Posted by:
Betty G
(
)
Date: January 14, 2017 01:03AM
If I were to set bounderies on what a livable allowance was, I'd probably say 10K per person in the household, with a minimum of 30K.
That means, for a single minister or a minister and his spouse, that would still be around 30K. If that minister and his spouse had 3 children, that would be 50K.
If we are providing that Ministers house, that probably is enough for a decent living (most people spend around 1/3 to 1/2 of their wages on housing so that actually isn't that bad of a deal).
I would consider that a modest stipend. Of course, many Baptist pastors want to be paid more, and for such an unhumble pastor who pursued the riches of the world instead of the blessings of the Lord, we'd lose them pretty rapidly as they moved onto bigger and better paychecks at other churches.
In that instance, many wouldn't feel that bad to pay the head pastor 60K to 80K in our modern times, especially if it's a decent sized or larger church (that means you'll have to have at least 60-80 families donating around 2k a year each as, not only do you have to pay that pastor's salary, you also have to keep the lights on in the church and possibly pay the secretaries and such).
I know Methodists when they have served for a while and are over a medium sized congregation are probably making around 55 to 60K. Someone who tells you they are making over 100K are probably either stupid, ignorant, or telling a blatant lie that should be called out on it.
Payments differ from congregation and church to church. While more humble Baptists may feel what I stated to be totally in line with what a humble servant of the Lord should be paid, some of those from richer and more affluent neighborhoods may feel that a youth pastor should make around 60K and a head pastor should make something like 250K. It all depends on the congregation and the church.
In that light, each church makes their own rules about what they feel is sufficient for a servant of the Lord in their midst.
If Mormons feel that 120K is a modest stipend, and most of them are not bothered by it, or feel that it is actually insufficient, than more power to them.
If I were at a Baptist Mega church and they paid their pastor like that, I might be tempted to walk out and find another congregation of Baptist, and sure as hell probably wouldn't put anything on the plate when it passed...BUT, that would be an individual choice. Their congregation (though it lies more heavily on the council of elders in that church) has made that decision that this is an adequate payment for the pastors services.
If I were to try to make a ruckus in that situation, that congregation not only would probably be very rude to me, but kick me out and say if I wanted to do things differently, go find my own church and pastor, but don't interfere with theirs.
Hence, if Mormons are patting their backs and are very happy about paying their General Authorities that much in a stipend, let them be. As the OP showed, to try to dig into other people's desire to pay their pastors what they feel is right, sometimes can only cause grief and pain to the one who may feel it is not the right thing to do.
At least, as far as I would see it from how a Baptist church might handle things. Things may vary in the Mormon religions, but I don't think it would be that different from what it seems the OP indicates the LDS reactions to the stipends are. In fact, it seems to be very much that the members approve of that money that is being paid to their Leaders, and as such, I'd say...if they are happy to do that, let them be on that issue.