National Association of Evangelicals launches $1M campaign to help churches bless financially strapped pastors

“…the 45,000-church association launched the initiative to help congregations and church boards “show and share God’s love” for their pastors in different ways beyond the church budget. Data shows that about half of pastors in the U.S. make less than $50,000 per year while serving their churches over 50 hours per week.” - Christian Post

Discussion

I’m in an odd situation. My State job pays well, so my small church salary is just fine. I feel strongly enough about dual elders that we just brought on another pastor and will pay him an identical small salary. I could have made a play to (1) combine both small salary, (2) and add significant savings from when we reduce the secretary’s hours next year, to (3) create a decent solo pastor salary that could have allowed me to quit my job and be a “fulltime” pastor.

But, I decided to bring on another elder because the current one is retiring.

I think the new elder and I represent what you’ll see in the future. We both have credentials to work outside the church and expect to do so during our entire ministries. He is about to do a quick MA to get a better teaching job in public schools, and I’ll soon do likewise for an MPA to further my government service.

Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.

Churches and pastors (most generally) have unrealistic expectations:

  • Eg. Our church is without a pastor. We had a bi-vocational one and paid him about $ 20K a year.
  • The pastor wanted more (to be able to quit his secular job) but it was a financial impossibility (unrealistic expectation #1)
  • The pastor and his wife were making a combo of over $80K in secular jobs but were unsatisfied with there level of income (unrealistic expectation #2)
  • The pastor undertook every task and failed to delegate. (unrealistic expectation #3)
  • The congregation wanted more of his time (be able to contact him during the day) (unrealistic expectation #4)
  • Now we are without a pastor and some think we can find a guy to work full time for $20K (unrealistic expectation #5)
  • Seminarians think they will make sufficient from the ministry to not work a 2nd job (unrealistic expectation #6)

You should print and frame your comment. It’s very true!

Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.