The wine in the cupboard: the problem of paid ministry

I've been reading a number of posts recently on various blogs particularly the nakedpastor's post on "biblical arguments against vision" (http://www.nakedpastor.com/archives/5112) and my good friend Scott Aitken's post on "Integrity and paid ministry"
(http://nursepastorfatherhusband.blogspot.com/2010/04/integrity-and-paid-ministry.html). They are both worth a read.

I've been thinking along some similar lines and whist I may not be as blunt as Scotty I feel for modern day pastors in the difficult dance of keeping their job, staying humble, being real and still broaching difficult topics. So how much of the modern day pastor's job is being a politician? Let me do my usual wandering approach to the topic… humour me :)

I have a fair understanding of the difficulties of living in the public eye. I grew up the son of a minister and both my brothers are now senior pastors. I have also worked as a pastor in my local Vineyard church for 5 years. It's a tough ask at times and often the congregation look to you as Jesus himself… not good for them or you (many egos get corrupted in this dance).

I remember growing up when at the time having a glass of wine in our denomination was considered both sinful and could cost a minister their job. So at dinner my parents might be enjoying a glass of wine (they did not consider this sinful) and if the doorbell rang we'd have to run and hide the glasses and bottle in the cupboard in case it was someone from the church at the door. What a weird way to live huh? It taught me that in this public life of ministry you had to keep any 'flaw' hidden and only portray a public persona that reflected biblical perfection.

This is just an example but I'm confident that these things occur all the time. The pastor who sneaks a view of porn, has a cigarette in private, has a glass too many occasionally or possibly occasionally misuses his/her expense card keeps this flawed persona private. Now obviously this is not healthy… the position of power that a minister holds is fraught with danger but let's look at why?

A modern day's pastor's job is deeply linked with their livelihood. Getting a job, keeping it and feeding the family is mixed in with a pastors passion. For more on this check out my friend Scotty's blog. This means that pastors need to watch their P's and Q's so closely that they appear to their people to be beyond reproach…. News Flash!! … They are just people working in a system/institution that I think desperately needs review.

Imagine a potential pastor going for a new job or an established one getting in front of their congregation and either: 1. expressing their love and support for the homosexual community as their neighbour or 2. attacking the churches waste of resources on itself. and suggesting it give 90% of it's offerings elsewhere.

These are just two examples that are clearly bees in my bonnet but there are hundreds more that would be career limiting moves for any professional pastor. Often the situation is reversed where a pastor feels they must teach on something they don't even believe in themselves. Tithing for example… there is little biblical evidence to support compulsory tithing yet if pastors don't preach on it then the offerings go down and the institution is in trouble.

Look at the recent example where the pope had been involved in multiple cover-ups of the abuse of children at the hands of paid priests in order not to tarnish the already flagging image of the church. There are many taboo topics… having any kind of liberal stance on homosexuality, attacking western materialism etc... So which is more important the lives of people or the 'reputation' of the pastor and/or institution? Hmmm… I digress.

So what's the solution? Funnily enough I'm not having a go at pastors although I can guess some will feel I am and defend their role. I believe most pastors are there because they feel called to what they do, have a genuine passion and want to follow their God. However, the nature of the church as it stands is a big problem. Admittedly pastors often don't help the situation by further building the myth of their infallibility. Pastors need to feel free to be human, real, flawed and express their passionate voice. They are no different from us plaebians… they live, they sin, they have families and even fear their livelihood at times. I for one am an advocate of having a preisthood of all believers and no paid ministers.

Personally I could not stay in ministry once I realised I had to be honest about my gender condition and the separation with my wife (which has since been restored). I could not 'pretend' anymore, wanted to maintain my integrity as a person and could not (still can not) work within the confines of such an institution as the modern western church.

I pray for a day when the wine does not have to stay hidden in the cupboard.

Cheers all… Scott