Pastors' Pitiful Pay

If you are looking to get rich, becoming a pastor probably isn't a wise career choice. Many congregations are so poor that they can't even afford to hire a full-time pastor and must make do with lay people. The smaller the church is, the more likely that they will have problems - bigger churches fare much better.

As the Fayetteville Observer explains, it's even worse for women and minorities:

The study finds that 66 percent of congregational pastors serve small congregations (100 members or less) and are paid a median salary of $22,300. About 56 percent of connectional pastors serve small congregations and are paid a median salary of $36,000. When pastors depend on congregations to set their salaries, the study says, they are afraid of taking chances and leading members in new directions. Female pastors generally do not have access to higher-paying jobs. And while pay for black pastors has improved, 41 percent still earn less than $13,000. Nearly half work two jobs.

This story does raise the interesting issue about how pay is connected to what pastors teach. It has been observed more than once that many pastors and ministers accept a theology that is much more liberal and more scholarly than what most Christians believe and even than what those same pastors teach. Perhaps this is an important reason why?

Read More:

• What is Christianity?
• Christian Theology