No Money, No Ministry
Recently a number of bloggers wrote about "Church & Money" -- a SynchroBlog for November (perhaps I will join next month). As I write this, I am about to head off to work for the day -- a 'secular' job with Catholic Charities. When I finish my day developing housing for homeless people living with disabilities, I will have about an hour and a half to have some supper and to commute to my second job selling electronics at a popular retailer. As I prepare to enter ministry, I wonder how I will be able to answer God's call while keeping my rent paid and dinner on the table.
Developing a new church is no doubt a challenge. I know that it will require a tremendous amount of work and faith on my part. I also know that I can not do it alone. I will need to start by helping others to build their faith and then harness that faith to do the things that need to be done to build a community. I know that building a church (I'm not necessarily talking about a building) will require resources -- the creativity and labor of the community, but also cold, hard cash!
Rev. Lainie (the bourgeois elephant in the emergent/missional living room) is right on target with the fact that we just don't seem to value the work of ministry as we do any other industry or profession that produces a tangible product or service. And clergy/missionaries/religious have a difficult time asking for money -- although there are exceptions (Pat Robertson, Benny Hinn and the like). However the exceptions seem to get all the attention. Everyone seems to know a horror story of church financial scandal by clergy (see Bling Bling in the Holy of Holies, Reba's World).
Most clergy struggle financially and it shows in their ministries. A study found that "low clergy salaries make it difficult for pastors to be true to their calling... and this lack of income is causing many talented seminary graduates to enter other professions or other forms of ministry." The study also found that it directly affected clergy's ability to provide effective leadership that "challenges and transforms congregations." And not surprisingly, it stated that most clergy do not earn a salary commensurate of other professions.
It should be noted that there is a direct link between church income and clergy compensation -- the larger the church income, the higher the clergy compensation. And churches that are part of a larger denomination have a more solid fiscal base than independent churches. Therefore, that doesn't show much promise for those of us in the Independent Sacramental Movement.
But we can't be shy about advocating for ourselves regarding what is due. We know that there is plenty of biblical support that encourages that we support God through our financial giving. And we know we can not do the work of God without proper personal financial support.
"Every Israelite man and woman brought to the [Most High] such voluntary offerings as they thought best, for the various kinds of work which the [Most High] commanded them to do." -- Exodus 36:29 (NAB)Peace.
"Honor [God] with your wealth, with first fruits of all your produce." -- Proverbs 3:9 (NAB)
"Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap." -- Luke 6:38 (NAB)
Comments
My "axiom" is born not out of an embarrassment of asking for the money to do the job - rather it is to shift people's thinking away from the funding and fund-raising towards how their baptismal call empowers them to bring their talents and gifts to the table and envision them in light of the common ministry of the community.
Having ministered for many years in DC I learned very quickly that many in the community come to the table assuming that if we throw money at it - the problem will be solved, or the project will be fulfilled. We can walk away and not get our hands dirty, but still feel we've fulfilled our religious duty. My approach has been - to say nope, not exactly - if you are not actively engaged then you've missed an opportunity to grow in your faith, and in understanding and encourageing your community.
I don't think OC/IC clergy ought to be able to make a living doing ministry - it is one of the joys of our tradition that we are "worker-priests". One benefit - which my ordained friends in the "big-tent" churches often remind me of is that since we don't "preach for our paycheque" we have the advantage of being able to preach better (that is we're not bound to preach what the vestry wants to hear).
Equally I don't think we ought to be embarrassed to ask for funds when its needed - unfortunately too many of our co-religionists don't understand the difference and simply ask for money all the time.
But we do nee to shift people's thinking away from the funding for funding's sake, and towards the shared journey of the community - encouraging, and utilising the time and talent of the "whole" body of Christ.