Posted on 05/30/2006 3:59:13 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan
When it comes to salaries among some church leaders, the policy seems to be "don't ask, don't tell," even though tithes from parishioners pay those salaries.
While Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches have no qualms about revealing pastors' salaries, many local Protestant churches do not reveal salaries to nonmembers.
Salaries of pastors at Protestant churches tend to be set by overarching religious associations or by a church board or both. The figure is often based on the church's location and parish size. Salaries tend to fall within the lower to upper middle-class range.
A general rule among Protestant churches may be that the larger the church, the higher the clergy salary, though that's not fool proof since a financial board or council typically still must approve the salary.
Some large Protestant churches, such as Canyon Hills Assembly of God, where 3,000 people regularly attend, do not reveal pastors' salaries even on their financial statements, where the salary is lumped in with all staffer salaries, said the Rev. Steve Vinson of Canyon Hills.
Others, such as Laurelglen Bible Church, reveal salaries only to members.
The Rev. Roger Poppen said ministers' salaries at Laurelglen Bible aren't revealed for the same reason he doesn't ask members what they earn annually -- it is bad form. Poppen, however, did offer more than most Protestant preachers, saying that 50 percent of the church's $2.2 million annual church budget goes toward paying the salaries of about 22 staffers.
Ray Hammond, pastor of Grace Bible Church, said revealing clergy salaries is a no-win situation.
"I make more than some and significantly less than others," said Hammond, whose nondenominational church has 135 members. "Usually the people who have a problem with what a pastor makes are those who make $1 less than the pastor."
Then there are those like the Rev. Charles Twist, ordained a Foursquare minister and the leader of the Restoration Word Fellowship Church. Twist said he takes no salary because his parish is small, 35 people, most of whom are poor.
The books at St. George Greek Orthodox Church show that the Rev. Joseph Chaffee earns $1,455.59 biweekly, which yearly computes to $37,845.34. Chaffee, who's been at St. George eight years, also receives a housing allowance and gas-mileage reimbursement.
His salary was determined by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of New York and St. George's church council. Chaffee supports a wife and nine children, ages 1 to 20, with his income.
"The goal is to cover my needs," Chaffee said of his salary, "not to reward me for my labor."
The Diocese of Fresno sets the salaries for Bakersfield Catholic priests. The annual base amount is less than $20,000, said Jesse Avila, diocese chancellor. Salaries are not based on parish size.
The Rev. Craig Harrison of St. Francis of Assisi Church makes $16,200 annually. Rectory housing, health and life insurance, and retirement benefits bring his yearly total to $25,590, he said.
Harrison, who has been a Catholic priest for 16 years, receives gas-mileage reimbursement for hospital visits and other job-related activities.
He said the modest salary reminds him why he joined the Catholic church and of his obligation to help the needy.
"We are not distracted," he said of Catholic priests.
http://www.bakersfield.com/
Looked underfed, lived in a cheezy apartment over a beauty salon, threadbare clerical collar and sold handmade Christmas ornaments to get enough money for smokes.
All you have to do to find out our pastor's salary is come to a business meeting. We hold them quarterly on Wednesday nights along with our weekly prayer meeting. Non-members can attend. There is usually an announcement in the Sunday bulletin the Sunday before a meeting.
"The conspiracy theorist in me makes me wonder fi they are setting up
for a major Faith bashing piece."
Could be.
But I wonder if the author (Mark Barna) has any relation to
George Barna and The Barna Group...that does lots of statistical surveys
on Christian-based issues.
See http://www.barna.org
You can't get rich being a Catholic or Orthodox priest...but you can being a Sunday Windstorm. You should see the size of the John Hagee estate.
Too many of these Protestant ministers are into the cult of "me."
Three pastors - a Presbyterian, Methodist, and a Mega-Church Pastor - met for coffee one morning. They began to discuss how they divided up the money that was given on Sundays.
The Presbyterian explained, "My method is rather simple. I go into the gym, stand at half court, and throw all the money into the air. What lands on the east side of the gym, I give to God. What lands on the west side, I keep.
The Methodist pastor was next. "My method is very similar. I stand in the middle of the circle at half court, and throw the money into the air. What lands inside the circle, I give to God. What lands outside the circle, I keep.
The Mega-Church Pastor listened patiently and paused for some time before beginning his rebuke of the two men. "You men of little faith. Your lack of confidence in God's sovreignty is apalling and borderline heresy. If you really believe God is alive and active in today's world, you'll do what I do. Stand in the middle of the gym and throw all the money up in the air. What God wants, He can reach down and grab.
I have heard that very old joke, except when I heard it, it wasn't the Mega-Church (presumably Evangelical) - it was a Jewish Rabbi.
That may be an old joke, but I'd not heard it...and it's great.
The nice thing about jokes like that is you can re-write them any way you want. I've told that joke to great effect using teh actual name of a local "ethnic" pastor who owns the most mind blowing palatial estate on 20 acres.
No, but a few have gotten "lucky"
and a few have gotten caught.
I also have told that joke for years, placing in the last position the clergyman who would be the current brunt of my humor. My punch line is....."God takes what he wants, and I keep the rest!"
Anybody remember Reverend Ike?
I don't know why people, especially christians make such a big deal about this stuff. I mean if someone is corrupt that's one thing. There's no excuse for that. But why shouldn't pastors be able to be blessed and enjoy life? At my church we recently all went together and bought our pastors (husband and wife) a new truck just to be a blessing to them.
If churches are going to claim their tax exemption, they oughta reveal individual salaries.
"Anybody remember Reverend Ike?"
Oh yes.
"If churches are going to claim their tax exemption, they oughta reveal individual salaries."
Best that I can tell, there is no basis in the NT for tax exemption.
"Render unto Ceaser..."
exactly
No but, much of that wealth is tied up in real estate, buildings and priceless art. Not to say that there isn't a lot of cash and (probably) investments. I suppose you maybe could get rich being the Pope, but what are you going to do with that money?
Two can play at that game. Let's just say that the Catholic Church is not immune from self centered clergy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.