15Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.16But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.17Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Humility is an essential characteristic of the devoted Christian. In placing Jesus as Lord over our lives, we humble ourselves before Him. We can also display humble attitudes and actions toward those who serve in leadership over us - that would include those who are called to serve our churches as pastors or other positions in the church. In our service to Christ, we also can be sensitive to ways in which we can encourage those church leaders, to recognize their gifts, to affirm their service, and to demonstrate, in tangible ways, that we stand with them as they serve the Lord.
In 1st Thessalonians 5, Paul outlines some factors that contribute to church health, including a right relationship between church leaders and the congregations they lead - and serve:
12And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,13and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.14Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.15See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
There's a survey that has been released that highlights some indicators of church financial practices and, I think, can challenge each of us to think more deeply about the importance of our church staff members and how we can affirm them.
Christianity Today reports on a survey of 727 of America's largest churches regarding their finances, conducted by Leadership Network and Vanderbloemen Search Group. The researchers acknowledge their examination of church financial trends is not "randomly based nor is it statistically accurate for all larger churches," but they do explain that the findings "do indicate many general trends, and is likely the most comprehensive financial perspective available on large churches."
For instance, of the 56 million Protestants who worship weekly in the United States, 13 million attend a church of 1,000 or more participants. In North America, 1,650 churches have 2,000 or more participants.
Also, the typical large American church - of 1,000 to 7,000 members - was founded in 1977, seats 800 worshipers, and offers five weekly services at two campuses. The church's 52-year-old senior pastor was hired in 2005, it employs 25 staff members, and attendance has been recently growing 7 percent per year.
Nearly 50 percent of large churches spend between 39 percent and 52 percent of their annual budget on staffing costs, translating to 1 full-time paid staff for every 51 to 90 attendees. The salary of the senior pastor comprises, on average, 3.4 percent of a church’s budget and at least 30 percent higher than the next highest-paid employee. The biggest influencer of pastor salaries is the size of the church. Southern pastors are among the highest paid, followed by the Northeast and then West and Midwest. Canadian pastors make less than all their American counterparts.
The top metrics measured by the majority of large churches were total attendance and giving compared to budget. Less than half track adult baptisms/conversions, adults in small groups, or new members.
And, another interesting piece of information: for the largest churches, those boasting attendance of 10,000 or more, nearly 50 percent report “not passing the plate.” In contrast, only 20 percent of other large churches indicate that they do not directly solicit tithes during services.
Also, the typical large American church - of 1,000 to 7,000 members - was founded in 1977, seats 800 worshipers, and offers five weekly services at two campuses. The church's 52-year-old senior pastor was hired in 2005, it employs 25 staff members, and attendance has been recently growing 7 percent per year.
Nearly 50 percent of large churches spend between 39 percent and 52 percent of their annual budget on staffing costs, translating to 1 full-time paid staff for every 51 to 90 attendees. The salary of the senior pastor comprises, on average, 3.4 percent of a church’s budget and at least 30 percent higher than the next highest-paid employee. The biggest influencer of pastor salaries is the size of the church. Southern pastors are among the highest paid, followed by the Northeast and then West and Midwest. Canadian pastors make less than all their American counterparts.
The top metrics measured by the majority of large churches were total attendance and giving compared to budget. Less than half track adult baptisms/conversions, adults in small groups, or new members.
And, another interesting piece of information: for the largest churches, those boasting attendance of 10,000 or more, nearly 50 percent report “not passing the plate.” In contrast, only 20 percent of other large churches indicate that they do not directly solicit tithes during services.
I recognize that many of our radio listeners do attend churches of over 1,000 members, but we also see that 43 million Protestants in America attend churches of less than 1,000, and as Ed Stetzer of LifeWay Research points out, the typical church has less than 100 in attendance.
So, what do we take away from these statistics in this large church report, even if we don't attend a large church? Well, or one thing, it can challenge us to treat our pastors and church staff members well. That can include the financial realm, but I think you could also expand it to include how we affirm our church leaders in other ways - do we show appreciation, do we communicate support, do we pray for our pastors? These are all practical steps that we can take to create a healthy church culture with respect to our leadership.
I think we can also be challenged to make sure that we are connected to our local church - that would include regular attendance, but it also includes giving. Faith Radio is a listener-supported ministry, but we encourage our donors to support their local churches first. We desire to see the local church healthy and vibrant - touching their communities with the love and truth of Jesus Christ. We want to see church staff members and their congregations radiating and communicating the gospel.
With Pastor and Staff Apprecation Month coming up in October, please take a few minutes to consider how you can show your church leaders that you appreciate how they allow God to use them in your life, in the lives of your family, and in the church at large.
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