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Church Pastors' Pay Rises to More than $80,000
The Christian Post ^ | Aug. 19 2008 | Audrey Barrack

Posted on 08/19/2008 7:34:48 PM PDT by Alex Murphy

The average senior pastor in U.S. churches today makes more than $80,000 a year, a recent national survey shows.

Compensation packages, including benefits such as retirement, life insurance, health insurance and continuing education allowances, have increased to $81,113 per year for the average senior pastor. And pastors who hold a higher academic degree are paid up to $30,000 more per year than pastors without any post-secondary education.

The statistics come from the 2009 Compensation Handbook for Church Staff, an annual analysis of compensation packages at churches across the country, and at a time when churches begin planning their budget for the next year. This year, 4,800 U.S. churches, representing about 11,000 employees, were surveyed between January and March by the Your Church Media Group at Christianity Today International.

According to the survey, churches that draw 101 to 300 people each week pay senior pastors $72,664 per year, including benefits. The pay increases to $88,502 for pastors at churches that average a weekly attendance of 301 to 500 people, and then to $102,623 when attendance averages 501 to 750 people.

Compensation also increased among executive and administrative pastors who now earn an average of about $60,777 at churches of 101 to 300 people and $76,671 at churches of 501 to 750 people.

Pastors who lead music, choir or worship earn an average of about $51,954 at the smaller churches and $64,781 at the bigger ones.

Senior pastors, full-time secretaries and administrative assistants in the New England states have higher compensation compared to those in other regions, the survey also found.

Compensation is highest in suburban churches with suburban senior pastors making an average of 50 percent more than their rural counterparts. The pay is lower with churches in metropolitan areas, small towns and then in rural communities, respectively.

Meanwhile, executive or administrative pastors, bookkeepers and accountants earn the most in the Pacific region and administrators fare best in Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Pay also differed among denominations. Pastors leading in Presbyterian and Lutheran churches earn the most with over $100,000 in compensation while executive and administrative pastors make more on average with independent and nondenominational churches ($80,469) than any other denomination.

The 2009 Compensation Handbook for Church Staff provides a complete analysis of 13 church positions and includes breakdowns for part-time, full-time, church size, income budget, and geographical setting.


TOPICS: Evangelical Christian; Mainline Protestant; Ministry/Outreach; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: christianity; clergy; fleecingtheflock; religion
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To: Alex Murphy

If you do not tithe he calls you a Robber (thief) see Malichi.

And don’t try to tell me that that was Old Testament vs New Testament.

Christ came to fulfill the law of the Old Testament not to do away with it.

And just saying “bullbutter” shows you are very immature in this matter.


61 posted on 08/20/2008 12:32:08 PM PDT by Rightly Biased (Courage is not the lack of fear it is acting in spite of it<><)
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To: Alex Murphy

Sorry AM that wasn’t for you.


62 posted on 08/20/2008 12:33:24 PM PDT by Rightly Biased (Courage is not the lack of fear it is acting in spite of it<><)
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To: guitarplayer1953

If you do not tithe he calls you a Robber (thief) see Malichi.

And don’t try to tell me that that was Old Testament vs New Testament.

Christ came to fulfill the law of the Old Testament not to do away with it.

And just saying “bullbutter” shows you are very immature in this matter.


63 posted on 08/20/2008 12:33:47 PM PDT by Rightly Biased (Courage is not the lack of fear it is acting in spite of it<><)
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To: guitarplayer1953

You have to understand that when Abram payed his tithe to the King if was his first 1/10(first fruits)

God was not happy with Cain’s offering because it wasn’t his first 1/10.

Tithing is a spiritual issue and God will have to work in your heart there is nothing I can do for you, but pray that you will be revealed the truth in his word.

Regards to you guitarplayer1953


64 posted on 08/20/2008 12:37:34 PM PDT by Rightly Biased (Courage is not the lack of fear it is acting in spite of it<><)
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To: P-Marlowe
Why are you tiring so hard to instill guilt out of your pride. The giving of the first church was for the homeless widows and fatherless children.

Why do I care if a pastor has over extended the flock by building when God has not told him to to build a edifice to a domination? Why do I care that people of the cloth revert to guilt to manipulate the flock? If you can not figure that out I don't know what to say. Does your church give you a 7th year of rest? God did. Does your church spend and entire offering on a banquet meal for all? God Did. I have no problem giving to the widowed and fatherless children and the homeless. But I will not be beaten into giving.

65 posted on 08/20/2008 12:39:08 PM PDT by guitarplayer1953
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To: P-Marlowe
Why are you tiring so hard to instill guilt out of your pride. The giving of the first church was for the homeless widows and fatherless children.

Why do I care if a pastor has over extended the flock by building when God has not told him to to build a edifice to a domination? Why do I care that people of the cloth revert to guilt to manipulate the flock? If you can not figure that out I don't know what to say. Does your church give you a 7th year of rest? God did. Does your church spend and entire offering on a banquet meal for all? God Did. I have no problem giving to the widowed and fatherless children and the homeless. But I will not be beaten into giving.

