Dude, lying about bishops is going to make you look even more ridiculous than you already do with your big ten foot axe to grind. I have had complete and detailed access to finances of many wards, both currently and during the 80s and 90s, and bishops don’t get paid squat. As to “expenses”, all the ones I’ve seen (and that’s quite a few) end up not taking the few hundred dollars a year they might be entitled to for buying food for socials and such.
If you insist on spending all that effort to be anti, you’ll be more effective staying in the religious opinion area.
OK. I did some double-checking on my facts.
If your reference applied only to Lds bishops today as well Lds bishops of old, I'd say we both were wrong and we both were right.
The reason I'm partially wrong is that I made a reference to a potential $60,000 stipend paid in today's funds...and that isn't so...so I recant that claim as outdated. Stipends for Lds bishops at one time was so; not any more.
BUT...
But...
Since your statement focuses mainly on the 1980s and 1990s, I'm going to request that you apologize for calling me a liar about the way the Lds church previously ran its finances & stipends for bishops.
My understanding is that Lds bishops were still being paid a 10% "stipend" from tithing funds as of at least 1993.
Source: "Changes in stipends for bishops and general authorities. (Bishops once received a 10% stipend from tithing funds, but are now purely volunteer.)" [See History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]
I made the following claim on an Oct. 23, 2008 FR thread -- and I stick to it: LDS Bishops are indeed lay folks who receive no salary. But as of 15 years ago, I knew of a bishop who received $40,000 (in 1993 $) as a "stipend" for expenses. Now don't get me wrong, bishops indeed incur expenses for which they need to be reimbursed. But I would betcha, were you to have surveyed Protestant pastors and Roman Catholic priests in 1993, if they were incurring personally reimbursed expenses at a rate of $40,000 per year, and you would find the bulk of them were not. Steep stipends = a partial salary.
Since bishops at one time could take a 10% stipend from tithing funds, it would not have been unheard of for $400,000 to have come in for that year.
Since I apologize for using the potential $60,000 figure based upon outdated information, I expect a return courtesy for you calling me a liar when it's documented that Lds at one time paid bishop stipends.
Not only are you mistaken with how funds were once dispersed, but calling somebody a "liar" assumes bad or malicious intent. You are engaging in mind reading.
Salaries of mormon “pastors”
The 70’s receive the equivalent of 70% of the average of their previous 5 years earnings. This allows them to maintain the same standard of living that they are used to while working in their career field. They also receive perks such as business class travel which can be upgraded to first class due to their frequent flier status on various airlines. Also, they are encouraged to write books or have their journals/thoughts published and they are paid a premium in royalties for book sales.
The 12 Apostles receive, on the average, of $240,000-$360,000 per year, according to seniority, in “living allowances”. They receive the same perks as the 70 including business class travel. In addition they have individual expense accounts that are paid for by church funds. They are not held accountable for what they charge on their cards and some of the brethren are frugal and treat the funds as they should while others feel it is their “reward” and spend like a drunken sailor on leave.
The Prophet can, at his choice, live in the church-owned condominium in downtown SLC. He also receives $480,000 as a living expense. He travels by private aircraft provided by Huntsman Chemical Company and while he is away from SLC is given preferential accommodations in Marriott hotel properties- Presidential Suite or similar. He also has a church paid security staff, and VIP treatment wherever he travels.
All of the leadership have free health care paid by the church, their children and grandchildren qualify for a free education from BYU, and many get sweet deals on cars, travel, furniture, construction, etc., from companies who do business with the church. They chalk it up to the cost of doing business with the Morg.
Tithing. 85% of all tithing revenues go toward the operation of church education. BYU, BYU Hawaii, the MTC, Institutes, and Seminary fall into this category. Between 8% and 10% goes into the actual running of the church. The church has vast commercial interests that support the majority of it’s building, farming, and like business operations.
BYU-Hawaii Tithing funds support 4,000 students on Oahu.
Actual charitable giving: Only 1% of all tithes and other offerings are donated to charity. Any gifts to members are “loans” and must be paid back.