Yesterday I wanted to talk about the salary of pastors with a female Christian called T for short, who serves in a grassroots church. But she said, “We can’t talk about this topic, or we will be labeled as Balaam.”
In order to serve better, she wanted to study theology, without getting any support. As a result, she had to work in a supermarket to earn money for tuition fees before the school started. Because of this, she was labeled "a person who loves the world". Having a mother and a child to feed, she has been serving as a volunteer in the church for more than 10 years. Later, she received 1,000 yuan per month to cover living expenses, which made the other elderly church staff unhappy.
Their reaction is understandable. Aa the older generation of pastors served the church as volunteers, never receiving a penny from the church. How can the topic of salary be mentioned? Even a small salary is not allowed. Moreover, their retirement from the church where they had enjoyed so much prestige and popularity, was more or less unacceptable.
This also reminds churches to do a good job in the retirement system of pastors, which could not only recognize their service but also give them a certain amount of life support.
“'God will feed you, so just serve Him.' That’s the most comforting words we hear.” T told me without complaining. But I could see that she felt a little sad. In this way, rural churches are in a difficult position. Receiving few offerings, they don’t pay salaries to pastors, so they can't retain theology graduates. They can't attract more believers to the church, resulting in few contributions received. This brings them to a dead end.
So many pastors work in the world while serving, or rely on their spouses for support.
T said there were thirty Theological students in her class, many of whom were serving, but fewer than ten persons received salaries.
I have learned that such a situation exists in rural churches in Henan, Yunnan, Anhui, Hebei, and other places, where pastors only serve as volunteers. Obviously, the development of churches is hindered. In addition to that, the older generation of pastors may occupy the preaching service, not wanting the new generation of pastors to rise up and serve.
Perhaps this is just the situation in rural churches. Most urban churches have a better payment system for their pastors, facing other challenges.
-Translated by Stephen Huang
昨天本来想跟一位在基层教会服侍的姊妹谈论传道人薪资待遇问题，她却说了一句：“不能谈这个话题，会被扣上巴兰的帽子。”
为了能更好地服侍，这位姊妹想去读神学，结果得不到支持，她只好在开学之前去超市打工挣钱，有了学费才去读。就因为此事，她还被扣过“贪爱世界”的帽子。十多年来，如今上有老下有小的她一直作为义工的身份在教会服侍，后来拿每月1000元的生活费，惹得其他服侍的老年同工不高兴。
可以理解吧，老一辈传道人都是作为义工的身份服侍教会的，从来没有拿过教会一分钱，现在怎么能提待遇的事情呢？哪怕只拿一点点也是不可以的。而且，他们在教会里，曾经那么有威望，众星捧月般，现在要退下来了，多少有些接受不了。
这也提醒教会，要做好传道人退休制度，肯定他们曾经的服侍，给他们一定的生活支持。
“上帝会养活你的，只要专心服侍神，这就是我们听到的最多的安慰话。”那位姊妹对我说，虽然不带怨言，但她也实在有些难受。 就这样，教会让自己陷入了艰难的境地：农村教会奉献少，又不发工资，因此留不住神学毕业生，从而也不能让更多人进入教会，这样奉献款还是少……陷入这样死胡同里。
不少传道人是一边服侍一边打工，或者依靠另一半供养。
那姐妹说 她的同学里，一个班三十人，不少人在服侍，可是教会给待遇的不到十个人。
笔者了解到，河南、云南、安徽、河北等地的农村教会，都存在这样的状况，传道人只是以义工的身份服侍。很明显的，教会的发展受到阻碍，或是老一辈传道人霸占讲台，不希望新一代传道人起来服侍。
可能，这只是农村教会的状况，大部分城市教会都有较好的传道人薪酬制度，他们面临的是另一方面的挑战。
一位传道人的挣扎：“想服侍主但没有工资，想出去打工又被说贪爱世界”
Yesterday I wanted to talk about the salary of pastors with a female Christian called T for short, who serves in a grassroots church. But she said, “We can’t talk about this topic, or we will be labeled as Balaam.”
In order to serve better, she wanted to study theology, without getting any support. As a result, she had to work in a supermarket to earn money for tuition fees before the school started. Because of this, she was labeled "a person who loves the world". Having a mother and a child to feed, she has been serving as a volunteer in the church for more than 10 years. Later, she received 1,000 yuan per month to cover living expenses, which made the other elderly church staff unhappy.
Their reaction is understandable. Aa the older generation of pastors served the church as volunteers, never receiving a penny from the church. How can the topic of salary be mentioned? Even a small salary is not allowed. Moreover, their retirement from the church where they had enjoyed so much prestige and popularity, was more or less unacceptable.
This also reminds churches to do a good job in the retirement system of pastors, which could not only recognize their service but also give them a certain amount of life support.
“'God will feed you, so just serve Him.' That’s the most comforting words we hear.” T told me without complaining. But I could see that she felt a little sad. In this way, rural churches are in a difficult position. Receiving few offerings, they don’t pay salaries to pastors, so they can't retain theology graduates. They can't attract more believers to the church, resulting in few contributions received. This brings them to a dead end.
So many pastors work in the world while serving, or rely on their spouses for support.
T said there were thirty Theological students in her class, many of whom were serving, but fewer than ten persons received salaries.
I have learned that such a situation exists in rural churches in Henan, Yunnan, Anhui, Hebei, and other places, where pastors only serve as volunteers. Obviously, the development of churches is hindered. In addition to that, the older generation of pastors may occupy the preaching service, not wanting the new generation of pastors to rise up and serve.
Perhaps this is just the situation in rural churches. Most urban churches have a better payment system for their pastors, facing other challenges.
-Translated by Stephen Huang
A Rural Pastor's Financial Struggle