66 posted on 08/20/2008 12:57:56 PM PDT by guitarplayer1953
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To: Rightly Biased
"Tithing is a spiritual issue and God will have to work in your heart " POOR ME.

Tithing is not a spiritual issue Tithing was for the Levities it was given from the increase of God's promised land. As stated earlier Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils of war.

To spiritualize that giving is a seed is not biblical. You have been dupted into that idea. The only planting and reaping of seed in the NT is the word of God.<{>Oh Oh just pray about it...well I have and much of what is called today Christianity is nothing more than hay wood a stubble.

When you see a beggar do you pass on by? Do you visit the motherless do you visit those in prison? Do you give a drink to thoses in need? Or do you just write a check drop in the plate and pass them by?

67 posted on 08/20/2008 2:22:05 PM PDT by guitarplayer1953
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To: guitarplayer1953

Again I say Tithing isn’t giving tithing is a directive from God.

And yes it is a spiritual issue. Try God in the matter he tells you to do this Himself.

I do not look for a reaping from the Tithe I give to God and his work. I give it joyfully from my heart. I was duped before I began to tithe, but I realized that the blessings of God would be poured down upon me when I do tithe.

But there isn’t much sense speaking of tithing to an unrepentant heart. FRiend Seek the Lord Ask Him what he wants you to do in this matter. I know in James we are told that “to know what is right to do and not do it is a sin”

I go where he wants me to go and a minister to those he wants me to minister to. Have you been with me in those long lonely nights at the hospital bedside with a hurting parent? Have you been with me when I sit with the widow just to talk as I go to mow her lawn.

FRiend you have the beam eye splinter thing real bad.

Regards
RB<><


68 posted on 08/20/2008 4:04:42 PM PDT by Rightly Biased (Courage is not the lack of fear it is acting in spite of it<><)
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To: Rightly Biased
WHAT DO I NEED TO REPENT OF?

YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF HOW MUCH I GIVE AND WHERE IT GIVE IT OR HOW I DO GODS WORK.

I have a beam in my eye you have a splinter? I would not even begin to judge you as you have judged me.

69 posted on 08/20/2008 4:13:48 PM PDT by guitarplayer1953
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To: guitarplayer1953; Rightly Biased
Why are you tiring so hard to instill guilt out of your pride.

That's funny. You come on this thread and brag about how you don't give a tithe and then you accuse me of being "prideful" for pointing out that a tithe is really a minimal amount and that giving is an act of worship.

I have no problem giving to the widowed and fatherless children and the homeless. But I will not be beaten into giving.

The scripture admonishes you to give at least a tenth back to God because it belongs to him! Your problem is not with the pastor. Your problem is with the scripture.

70 posted on 08/20/2008 6:20:50 PM PDT by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
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To: guitarplayer1953

You tell us that Tithing is not Godly and you don’t do it so I tell you to repent of your sin.

I only Judge in the same manner I would be judged from a fellow Christian.

Soooo... now the story changes and you do tithe? or do you say you tithe when backed in to a corner?

and FRiend you questioned my fruit before I questioned yours.

And do you really do Gods work or do you see where God is working around you and join in?


71 posted on 08/20/2008 7:17:49 PM PDT by Rightly Biased (Courage is not the lack of fear it is acting in spite of it<><)
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To: Rightly Biased

Don’t make this thread “about” any particular Freeper. That is a form of “making of it personal.”


72 posted on 08/20/2008 7:35:38 PM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: Religion Moderator

This isn’t about the Freeper but the subject and how the poster has flip-flopped but.....

I will oblige.

Thanks


73 posted on 08/20/2008 7:42:26 PM PDT by Rightly Biased (Courage is not the lack of fear it is acting in spite of it<><)
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To: Osage Orange

Yes-and they pay regular taxes on those farms etc, which they do not have to because of being welfare farms. They also hire local people, or keep the ones on that were working before the church bought the farm/ranch with the exception of sometimes bringing in their own manager. Otherwise everything is kept local.

I’m not sure what your problem is, but I am sure if you do not like where you live or those you live among- you are free to move elsewhere.

I also have an idea you are not really familiar with how the church does things just your perceived ideas.

Hopefully you are comfortable/content with whatever church you are affiliated with, assuming you are.


74 posted on 08/20/2008 9:41:49 PM PDT by newhouse
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To: newhouse
They aren't all welfare farms. You need to ask more questions of your leadership.

Can you tell me how many zeros in $50 billion dollars?

You seem to assume much about me, and your very own church. When the truth is quite different.

FWIW

75 posted on 08/21/2008 7:11:03 AM PDT by Osage Orange (Congress would steal the nickels off a dead man's eye's...............)
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