Should my Pastor find another job?

[Sinner]

Our church has regular attendance about 25-35 members. We have a mortgage to pay, bills, and pastors salary as he is a full-time ministry in the church. There are no other workers, as we cannot afford any more. Our church is struggling to keep its head out of water, as we are sinking....Members have been leaving slowly.
After paying pastors salary we have to struggle to pay rest of the bills. He has mentioned quite few times that, we need 10 more families to get this church going (I thought everything was about saving souls)
Should my pastor find another job? Or am I looking this differently.

 

[John]

Does your Paster live in that small of a town? Its a sad fact that some churches go down Is there not a bigger church in the area that the remaining members can join and the Pastor can take up a job there?

Just a thought.

 

[Sinner]

We were asked to merge with another church down few miles. But he refused.

 

[John]

We were asked to merge with another church down few miles. But he refused.

If he is going down hill he should consider it. IMHO.

Its like that old joke.

A guy was stranded on his roof after a storm, the water was up to the roof,
just then a boat came to get him and he said " no thanks God will save me"
and the boat left.

A few hours later the water was up to the guys knees, again another boat came.
the guy said the same thing " No thanks God will save me"

A few more hours passed and the water was up to his neck, and a helicopter fly by and once more the guy rejected the help saying " My faith is strong God will save me"

A few hours later the guy dies.

Upon entering heaven the guy asks God. " Why did you not save me?"

God answers and said " What are you talking about? i sent 2 boats and a helicopter"

:

Maybe the merge was Gods way of saving your Pastors job/the congregation.

 

[handy]

A mortgage for a church of 25-35 members is a huge problem. I would assume that your church must have at one time been a much, much larger congregation. What caused the drop off and was the current pastor there when it happened? Are there sin issues that need to be dealt with concerning the large drop off in attendence? And, why are the members leaving? What is going on to cause this bleed?

These are important questions to be considered because they get at the heart of whether or not it is even in God's will that your church remain an active congregation within the body. As John pointed out, there might be other congregations that God's work can be better done through.

Also, who owns the building and holds the mortgage? If it is a denomination, perhaps the denomination should consider putting the church on "mission" status and help with paying the mortgage. If it's owned by the local congregation, you should seriously consider putting the building up for sale. It's become tradition for congregations to have a building in which to meet, but it's by no means necessary to do so. I just cannot imagine a congregation that small supporting a building and all the necessary utilities and upkeep.

As to whether or not your pastor should be paid, if you can't afford a salary for a pastor, then you can't but he needs to make a living just as anyone else needs to. If you can't afford to salary him, then he'll need to decide what God want's him to do, either stay there and work a different job to pay his bills, or find a different church to pastor.

Whatever, keep in mind that your money woes are only a symptom of a much larger problem and won't be corrected until the larger problem is identified and corrected.

 

[Vic C.]

Yes sinner, Pastor needs to make a decision one way or another. I don't know the denomination of your congregation. But in our church, which is Southern Baptist, the Pastor is not the head of the Church. My Pastor would be the first to agree with me. He is looked upon to make many decisions, but it's the Deacons responsibilities to round up the congregation and vote on most every decision. That includes the hiring, firing and salary considerations of the Pastoral staff.

The merge seems to be in your best interest right now. The sheep need to be fed. ;-)

 

[handy]

Merging does seem to be a good option, always keeping in mind that perhaps the doctrines are too different for a smooth merge. For example, if one church is So. Baptist and the other is Reformed, there might be too much disconnect between the two doctrines and cause one very divided church rather than too small, struggling, yet united churches. Also, if there are underlying problems that has caused Sinner's church to be struggling (and I'd bet my bibby there is) and members to be leaving, merging with another church won't fix them. Sad that such realities exist in the Body of Christ, but nonetheless they do.

 

[stovebolts]

Should my pastor find another job? Or am I looking this differently.

Paul wasn't afraid to get a job outside of ministry... 1 Corinthians 4:12, 1 Thessalonian 2:9 As a matter of fact, he wouldn't let himself be a financial burden to the church. 2 Corinthians 12.

If for whatever reason he won't merge with the other church.., then he ought to take Paul's approach in my humble opinion.

 

[lovely]

I think Jeff makes a good point, Paul worked so that he would not be a burden. Maybe your pastor should work, at least for a season. A workman is worth his wages, though, and maybe your preacher does so much work for the church he needs to be paid because it consumes all of his time...is this the case? Are there deacons in place to serve the congregation, or is he doing things all alone? Are there men who are willing and qualified to step up and lead? He may need to delegate some of the work to qualifed men of the church...a grounds deacon, treasury deacon, benevolence deacon, and so on. I am wondering why your 'preacher' made the decision to not merge, should he be making decisions like this alone? Do you not have elders to lead?

As far as being a small church, that's no problem, but maybe handy is right...maybe you should sell the building, put the money into a building fund, and then gather some place else until you have enough to build a chapel and still be debt free.

I also agree that your church should review itself, and see if there is an issue of sin in the congregation. If not, then maybe God has allowed this trial for the growth of your body...to lead you another direction?

I hope it all works out.
The Lord bless you.

 

[Sinner]

Thanks so much to all replies. And pray that he sees, that as a shepherd he must also look at the needs for the sheep. It won't harm him to release some funds so the church can live and survive....
I am praying and hoping for the best.
Thanks

 

[Sinner]

I Just found out our church phone has been disconnected. Things look dim....but my heart cries out. I want to do something but it falls in deaf ears......I am looked at as devil using me to hinder.
Does speaking truth and showing someone the mirror of truth, wrong?....
I spoke to pastor with all honesty, but I just can't seem to move anything......now phones gone....I am praying for this church to survive.
I also told him I am leaving, and prayed that I go in peace....he didn't seem to take it well....