Pay Disclosed

This is the first time that my pay was displayed and disclosed to the whole church straight after the sermon by a church deacon. Praise God that it was not awkward as the church treasurer was very wise and calm when he spoke. In fact I was the one who insisted the actual sum was disclosed instead of a pie chart showing my salary taking up 40% of the church expenses.

Since we decided to give a financial report to the whole congregation I thought it was just logical to tell it straight and not cause any confusion or speculation if my pay is not disclosed in a matter of fact way. But I had no feelings one way or another. Let everyone in church takes onboard what is relevant and touches one’s heart and how they could make the church deficit go away. I know 90 per cent of church members earn less than me with single mothers, students and youths make up the majority of members. 

Only 15 or so members earn regular incomes with some discretionary income to spare. Ironically as much as I am confident if I were the chairman I could turn things round but I feel less pressure since I am not the main leader. When I reflect on this, out of three things I may get two things done and that is already a win. 

I have to bear patiently with all the weaknesses be it leadership, administration and management which I have very little to contribute. In my most recent church before this one I was asked by the building committee to lead the discussion and negotiations with the owner of the building and we saved a few thousand ringgit as a result of God’s wisdom given to me to strike a deal benefitting the church. Here, when the rent increased or the imposition of a service tax on the property no one told me anything about it. Perhaps they forgot their pastor was once a lawyer and a tax lawyer as such and I could have persuaded the landlord to bear the service tax rather than it be borne by the church.