The life of a pastor, not so 'easy'
It’s not easy being a pastor these days. Oh, I know there are a lot of folks who believe that pastors really have it easy.
I’m sure you have heard the old incorrect story: Pastor, you have a good deal going for you. You only have to work two or three hours a week and get paid for a whole week.
According to this thinking, it would seem that a pastor has a plush job. There is no one to tell him or her what to do (except, of course, God), no one to set his or her daily agenda, while having what looks like a good salary and most certainly a good vacation package. Unfortunately, there are a few other things involved in a pastor’s life that are too often overlooked. Allow me to mention a few things that most pastors never talk about.
First of all, let’s consider that good salary package. It’s amazing how many churches combine all of the expenses associated with a pastor and call it a pastor’s financial package. In one sense, that might be true for the church, but it certainly is not true for the pastor. Business expenses such as operating an automobile, going to various religious functions, and belonging to different religious organizations are not a part of the pastor’s salary. Neither are expenses for Social Security, medical plans, and continuing education a part of salary. Other organizations carefully keep these expenses separate from a person’s salary.
Oh, I know that there are many people who feel that a pastor who lives in a parsonage is getting free housing, but that is not necessarily so. The IRS insists that a pastor’s salary — e.g. a cash salary plus housing — to be considered taxable income. That’s fair, even if the rental value of the pastor’s housing is not set by him or her.
When it comes to Social Security, the IRS says that while the rental value of the parsonage must be added to the pastor’s salary for income-tax purposes subject to various deductions, the pastor must pay the rental value of the parsonage plus any cash salary, not as a salaried individual, but as a self-employed individual. This means that while most salaried people pay half of their Social Security tax and their employers pay the other half, the pastor must pay the entire Social Security payment as a self-employed person — normally, a 15 percent rate as compared with a 7.5 percent rate, and this without any deductions.
Recognizing this inequity, the last church I pastored graciously agreed to pay half of my Social Security tax. That was deeply appreciated, but the irony of the situation was that while the church was attempting to do what is right, the IRS conveniently added the half the church wanted to pay for my Social Security — was also part of my salary and made me pay tax on it. If the IRS had allowed the church to treat me as a salaried individual in regard
48. Soak down that midsized hand towel. Drape it around the back of your neck.
49. Get a really short haircut. Feel the breeze you were missing
50. And last, just chill out. Winter will be here soon. I promise.
And politics will be back soon.
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