For awhile I have thought about writing an article on the minister's salary in the Vietnamese church. I recently came across an article by published by Crown Ministries that does a good job in helping those of us in the Vietnamese churches to reflect on the need to adequately support our ministers--if we want to prepare and retain quality clergy for the second generation. The salaries study in the article can be reduced by 25 to 50% when you apply it to the Vietnamese church context. Also, we don't have the mega church income issue at the present time. If you have some thoughts, I'd love to hear them.
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In 1863, in a letter written to Nathaniel Hawthorne, poet John Godfrey Saxe said, “I suspect that the spirit of our blight regarding religion is that we feel that we must keep the preacher poor so that God will keep him humble.” Tragically, since that time it appears as if many churches have adopted this “practice” when the issue of paying the pastor has been addressed. Even though there is not a shred of biblical truth to justify it, more times than not a congregation’s actions have spoken volumes in support of this statement, whether they verbally admit it or not.
The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,’ and ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages’” (1 Timothy 5:17-18).
Today few pastors receive an unreasonably high salary. A reasonable income is based on what would ordinarily be paid for like services by a similar organization under similar circumstances. A majority of ministers who serve as pastors today are highly trained and well educated. In obedience to the Word of God and because laborers are worthy of their hire, churches need to give the maximum amount of support to their pastors, without jeopardizing the overall financial stability of the church.
How much do pastors make?
A recent study conducted by The National Association of Church Business Administration points out that the average full-time American pastor (pastors without an outside job) has at least four years of college or university education, works approximately 60 hours per week in ministerial and pastoral service, pastors a church with approximately 123 regular attendees, and earns an average annual income of $32,700. This includes salaries, clergy housing allowance, medical insurance benefits (if provided), and retirement plan contributions (if provided). With a congregation of 400 or more the pastors average annual salary is $44,000. Pastors of “mega-churches” or churches with attendance of 1,000 or more (14 percent of the churches in America) have an average income of $110,000, but pastors of churches with 100 or less in attendance (46.7 percent of the churches in America) earn $25,000 or less annually.
Pastoral salary is a two-edged sword: Pastors should be paid what they are worth, but they also should be worth what they are being paid. Income paid to pastors should be fair and a reasonable indication of the congregations’ evaluation of the pastors’ worth. Yet, it should also take into consideration the responsibilities and workload of the pastor, the pastor’s level of education, the size of the congregation, the economic level of the locale, and the experience of the pastor.
How much should a pastor make?
A good rule of thumb to determine how much salary pastors should receive is to either pay them the same salary as the average wage of the church ruling board, the average estimated wage of the families in the congregation (throw out the highest 2 percent and the lowest 2 percent and average the remainder of the congregation), or base the salary on a proposed budget presented by the pastor to the appropriate financial authorities of the church.
An annual review of a pastor’s pay is vital and the pastor should know exactly what to expect from the congregation during the coming year. However, if a church does not increase the pastor’s pay each year by at least the cost of living, it has in effect reduced the salary. Moreover, just as the members of a congregation expect their employers to provide them with a cost-of-living pay increase each year, a pastor should expect the same.
Working outside the church
In some situations, pastors are forced to seek outside employment in order to supplement low salaries, especially in smaller churches. In today’s Christian society in America there seems to be too much emphasis placed on Paul’s life, in which he was both a missionary and a tentmaker. Paul was primarily a missionary and was supported as a missionary; tent making did not support him. Today many congregations expect pastors to be tentmakers because they do not want to support them in a manner pleasing to God. But, Paul said, “So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14).
If pastors feel committed to earn their living outside the church, so they will not have to take money from church members, then that commitment must be from God. As such, pastors should be given the freedom to pursue second jobs without fear of stigma. But if pastors are working because their churches will not support them, then that is wrong, because it is a lack of commitment on the part of God’s people and a lack of faith on the part of the pastors (see Philippians 4:19).
Before allowing their pastors to take outside jobs, the church board must honestly determine if they have the resources to assume their full and adequate support. If pastors are torn between the loyalty of a job in which they earn a living to provide for their families (1 Timothy 5:8) and the call of ministering to people, they will have divided minds and the overall stability of their churches very well could suffer.
