Posted on 07/21/2007 7:07:37 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
Yeah, you’re right. Protestants don’t give up everything with vows of obedience either. Perhaps that makes ministry easier? I guess it’s similar to a Republican that gets embarrassed by having one extramarital affair compared to a Democrat who uses his government funded mansion for sex parties and prostitution. We really don’t expect much from Democrats as we do from Republicans. Is it a conservative’s fault for aiming further than his reach? I remember seeing an HBO special of a pimp preacher. The series was, “Pimps up, Ho’s down.” Seeing such a “reverend” made me wonder, “Is that you Jesse Jackson?” Just kidding.
But, that’s the cool thing about Jesus. We can know Jesus and compare all else that calls themselves His friend. Of course, no one mortal or created creature measures up to Jesus. Who’s like Jesus?
No, it's not like that at all. It's not like the corrupt Catholic official is the rare exception while the corrupt Protestant preacher is the rule. There are good and bad preachers and officials, in small churches, large churches, so-called "mega" churches, and in the mother of all mega churches in Rome.
But you are right, no mortal is perfect, only Jesus is.
Yes, isn’t the Mystery of Jesus’ Mercy just Divine? It’s sort of like, “why does God keep those wayward Jews around? Haven’t they worn down His Love by now?” It must be that God really Loves us all that we should persist at all. How much time will He give us?
Happened across this four mos. later, marker to read.
HIGHLIGHT: Warren said he and wife, Kay, looked to Scripture for answers. Like Osteen, Warren decided not to take a salary from the church. But he didn’t stop there. He added up all the money the church had paid him over the past 25 years and gave it all back. So the 10 percent the Warrens now live on is 10 percent of the income Warren earns from book royalties and additional ventures.
The Warrens have vowed never to change their lifestyle. They have lived in the same house for 16 years. Warren drives the same Ford truck he had before the book came out. And he owns the same two suits.
Warren told Beliefnet he’s aware of the stigma that pastors are in it for the money, but he said every pastor he knows would serve for free if possible.
“There are so many easier ways to make money,” Warren said in the interview. “Believe me, if you want to make money, don’t be a pastor.”
I pastor a rural church of about 180 members. Most are low income. We reach out to our neighbors, making a difference one-by-one. I think the idea of pay scale is misunderstood by many both ‘in’ and ‘out’ of the church. I believe salaries should be comparable to that of the people who are part of the church, but also comparable to other professionals’ wages. Plus consideration for experience, length of tenure and responsibilities. As a small church pastor, compared to 1,000 member churches, I know the expectations of a senior pastor’s job must be far more demanding than mine. So I understand the larger compensation. However, the exorbitant salaries that some mega church pastors receive seems simply messed up. I have read of very little accountability regarding mega church pastor’s salaries. Sometimes the Board Members are family members who decide what to pay their father or mother who are the Senior Pastors. If I pastored a 20,000 member church I think my salary should increase due to the skill set I would need, my training, etc. But I like to think I would have integrity, like Rick Warren, to consider what my real needs are when considering what a fair salary would be. We as pastors should be provided for, according to the policy of the particular church we are employed at. Having said that, my biggest gripe with tv evangelists is the way they solicit money from thousands with little to no benefit going to a hurting world from those donations. It’s a controversial topic. If you are part of a small church or mega church, let your thoughts be known. We are all part of the Body of Christ.
That seems to be more in line with the average Catholic priest in the US.
God bless you on your service to God and your community.
Growing up we always attended the annual meeting held after the church service where they would approve salaries, large donations to some mission, rule changes, etc. (The kind where 100% of the folks say “Aye”.) Although there was one older guy that would often loudly exclaim “Nay” on certain things - usually on some rule change.
My old man (RIP) would ALWAYS say when they got to the pastor’s salary part: “I don’t think they need to say how much he makes. Half the people will think he makes too much - and half will think he makes too little!”
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