Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 5/18/2004

Question
Rev. Abrams

What's the Biblical direction or recommendation regarding tithing by the church pastor?  Also how do you establish a "salary" or stipend for the pastor's services?

We have a small fundamentalist Baptist congregation where our minister continually reminds us of tithing, yet he hardly ever gives an offering himself.  The members donate a respectable amount given their limited incomes but the funds go to extensive repairs for the church.

The minister is trying to grow the church, he's part-time as a minister and works full time as a computer specialist.  He has hinted at the need for a "salary" because of the time he spends preparing and visiting.

Any ideas or suggestions on how to broach the subject with him or settle the issue with the membership?  And, how do you determine when and what an appropriate compensation is for his time?

Thanks for your guidance.

Gil

Answer
Hi Gil,
  Thank you for your question.  A pastor has the same responsibility as any over Christian to give tithes and offerings to the Lord.    Most Fundamental Baptist pastors I know give a lot more than a tithe ( which is 10% )   following biblical guidelines.      2 Corinthians 9:7 instructs a believer to give as “he purposes in his heart” but that amount should be at least a tithe and a Christians who loves the Lord should give as a thanksgiving offering to the Lord in addition to their tithe.   
  
  The amount a pastor receives if full time would be at least equal the medium income of the people in the congregation, plus expenses for travel and ministry related expenses.   The church should pay his social security.  His training should also be taken into consideration.

  Independent Baptist to not report their income to any organization, but I do have the statistics for the Southern Baptist as reported 2002.

Based on church attendance for a full time pastor:

Members            Average   High      Low
  1-75            $30,904   89,748   13,200
  76-100           34,532   87,948   15,527
         101-125           37,011   84,500   19,400

Church Income
  $50,000         $23,821   64,740   14,100
    50K-75K           28,731   57,000   14,010
  75K-100K           27,344   64,740   14,010

  These figures were salary and did not include travel, insurance, retirement, or Social Security.    Some churches give housing allowances....others include it in their regular salary, or adjust if the church has a parsonage.

  I am a church planter on missions support and have started three churches.   In the beginning the new church gives me some income and increases it as the church grows.   A pastor who is working a part time job, probably is not doing well financially and finds it hard to work between church planting and his secular job.     I would suggest you give him as much as the church can afford.     He is giving  his life and time to the church and biblically he is worthy according to the New Testament to receive a proper income.

  Things to consider is the church's income, the amount of his time spend in serving the church and the work.    

  I am a little reluctant to say this, as it could be misunderstood.     I do not think it ethical to not properly compensate him to do repairs on the church building.  


     I suggest you ask him what he thinks would be proper considering the size and income of the church.    The best approach is to be strait forward with him and honestly seek to help him if he is in need and it seems he is.   He should not be considered as a “hireling” (see John 10:12-13)   He might be struggling working part time.

  I would ask him if  he intends to quit and go full time when the church grows enough to take on all his support?     As a church planter, (since 1984)  I can absolutely say that having a part time pastor takes a long time to build a congregation.   The church should work towards having a full time pastor as soon as possible.   A full time church planting pastor can build the congregation and with that comes the needed finances to take care of his needs and the needs of the church.

  1 Timothy 5:17-18, should be carefully studied and followed which will honor the Lord.  The church has a responsibility to “not muzzle the ox” and provide for its pastor.   Also a pastor that is not properly giving to the church shows immaturity,  lack of commitment and of trust in the Lord.    It is hard to make a judgment about this, but if a pastor is not tithing it indicates something in not right spiritually.   I think you should take into consideration his preaching, personal life, past experience, why is he not pastoring full time, and over all ministry.
   Please be careful to apply what I have said with discernment prayerfully seeking the Lord's guidance.   These are but general statements because I do not know the circumstances beyond your short statement.   If I can be of further help please write.

I noticed that the above figures are jumbled together.If you send me a fax number I will FAX the full report to you.
Or I can post them on my web site and give you the URL to access them in a proper format.  Please let me know.

Cooper Abrams