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.
Yeah, my Dad would sometimes toss a pack of Benson and Hedges into the collection plate on Sunday
but he'd get this blowback that they weren't appreciated because they were menthols.
Dad's response was vulgar.
It became a vicious circle.
As John Marshall said in another connection, the power to tax is the power to destroy. Given the malice exhibited against Christianity by the likes of the city of San Francisco, not prudent. The spiritualists among the medieval Franciscans over emphasized the benefit of poverty and ignored the benefit of wealth. Confiscation of that wealth led to domination of the Church by the national monarchies and nobilities. In Protestant countries, the subjugation of the Church was even more profound.
"Getting rich" was not part of the original post. Having a large building centered on the pastor, not the faith was the point.
And, again, can you point out where on St. Peter's the name of the pope is written in two-foot letters?
Where is that sign that says
St Peter's Cathedral
POPE BENEDICT XVI
because I've not seen it.
I can't resist pointing out that the building you are referring to is called "Saint Peter's".
Nothing about Jesus Christ there...
No, the original post referred to the "cult of me" that many Protestant ministers belong to.
That in itself was not entirely fair. I've never seen a Presby, Methodist, Lutheran or Anglican church suffer from the same cult of the individual. It's only been limited to independent Baptist (not SBC, etc.) and "non-denominational" "Bible" churches.
Your comment on the naming of St. Peter's borders on silly. Even the cult of the individual "churches" often have odd, non-designating names like "Garden Fellowship" or "Vineyard."
Catholics, Lutherans, Orthodox, Anglicans, SBC, Presby - you name it - churches honor those who came before to spread the message of Christ by naming churches after them. Do you not get this? If not, that's surprising.
You post it. Show me how much you care a bout something other than whether catholics come out looking good. Which was the original point of my post. I'm not surprised you missed it and tried to change the subject. I'm on to ya.
Discuss the issues all you want but do not make it personal!
Well, it is a standard :)
Am I the only one who wants to turn this around and demand knowing the salaries of the obnoxious people in the media like this Mark Barna?
I'd like to know how well they are being enriched and rewarded to write negative articles about our Lord, churches and believers. It might be rather eye opening.
actually that's not correct. It can only be one of those two. I'm hoping its the former although I expect not.
LMAO I have really enjoyed the exchange. It is rare to witness such a bold affirmation of such a standard. Have a lovely weekend, brother
When I observe there ought to be some balance I'm not going to provide it for you. You're the guys posting the multiple pity partys. And don't call me your brother its hypocritical.
And the thread our exchange initially appeared on was not a pity party. It was a thread devoted to placing before the public the truth about a wonderful Pope. We Christians don't consider facts a pity.
Have a lovely weekend, brother :)
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