Christianity Today has come out with its latest survey of ministers' pay. With total objectivity as an academician working at an institution that offers graduate degrees for ministers, we draw attention to one aspect of that survey: ministers with graduate degrees make more money than those without them.
Clearly the best way to make money in ministry is not to enter ministry or to leave it. The second best way is to write books and make videos about how God wants people to be rich. The survey also suggests that becoming a Presbyterian is a good pecuniary move. Rejecting all of those options, and we totally favor rejecting all of those options, it appears that going to seminary offers the best prospect for financial advancement.
CCU is currently accepting applications for the seminary's spring semester. Call Alex Eddy at 513.244.8145 to start the application process. Odds that this move will pay off for you are much higher than those offered by the state lottery.
(Sigh) Yet Another Update: We remind gentle readers that the tone of this post is sarcastic and that we do not advocate graduate education in ministry for the purpose of making more money in ministry. Learning is its own best reward. And people who go into ministry and then tried to profit from it are fools.
(Deeper Sigh) Still More Updating: All of which is not to say that ministers don't deserve to be paid, or given raises, or that they should earn less than an amount that will support the prevailing standard of living in their community, or anything silly like that, since the worker is worthy of his wages and those who serve well are deserving of double honor and all that.
So if gentle readers want to know what we really think on the subject, we suggest reading this vintage article by the author with whom we agree most often:
“Monk, Mercenary or Missionary: How Do You Pay Your Preacher?” Christian Standard 123:18 (May 3, 1987) 1, 5-6.
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