The first time I encountered this, I was just out of college and serving part-time on the staff of Central Baptist Church in Tarrant City, Alabama, next door to Birmingham. Pastor Morris Freeman was educating his young pre-seminary prot
Pastor Joe McKeever
"Your words have stood men on their feet." Job 4:4
I’m increasingly convinced that paying pastors a “salary” is a bad idea. Now relax I’m not saying everybody needs to be bivocational and subsist off of coffee and adrenaline. However, language matters and there’s a significant difference between payment for services rendered (a “salary”) and having your expenses taken care of so that you are freed up for ministry (a “stipend”). Now we often tend to think of a “stipend” as barely keeping food on the table but on a near-poverty level. It doesn’t have to mean that — a stipend can be quite generous.
My Jewish friends tell me that rabbis are NEVER paid a salary — how could you commercialize the study of the Word??? — but receive a stipend to support them so they can have more time available for study rather than having to tear himself away and work to get the bills paid. I think the Church of England has a similar philosophy. I think they’re onto something.
Great word, my friend!
Right On. I’ll forward this on to all my folks. I think it’s worth their time to read it.
Thanks
Very well put. Sometimes I fall into that trap of not letting the people do the job because I think they will not do it right or to my perfection.
I have a little sermon I use at churches that have lost their pastor entitled “What Should Your Pastor be Doing?” from Col. 1:24-29. I always point out that in verse 25 Paul says he was called by God for the church and not by the church for God. When churches grasp that fact, it will make the life of the pastor or staff person much easier.