[Alex Murphy]

Your Pastor: Shepherd or CEO?

When a church files for tax exemption as a 501(c)(3), it becomes a non-profit corporation. It's just a short walk from there to having the pastor think of himself as a manager/CEO.

[suzyjaruki]

So true!

I have seen a refusal by someone to become a member of a church for this very reason.

[scottro]

When I left the institutionalized church ,the first thing we tried to do as believers were to try forming another organization,by getting a tax exempt. The problem with this is that it started to put rule upon rule. So if we wanted to give,it wasn't done freely but through the organization. Jesus Christ came to set us free so that we as believers would start to move from the heart without any motives but to follow him. God's gifts are present when we get together and there is no hiding out because we are starting to know each other like a family. Not an OFFICIAL membership but members of a bigger family with Jesus Christ written on our hearts. So hard for some to handle because people want you to be controlled and to fit into their system.

[blue-duncan]

Once again, you hit the nail on the head. We form an artificial entity called a corporations created by the state to take advantage of the limitation on personal liability and to have a perpetual life for financing purposes. We insure the entity against casualties and liability. We set financial budgets during the year and usually report the interim results in the church bulletin, (program or worship folder), and then have quarterly and annual BUSINESS meetings where reports are given. We take advantage of all local, state and federal tax exemptions, and the Pastor is an agent of the state for marriage purposes. We have buses and vans to run, programs to be administered, church to promote and a church plant to be maintained. The church employs personnel and has wage and tax filings and worker compensation insurance audits. And this is just a small to medium size church, up to 150 attenders.

Of course he is a CEO (Administrator) of a business. That is the model we have set up for the church. Our product is the Gospel and we measure our success by our attendance and budgets, and we merchandise it with books, CDs, movies, radio and television programs, cruises and tours of the holy land. We want him to preach to us, teach us, hold our hands, and assure us that we are part of the elect and the way we are living is alright. When he does all of this we give liberally and meet the budget and have a successful year and thank God.

Whether the church polity is independently, hierarchical or semi-hierarchical, whether its local government is authoritarian, Elder governed or member run it is still a business and ultimately, the final decision will be with the Pastor, by strength of personality, strength of conviction, strength of persuasion, strength of patience or just good at politics.

[madison10]

It's just a short walk from there to having the pastor think of himself as a manager/CEO.

Which is NOT a good thing, especially where money is concerned. Take it from a church secretary of almost 10 years.

[ksen]

When a church files for tax exemption as a 501(c)(3), it becomes a non-profit corporation. It's just a short walk from there to having the pastor think of himself as a manager/CEO.

I am totally against churches having a 501(c)(3) exemption. I heard Larry Burkett say, and lawyers supported him, that churches are naturally exempt from taxes and do not need a 501(c)(3) exemption. All that serves to do is give the government a potential string to pull to make your church dance to their tune.