Conclusion
Inadequate pastoral income does produce negative consequences. Pastors who are concerned about providing basic needs for their families may not have the emotional energy to concentrate on the needs of their churches. Financial burdens may contribute to a lack of enthusiasm, low self-esteem, and a despairing attitude toward the ministry. Ultimately, that will harm the congregation and result in a hurtful witness to the community. “Appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 5:12).
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Discerning God’s Call
Is there any way to really know God’s call and purpose for our lives? God was thinking of us long before we ever thought about him. His call for our lives predates our conception. Knowing our life’s call and purpose begins with knowing God. In his best seller, A Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren writes, “Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope. The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose.”
There are two types of calling that the believer will experience, the general call and the specific call. I believe that we can all know God’s general call. God’s general call for you and me is to serve and glorify him in whatever we do—whether it be as an engineer, social worker or student. The general call of God is imparted to every Christian through the scriptures. Romans 12:1 states, “I ask you therefore, brother and sisters, by the mercies of God, that you present your lives as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” The apostle Paul wasn’t saying that our lives had to achieve a certain status before we could serve God, no, God’s general call is not dependent on feelings or a “Damascus Road” experience. When we surrender our lives to God, we can all accept the commission of Romans 12:1 as God’s call to us—no matter who we are, what we do or how high up the societal ladder we may reach.
Only as we mature in our walk with God, will he reveal specific calls to the believer. Though the general call will never change, a believer’s specific call will usually change throughout one’s lifetime. We can compare God’s general calling as a military commission. When an officer receives that commission, he/she is imparted with a duty to serve and defend his/her nation regardless if he is a combat officer or staff officer. Within the life of the military officer, he/she has a number of different missions or assignments, which only lasts until that mission is completed. The servant of God, like the military officer, will have a series of missions, some longer, some shorter. Sometimes we confuse God’s calling, thinking that we are not called at all by God if we don’t have something specific or if that specific call seems to end. We need to learn to differentiate between God’s general call, which is permanent and given to every Christian, from God’s specific call, which are assignments that could and will often change.
More than ever today, the Vietnamese community needs people able to both discern and accept God’s call to serve him. How can one discern God’s specific call? A specific call is unique to the individual. It is an assignment that God has for that individual as the result of that person’s first and foremost availability—then background, personality, temperament and experiences. Thus, when a person is discerning his/her specific call, it is perfectly acceptable to consider how his/her background, personality, temperament and experiences will be compatible with that ministry.
Just as God will not want us to enter into a marriage with a spouse having very little compatibility with us (unless you are a Hosea or Gomer), so why would we think that God will usually want us to be in a ministry where we will lack the background, personality, temperament and training? It is true that He sometimes allows that to happen but more common than not, He will likely assign a ministry that will be compatible with the individual. Thus, when discerning God’s specific call, it is acceptable to consider if you have the background, training and experience for that type of ministry and whether you can see yourself enjoy doing that type of ministry. These compatibility issues are a good first step to discerning God’s specific call.
The second step to determining God’s specific call demands more of a spiritual discernment of how God calls. God’s calling can be direct; it can be indirect; and it can be through a godly restlessness of the soul.
The apostle Paul received a direct call through a visionary encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s calling was a radical event which does not happen to everyone who serves God. However, if one receives a call through this manner, rejection of that call is a tragedy.
Why doesn’t God make more direct calls to his people? I believe because God is more pleased when his followers both respond and walk in complete reliance by faith. Faith is a trust that does not require direct evidence. The scriptures in Romans 1:17b states, “The just shall live by faith.” God will often use circumstances in our lives to indirectly call us to Himself. At the turn of every decision, our circumstances will point to service in Christ. He will bring ministers to our lives who will inspire us. Every time we read something, he places before us the lives of people who have answered His call. When these circumstances and others similar surround us overwhelmingly, it may be that God is knocking at our hearts, calling us to Himself for service.
For those who fail to discern God’s call through indirect promptings, that person will likely experience a restlessness of his/her soul, as though he/she has been running away from God’s call but cannot seem to escape no matter what he/she does. Psalm 139:7-10 says, “Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. If I go to the darkest places; if I dwell in the remotest parts of the world; even there Thy hand will save me, and Thy right hand will lay hold of me.” If you have been spiritually restless and suspect that you have been running away from God’s call, just stop, allow Him to take hold of you and give you peace and purpose.
