hmmm....what would you say the average congregation size in a catholic church is?...if it's anything like the one we have in town...20 tops on a regular basis...the parish priest will be hard pressed to earn a good living. Joel Osteen's church is upward to 20,000 with multiple services each week. I am sure is in charge of many different ministries within his church. His congragation takes care of him. I am sure Osteen's church has an annual business meeting where his salary is negotiated. It is his church that blesses him out of their abundance. Smaller churches do not have that luxury.
I would love to be able to pay our Pastor what he is truly worth. He is on call 24/7 to help with the needs of our church. He makes more than our family brings in....but he also has put in more hours... Listens to more gripes, and ministers to the healing of marriages under attack....he takes time with our children and is lead laborer in any church building project...among many other things. He is on the go everyday with only 160 in the congregation...I can only imagine what pastors from larger churches must be doing.
My Pastor not only tithes to our church...he also tithes to the Ministry he was ordained in....not to mention missionary and other offerings. Joel Osteen is also an author...and I am sure if he is anything like my Pastor...he tithes on his earnings from that as well as his salary.. He sows into a ministry and he reaps from what he sows...that is God's economy.
Knowing your dear Pastor as I do, I can attest to what you are saying. Our pastors certainly are 24/7. Ours has visited me every time I've been in the hospital--sometimes at 4 in the morning. He's always there for us and we're always there for him. He has made very little money as our pastor because HE REFUSED IT, especially when we were struggling. We paid him, but not nearly what he was worth. He tithes 30 percent at least of everything he earns. These are truly great men of God, doing the simple things they're required to do by God and by their congregations. Both of us are blessed to know these men and their wonderful wives and families.