The Pastor's Life: Thrift Store or Nieman Marcus?

By the Rev. Michael Scudder

There is a myth about the life of a pastor that seems to have more than one side to it. The myth is that a pastor's life is one of poverty. Sometimes a congregation will say, "Well, a pastor's life is supposed to be one of sacrifice and humility, thus we don't have to pay him a 'scale' salary." At the same time, some pastors might say, "I am the Lord's humble servant. I will take what the congregation gives me as the will of God." In both cases there are degrees of truth but it is not necessary, neither is it commanded, anywhere, that a pastor must live a life of poverty. In fact, St. Paul wrote to the Christians in Galatia as he was instructing them on the life of the Christian community, "Let him who is taught the Word share in all good things with him who teaches." (Gal. 6:6 NKJV)

A pastor, like any worker, is worthy of his hire. A pastor is called to care for the people over whom God has placed him as overseer. And, as a gift from God, the congregation is called to care for their pastor. A pastor needs to be able to care for his family (food, clothes, a place to live, etc.) if he is going to effectively care for the flock. At the same time he, not as a pastor but as a child of God, needs to be a good steward of the gifts that God has given him. A pastor should live within his means (as should anyone), and the congregation needs to provide the means. He may not eat filet mignon every night, but that side of beef donated by Farmer Joe sure is good. The pastor may not drive a brand new car, but that head elder that has his own repair shop is willing to give him a pretty good break. At the same time, a good rule of thumb for the congregation is to ask themselves, "Would I be able to live on what we are paying our pastor?"

The pastor need not live a life of poverty (whether enforced or chosen) but live within the means that God gives through the congregation. And the congregation must remember that their pastor is a gift from God, has eight years of college education, and needs to provide for his family. God blesses each of us so we might bless each other!

The Rev. Michael R. Scudder is an Admission Counselor at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana.