Preacher: Salary, Finances and Benefits #2

Posted by Chris Gallagher on May 10, 2012 in Preaching | 0 comments

If you have not read the first post regarding preacher salary, I encourage you to go back and read that post before this one. It will help you understand my position on the topic. Click here to read the first post.

Most Christians agree a preacher should be paid, but the disagreement comes on how much to pay him. Some believe the preacher should be paid a nice salary since he was dedicated his life to the ministry, while others believe his pay should be kept low to keep him humble.

As mentioned in the previous post, discussing finances for a preacher is a difficult task because preachers do not want to seem whiny but at the same time, they have bills like everyone else, kids to feed and repairs to make. To ask for a raise is not humbling, but embarrassing. A man has the task of supporting his family, yet many are barely scraping by because the brethren will spend more on the physical building than supporting a preacher.

I once had an elder tell me, “God will take care of you.” This was said in the midst of no health insurance and borrowing money to pay taxes and social security. My response was simple, “ I know He will and he gave me brethren to support the work.” In am not sure he liked my answer.

For most people, they never see the cost of health insurance, taxes, retirement and other financial areas that come with a regular job. Take for instance the example below regarding a preacher’s salary, I use the numbers below because of a discussion with a preacher not long ago about moving and I shared with him what it would take. It is just a generic example.

• Salary = $60,000
• Taxes and Social Security – $8000
• Health Insurance – $10,000
• Total before other expenses = $42,000

This example shows what many people do not see when looking at the congregational budget sheet: taxes, Social Security and health insurance. Most people do not see or consider these amounts because most traditional jobs take them out of your paycheck before you received it. However, for a minister he pays quarterly taxes if he can and then pays monthly for health insurance.

Did you know this about ministers?

Most members are unaware of the salary discussions because traditional jobs tell you they will pay you $60,000 plus benefits: insurance, take out taxes and social security and many use to contribute or match a retirement amount for you. This is rarely the case for ministers.

I would ask the elderships (and congregations) across the country to consider this matter when determining the preacher’s support. I hear of congregations who only offer the preacher more money once he has committed to leave the congregation, let that not be the case.

I had a minister talk with me one day because he had already made the commitment to leave and work with another congregation, when the current congregation offered him $10,000 more a year to stay. I asked the same question he did, “Where was that money last year?” The elders knew he struggled financially and thought a big lump sum every year would get him to stay. Why not share those funds while he is already there?

By the way, he did not stay. He knew if he stayed, everyone would wonder if he stayed just for the money.

Are we considering the salary’s (support) of preachers or do we toss out a number hoping it is enough?

Just my thoughts,

Quotes on the Ministry and Preaching

Posted by Chris Gallagher on May 3, 2012 in Preaching | 0 comments

“One man … called to God is worth a hundred who have elected to work for God.”

—Oswald Chambers

”If a man is called to preach the Gospel, God will crush him till the light of the eye, the power of the life, the ambition of the heart, is all riveted on Himself. That is not done easily. It is not a question of saintliness, it has to do with the Call of God.”

—Oswald Chambers

“Many preachers are good tailors spoiled, and capital shoe makers turned out of their proper calling. When God means a creature to fly, he gives it wings, and when he intends men to preach he gives them abilities.”

—Charles Spurgeon

”I knew an old minister once.… How I envy him.… I am listed as a famous home-runner, yet beside that obscure minister, who was so good and so wise, I never got to first base.”

—Babe Ruth

Source:
Morgan, R. J. (2000). Nelson’s complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed.) (86). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Just some thoughts,

Transparency Week – Day #4 – Wednesday

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Mar 21, 2012 in Ministry, Preaching | 0 comments

Wednesday was the day of Esther study! I spent most of the day studying Esther for our Bible class this evening. Our Wednesday Night adult Bible class has begun a study of Esther with emphasis on the providence of God in the lives of Christians today.

The lesson outline is on the post below this one.

Here is the video for the evening:

Thursday will be a pretty big day, but I look forward to talking to you then.

Just my thoughts,

What if the Preacher Attended Services like the Members?

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Mar 14, 2012 in Preaching | 4 comments

The day is Sunday and the time is 9:05 am. It is five minutes past the start of Bible class and members begin coming in. The class is not even half full when the late-comers make their way in the door. This wouldn’t be as bad if it were visitors, but these members do this every Sunday.

Attendance jumped 50% between Bible class and worship, with a few ritual late-comers strolling in 10 minutes after the worship services has begun. Once again, it would be better if they are visitors, but they are members.

Sunday evening services arrive and only 50% of the Sunday morning worship service crowd makes it a priority to come back.

Now, let’s imagine one of those members was the preacher.

How long would his responsibilities last in the congregation?

I can answer that simply – not long. Within a few weeks of that happening, if not one week, the elders would have a “nice sit-down conversation” with him. My question is, why don’t the elders do that with the membership?