Is God speaking to you? Has He placed before you an opportunity or ministry that you can relate to and would probably enjoy? Are there signs and circumstances that He has called you directly or indirectly to that ministry? If you can answer yes or maybe, you may be closer to discovering God’s specific call for your life. If you desire to discern God’s specific call for you, I would encourage you to talk with a pastor or Christian leader who has experience in spiritual direction (this is a type of spiritual counseling ministry).
There are two types of calling that the believer will experience, the general call and the specific call. I believe that we can all know God’s general call. God’s general call for you and me is to serve and glorify him in whatever we do—whether it be as an engineer, social worker or student. The general call of God is imparted to every Christian through the scriptures. Romans 12:1 states, “I ask you therefore, brother and sisters, by the mercies of God, that you present your lives as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” The apostle Paul wasn’t saying that our lives had to achieve a certain status before we could serve God, no, God’s general call is not dependent on feelings or a “Damascus Road” experience. When we surrender our lives to God, we can all accept the commission of Romans 12:1 as God’s call to us—no matter who we are, what we do or how high up the societal ladder we may reach.
Only as we mature in our walk with God, will he reveal specific calls to the believer. Though the general call will never change, a believer’s specific call will usually change throughout one’s lifetime. We can compare God’s general calling as a military commission. When an officer receives that commission, he/she is imparted with a duty to serve and defend his/her nation regardless if he is a combat officer or staff officer. Within the life of the military officer, he/she has a number of different missions or assignments, which only lasts until that mission is completed. The servant of God, like the military officer, will have a series of missions, some longer, some shorter. Sometimes we confuse God’s calling, thinking that we are not called at all by God if we don’t have something specific or if that specific call seems to end. We need to learn to differentiate between God’s general call, which is permanent and given to every Christian, from God’s specific call, which are assignments that could and will often change.
More than ever today, the Vietnamese community needs people able to both discern and accept God’s call to serve him. How can one discern God’s specific call? A specific call is unique to the individual. It is an assignment that God has for that individual as the result of that person’s first and foremost availability—then background, personality, temperament and experiences. Thus, when a person is discerning his/her specific call, it is perfectly acceptable to consider how his/her background, personality, temperament and experiences will be compatible with that ministry.
Just as God will not want us to enter into a marriage with a spouse having very little compatibility with us (unless you are a Hosea or Gomer), so why would we think that God will usually want us to be in a ministry where we will lack the background, personality, temperament and training? It is true that He sometimes allows that to happen but more common than not, He will likely assign a ministry that will be compatible with the individual. Thus, when discerning God’s specific call, it is acceptable to consider if you have the background, training and experience for that type of ministry and whether you can see yourself enjoy doing that type of ministry. These compatibility issues are a good first step to discerning God’s specific call.
The second step to determining God’s specific call demands more of a spiritual discernment of how God calls. God’s calling can be direct; it can be indirect; and it can be through a godly restlessness of the soul.
The apostle Paul received a direct call through a visionary encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s calling was a radical event which does not happen to everyone who serves God. However, if one receives a call through this manner, rejection of that call is a tragedy.
Why doesn’t God make more direct calls to his people? I believe because God is more pleased when his followers both respond and walk in complete reliance by faith. Faith is a trust that does not require direct evidence. The scriptures in Romans 1:17b states, “The just shall live by faith.” God will often use circumstances in our lives to indirectly call us to Himself. At the turn of every decision, our circumstances will point to service in Christ. He will bring ministers to our lives who will inspire us. Every time we read something, he places before us the lives of people who have answered His call. When these circumstances and others similar surround us overwhelmingly, it may be that God is knocking at our hearts, calling us to Himself for service.
For those who fail to discern God’s call through indirect promptings, that person will likely experience a restlessness of his/her soul, as though he/she has been running away from God’s call but cannot seem to escape no matter what he/she does. Psalm 139:7-10 says, “Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. If I go to the darkest places; if I dwell in the remotest parts of the world; even there Thy hand will save me, and Thy right hand will lay hold of me.” If you have been spiritually restless and suspect that you have been running away from God’s call, just stop, allow Him to take hold of you and give you peace and purpose.
