So glad the LDS Church doesn't do paid clergy.
- Thread starter Beantown
- Start date
7StraightIsGreat
Well-Known Member
I think the issue of paid clergy is a slippery slope. Obviously, you have your scammers, but you also have very devout people that put a lot of time and study into becoming paid clergy of some type. A good friend of mine is a Lutheran pastor and the amount of schooling and religious study it took for him to get there was mind boggling to me.
I get why the LDS faith is proud of their non paid clergy but I also see the flip side of that coin. You have men out there who are school teachers and furniture salesman by day and religious clergyman by night. IMO I have a hard time seeing where they are as well prepared to give council on marital, moral, and religious issues compared to somebody who has devoted their entire lives to the study of just that. I think too much is put on the plate of people like LDS bishops. They are expected to make a living, raise a family, maintain a marriage, and tend to their flock all at the same time. Sounds like a rough gig.
I get why the LDS faith is proud of their non paid clergy but I also see the flip side of that coin. You have men out there who are school teachers and furniture salesman by day and religious clergyman by night. IMO I have a hard time seeing where they are as well prepared to give council on marital, moral, and religious issues compared to somebody who has devoted their entire lives to the study of just that. I think too much is put on the plate of people like LDS bishops. They are expected to make a living, raise a family, maintain a marriage, and tend to their flock all at the same time. Sounds like a rough gig.
Beantown
Well-Known Member
This though isn't an issue to me. Most of these guys are smart and made really good money. Some are even doctors. So when they are called to serve they are basically giving up any opportunity to keep making money from their careers. And from what I understand their salaries are based on what they made during their careers and its usually around 80% of that from what I have heard.
So the point is there is no financial gain from their new called service. They probably have perks of having a car provided for travel and things like that but its nothing to write home about.
Beantown
Well-Known Member
But I think it would be hard to be in that type of a setting to pay tithing. Tithing is a commandment, and if the Bishop is telling lower income families to pay tithing and he got a percentage of that tithe that would drive me nuts.
Also when it comes to paid clergy the more people in the seats that are paying a tithe the more money this guy gets. Thats why you see these giant churches all their pastors are swimming in money.
So if the Bishop was really pushing missionary work and baptisms....my thought would go directly to his pocket book.
This would be one of the reasons if I ever left the LDS church I could never go to another denomination.
Beantown
Well-Known Member
Also it pisses me off because these guys are going against the Bible. The Bible specificlly talks about giving 10% to your LOCAL church. Not to a guy you have never met before on TV.
Also if these guys are promising the curing of cancer or anything on those lines it needs to be done away with. I am for equal rights of all citizens and that includes protecting dumb people, senior citizens and just desperate people that are on their death beds.
Also if these guys are promising the curing of cancer or anything on those lines it needs to be done away with. I am for equal rights of all citizens and that includes protecting dumb people, senior citizens and just desperate people that are on their death beds.
7StraightIsGreat
Well-Known Member
Here's my analogy on the whole thing:
If I need a surgery, I'm going with the guy who has devoted his life and profession to the study of just that. Not the guy who does it after work because he feels compelled to do so.
That's interesting, I haven't heard that before. Could be true. Where did you hear that?
What I do believe is the case, is that the GAs are paid from profits from church-owned businesses (such as Deseret Book), rather than from tithing/fast offering donations from members.
Valid point.
On the other hand, think of how much the average LDS church members learns and grows BECAUSE the church doesn't have a paid clergy. I've never been a bishop, but I've been asked to serve in many other church positions. And in so doing I've learned far more about "marital, moral, and religious issues" then I ever would have learned by listening to advice from a professional clergyman. Or so it seems to me.
7StraightIsGreat
Well-Known Member
I see your points as well and I should be clear that my opinions are coming from a non religious perspective. I think it's a really good debate because both sides have very plausible arguments.
For the past 11 years, I've worked with a guy who I've gotten very close to. His dad was a bishop and his stories have really stuck with me because he seems to recall his father's time as a bishop with a certain amount of resentment. He has mentioned numerous times that it's almost like he didn't know his father during his calling. He also recalls it as the most stressful time his family had to endure- especially his mother. I'm sure there's experiences very similar as well as very different among LDS families in regards to having a father take on that responsibility.
Either way, it sounds like an awfully huge undertaking for an individual as well as their family. That's not even including one's ability to deal with theological issues, etc.
Does that analogy work for sex?
Interesting question. I'd say probably not.