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Post by T-Rex91 on Nov 18, 2009 11:19:56 GMT -5
This seems to be the flip of the "Too Many Churches" thread.
TOO MANY PASTORS, NOT ENOUGH PULPITS: Methodist Church Pastors on the Chopping BLOCK.
*Pastors affiliated with the United Methodist Church could find themselves in the unemployment line. According to The Tennessean.com, the long-standing practice of guaranteed jobs for pastors could come to an end.. Methodist bishops and two denominational committees want to end job security for ministers, known as guaranteed appointment. And shrinking membership and budgets may give Methodist leadership what they want by default.
But as membership has dropped, so has the number of churches able to afford pastors. In 1960, United Methodists claimed about 10.8 million members. Today, membership is at 7.8 million. Average Sunday attendance is about 95 people. And half of Methodist churches draw 50 or fewer people to Sunday services.
A church needs about 125 people to support a full-time minister. In some cases, elders serve two or more churches at a time. Many churches are served by part-time or local pastors who have no job security.
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Post by Highly Favored on Nov 18, 2009 12:14:30 GMT -5
Interesting...
I guess people who choose to pastor will begin to do so because they really have a heart for it and not necessarily approach it as a career. I think that's the way it should be anyway. Do it because you love it and if the church can afford to compensate you, that's just icing on the cake. God's work is too serious for people to be in it just for the money. JMHO.
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Post by LejaOMG on Nov 18, 2009 12:17:19 GMT -5
Interesting. Pastors earn no salary in my religion. The vast majority have secular jobs in addition to the hard work they do in the congregation; it's a real commitment. Never really thought of it as a career so much as a vocation.
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Post by T-Rex91 on Nov 18, 2009 12:27:27 GMT -5
Pastoring is BIG business in the Methodist Church
<------United Methodist
Between the parsonage/housing credit, generous salaries, and love offerings, it's very lucrative.
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Post by Cambist on Nov 18, 2009 12:35:20 GMT -5
I'm a general skeptic about issues of religion so for me....it only makes sense for these folks to not guarantee positions. If your church membership is low and doesn't generate enough funds for it to provide for it's costs, missions, etc...then you don't deserve any compensation.
Surplus of pastors? That's almost comical.....
Side Note: The Warden doesn't like it when I say this but i'm always skeptical of all these folks who were "Called" to preach....
.....some of them need to check their Caller ID to make sure it was God....
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Post by T-Rex91 on Nov 18, 2009 12:36:52 GMT -5
<-----Is sometimes skeptical too
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Post by Highly Favored on Nov 18, 2009 13:03:16 GMT -5
Interesting. Pastors earn no salary in my religion. The vast majority have secular jobs in addition to the hard work they do in the congregation; it's a real commitment. Never really thought of it as a career so much as a vocation. It's that way in my organization, too. And I agree re: it being a vocation. |
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Post by Highly Favored on Nov 18, 2009 13:03:56 GMT -5
Pastoring is BIG business in the Methodist Church <------United Methodist Between the parsonage/housing credit, generous salaries, and love offerings, it's very lucrative. You're right. Formerly UM. |
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Post by Highly Favored on Nov 18, 2009 13:04:30 GMT -5
I'm a general skeptic about issues of religion so for me....it only makes sense for these folks to not guarantee positions. If your church membership is low and doesn't generate enough funds for it to provide for it's costs, missions, etc...then you don't deserve any compensation. Surplus of pastors? That's almost comical..... Side Note: The Warden doesn't like it when I say this but i'm always skeptical of all these folks who were "Called" to preach.... .....some of them need to check their Caller ID to make sure it was God.... I agree. |
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Post by Noble Work on Nov 18, 2009 15:56:04 GMT -5
I'm a general skeptic about issues of religion so for me....it only makes sense for these folks to not guarantee positions. If your church membership is low and doesn't generate enough funds for it to provide for it's costs, missions, etc...then you don't deserve any compensation. Surplus of pastors? That's almost comical..... Side Note: The Warden doesn't like it when I say this but i'm always skeptical of all these folks who were "Called" to preach.... .....some of them need to check their Caller ID to make sure it was God.... Yes Cam, I share your thoughts on this "called" thing. Now I don't feel so bad for having problems with it...lol |
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Post by adisa on Nov 18, 2009 16:36:44 GMT -5
I was warned about this sort of thing some years ago when I applied to divinity school. One of the pastors who wrote a letter of rec. for me told me the school was started by and still gets most of their fellowship money from Methodists. He told me they would basically try to get me to change my demonination so I would be eligible for most of their fellowships, and then I would basically be their employee after I finished my studies. To me it actually sounded like a smart businees move on the part of the Methodists, like how some corporations offer paid internships and then a full-time job after graduation.
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