Becoming a member of a church

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you say pastor, do you mean like Catholic or like a giant “nondenominational” Christian church where clergy don’t have actual divinity degrees? Responses will vary based on that answer.

Maybe yours didn’t? All of mine had at least one divinity degree.

In non-denominational churches pastors can just invent themselves - be filled with the spirit. No advanced degree necessary. As long as they can build a congregation, they can rake in the dough.

My pastor husband really raked it in when he was making $10,000….a year. 😂

Your husband didn't make a lot of money, but some pastors do.

Was your husband seminary trained? How long ago was he a pastor?

Yes, he has a Master’s degree from a top seminary. This was about 3-5 years ago, he made that for about 2 or 3 years. He is still a pastor just at a different church.

There’s one PP who (I suspect over several threads) likes to take “one” or “some” and make it sound like all. It would even be helpful to provide a sample size. For example, “I went to ten nondenominational churches in dc and none of the pastors had a seminary degree” is more convincing than “in nondenominational churches pastors can just invent themselves” which is obviously not true over a larger sample size. (Though the latter is certainly more inflammatory.) I know far more seminary trained bivocational pastors than full salaried pastors. And I know none that are making celebrity pastor salaries. As you can imagine I know a lot of pastors.

People here are not statisticians and this is not a survey, thus do not expect a sample size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD was a member of a church. Actually the only family member to go through the process to become a member. When she was in college, they dropped her from their rolls. Sent a form letter that since she hadn't attended recently and hadn't contributed $ recently, they had dropped her. She was away at college!

What effect, if any, did that have on your daughter's religious beliefs?

[Anonymous]

What is wrong with becoming a member? It would be less expensive than giving generously when you visit. You can stop being a member if you decide you don't want to be a part.

Do you also make a habit of imposing on your neighbors like they are restaurants and hotels?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is wrong with becoming a member? It would be less expensive than giving generously when you visit. You can stop being a member if you decide you don't want to be a part.

Do you also make a habit of imposing on your neighbors like they are restaurants and hotels?

There are many difference between imposing on your neighbors and going to a church. One is that churches expect you to drop by a few times before joining and neighbors never expect you to join anything, Being a neighbor is all about proximity and church is mainly about choice.

[Anonymous]

I disagree that part of being a member means you must contribute financially. You can, but it has certainly never been an obligation at any church I’ve attended. I volunteer at our church a fair bit and contribute a little financially, but not on any systematic basis.

OP, only join if you want to. Unless it’s a church full of not-nice people, you can attend as long as you want without joining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have recently started going to the services at a nearby church. The pastor spoke to me last time and asked me to come to talk to him about becoming a member. What does becoming a member entail? Am I expected to start tithing or contributing otherwise financially? At what point am I expected to become a member or stop going? FWIW I'm contribute generously to the collection every time, but I am not sure yet if I want to continue going long-term and become a member.

Yes, part of being a member entails financially contributing. I'd meet with him and tell him your issues and/or tell him the next time that he speaks with you, I assume after services.

As far as I know, you never have to "stop going" but I can understand the pastor's curiosity.

Not every church makes members financially contribute or tithe. No church I have ever attended has asked me for money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you say pastor, do you mean like Catholic or like a giant “nondenominational” Christian church where clergy don’t have actual divinity degrees? Responses will vary based on that answer.

Maybe yours didn’t? All of mine had at least one divinity degree.

In non-denominational churches pastors can just invent themselves - be filled with the spirit. No advanced degree necessary. As long as they can build a congregation, they can rake in the dough.

I don’t know where you get this from. Every pastor at my nondenominational church has at least one degree. It’s a requirement.

Maybe you’re thinking about charismatic churches?

+1


Average: The average pastor salary is around $60,902 per year.

Median: The median pastor salary is $58,920.

Salary Ranges:
The bottom 10% of pastors make $35,400 or less annually.

The top 10% of pastors make $96,600 or more.

According to Indeed, the average pastor has a salary of $51,371 in the United States.

What dough are you speaking of?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you say pastor, do you mean like Catholic or like a giant “nondenominational” Christian church where clergy don’t have actual divinity degrees? Responses will vary based on that answer.

Maybe yours didn’t? All of mine had at least one divinity degree.

In non-denominational churches pastors can just invent themselves - be filled with the spirit. No advanced degree necessary. As long as they can build a congregation, they can rake in the dough.

I don’t know where you get this from. Every pastor at my nondenominational church has at least one degree. It’s a requirement.

Maybe you’re thinking about charismatic churches?

+1


Average: The average pastor salary is around $60,902 per year.

Median: The median pastor salary is $58,920.

Salary Ranges:
The bottom 10% of pastors make $35,400 or less annually.

The top 10% of pastors make $96,600 or more.

According to Indeed, the average pastor has a salary of $51,371 in the United States.

What dough are you speaking of?

