“Mark T”

Ministers can benefit by advertising that they are in “ministry” and that the money is used for the “Lord’s work” … like lunches and travelling expenses … and site seeing (not supposed to mention that). This is not available to the poor or those without a large audience. It is a “Benefit of Clergy” that has not been satisfactorily addressed. It is basic hypocrisy – milking the sheep. most ministers participate in it. It is dishonest.

Moira:

Ministers should get paid for the work they do. At the rates other professionals charge. If they conduct a ceremony they’ll get paid for consulting with the clients at an hourly rate equal to that of a professional – say – advertising copy writer, for creating and writing the ceremony, for conducting the ceremony, for registering that where there are legal requirements so to do.

For their sermons and devotionals they should be paid per speech or written article which is word based. The congregation could refuse sermons that didn’t comply with the requirements, but they’d be obliged to pay for all the ones that were delivered. For their prayer meetings, bible studies etc. they’d be paid a facilitator’s fee.

For counselling they’d be paid as psychologists are. Per session. For visiting the sick they should be compensated as professional nurses making community visits are.

Hard working priests, ministers and pastors would like this system, because some days they do several thousand dollars worth of work and yet they earn a paltry sum from their congregations, and even then they have to beg for the money to pay their salaries. That should fall into the category of “fundraising” and they should be compensated accordingly for that.

I like this idea. Hmm. How to sell it to congregations?

Rowland:

Moira, I’m trying to discern whether your tongue’s in your cheek here…

I agree that ‘the laborer is worthy of his/her hire’ but what do you make of the classical Christian approach to a ‘call to ministry’ which affirms that pastors should be remunerated, yes, but at a lower level than fellow-professionals, so that money/filthy lucre will not contaminate their call?