Part two: Increasing our income.
Salaries and payments to Senior Church Leaders (SCL) is
still a very emotive issue. A search of the internet on this subject reveals
that it is an uncomfortable subject among many churches and organisations and
that there is no clear cut answer. Issues revolve around area and
socio-economic background of congregation. The size of congregation and the
length of time the Pastor or Senior Church Leader has been in ministry-their
level of experience and education. It also depends a lot on which country you
live in. For the purpose of this blog I am talking about the developed world.
Even so the general consensus is that in countries such as New Zealand,
Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America we still under
pay our Pastors and Senior Church Leaders. (SCL)
Let us suppose for just a moment that we live in a perfect
world and that we pay our pastors and senior church leaders a liveable wage. A
wage that is above the national average and based not on an outmoded stipend
scheme but on professional pay scales for management. Let us suppose we do this
not because we have too but because we want too, because we recognise the
importance and value of the work done by these men and women. What would this
wage look like and what could the senior leader do with it?
I would like to answer the questions in the following way;
A
look at the nature of the ministry
Is
it a job for life?
How
is money and wealth viewed?
The Ministry.
Most Pastors or Senior Church Leaders are attached to a
church through a denominational structure, They may pioneer a church under the
denominations banner or they may be called to take over a church. In most cases
the church acts as an autonomous entity that for legal and practical reasons
needs the covering of a denomination. This is particularly true of Pentecostal
or Evangelical groups. The purpose of any church no matter what background is
missional. In other words we are called of God to spread the good news and
increase the church.
When I went into business for myself I started like
everybody else with a small amount of capital and a few good people. For the
first year I did not draw a salary for myself, my wife worked and supported me.
The onus therefore was on me to do my job and grow the company. In the second
year I started to pay myself a small salary and sometimes I would do work for
other companies on a contractual basis ensuring that all monies were paid into
my company, for tax reasons. By the end of the third year all our personal
financial concerns were taken care of. In ten years I had grown the company to
employing over 100 people and having a multimillion dollar turnover.
Churches are not businesses but why can we not take some of
the principles of growing a business into our churches. Why can't we employ the
SCL or Pastor as a self employed person who has their own ministry? The salary
or pay package is paid directly to the business or ministry. The size of the
start up salary would be dependent on size and socio economic status of the
congregation. The increase in those payments rests entirely on the SCL to build
both structurally and numerically. In the early years the SCL should be allowed
to augment their income by doing work in other areas on a contractual basis.
This may entail preaching as a guest in another church, or Bible College
lecturing or taking secular funerals or being a wedding celebrant.
Is it a job for life?
The period of time that a Pastor or SCL stays at a church is
a difficult question and dependent on experience. In the business world an
executives stay at a company is dependent on their success and whether the
company increases and profits are made. Is the person employed by the church cut
out for the job? I know of people who take on churches just because they think
they would be good at it and they look after people well. Not great reasons for
going into ministry. However if the ministry is successful and the church does
grow and continues to grow then there is no reason for the SCL not to stay in
the position for a great length of time, or at least until they feel called to
move on.
In doing this, the question that I have to ask is how well
is the SCL looking after their future? A lot of churches have a church manse, a
lot do not. Yet housing is important and where the house is in relation to the
church is also important. Now remember we are talking about in a perfect world.
So all things being equal I would like to suggest the following. Rather than
give the SCL or Pastor the use of the church house or rent for a house, why not
encourage them to buy a house (not a mansion) in the area and for the church to
pay for the mortgage rather than a rent. This way the SCL then gains an asset
for their future rather then retire from ministry with nowhere to live. If the
SCL expands the ministry and the outreach of the church to nearby towns they
could build a portfolio of property to go towards their retirement. As they
move around they rent out the dwelling they have left to pay for the mortgage
so this does not become the burden of the church.
A number of years ago I read a book called "Rich Dad
Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki. It is not a Christian book but the way the
man made his money and they way he spent his money is of great interest. He
suggests that the first 10% of our income should go to a charity or our church.
10% should go to our savings and 10% to invest for the future, stocks, shares
or property. The 70% remaining we should learn to live off. I would advocate
this sort of idea simply because the SCL or Pastor rarely invests in their
future. They do not as a rule look after themselves for their retirement. This
is perhaps out of some idea that Jesus will return before then or that God will
look after them in old age. I am sure God will look after them but God also
gave us wisdom to help us.
Money and Wealth.
Money and Wealth are looked upon by the Christian with some
disdain and there are valid reasons for doing so. But Money is the currency of
this world and it has to become our currency. Learning to use it wisely and to
make it work for us is important. I do not believe in storing up for myself
treasure on earth but a do believe in being sensible . One of the ways for me
to me sensible is to look after my money and make it work for me. I do not want
to be one of those people in ministry who serve God all their lives and retire
with very little or nothing at all. On the other hand I would love to have
surplus to be able to sow into the Kingdom of God and see others blessed by my
giving. But I would also like to see other Christians who are perhaps not
called to work full time for God to honour and bless those who are called to
ministry. Not just with words but with double financial blessing.
Comments
Post a Comment