Should a pastor that spends most of his time preaching and teaching get paid for what God has him to do? I know what the scriptures says about this, but would you pastor for free?

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If a pastor is not working there should be some accommadtions,,the question is why can a young man from the age 20 to 60 cant work?some people are doing what others are doing ,and calling it ministry,,started out praying for the people now praying on the people!!all of the desciples from what I last checked worked,Jesus himself was a carpenter..My Pastor is a Maintenace Man and said it from the pulpit many times and he is 50,,the Bible says clearly a man dont work he dont eat,,well a lot of these preachers are eating from the congregations tables
What about pastor that are full-time pastor and recieve from 60-70% of the budget from the church goes to care for that pastor and he does not work, does bible study on the mid week day and preaches on sunday. What advice can one get in order remedy the situation?
WOW brother Roy, I can not believe that you said that. That comment to me sounds like it come from a person that has never worked in full time ministry before. As I stated before I have served as a youth pastor before. That year my budget was $75,000. That's right $75,000! As an elder and youth pastor of a church with a budget over 10.9 million that year 1999-2000 there was a pastoral/elder staff of 6 paid ministers and 5 non paid elders to oversee all the ministry that took place. As well as the other male preachers. My staff included myself and 6 other. Some of the duites that I carried out were to create lesson plans for all our youth Sunday school classes, pepare and preach sermons for Sunday mornings youth church/children's church. As well as to visit students and their families in times of need. I also lead two weekly Bible studies at to area high schools. And all the other ministry stuff that I had to due. Meetings with the Senior pastor and other staff. It is a 8 hour or more a day job. The one way to make sure that the preacher/pastor is doing the work need by the church is to have ministry job descriptions.
I have a question for all the pastors here.

How many hours a day or per week, on average, do you spend devoted exclusively to activities dealing with the Ministry?

Can any of those activities like visiting the sick be delegated to the deacons? After all James says if anyone is sick, let them call upon the ELDERS, not the Pastor of the chuch. If the scripture was taught correctly the congregation would not expect the Pastor to be the only one making hospital or calls on the "shut ins".

Pay for any work is usually contingent upon how much time is put into that work/service.

Not mentioned here so far, but for many services, Pastors get a specific offering i.e, for funerals, weddings which compensates them for that time.

Do/should pastors expect to be paid just to be "on call"?

If one's congregation is too small, and they cannot pay the expenses of paying for the church and a salary for the Pastor, he should consider being like Paul and take a job where he can support himself (and his family if he has one.)
It's easy to point out what goes on when you are on the outside of the vocation, because I myself used to say the same thing about my pastor and why when he delegated so much work to the associates what was he doing. I now know what he was going through as I now am a pastor, and with a small congregation, it's much work. I think though we have strayed from the question that was asked. However be careful to speak about the position until you have walked in the position and know what it takes. Rev Luckett you are correct sir it's more to just preaching on Sunday and teaching through the week. Be Blessed all.
Yes otherwise he will suffer and die in ignorance.
All churches and ministries should compensate their Pastor, Elder, or whatever title you want to call it. Pastoring is a profession and just like any other should be compensated for. It is utterly amazing how we have cheapened one of the greatest responsibilities on earth...The care of souls. We pay everyone... Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers, Sanitation workers, Politicians, and any two-bit con man selling everything under the sun. But when it comes to compensating one who has dedicated his or her life to proclaiming the Good News of Christ, we argue points that are meaningless and even worse use the Word of God to do so...Shameful!

No... Pastoring for free is the biggest mistake any preacher can make. I was called to a church that was conditioned to thinking the pastor didn't need to get paid. They paid the organist, drummer, janitor, and secretary. They had no problem in making and paying bills, but was conditioned by their founding pastor to de-grade the pastorate instead of setting a pay-grade (standard). We have made the pastorate welfare instead of faring well. Not greed...Just a reasonable wage for the job performed.

All churches big or small can do something. Maybe not as much as others...but they can do something and should. Do you mean to tell me, a crack head accepts Jesus Christ as there personal savior and gets delivered from a $500 a week ($26,000.00 a year) habit and thinks that the vessel in which they got delivered is worth $20 a year.... That's Foolishness! The cigarette smoker that smoked a pack a day (at $7.00 a pack in New York which is $1,820 a year), and now wants you to be on call for them 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for counseling, prayer, funerals, weddings, hospital visits, family disagreements, or just to bust into your office or house, like you have nothing else to do, thinks your time, energy, family, education, experience, and wisdom is worth 38.5 cents a week.... Lord help us if we actually think that the profession that you are called to is worth less than 1 cent an hour. A starving preacher fusses from the pulpit instead of proclaiming the Good News. That person is dangerous, because people who are hungry will do just about anything to eat.

