ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote to these poisons is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Left-wing, National Council of Churches denominations.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Why Is the Patterson Network On Synod Welfare?":
Often it seems that the called workers/administrators have a poor grasp of financial matters. I think that is what has caused many of the problems in the church in recent decades.
For example, our pastor's parsonage is comparatively nicer than the majority of the members' homes (larger, more modern, in a nicer neighborhood). No rent is required, the utilities are all paid by the congregation. In addition, there is no tax liability to the pastor with respect to the implicit cash value of this housing, which could well exceed $1,000 per month if an individual needed to pay for these items out of pocket.
The pastor also receives a good health plan; again, better than many members, some of whom are uninsured. The premiums are entirely paid by the congregation.
Car mileage is also paid for visitation trips, etc.
Our congregation also pays a salary according to synodical code. No, it's not a fortune but with the preceding items it is greater than that of many of the members.
Often our pastor seems unhappy with this arrangement and feels that the congregation is not doing enough.
Often the pastor claims that he is on a fixed salary. This claim is made with no appreciation that most members cannot simply go to their employer and ask for more money on a whim. It either has to be earned through increased productivity, tenure, innovations to the running of the business etc.
If our congregation was a business, with declining membership and a constant loss of money the pastor would be let go.
As far as I can tell, the only drawback the pastor might legitimately claim is the pension plan offered. However, most of the members (currently employed) are no longer covered by pension plans. Pension plans have pretty much disappeared.
I once heard a quote that went something like this:
"The best pastor is a full time farmer and a part time pastor..."
Maybe it is my non-German heritage that makes me a bit critical at this point. (I'm Italian, as shown by my name).
Sincerely,
I. Donwannago Broke
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GJ - Those in a parsonage may think it is a bad deal, but paying for all those things is a real burden. Those of us with mortgages also have home repairs and property losing value steadily. If a pastor with his own home gets a call, he has the burden of selling it. Pastors paying Social Security have to add the "value" of living in a parsonage, so they pay that extra SS tax on top of the salary tax.
The advantage of a parsonage for a church is the long-term equity buildup. However, many congregations are negligent about keeping up the property, but quick to criticize the occupants. Proportionate giving in Lutheran congregations is anemic, although pastors are quite generous, even when poorly paid.
Don't worry - the supply of pastors will go down steadily. So will the number of congregations. Seminary education costs are absurd. So are health benefits. The old system is falling apart.
Pastors and lay leaders should study tax law. A pastor can receive a furnishings allowance, or a housing allowance, or both. Like the military allowances, it is not counted as income. Consult a tax lawyer about the fine points. A pastor in a parsonage can have part of his income stipulated as a furnishings allowance. That will reduce his tax burden, which is equitable, since military people get the same benefit from the tax code.
A home-based business can provide added income and tax benefits.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Are Pastors Overpaid for Their Work?":
You have it right most of the time. (I can't say all of the time because I'm a WELS pastor's wife and sometimes I will know the inside story.) But for the most part, you are right on target! Thanks for Ichabod, I really enjoy reading it. I usually can get a real good laugh from it and sometimes it just makes me sad that what you are writing is actually true. My biggest shock on reading the pastor's comments has been their horrendous spelling! God's blessings to you.
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GJ - It is my melancholy duty to focus on the bad spelling, bad grammar, bad theology, and bad behavior of the Lutheran clergy. But I know there are many good, faithful pastors helped by their dear wives, no matter what crosses they have to bear.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Are Pastors Overpaid for Their Work?":
Unfortunately some are paid too much and others not enough. Much of this is due to the fact that some pastors are hard workers while others are simply slackers doing little more than playing church.
GJ - So true. Unfortunately, the slackers in Church and Change who play at church get all the money, tons extra for assistants (to twitter for them?), and the adoration of their soft-brained leaders at The Love Shack.
Christ the Rock Lutheran Church, Round Rock, Texas: a Kudu Don Patterson franchise, sponsored by Church and Chicanery.
We have a rockin' music team that leads us in worship every week with familiar Christian rock songs right off the radio. Our music volunteers are all talented musicians who have gone through an audition process to keep the quality of our worship experience one that will keep you wanting to come back.
Lil Rockers
The "Sunday Gathering" begins with children and parents worshiping together. After the children's message the children are dismissed for a worship gathering which is designed to teach them on their level. This gives them the experience, joy and ownership of a church that is built with them in mind, so they can praise God with all their heart!
Lil' Rockers is held every Sunday at 10:20 a.m. in the Rice's Crossing Store located at the Old Settler's Association. Bring a friend!
CTR Sports Teams
Our T.A.G. (Touch Another with Grace) sports teams are a way for us as a church to fellowship and to reach out. One way we do this is by supplying our opponents with Gatorade before each game.
Seasonal teams currently include coed softball, men's softball, and tag football.
We are always looking to add new people to our teams so if you are interested, please email Mike Chalman at mchalman@yahoo.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Go T.A.G.!!!!!!!!
Hate Going to Church
If you hate going to church, we understand.
Studies show that many men - and more and more women too - will not even set foot inside a church today. Way too much of church is boring and irrelevant. Many feel like we don't have time. We don't want to be constantly asked for money. And frankly, many believe church is for wimps. Beyond all that, the number one reason most don't like going to church is obvious -- there are way too many hypocrites there!
If you hate going to church, CTR was built with you in mind. At CTR we're casual in our approach, yet what we have to communicate is extremely serious stuff. We strive to make every message and every service relevant and applicable to real life, as well as of excellent quality. At the same time, you can come to church in your jeans and feel perfectly comfortable in one of our services. Grab a cup of coffee on your way in and settle in for a high-octane hour of power-learning about God.
