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Paid and unpaid Church leaders
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Contents
Criticism
Critics claim Mormons are hypocritical for claiming that having "no paid ministry" is one proof of the Church's truthfulness, because some general authorities, mission presidents, and others receive salaries for their service.
Source(s) of the criticism
- Bill McKeever, "Mormonism's Paid Ministry," (accessed April 28, 2008).
- Sandra Tanner, "Do Mormon Leaders Receive Financial Support?" (accessed April 28, 2008).
Response
While it is true that some Church leaders receive a living allowance while they serve in a given position, it cannot be said that the Church has a professional ministry in the traditional sense.
Local Leadership (Ward and Stake)
Much of the day-to-day “ministering” that goes on in the Church takes place at the local, i.e., ward and/or stake level. That is, neither bishops, stake presidents, relief society presidents, elders quorum presidents, nor any other leader or auxiliary worker at the ward/stake level receives any kind of pay for the temporary, volunteer service they render. They likewise do not receive any kind of scholastic training to prepare them for their service. A bishop usually serves for a period of 5 years, for example, but he remains in his normal occupation (accountant, welder, business owner, etc.) while he serves as a bishop. Early morning or release-time seminary teachers are an exception, but they are considered employees of CES (Church Education System).
Mission Leadership
Mission presidents usually serve for a period of 3 years, and may sometimes receive a living allowance during their period of service, if it is required. Many mission presidents are financially able to take time out of work to support themselves during their service (and return to their vocations when their service is complete), and do not require a living allowance.
General Leadership
Some positions in the Church, namely a call to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles or the First Quorum of the Seventy, are “for life” positions, meaning that the man chosen to fill the position serves until the end of his life. In such cases, if required, they are also given a modest living allowance. While many members of the Church are unaware of these allowances, that they exist and that they are comparatively modest was acknowledged in general conference by President Gordon B. Hinckley: “... the living allowances given the General Authorities, which are very modest in comparison with executive compensation in industry and the professions, come from this business income and not from the tithing of the people.[1] Calls to other quorums of the seventy do not require the same full-time commitment, therefore those who serve these positions do not receive a living allowance.
Conclusion
While a very few members of the Church seek full-time teaching positions within the Church Education System, no one in the Church aspires to be a bishop, stake president, or relief society president, or any other position in a ward or stake. There are no colleges where one can go to train to be an LDS bishop, for example. Rather, we believe that these positions are filled through revelation and inspiration, and only for a given period of time. Article of Faith 5 states: "We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof."(A+of+F 1꞉5)
Latter-day Saints should not, however, use the "no paid ministry" card to argue the truthfulness of the Church. Many good people of other faiths desire to serve as clergy in their respective churches, and go through extensive training to do so, and we applaud their dedication and desire to serve. Most clergy get by on subsistance wages; the corrupt, wealthy televangelist is an anomaly as troubling to other Christian ministers as they are to Latter-day Saints.
The scriptures denounce preaching the gospel solely from a desire to make money and get rich, or to defraud people (see 1 Peter 5:2). The Book of Mormon likewise defines "priestcraft" as teaching for the sake of getting gain while not seeking "the welfare of Zion" (see 2 Nephi 26꞉29. Likewise, many members of other faiths devote time to their churches without any monetary compensation. Certainly they follow the teachings of Jesus by so doing, and accomplish much good thereby.
Endnotes
- [note] Gordon B. Hinckley, "Questions and Answers," Ensign (November 1985): 49. (needs URL / links)
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
FAIR web site
- FAIR Topical Guide:
External links
Printed material
- Gordon B. Hinckley, "Questions and Answers," Ensign (Nov. 1985): 49.
- R. Lloyd Smith, "Sharing the Gospel with Sensitivity," Ensign (Jun. 2002): 53.
- Maribeth Christensen, "Volunteerism," in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 4 vols., edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, (New York, Macmillan Publishing, 1992), :1539–1540.
- Paul H. Thompson, "Lay Participation and Leadership," in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 4 vols., edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, (New York, Macmillan Publishing, 1992), :814–816.