The Superior Express -

Q: I’m on the board of a small church and we can’t seem to make ends meet with our budget. We are thinking of asking our pastor to take a pay cut. Is this the right response to our situation?

A: The most important thing to remember is that neither the pastor nor the board are the enemy. This financial challenge can be met by coming together and bringing the wisdom and grace of God to bear. There is a good and godly solution to every hardship God’s people are faced with (Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 10:13)!

A good place to start is with the Biblical principle of equality in financial matters (2 Corinthians 8:13-14). It would not be right for the church to be burdened while your pastor lives in relative ease. Neither is it right for the pastor’s family to be deprived of their financial needs unless the families of the church are experiencing similar difficulties. A balance of needs and blessings must be found within the church so that both the challenges and the blessings are

shared by all.

It is important to remember that ministers are entitled to compensation for the work that they do, just like everyone else (1 Corinthians 9:3-14). If a pastor is

devoting his time and energy to the care of a church, then he has a right to expect a fair wage for doing so (again 1 Corinthians 9:14). If a church cannot pay the

pastor a fair wage, then it may be necessary for the church to reduce his work load so that he can find a part-time job. Care should be taken, however, because this job can easily become a distraction and lead to a lack of care for the church.

My advice would be to gather the leaders of the church together (including the pastor), pray for wisdom and guidance, then work together to find the solution that will bless everyone involved. Remember that God’s solution may

involve commitment to do what is right while trusting God to provide the means for doing so (Hebrews 11:6; Philippians 4:19)!

If you have a question that you would like a Biblical answer to, you can send it via email to [email protected] or by mail to Formoso Church; P.O. Box 66; Formoso, Kan. 66942