Is God speaking to you? Has He placed before you an opportunity or ministry that you can relate to and would probably enjoy? Are there signs and circumstances that He has called you directly or indirectly to that ministry? If you can answer yes or maybe, you may be closer to discovering God’s specific call for your life. If you desire to discern God’s specific call for you, I would encourage you to talk with a pastor or Christian leader who has experience in spiritual direction (this is a type of spiritual counseling ministry).
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Simplicity as a Practical Discipline (Part 1)
According to the Washington Post, the consumer debt in America exceeded 2 trillion dollars in 2004, rising from 1 trillion in 1994. According to the College Board, the average college student accumulated roughly $2,700 of credit card debts by graduation in addition to $20,000+ of school loans. According to the Center for Responsible Lending, the credit card debts for low to middle income Americans show an average of $8,650 in 2005 as compared with Australians of the same level at only $2,500.
Many Americans, including Vietnamese-Americans, are living beyond their income levels. The American dream of a small house with a white picket fence has evolved into a 3000+ square feet house in a gated community, an SUV and several luxury sedans.
In my practice and ministry, I have been seeing an increase in individual and family stress for the past 10+ years, largely due to the desire for more material things. Unfortunately, this occurs at similar rates even among Christians. Sometimes a person strives to keep up with the Jones’ without even realizing it. In an age of consumerism, society makes it easy to borrow money. Instead of buying what we can afford now, we charge it with the confidence that it will be paid next month. However, next month comes and years go by, and we find that the credit card really hasn’t decreased that much.
In the desire to have a bigger and nicer house, many people take out a much larger loan then they can realistically afford. What is the responsible standard for taking out a home loan? While there are many views, my own is to only take out a loan based on what you can afford on your average income for the past three years—and for a working couple, base that on the highest income. This way, in the event of a loss or change of employment (for the working couple) by one person, the remaining income may be tight, but will not cause the stress of a foreclosure during the time that the unemployed person looks for alternate employment.
In an age of consumerism and easy loans, it is not easy to refrain from taking out a home loan based on the maximum combined income of both you and your spouse. It is not easy to refrain from using your credit card as a loan source for the family vacation, home furnishing or other enjoyments. Though the quick gratification will provide satisfaction for a time, the potential ramifications from the stress that it produces is far beyond its temporary worth.
In his book, Celebrations of Discipline, Richard Foster states that simplicity is freedom. Would you like to reduce stress in your life, your marriage? Consider learning to practice the discipline of simplicity. Whereas materialism and consumerism often brings bondage and stress, simplicity brings balance and freedom.
Many Americans, including Vietnamese-Americans, are living beyond their income levels. The American dream of a small house with a white picket fence has evolved into a 3000+ square feet house in a gated community, an SUV and several luxury sedans.
In my practice and ministry, I have been seeing an increase in individual and family stress for the past 10+ years, largely due to the desire for more material things. Unfortunately, this occurs at similar rates even among Christians. Sometimes a person strives to keep up with the Jones’ without even realizing it. In an age of consumerism, society makes it easy to borrow money. Instead of buying what we can afford now, we charge it with the confidence that it will be paid next month. However, next month comes and years go by, and we find that the credit card really hasn’t decreased that much.
In the desire to have a bigger and nicer house, many people take out a much larger loan then they can realistically afford. What is the responsible standard for taking out a home loan? While there are many views, my own is to only take out a loan based on what you can afford on your average income for the past three years—and for a working couple, base that on the highest income. This way, in the event of a loss or change of employment (for the working couple) by one person, the remaining income may be tight, but will not cause the stress of a foreclosure during the time that the unemployed person looks for alternate employment.
In an age of consumerism and easy loans, it is not easy to refrain from taking out a home loan based on the maximum combined income of both you and your spouse. It is not easy to refrain from using your credit card as a loan source for the family vacation, home furnishing or other enjoyments. Though the quick gratification will provide satisfaction for a time, the potential ramifications from the stress that it produces is far beyond its temporary worth.
In his book, Celebrations of Discipline, Richard Foster states that simplicity is freedom. Would you like to reduce stress in your life, your marriage? Consider learning to practice the discipline of simplicity. Whereas materialism and consumerism often brings bondage and stress, simplicity brings balance and freedom.
The discipline of simplicity involves both an inward acceptance as well as an outward lifestyle. In the coming months, we’ll briefly consider how the discipline of simplicity can reduce stress and bring more happiness to family relationships.
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