MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

Am I the Biggest Sucker in the World?

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Tue, August 09, 2005
Viewed 318
(100) comments so far

Dear Todd,

I am at a church that we love. I am non-paid staff. We have been here for 5 yrs, with the elusive promise of pay. I am ready to graduate in 6 mths with a concentration in my ministry. I have worked for free, and accumulated $$$ in tuition debt. The church has not paid for any of my schooling. I have been receiving offers, but my church has asked me not to take them, that the time will come when they will "fairly" compensate me.

Am I the sucker of all time??? Am I being taken advantage of?

Well... what do you think? I told this person that I'd post his/her email on the blog and see what kind of comments we get. What do you think... are they a sucker or should they stick in there and see what happens? Has a similar situation ever happened to you? How did you handle it? Take a few moments and add to the response!

I get many emails each week from people with questions about church staff and personnel issues. Here is one that has to do with pay… an believe it or not, it is not an uncommon scenario. Read this short note, and take a few minutes to give your feedback below…

Comments

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Vic Luttrell on Tue, August 09, 2005

Dear Suffering Servant;

My story is almost identical. The church kept promising me that they would pay me some day, and never did. The Lord had to take things in his own hands where her put me in a situation where I had to move. I had no money coming in, and I started to have health problems.

The service at the church was a blessing for me and I do not regret anything I did while serving them. It is a weird mentality in a church where they continue to use your full time services and do not pay. The church budget looks good, and the church is blessed by your service.

I was phoned by a friend, who offered me to stay with them, at just the right moment. I was able to recover healthwise, and was able to get refocused. I am guessing that if you do not make a decision, the Lord will create the circumstances that will give you a clear vision of what to do. Don’t be surprised if you never get any compensation from the church where you are serving.

I will pray daily for you.
Walter Smith on Tue, August 09, 2005

Mixed emotions on this one. If the church has “promised” and not delivered, would you even want to be a paid staff member in a ministry with such a lack of integrity? On the other hand, you are naive to have believed it for so long and continued to offer your services. That time could have been used working to pay off some of your school expenses. It’s admirable, but as a hiring manager in the business world, I pretty much ignore intern and volunteer work except to determine interests. Who’s going to fire free help?

I worked six months as head of a children’s ministry as my ministry to a church with no hopes or even dreams of pay. Imagine my surprise when I was asked to pray about coming on staff full-time. I did and I did, and served another two years blessed beyond words.

Whatever you decide, don’t carry a grudge against the ministry you’re at now-it will damage any work you do in the future. I will pray for your guided success.
Pastor Doug on Tue, August 09, 2005

The question that really needs to be asked is:

Did God call you to that Church?

If the answer is “yes”, then you stay until God releases you and that means paid or not…

If the answer is “no”, then you are free to go… but you should go where God leads and not just to a church that will “pay” you…

I cringe when I think of how much we treat ministry as a “job” and not a “calling”

Having said that, the laborer is worthy of his/her wages…
Gary on Tue, August 09, 2005

Listen to that small still voice. What is God telling you to do? If your where God wants you, He will take care of every thing.

Gary
PeterD on Tue, August 09, 2005

Yes, You’re a sucker. It’s sad to say, but these empty promises abound at most every church. “Well increase your salary as the church grows” is another one. If this has been going on for a long time, don’t hold your breath. Empty promises are nothing more than lies. Liars in the church?? Yes, maybe not intentionally, but nontheless a lie. It’s time to move on if you don’t see anything more than lip service over a couple of years. I’ve been there, I’ve done that, I’ve bought the t-shirt. You may find it more rewarding if you just work a good paying secular job and volunteer your time. I’ve found that to be the most rewarding. Now, as a church board member, I can help shape the archaic and unfair labor practices that churches routinely get trapped in. Some may say this sounds bitter, but it’s really not. Sometimes the truth is harsh. Don’t make promises you can’t keep. God doesn’t, neither should we.
Jas e on Tue, August 09, 2005

The road to heaven is also paved with good intentions. In your next position, you will face the same “good people,” and the same “good intentions.” Successful ministers build their careers around people who make and keep commitments. The definition of insanity: doing things that do not work while expecting different results.

jas e
Timothy Sweezy on Tue, August 09, 2005

My advice is to simply get on your knees and follow God’s will for your life. Ministry should never be about the money. I understand your debt problem, I have it as well. However, many pastors and people working in churches still work for very little, or no money at all. They do this because they are following God’s will for their lives, and they compensate their income in other ways. Let us not forget that God will provide us all we need as long as we trust in Him to do so.

This does not mean that I think you should stay in your current position. It only means that I think you should allow God to lead your decision and not money or anyone else. My prayers are with you.
Jim Perry on Tue, August 09, 2005

I would be straight forward with the church. Tell them that you cannot afford to stay unless you have some commitment from them and the commitment includes the amount of compensation. You need to be clear with them that you have financial obligations that will require compensation at a particular level and that even if they suddenly begin to compensate you with real money (and not just thank yous), it may not be enough. Although it is not easy, clergy need to be willing to advocate for themselves when it comes to adequate financial compensation.

You’re not a sucker unless you continue to allow them to take advantage of you.
Bart on Tue, August 09, 2005

Seems as if most everyone is on the side of bailing out. I think there are way to many unanswered questions. What are you doing to support yourself now? When you began was it as a volunteer? We have a lot of people who are experts on thier field that volunteer at the church. We have teachers on our CE board, they are not paid. We have music teachers that use their talents for the church, they are not paid. We have business people who are on the financial board, they are volunteers. While I do not like the idea of the church dangling the possibility of payment in front of you, I would want to know if they are creating a position just for you? Do they love you enough to try paymnent just to keep you, or will this be a position that when you leave is not filled by a paid staff person but with a volunteer? The last church I attended wanted to hire me when I finished my education. God provided something else for me, and the last church did not hire anyone, the position was just for me. That is Christian love, not being a sucker. Don’t pass up a paid position, but don’t expect the church to make a new paid position just for you either.
Pastor Bob on Tue, August 09, 2005

Hi,

I am a pastor of a small church, I started with only a housing allowance of $200 a month. Now after 2.5 yrs. I am up to $875 a month! And I am about to finish a masters degree in Divintity, however in New England, it is a mission field, and expensive! If it wasn’t for my USAF retirement of 790 and my wife working at Wal-Mart, I would be literally on the street!

Again, we are very fortunate in America! I believe he should get a part time job; be bi-vocational for know, and PRAY! God will make a way as He does for me every day!

Love in Christ,

PAstor Bob