Recently, a pastor of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement in a county told me that they had made an agreement with the grassroots church that unless they were willing to give seminary graduates a salary based on a certain standard, no more new theology student preachers would be assigned to them.
When it comes to supplying pastors, I have heard something that is to "encourage" the pastors, such as "living by faith" and "Paul also preached and wove tents at the same time".
Pastor Wu Weiwen of Divinity School of Chung Chi College once shared, "Pastors are like the Levites in the past, serving full-time on behalf of believers, and focusing on praying and preaching." The Levites served full-time in the holy temple, whilst members of the other eleven tribes needed to make offerings to support them.
"Imagine, if a preacher needs to serve the church while worrying about the needs of his family, can they keep a peaceful mind and do the church work well? Some preachers have to do part-time jobs or even just quit their ministry in order to work a secular job. It is a huge loss for the church. As a preacher, one should be devoted to thinking about how the church will prosper. Companies in the secular world provide high salaries and various insurances to make their employees feel comfortable and focus on working for the organizations. Why doesn't the church do the same? Why not give preachers a fixed salary and double honor?" Pastor Wu asked.
In rural churches, most pastors are unpaid. Many work normally and preach on Sundays, which discourages quite many young seminarians. A good number of rural churches have few believers and little offering. In addition, without full-time preachers, it is difficult for the church to make a breakthrough but only maintain the status quo and hold Sunday services.
The church has a long history of having a volunteer system. An old pastor in Yunnan Province also shared that when missionaries were preaching the gospel in China, the church was not responsible for their needs in dailyy life. They were supported by the Church Missionary Society. After they left, the church experienced a significant change. With the resumption of worship services, a volunteer system came into being. The preachers did part-time ministry and did not receive compensation from the church. However, they did not think it was very hard for them to work while serving at the same time.
"I think the church should develop full-time staff, and their needs of life must be taken into account. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the church to revive."
A pastor in the Northeast recalled that he also experienced a period of doing ministry with very low pay. At that time, in addition to preaching, he would spend his time visiting others and thinking about how to serve well. After the believers knew of his situation, they began to care and help him. There was also such a testimony.
What I prefer to see is that the church can gradually improve its rules and regulations to fundamentally guarantee the basic necessities of life of the preachers, so that they are neither rich nor poor. Then they can be dedicated to preaching and praying with peace of mind.
- Translated by Shuya Wang
近日，某县基督教三自爱国会的牧师告诉我，他们已经跟基层教会约定：除非他们愿意给神学毕业生不低于一定标准的薪资待遇，否则不给他们分配新的神学生传道人。
说起供应传道人这件事情，笔者曾听到一些信息，“要凭信心生活”“保罗也是一手传道一手织帐篷”，以此来“勉励”传道人。
崇基神学院的伍渭文牧师曾分享，“教牧就像昔日的利未人，替代信徒作全职的事奉，以祈祷传道为念。” 利未支派的人在圣殿里全职事奉，其余的十一个支派的人需要做奉献来供养他们。
“试想一下，如果一位传道人一边要事奉教会，一边要挂心着家庭的需要，他们能安心做好教会工作吗？有的不得已还出去兼职甚至直接辞去教会职务到世上工作了，这对于教会来说是非常大的损失。作为传道人，要全心想着教会如何发展才好，世上的企业用高薪酬和各种保险来让员工安心为自己工作，为何教会不这样做呢？为何不给固定的薪水并加倍敬奉他们呢？”伍牧师反问到
在农村教会，大多数传道人都没有薪水，很多人都是一边干活一边在礼拜天的时候讲道，这让很多年轻神学生望而却步。不少农村教会本来信徒就少，奉献也少，再加上没有专职传道人，教会难以突破，就只能维持现状，做一下主日礼拜。
教会的义工制度由来已久，云南的一位老牧师也曾分享过，当年传教士在华传福音的时期，他们的生活所需不用教会负责，有背后的差会支持。而他们走了之后，教会经历变故。重新恢复礼拜之后，就有了义工制度，传道人做兼职事奉，不收取教会的报酬，他们也不认为自己一边事奉一边干活的状况很辛苦。
“我认为，教会应该培养专职人员，需要考虑他们的生活所需，否则教会很难复兴。”
东北的一位牧师回忆，他也经历过薪水很低的一段服侍时光。那时，除了讲道，会把时间用在探访上，想着把服侍做好。而信徒们知道了他的处境，也开始关心和帮助他。这样的见证也是有的。
我更愿意看到的，是教会能有逐步完善的规章制度，从根本上去保障传道人的基本生活，让他们不太富裕也不至贫穷，可以安心以传道祈祷的事为念
谈谈传道人工资待遇的事儿
Recently, a pastor of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement in a county told me that they had made an agreement with the grassroots church that unless they were willing to give seminary graduates a salary based on a certain standard, no more new theology student preachers would be assigned to them.
When it comes to supplying pastors, I have heard something that is to "encourage" the pastors, such as "living by faith" and "Paul also preached and wove tents at the same time".
Pastor Wu Weiwen of Divinity School of Chung Chi College once shared, "Pastors are like the Levites in the past, serving full-time on behalf of believers, and focusing on praying and preaching." The Levites served full-time in the holy temple, whilst members of the other eleven tribes needed to make offerings to support them.
"Imagine, if a preacher needs to serve the church while worrying about the needs of his family, can they keep a peaceful mind and do the church work well? Some preachers have to do part-time jobs or even just quit their ministry in order to work a secular job. It is a huge loss for the church. As a preacher, one should be devoted to thinking about how the church will prosper. Companies in the secular world provide high salaries and various insurances to make their employees feel comfortable and focus on working for the organizations. Why doesn't the church do the same? Why not give preachers a fixed salary and double honor?" Pastor Wu asked.
In rural churches, most pastors are unpaid. Many work normally and preach on Sundays, which discourages quite many young seminarians. A good number of rural churches have few believers and little offering. In addition, without full-time preachers, it is difficult for the church to make a breakthrough but only maintain the status quo and hold Sunday services.
The church has a long history of having a volunteer system. An old pastor in Yunnan Province also shared that when missionaries were preaching the gospel in China, the church was not responsible for their needs in dailyy life. They were supported by the Church Missionary Society. After they left, the church experienced a significant change. With the resumption of worship services, a volunteer system came into being. The preachers did part-time ministry and did not receive compensation from the church. However, they did not think it was very hard for them to work while serving at the same time.
"I think the church should develop full-time staff, and their needs of life must be taken into account. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the church to revive."
A pastor in the Northeast recalled that he also experienced a period of doing ministry with very low pay. At that time, in addition to preaching, he would spend his time visiting others and thinking about how to serve well. After the believers knew of his situation, they began to care and help him. There was also such a testimony.
What I prefer to see is that the church can gradually improve its rules and regulations to fundamentally guarantee the basic necessities of life of the preachers, so that they are neither rich nor poor. Then they can be dedicated to preaching and praying with peace of mind.
- Translated by Shuya Wang
Discussion About Salaries of Chinese Pastors
