I give, but once given, it's theirs.

 

[marc]

I'm not getting fired up dude

But the fact that some people working for the church can be making so much money, while there are so many better places it could go really bothers me. I would say it's the main reason why I do not go. That and the fact that some ask for a tithe. I Don't think a requirement for being a Christian should be giving 10% of your money to the church. that is not that I'm cheap or anything, I'm only 17 and I still do what I can financially to spread the word of God, such as helping friends fund missions trips.

You and many americans have concerns like this. Personally I tithe to Gospel for Asia. All the money goes directly to the mission field. I do make special offers to things at the local church sometimes.
The pastors at calvary chapels tend to be very sensitive to the americans concern of clergy money abuse and they make it very very clear that they and God do not need our money.

God bless bro'

 

[Beanface]

Welcome to earth. But are you saying that you don't go to church because some take a larger salary? Give me a break. Did you go to school?

I'm not saying that at all (at least i'm not trying to) but I dislike that you are 'forced' to pay to go. I'm a full time high school student, and I work part time, (25-30 hours/week once exams are out of the way) to pay for my university next year. that also means that I have about zero pocket change. What little I do have, I often use to help out friends with spreading the word of God. for example, I'm planning on paying everything that my GF can't fundraise for a missions trip to Zambia. not because she's my GF, but becuase her family is not well off, and I can afford to help her. Also helped a friend with a few hundred to go to nicaragua (sp?)

 

[aanjt]

Do Priests/Pastors get paid?

And if not how do they live?

I heard somewhere they have they're house, groceries, and other things paid for by the church but aren't given an actual salary.

Can anyone tell me this?

God I'm nosy. lol.

In the Episcopal Church, the priest is paid. I believe the rectory is paid for by the diocese, though.

In the Methodist church, there is also a salary, the parsonage is paid for by the diocese as well.

Yours in Christ,
Jen