Though members of the clergy do not stage public demonstrations to protest poor conditions of service, the quality of their work suffers.
While some have abandoned their vocations to pursue a more profitable line of work, others turn their ministry into for-profit ventures or eventually suffer burnout.
The idea of a Christian receiving payment for services rendered for the church is still not widely accepted.
When members serve as instrumentalists during various programmes, offer secretarial or administrative services, or lend their expertise for varied projects, few church leaders consider these people worthy of some financial compensation.
This general attitude perhaps explains why we’re so comfortable paying full time ministers very little. Irrespective of how much we respect our clergymen, even the most charitable of them feels slighted when they are underpaid.
As pastors watch their congregants prosper while they become poorer, it is difficult to prevent them from becoming bitter about their own circumstances. They continue to struggle to pay their rent, school fees, or put food on the table.
They may face mounting pressure from a wife forced to become the main breadwinner even as she hosts the churches’ visitors or support’s poor members. As the spouse complains, she becomes less supportive of her husband’s work and may even abandon the marriage in frustration.
The churches neglect of their fulltime workers has contributed to the rise of greedy, manipulative leaders who device sophisticated ways to fleece their members. When a member seeks counselling, they inundate the counselee with sob stories to ensure they give them money.
Some only express appreciation for a gift above a certain amount to express their dissatisfaction with a smaller offering. Others tell members that God has commanded them to support their “work” which prevents one from refusing a request. Others may lure a portion of the group away by undermining the head pastor’s authority.
It is rumoured that other well-established men of God require a consultation fee before they grant one audience or demand a promise to “bless him” with a specific sum of money before prayers are offered. Some too offer gifts of books, CDs, ornaments for specific amounts donated to their organisations.
It is also well known that audio recordings and books by the senior pastor have become a money making venture since church members are strongly encouraged to purchase them for a special blessing.
Such dealings prevents God from blessing the church as a whole and leads to many becoming disillusioned with the Christian faith. Very often, instead of returning to God’s principles to support those in fulltime ministry, many instead launch elaborate programmes that promise magnificent miracles especially if people “sow a seed”.
Little is mentioned during such conventions or miracle encounters etc. that the first requirement for obtaining God’s blessings is obedience to His word. However, as more money pours into the church, it seems to leak out even faster. Pastors begin to make their members feel guilty unless they empty out their pockets during each service and they forget that God is not as interested in the amounts we give as much as in the heart giving the offering.
The associate pastors are thus constantly struggling to honour their leaders and many become bitter and may gossip about the senior pastor. Since they serve closely with the top hierarchy of the church, they know how much money flows into the churches coffers and how little comes to them. Even as the General Overseer appeals for more funds, they know he uses much of this money for his own personal comfort.
Such young pastors often begin accepting numerous external invitations especially international appointments to make ends meet long before they have completed their apprenticeship. When leaders in the church are at the mercy of well-wishers for financial support, they become obliged to those who give them gifts.
They are unable to chastise those engaged in wrongdoing lest they offend them and are often unable to serve people freely without expecting something. While God expects his servants to go wherever He sends them irrespective of the compensation offered, few are able to make preaching decisions without considering the potential financial rewards.
Ideally, before a church engages the services of a full time church worker, they should determine whether their budget would support the extra expense. The salary should be sufficient for the pastor to either rent decent accommodation or pay a mortgage. He should be able to pay his children’s school fees, buy food, pay his utilities, and put some away. The church should also pay the SSNIT or retirement benefits of workers and make provision for health care costs etc.
It should be possible to discuss these issues with the applicant so that everyone leaves the negotiating table without any lingering feelings of dissatisfaction. The more prosperous church can offer a better package to their pastors while growing churches who offer less should aim to improve the level of remuneration as their resources improve.
Since many churches are autonomous and owe no allegiance to a larger organisation, some of these principles may not be applicable. Within the lone ranger churches, the pastor is usually the CEO and CFO. However, even in such congregations, other fulltime employees should be paid. Very often, more established Christian groups may establish a scale for salaries based on qualifications, years of service, status etc. for all employees.
The levels are typically so poor that even well to do churches will do not pay their workers enough while the church may have burgeoning bank accounts which are reserved for special projects even as their pastors wallow in poverty.
It should also be possible for wealthier congregations to adopt fledgling churches especially in the remote parts of the country. Such churches could benefit from regular contributions to enable them pay their preachers, assist them build permanent structures and support other worthwhile projects.
As church groups meet the financial needs of those serving the body of Christ, we will begin opening up the channels of love through which God can bless his children.
