The Pastor's Love Offering: Seminar of Stewardship

Seminar facilitated by George T. Brooks, Sr. on August 24, 2011.

-Should the Church Provide for the Pastor?
"The Bible clearly teaches that it is as reasonable for a church to financially support her pastor as it is for a farmer to eat food from his garden, fruit from his trees or milk from his own goats or cows. Paul said, 'Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants at vineyard, and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock" (1 Corinthians 9:7, NASB)?

 -Why the Church Should Financially Support the Pastor

1. "The church has an obligation to financially support her pastor so that he can give himself totally to the ministry."
2. "God calls pastors to serve."
3. "God calls upon the people to support the pastor adequately."

-Some Things a Church Owes the Pastor

1. "Reimbursement for ministry-related expenses."
2. "A Retirement and Life Insurance Plan."
3. "Disability Income Insurance and Health Insurance."
4. "A personage or Housing Allowance adequate for him and his family."

-Who Qualifies for Housing Allowance
"Ordained, Commissioned , or Licensed Ministers."
 --"Authorized to Perform Religious Duties."

1. "Ministers who perform the ordinances."
2. "Ministers who conduct religious worship."
3. "Ministers who administer and maintain religious organizations and their agencies."
4. "Teachers and administrators at the theological seminaries that operate under a religious body constructing a church or church denomination."
5. "The minister who owns a home: This includes fair rental value of the home, including furnishings, cleaning supplies, and utilities. This does not exceed the amount designated by the church."
6. "The minister who rents a home - This includes actual expenses but not to exceed the amount designated by the church."
7. "The minister who lives in the parsonage provided by the church - The church may pay the pastor or minister an allowance to maintain the parsonage or the church may pay all the expenses for parsonage. The amount shall be fair rental value plus expenses. Expenses may include: down payment, principal, interest, insurance, furnishings, maintenance, yard improvements, appliances, utilities, real estate taxes, and repairs.

-Four Ways Often Used to Provide for Pastors

1. "Salary."
2. "A certain Sunday of the month."
3. "A percentage of the Tithes and Offerings."
4. "A weekly Love Offering."

-How to Do a Love Offering
"The church member takes his or her tithes and offering in his or her hands and breaks off a piece for the pastor and a piece for the church. The piece that is broken off for the pastor is placed in the envelope designed for the pastor. The piece that is broken off for the church is placed in the envelope designated for the church."

-Sensitivity to the Will of God

1. "Be sensitive to the voice of God."
2. "Know God's will for your life."
3. "Yielding and submit to the will of God."

-Teaching and Preaching the Principle

• "The Care of the Levites, Numbers 18:21-28"
• "The Care of the Preacher, 1 Corinthians 9:1-14"
• "Sharing with the Teacher, Galatians 6:6-8"
• "The Giver Blessed, Philippians 4:14-19"
• "The Sending of the Apostles, Matthew 10:7-15"
• "The Pay of the Hard Working Pastor, 1 Timothy 5:17-18"
• "God's Prophet Made a Priority, 1 Kings 17:8-16"

-Explaining the Principle to the Congregation

1. "Answer the people's questions."
2. "Use the Sunday worship services to address questions."
3. "Use the church bulletin to address questions."
4. "Communicate through a letter."

-The Blessings for the Church

1. "Additional ministries."
2. "No discussions about salary at budget time."
3. "Members reaping at the harvest."
4. "The increase of the liberality of the church."

-The Blessings for the Pastor

1. "Increase in the pastor's trust in God."
2. "Greater knowledge of the specific needs of church members."
3. "An increase in income."