What pastors wish church members knew
Most pastors admit they make little money compared with the amount of education they have and work they do. And most confess their paycheck is not enough to support a family.
Financial compensation is a constant stressor for many pastors’ families. Though pastors rank in the top 10 percent of the population in terms of their education level, they rank 325th out of 432 occupations in terms of salary. Some pastors serve full time with few benefits. While some churches take good care of their pastor and his family (in terms of adequate medical insurance coverage and retirement programs), other churches do not.
“I wish my church understood the ins and outs of our financial struggles, how it affects our family and how tough it is to stay focused on the work of ministry when you are struggling to make ends meet all the time,” one pastor said.
Why do pastors often face financial woes?
- Undependable salary. Research shows that the biggest single factor in determining any pastor’s pay is the church’s income. When, for various reasons, membership dwindles, the church loses tithes and might not be able to pay the pastor’s salary. To help meet monthly bills and rising family expenses, at least 70 percent of pastors’ wives work outside the home.
- The parsonage dilemma. Most pastors loathe living in the church-owned home. Most ordained ministers can take advantage of an income tax law that enables their church to use a tax shelter for a portion of their paycheck. This makes annual income tax less, and it gives the pastor an opportunity (as well as more money) to buy his own home. As a homeowner, he can build equity in his house. And when he retires, he can continue to live in his own home.
One pastor said, “At the income I make and the rate I’m going, I won’t have anywhere to live when I retire. I need to be able to start building up equity in my own home so that when retirement time comes, I’m not homeless.”
- Retirement concerns. Even young pastors have concerns about retirement needs because of their present or future low levels of income. One pastor confessed, “As I near retirement, without a miracle, there seems to be a bleak future for me and my wife.”
While lack of income presents many problems for the pastors’ family, clergy are quick to respond that money is secondary when they answer God’s call to the pulpit.
“I do not pastor my church just for the money,” one pastor said. “I, along with every God-called minister, serve the church because of God.”
What you can do to help your pastor:
- If your church pays your pastor a substandard salary with limited benefits, then talk to the deacons. Ask them to review your pastor’s financial package and, if possible, to consider increasing his income and benefits.
- Be faithful to your tithing pledge to the church.
- If you have adequate financial resources, then consider giving regular or occasional gifts of money to your pastor and his family.
Denise George is the author of ‘What Pastors Wish Church Members Knew’ and numerous other books. Denise and her husband, Timothy George (founding dean of Beeson Divinity School), are members of Shades Mountain Baptist Church. For more information, visit www.authordenisegeorge.com.
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