While some have abandoned their vocations to pursue a more profitable line of work, others turn their ministry into for-profit ventures or eventually suffer burnout.
The idea of a Christian receiving payment for services rendered for the church is still not widely accepted.
When members serve as instrumentalists during various programmes, offer secretarial or administrative services, or lend their expertise for varied projects, few church leaders consider these people worthy of some financial compensation.
This general attitude perhaps explains why we’re so comfortable paying full time ministers very little. Irrespective of how much we respect our clergymen, even the most charitable of them feels slighted when they are underpaid.
As pastors watch their congregants prosper while they become poorer, it is difficult to prevent them from becoming bitter about their own circumstances. They continue to struggle to pay their rent, school fees, or put food on the table.
They may face mounting pressure from a wife forced to become the main breadwinner even as she hosts the churches’ visitors or support’s poor members. As the spouse complains, she becomes less supportive of her husband’s work and may even abandon the marriage in frustration.
The churches neglect of their fulltime workers has contributed to the rise of greedy, manipulative leaders who device sophisticated ways to fleece their members. When a member seeks counselling, they inundate the counselee with sob stories to ensure they give them money.
Some only express appreciation for a gift above a certain amount to express their dissatisfaction with a smaller offering. Others tell members that God has commanded them to support their “work” which prevents one from refusing a request. Others may lure a portion of the group away by undermining the head pastor’s authority.
It is rumoured that other well-established men of God require a consultation fee before they grant one audience or demand a promise to “bless him” with a specific sum of money before prayers are offered. Some too offer gifts of books, CDs, ornaments for specific amounts donated to their organisations.
It is also well known that audio recordings and books by the senior pastor have become a money making venture since church members are strongly encouraged to purchase them for a special blessing.
Such dealings prevents God from blessing the church as a whole and leads to many becoming disillusioned with the Christian faith. Very often, instead of returning to God’s principles to support those in fulltime ministry, many instead launch elaborate programmes that promise magnificent miracles especially if people “sow a seed”.
Little is mentioned during such conventions or miracle encounters etc. that the first requirement for obtaining God’s blessings is obedience to His word. However, as more money pours into the church, it seems to leak out even faster. Pastors begin to make their members feel guilty unless they empty out their pockets during each service and they forget that God is not as interested in the amounts we give as much as in the heart giving the offering.
The associate pastors are thus constantly struggling to honour their leaders and many become bitter and may gossip about the senior pastor. Since they serve closely with the top hierarchy of the church, they know how much money flows into the churches coffers and how little comes to them. Even as the General Overseer appeals for more funds, they know he uses much of this money for his own personal comfort.
Such young pastors often begin accepting numerous external invitations especially international appointments to make ends meet long before they have completed their apprenticeship. When leaders in the church are at the mercy of well-wishers for financial support, they become obliged to those who give them gifts.
They are unable to chastise those engaged in wrongdoing lest they offend them and are often unable to serve people freely without expecting something. While God expects his servants to go wherever He sends them irrespective of the compensation offered, few are able to make preaching decisions without considering the potential financial rewards.
Ideally, before a church engages the services of a full time church worker, they should determine whether their budget would support the extra expense. The salary should be sufficient for the pastor to either rent decent accommodation or pay a mortgage. He should be able to pay his children’s school fees, buy food, pay his utilities, and put some away. The church should also pay the SSNIT or retirement benefits of workers and make provision for health care costs etc.
It should be possible to discuss these issues with the applicant so that everyone leaves the negotiating table without any lingering feelings of dissatisfaction. The more prosperous church can offer a better package to their pastors while growing churches who offer less should aim to improve the level of remuneration as their resources improve.
Since many churches are autonomous and owe no allegiance to a larger organisation, some of these principles may not be applicable. Within the lone ranger churches, the pastor is usually the CEO and CFO. However, even in such congregations, other fulltime employees should be paid. Very often, more established Christian groups may establish a scale for salaries based on qualifications, years of service, status etc. for all employees.
The levels are typically so poor that even well to do churches will do not pay their workers enough while the church may have burgeoning bank accounts which are reserved for special projects even as their pastors wallow in poverty.
It should also be possible for wealthier congregations to adopt fledgling churches especially in the remote parts of the country. Such churches could benefit from regular contributions to enable them pay their preachers, assist them build permanent structures and support other worthwhile projects.
As church groups meet the financial needs of those serving the body of Christ, we will begin opening up the channels of love through which God can bless his children.
