I have been privileged to shepherd one of Christ’s blessed flocks for more than twenty-five years. For years my family lived in the church basement, and I worked at a secular job as well as tending to my pastoral responsibilities. My “salary” may be close to three times today what it was in the beginning. At times, even in our first years together, the membership may have been larger than what it is today. But both God and the people of God have been faithful. We have had our ups and downs throughout those years – sharing our joys and our tears together. I foresee us serving together until the day the Lord returns for all His saints.
The relationship between this pastor and the members of our has been built on mutual respect and trust. Upon my arrival there was a figure mentioned as my remuneration, but there were no promises of pay raises, Christmas bonuses, periodic new cars, vacations, or even a future house. We just dove into the work of the Lord together.
But such is not the case between all so-called Baptist churches and their ministers. Today there are legal contracts drawn up and notarized between such-and-such church (the employer) and Brother so-and-so (the employee). This is not a new phenomena. It has been around for centuries. Pity!
In the files of the First Baptist Church of Salem, Massachusetts is the following document, dated December 12, 1791 –
“Be it remembered that on the 16th day of November 1791 the following agreement was entered into between the Revd Mr. Isaak Skillman and the Baptist Church and Congregation … The said Mr. Skillman covenants and agrees to be the pastor or minister of the Church and Congregation, to execute all the duties that a minister ought to perform in a church, agreeably to the Baptist Confession of Faith, preaching all funerals that he may be called upon to preach for said Congregation, preaching two sermons a day in the summer season… and not leave or absent himself from the necessary services of said congregation. And said Congregation and their trustees doth covenant and agree to and with the said Mr. Skillman to pay him for his labours and services the sum of one hundred and twenty five pounds per year to commence on the 14th day of August last. And further the said parties agree and promise each to the other that if any discontent on the part of the said Mr. Skillman, whereby he should wish to be dismissed from serving said Church and Congregation, and if any discontent should arise on the Church and Congregation’s part that they should wish to have said Mr. Skillman dismissed from being their minister, in either case they may, if either of them see meet, call the ministers and some of the members from Cumberland and Wilmington Baptist churches to judge between them and their determinations shall be binding on each party.”
Is such a document necessary? Is such a document Biblical?