Please provide reputable links to your information about pastor salaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you say pastor, do you mean like Catholic or like a giant “nondenominational” Christian church where clergy don’t have actual divinity degrees? Responses will vary based on that answer.

Maybe yours didn’t? All of mine had at least one divinity degree.

In non-denominational churches pastors can just invent themselves - be filled with the spirit. No advanced degree necessary. As long as they can build a congregation, they can rake in the dough.

I don’t know where you get this from. Every pastor at my nondenominational church has at least one degree. It’s a requirement.

Maybe you’re thinking about charismatic churches?

+1


Average: The average pastor salary is around $60,902 per year.

Median: The median pastor salary is $58,920.

Salary Ranges:
The bottom 10% of pastors make $35,400 or less annually.

The top 10% of pastors make $96,600 or more.

According to Indeed, the average pastor has a salary of $51,371 in the United States.

What dough are you speaking of?

Please provide reputable links to your information about pastor salaries.

NP, but you are also welcome to post your reputable links.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you say pastor, do you mean like Catholic or like a giant “nondenominational” Christian church where clergy don’t have actual divinity degrees? Responses will vary based on that answer.

Maybe yours didn’t? All of mine had at least one divinity degree.

In non-denominational churches pastors can just invent themselves - be filled with the spirit. No advanced degree necessary. As long as they can build a congregation, they can rake in the dough.

I don’t know where you get this from. Every pastor at my nondenominational church has at least one degree. It’s a requirement.

Maybe you’re thinking about charismatic churches?

+1


Average: The average pastor salary is around $60,902 per year.

Median: The median pastor salary is $58,920.

Salary Ranges:
The bottom 10% of pastors make $35,400 or less annually.

The top 10% of pastors make $96,600 or more.

According to Indeed, the average pastor has a salary of $51,371 in the United States.

What dough are you speaking of?

Please provide reputable links to your information about pastor salaries.

NP. These numbers seem about right, based on the churches I’ve been a member of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you say pastor, do you mean like Catholic or like a giant “nondenominational” Christian church where clergy don’t have actual divinity degrees? Responses will vary based on that answer.

Maybe yours didn’t? All of mine had at least one divinity degree.

In non-denominational churches pastors can just invent themselves - be filled with the spirit. No advanced degree necessary. As long as they can build a congregation, they can rake in the dough.

I don’t know where you get this from. Every pastor at my nondenominational church has at least one degree. It’s a requirement.

Maybe you’re thinking about charismatic churches?

+1


Average: The average pastor salary is around $60,902 per year.

Median: The median pastor salary is $58,920.

Salary Ranges:
The bottom 10% of pastors make $35,400 or less annually.

The top 10% of pastors make $96,600 or more.

According to Indeed, the average pastor has a salary of $51,371 in the United States.

What dough are you speaking of?

Please provide reputable links to your information about pastor salaries.

NP, but you are also welcome to post your reputable links.

If no claims are made, no reputable links are needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you say pastor, do you mean like Catholic or like a giant “nondenominational” Christian church where clergy don’t have actual divinity degrees? Responses will vary based on that answer.

Maybe yours didn’t? All of mine had at least one divinity degree.

In non-denominational churches pastors can just invent themselves - be filled with the spirit. No advanced degree necessary. As long as they can build a congregation, they can rake in the dough.

I don’t know where you get this from. Every pastor at my nondenominational church has at least one degree. It’s a requirement.

Maybe you’re thinking about charismatic churches?

+1


Average: The average pastor salary is around $60,902 per year.

Median: The median pastor salary is $58,920.

Salary Ranges:
The bottom 10% of pastors make $35,400 or less annually.

The top 10% of pastors make $96,600 or more.

According to Indeed, the average pastor has a salary of $51,371 in the United States.

What dough are you speaking of?

Please provide reputable links to your information about pastor salaries.

NP, but you are also welcome to post your reputable links.

If no claims are made, no reputable links are needed.

Another NP. You claimed pastors don't need degrees and just take the dough. Both parts of that statement need to be supported. Enough BS.

[Anonymous]

google pastor salary, simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you say pastor, do you mean like Catholic or like a giant “nondenominational” Christian church where clergy don’t have actual divinity degrees? Responses will vary based on that answer.

Maybe yours didn’t? All of mine had at least one divinity degree.

In non-denominational churches pastors can just invent themselves - be filled with the spirit. No advanced degree necessary. As long as they can build a congregation, they can rake in the dough.

Have you ever heard of the phrase: “Poor as a church mouse?”

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/be-as-poor-as-a-church-mouse

[Anonymous]

Some individual churches, regardless of independent or some denomination, care about how many people are official members. When that is the case, the pastor(s) sometimes try to get people to become official members.

We attend a church regularly, and we donate to that church, but are not official members. If we felt pressured about this, we probably would just silently move on. There are lots of churches nearby. I do not think God really cares which church one attends.