The time I took a $32,000 cut in salary

This is a risky thing to write.  I’m well aware that what is a great salary for one person would be considered starvation wages for another.  But perhaps it’s a story worth telling. 

I’m in my ninth year of retirement now and can look back at some scary moments and see the hand of the Lord at work in dramatic fashion.

Take the time I went from a church paying me $80,000 a year to one offering a $48,000 salary.

“Do preachers ever go to a church that pays less?” people ask.  Sure.  They do it all the time.  In one sense that’s what I did.  In another sense, it’s not even close.

Here’s the story.

First, this is nearly 30 years ago–1989-90–so I assume it’s safe to talk about it now.  I’d been at a large church for a short three-plus years and due to a conflict in the church–one not involving me but which drew me in and made me a target–a mediator recommended I leave.  I took a one-year paid leave of absence and walked away from that church.   (This probably saved my life as the stress was killing me.  But that’s for another time.) So, for twelve months I continued drawing the 80k salary while being basically unemployed, although I was constantly ministering, holding revivals, conferences, and de-stressing.  Then, just as the twelve-month period was ending, the church to which the Lord led me–in no uncertain terms, let me say–called me as pastor and offered the lower salary.  The church was recovering from a split 8 months earlier, that left half the congregation with all the debt.  Over half the income was required just to meet the mortgage payment.  So, the 48k was as much as they could afford.

So, in one sense, I went from 80k to 48k.  In another very real sense, I went from nothing to $48,000.  Smiley-face goes here.

Downsizing can be really tough.  And the living expenses in New Orleans (our new home) were no less demanding than in Charlotte NC (our former home).  How would we be able to make it on the lower income? We honestly did not know.  But we were willing to do this on faith.

Two things happened….

–First, a wealthy couple joined our church and made a substantial contribution to pay the salary of an additional staff member for two years.  They also supplemented my income for two years, at $12,000 annually.  The expectation of all of us was that at the end of that period, the church would be able to pick up the difference financially.

That did not happen.  Our membership was highly transient and while we gained a lot of members, we lost just as many. So, the income did not grow.  At the end of two years, a longtime staff member retired, so the new minister on staff began receiving the salary he had been receiving.  But what about the 12k supplement for the pastor?

–Just as the 24 months were ending, a faithful church member came into a good bit of money and gave the tithe to the church.  His gift was enough to pay off the balance on a building the church had bought some years earlier, and to cover my $12k supplement for another two years.

Whew.  You can believe my wife and I were relieved and grateful.

Then, at the end of that two years–four years in all–the church was able to increase my income to the $60,000.  It was still 20k less than what I’d been making in North Carolina, but we were able to live comfortably on it.  (We had had a wonderful period of growth and the church income was exceeding the budget, even right through the summertime, almost unheard of.)

So, the church was able to afford the addition to our salary.  The finance committee and deacons had been kept informed of this and brought the recommendation to the congregation.

And wouldn’t you know –some members complained to high heaven. “What do you mean we’re giving the pastor a 25 percent raise!”  “Whoever heard of such a thing?”  Never mind that the congregation was now well able to do this or that I had not had a raise in salary for going back nearly ten years.

The financial leadership of the church, well-informed as to my situation, came to me with a request.  “Pastor, we need you to go before the church and explain your financial situation–what you were making in Charlotte, what you came here for, etc.,–to the people.  We think if they are aware of it, they’ll be supportive.”

So, one Sunday night, I took 15 minutes to open up my financial books to the membership.  I began by saying, “There’s not a person here who would enjoy standing before 200 people and telling everyone what he is making, what his financial situation is, and what he is dealing with economically.  And yet, the finance committee has asked me to do that. And I will.”

At the end, I said to them, “It is true that I am being given a 25 percent increase in salary.  But in another sense, I’ll still be twenty thousand dollars below what I was making five years ago.”

I said, “I have not enjoyed doing this.  No one here would enjoy doing this, and no pastor should have to.  You should trust your finance committee to work these things out with the pastors.  Please don’t ever ask me to do it again.”

They responded with a standing ovation.  And the congregation agreed they would never again ask the pastor to do such a thing.

Trust.  It’s an essential part of church membership and leadership.  No congregation should try to conduct its business on the floor of a business meeting, but should elect faithful men and women to do these things carefully and unrushed and in confidence.

And what happened in my retirement years?

As I was approaching retirement in 2009, I was growing antsy.  “Lord,” I would say, “Are you sure? Will we be able to live on my retirement income?  Will anyone invite me to preach?”

One day, the Lord answered.  “I am your portion.”

That’s what He said.  “I am your portion.”

I did a little Bible study on that to see God first told the Levites that as Joshua was divving up the Promised Land.  Everyone got a section of land but them.  The Lord would be their portion.  King David liked the concept so much, he built several Psalms around it.

I’m now nine years into retirement.  I look back in amazement, the way the Lord has met our needs and kept me busy.  Take a look at my preaching schedule (on my website www.joemckeever.com) and keep in mind I am 78 years old. Sooo blessed, believe me.

And so thankful.

 

 

 

7 thoughts on “The time I took a $32,000 cut in salary

  1. Dear Pastor Joe, this brought tears to my eyes. May God be the portion of all those faithful pastors who labor faithfully for the Lord for insufficient salaries. May the brethren grow in love and obedience and support those who teach us, shepherd us and equip us for ministry.

  2. Pastor Joe, I was just told by my finance team that they are cutting my salary by $10,000 a year. So, I must start looking for a part-time job to make up the difference.

    • Wow. That hurts, Pastor Mike. I’m so sorry. Some quick thoughts: Perhaps you saw it coming and were not blind-sided? I hope the cut was made necessary by some realities and were not the result of someone’s vindictiveness. Now, rally your prayer network (if you don’t have one, it’s not too late to get one!) and get them to interceding with the Lord. Perhaps this is His way to get you to do something He has had in mind all along. Stay faithful. I’m praying for you today.

  3. My question is to all pastors. Did Jesus take a salary for sharing the word? The word should be shared freely by all to help bring people into his Kingdom.

  4. I have a similar story Joe. I went to a church as a full time pastor. Paying me 45k last 14 months. And in my follow up after poor evals and lack of structure cut my salary to 25k. They relieved me of some ministerial duties and urged me to focus on youth because they thought it was to stressful for me. I am hurt by this, because it was not. But trust God through the process and am using this time to pursue more school and other forms of ministry.

Leave a Reply to Blanche Murray Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.