I have a general question about paying a pastor for performing a wedding ceremony. Why is it that church members are expected to pay their pastor for performing a wedding ceremony? It just struck me that it seems like that is just part of their job. Being a pastor of a church includes doing many things besides preaching, such as conducting funerals, baptisms, confirmations, counseling, teaching, hospital visits, etc. and it is not just a 9-5 job. I don't believe anyone ever pays them an extra fee for those other functions. And our church, for instance, doesn't have that many weddings. Our offerings go towards the running of the church, which includes the pastor's salary. We also must pay a church wedding coordinator, who is a church member, a set fee for handling details and being there, and we must pay the church administrative assistant a set fee for typing the programs. And, lest I forget, we also must pay a set building fee for use of the church.
It is clear that paying a pastor fee is in order when you just hire a minister off the street, so to speak, with whom you had no previous affiliation, to perform a wedding ceremony. But what is the reasoning behind a church member needing to pay their pastor for performing a function that is in their job description? How/why did this get started? I'm not saying that I mind paying the fees - this practice has been ingrained in all of us, but if I have some type of special project at work, I don't get paid an extra separate fee for doing it! Likewise, police officers, whose salaries we pay, don't get paid a separate fee for performing a certain function for a citizen. Please enlighten me!
RevSusanna
Interfaith Wedding Minister
Post #2 of 4
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Re: Why do church members need to pay the pastor?
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Every church is run differently. There are Pastors who make very moderate salaries while working 70-80 weeks. There are Pastors who have very healthy compensation packages. There are churches who need to rent their premises just to stay afloat. Others do not. You could inquire into the financial statements of the church. You could inquire as to how much is the Pastor's salary/compensation package. You could also inquire as to how many hours he works. This may help you understand if those fees are necessary or not. Blessings, Reverend Susanna Stefanachi Macomb Author of Joining Hands and Hearts, Interfaith, Intercultural Wedding Celebrations, A Practical Guide for Couples
cumulus
Post #3 of 4
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Re: Why do church members need to pay the pastor?
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Thanks for your response. I understand that some pastors may not have large salary packages. My main question in general, though, in the case of a church member, is why is it customary to pay a pastor to perform a wedding, and not a funeral, baptism, etc.? Why is the wedding singled out?
RevSusanna
Interfaith Wedding Minister
Post #4 of 4
(1118 views)
Re: Why do church members need to pay the pastor?
[In reply to]
Why do church members need to pay the pastor?