Can I answer that one too? Most will say, “We pay him to be here.” An answer like that shows the beliefs of many members. No longer is a preacher being financially supported because he preaches, but is supported to preach.

Long ago, preachers were supported because they gave their life to the preaching of the gospel but times have changed. Many preachers are supported only if they are pleasing and meeting the needs of the congregation. For instance, how many preachers have been fired by congregations because he did not meet their needs as opposed to the truth in his preaching? How many times has gossip torn apart his work in a congregation because a few people were not happy with the truth and attacked the messenger?

Are we supporting men of God to preach the Word of God each week? Whether those opportunities be in the congregation or not? Are we supporting his life of preaching?

Remember the circuit riding preachers? The ones who got support from congregations as they rode back and forth preaching during the week. Those circuit riders were supported because of that they did, not paid to preach.

I believe congregations have an inconsistent view of preaching. Some want preachers to do it all because he is paid, not because they support him. My friends, there is a difference.

Personal Suggestions:

• Stop paying the preacher to be regular in attendance and begin supporting his work.
• Support his life of preaching (ministry) instead paying him to preach. (Support him to write, to preach, to speak, to teach and to live. The avenues are boundless in our world, support him to use each opportunity he can to spread the Word.)
• Read 1 Corinthians 9 and 2 Corinthians 10
• Elders – Meet with the absent, irregular members and discuss their attendance.
• Deacons – Continue your work of involving the members.

So, what if the preacher attended like the members, would their be any issue?

Just some thoughts,

Personal Note:

I love my life of preaching the gospel. Yes, there are struggles, there are times when I wish it were not so, but those times will make you better if you will allow them. There are times when I wish people were easier to work with and they wish the same about me, but I must remember, I am not here to make men happy, to to be pleasing to God.

Would I do it all over again? You know I would.

Preaching for Bodybuilding: A Quick Review

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Mar 13, 2012 in Book Review, Preaching | 0 comments

(The links above contain links to the Preacher’s Pen Affiliate Link through Amazon. A small percentage of the sale (4% – 6%) goes to support the Preacher’s Pen.)

As a minister presenting a lesson to convict the people of God each week, you know it takes planning and personal study. There are various types of preaching which a preacher may use to share the message: topical, textual, expository and narrative. Each type of preaching has its place in the presentation of God’s Word. Many preachers will stress one type over another, and some preachers seek to use a variety of the types.

Dr. Joel Breidenbaugh wrote Preaching for Bodybuilding to “provide preachers with a methodology and an inspiration for combining engaging exposition with a spiritual nutrition of doctrinal instruction.” (Introduction, Electronic version, page 1)

Dr. Breidenbaugh begins his work by discussing the purpose of the book (see quote above) and the benefits of expository preaching; this is Part #1 of the book. As the book continues, a discussion of the “Historical Issues for Doctrinal Exposition” takes place to set the pace for the remainder of the book.  The history of expository preaching is met with the need to return to the need for expository preaching to build the Body of Christ on the Word.

Part #2 of the book discusses the “Definitional Clarity for Doctrinal Exposition” by addressing the issues of declaring a definition of expository preaching and discussing the purpose of focusing on expository preaching.  Chapter 7  closes out Part #2 with some words regarding the “Doctrinal Prerequisites of an Expositor.” The challenge is to the preacher to deep his “spiritual diet” to break forth in his preaching.

Dr. Breidenbaugh uses Part #3 to  revive his discussion of the Biblical Basis for Doctrinal Exposition and continues the thought with Part #4 – “Theological Methods for Doctrinal Exposition.” In each chapter, Dr. Breidenbaugh shows his belief for the power of “doctrinal expositional preaching.”

As the book draws to a close, Dr. Breidenbaugh brings the practical and beneficial aspects of what he refers to as “doctrinal expository preaching.”

Additional resources are provided in the back of the book are three samples sermons  and a few appendix images.

The author, Joel Breidenbaugh is the senior minister for the First Baptist Sweetwater Church  in Longwood, Florida. Dr. Breidenbaugh is also a professor in homiletics for Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.

Personal Thoughts:

The book is clearly about the standard of expository preaching and the authors intent to persuade others to begin or continue the practice of expository preaching. Various part of the book were more in-depth than others, but it is still not an overnight read.

I found the book useful in describing the history of expository preaching and the practicality of presenting messages in an expository format.

A Quote from the Book:

“In explaining this move towards more of a subjective approach to preaching, especially preaching directed at people’s needs, Robison argues that the way preachers have viewed their roles reflect the shift of authority in the American culture. Prior to the 1950s preachers saw themselves as evangelists. From 1950 – 1970, the viewed themselves as teacher. The 1980s and 1990s ushered in the preacher as therapist role. The first few years of the twenty-first century has carried the preacher as therapist into the preacher as a “feel good” helper. These role transformations caused changes in sermon content as well as in the authority in preaching.” (Chapter 2, page 8 of the electronic version)

What books are you reading to improve your preaching?

Just my thoughts,