Sorry if this gets long.

Our church pays people for their services ( members ) like the nursery worker, pianist, ect. I have no problem with the janitor, I think that is a job that one would need to be paid for. However, I am having trouble with the other 2. My child is the only one usually in the nursery, and I guess I just do not like the fact that $ is coming out of the plate for someone to be in there.

Then, the church pianist broke her arm, so they asked me if I would mind playing. Not a problem, then they told me how much I would be paid! I was like WOW. I was thinking it was around 10 dollars, no, way more.

I can see if you do not have anyone to serve and have to get someone other than a member, than you would have to pay. But isn't church part of serving where you can, without pay? because you love God etc?

Then I got to thinking that the reg church pianist, since she is retired, may need that money ( though I do not know for sure ) and since I was uncomfortable keeping it, maybe give it to her, or put it in the plate. Dh is no help, LOL, he thinks that now days to keep people and good people that sometimes they need to be paid.

What is your take on this?

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married 8 years to a crazy Brit, mommy to a banana, she is 5 and a pineapple who is just about 2 , mommy to 4 ~angel~ babies

I do several things for the church, and don't get paid, but if I did I would return it back to the church.

Our church secretary gets paid, as does the janitor and nursery worker. But none of them are members of our church. Nor can they be by the rules of the district board of directors.

The organist and pianist, don't get paid as they are members of our church who volunteer to do these things.

To me, volunteering for services in your church, is part of being a Christian.

I know in our church, the only people that are paid are the pastors, the secretary, grounds keeper and maintenance man, and the 2 ladies that clean the church. I don't think I would agree with the church paying a nursery worker. That is a volunteer service in my opinion, but then again we have different people doing it every week. In my opinion, when you are a member of a church, you should want to serve in areas that you are capable. Whether you're a Sunday School teacher, piano player, nursery week, deacon, whatever. So, I get from your post, that it's always the same people doing it every week. Do you attend a smaller church? Our congregation averages at least 500 people on any given Sunday, so I think it's only fair that people rotate doing these services. I also don't think anyone should feel like they are obligated to do this. I think whoever is in that position should have a servant's heart about it, and not expect a paycheck. To me, that means you're doing this for the money, not to serve God with your talents.

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Wife to Keenon 6/15/06
SAHM to Kasen 2/24/07

Our pianist is our music director, and she gets paid. She has a PhD in music, and she puts in a lot of time and effort, not only choosing and rehearsing the music for each week's hymns, but also rehearsing the choir, bell choir, and guest musicians.

If I work in the nursery during regular services, I don't get paid. If I come to the church and babysit while parents are attending a class or a seminar, then I do get paid. I think that's a fair deal.
I would be there on Sunday morning, whether or not I was working in the nursey, so it's no extra effort for me to change diapers and listen to the service over the intercom.
If I'm going to make an extra trip to the church for the sole purpose of watching other people's kids while they take a class or whatever, then I think it's reasonable for them to pay me.

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I think that only the Pastor, Youth Pastor, Children's Director, and Finance Person get paid. I am not sure, but I thought the Janitor was volunteer. Not one person does all that work. One person cleans the bathroom, the Youth Pastor and Children's Director would be responsible for cleaning the children's areas, and someone else tidy the rest of the church. We don't have a secretary. Phone calls go to voice mail, and the pastor gets those. There are a lot of areas for volunteer work. Someone sets the chairs up(we don't have pews) every Saturday night, because they are taken down so the Youth group has more room on Wed night.
We actually just got to see the church budget for the year this past Sunday. We do have to pay for snow removal. I am trying to remember, but I seriously don't think we pay a janitor.
I volunteer to print and fold the bulletins, and fax the printer report at the end of every month.
I also am the building coordinator. That just means when ever someone wants to use the church for something Wedding, Birthday parties etc... There is a fee. And then I am paid. I set up, clean up and let them in and out.
I think each church is going to have certain things that they might pay for, but another church might not. Our nursery workers are volunteer, we have a worship band, so there is no one to pay to play the organ. No secretary. But I am guessing other churches don't pay someone to open up the church for people.
There are a lot of opportunities for volunteering at every church, and some things churches have to pay for, because they just can't get it covered. Some people are very busy, and probably just give money instead. I do agree that it would be so much easier if more people could donate their time in some way.

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"The Christian does not think that God will love us because we are good, but God will make us good because he loves us."- C.S. Lewis

No one in my church is paid. We all take turns volunteering and serving where asked.

If you are uncomfortable keeping the money, I think putting it back in the plate is a fine idea.

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If someone is working a full time position, then they should be paid. Working in the nursey a few times a month should be considered a volunteer position and no payment is necessary IMO.

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Formerly Kimberly75!

I guess it just varies from church to church. We have alot of people that are paid in our church, there are 2-3 ladies that serve in the nursery that are paid to be there, but they are ALWAYS there, every service. The many other women that volunteer to help watch the children during the services are not paid. But all of the pastors, choir director, preschool director, janitor, children director, etc...are all paid. I teach sunday school and I am not paid anything for it, it is just a way that I serve the Lord.

We pay our minister (which is my dad ) and the people who clean. For a few years people would sign up to take a month to clean the building, the list kept getting shorter and shorter and no one wanted to do it, so we pay a couple who are members to clean all the time now. No one complains because no one wants to do it. We don't have enough babies to have a nursery worker. I have been a teacher and now only teach 2 months each year. Our church is small and when I first started going there they asked me to teach the toddler class and I had it for 3 YEARS. I can see how when you volunteer you are strapped with it because no one else wants to do it. For that reason I can see why they would pay a nursery worker.

I agree that if you feel you shouldn't be paid just put the money back in the collection plate.