Those who negatively commented about pastoral salaries, should just be honest and admit your bitter about something, Repent and stop being a hater! You don't know what the men and women of God who now receive salaries have endured or may be enduring in order to get that check each week (if they actually get one). We talk about the cars and houses...lets be honest neither are assets, they are liabilities....BILLS!!!! Do you complain about your doctors house or lawyers car, or the guy who owns the corner stores college degree, while your kids can't afford to go to a good school. Do you actually believe a Garbage man is worth more than the messenger of Good news? Of course not.... Seeking first the kingdom of God, includes the vessels that enlighten you. Read Galatians 6... That is not for your kids thats for the preacher!

Those of us who have sacrificed for sake of their ministry and congregation but may have not gotten the fabulous anniversary or weekly check...admit it God supplied every one of our needs, if not through the people we served... someone, somewhere has been a blessing to you continuously. So although it may not be a weekly paycheck, God has compensated you all along. If he didn't, your calling His word a lie.... "I never seen the righteous forsaken..."

I would suggest to all pastors who are toiling without compensation at this stage of your ministry, begin with a self examination. Have you devalued yourself, your ministry, and the Gospel? If you have no self worth, everybody will see you as worthless. God didn't see you that way... He GAVE HIS SON...That's how much you are worth! If God would pay that price... mere humans can do something!
Wow.Pastor Young
This does not have to go no futher. If anyone out there can not feel this in their spirit than they have none. I heard all I need to hear or should I say read.
Wow. What a blessing.
MANNNN!!! Doctor Young!!!He said his piece,didn't he???Pastor Edwards,I am amazed at,and I admire your faithfulness to your calling man...but some of the same things Doc Young said,I've said in other blog posts...you know we regulars here..so bless you Pastor.Now!!!!!I'm going to say something that everybody wants to say......and I don't mean to be mean...but it needs to be said.....and I don't harbor anything against this person....but......SIS ANNA!!!!!!I keep getting this feeling that at some point in time some Pastor somewhere wronged you.....or either you WANT TO PASTOR AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!!!It is evident that you are educated...but I'm going to say to you the same thing that King Agrippa said to the Apostle Paul that your "much learning,has made thee mad"........things are not like they were in the 1st Century Church,economics have changed,social and political landscapes have changed...a lot of what you have suggested leads one to think that we should be like John the Baptist,clothed in camel's hair,and eating wild honey and locust.There are a lot of "corrections"that need to be made,but we use what was as an example to show us and guide us with God's help what He wants done.....I hope you take this in the spirit that it was given,and not as a personal attack upon you as a person......but it is...what it is.
Amen
I thank God for Pastor John H. Young, Sr.: Pastor God really used you to respond and put the issue to rest and I appreciate your obedience. I teach a series "Pastor, The Spiritual Father of The Body of Believers" that define our responsibilities towards the flock and their responsibilities towards the shepherd and I just want insert some supporting scriptures to your eloquent letter.

1 Corinthians 9:1-18 (KJV)
1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?
5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

1 Corinthians 9:14 (AMP)
14 [On the same principle] the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel.

Galatians 6:6
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Galatians 6:6 (AMP)
6 Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support].

Philippians 4:15-18 (KJV)
15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

Philippians 4:15-18 (AMP)
15 And you Philippians yourselves well know that in the early days of the Gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into partnership with me and opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving and receiving except you only.
16 For even in Thessalonica you sent [me contributions] for my needs, not only once but a second time.
17 Not that I seek or am eager for [your] gift, but I do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to your credit [the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account].
18 But I have [your full payment] and more; I have everything I need and am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent me. [They are the] fragrant odor of an offering and sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights.

1 Timothy 5:17-18 (AMP)
17 Let the elders who perform the duties of their office well be considered doubly worthy of honor [and of adequate financial support], especially those who labor faithfully in preaching and teaching.
18 For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain, and again, The laborer is worthy of his hire.

As Pastors, we must bodly teach the people that we have been assigned to shepherd, how to care for us because it abounds to their account. Philippians 4:19 (AMP)
19 And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

That passage of scripture is in response to the Phillipian church' support of Paul's ministry.

Ezekiel 44:30 (KJV)
30 And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest's: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house.

There is so much to be received from the Pastor that is free of the cares of the world, and free to spend quality time with God on behalf of the people they have been called to serve.

Pastor Edwards, teach your people to love you in the same manner in which you love them and all will prosper tremendously.

In God's favor I remain,

Pastor Kelvin L. Walker
though the scripture was silent in this regard it only says dat pastor shud eat of whatever is given according to Pauls letter it never says dat they shud get paid but 'they who minister at d altar shud eat of fruit

But i will say dis 2 Pastor dat it all boils down to whatever God told u at d point of ur call.
its also depends on ur personal consecration and perception with God

well it all depends on individual pastor

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