“The Dog Days Are Over”

Saturday, March 02, 2013

Our preacher has really let his "preacher's house" go to a shambles.  They let their dog urinate all over the house, and it really smells. Their kids have destroyed many things, and the yard is a mess.  Now the real problem is that the preacher's wife is always complaining that nobody will let them be hospitable and come over because people keep turning down their offers.  I'm sure it’s because of the state of their house.  I went over for a Bible study once, and I could hardly breathe; it was so bad.  We don't have elders, but some of the men have brought this to his attention.  He hasn't said much, and nothing has really changed.  I'm afraid the place will need to be gutted if he ever leaves, and we will be stuck with the bill.  This is a very tough spot for us all, and I could really use some advice on how we should handle it.  Thanks!

Sincerely,
Disgusted

Dear Disgusted,

We’re afraid we have no easy answers for your question.  We’ll assume from how you worded your question that the “preacher’s house” is owned by the congregation, and he is allowed to live in it as long as he preaches for you – an arrangement typically called a ‘parsonage’.  If we are wrong, and this house is actually owned by the preacher – the answer is: “do nothing; it’s his house and his concern”.

However, if it is a parsonage, here is the issue – the congregation is responsible for how it uses the finances it has collected to do God’s work.  The congregation must be faithful stewards (1 Cor 4:2) of both the liquid assets (money in the bank) and assets like property (such as a church building or a parsonage).  It is perfectly appropriate for the congregation to “pay” the preacher by allowing him to stay in the parsonage.  His labor as a preacher is being accepted as rent instead of money (1 Tim 5:18).  However, he is also, in a sense, still a renter.  You have paid him by giving him the parsonage; you have paid him by allowing him to live in the parsonage.  Now some congregations can take it too far and feel that they have the right to barge into the parsonage whenever they like, nitpick the preacher’s wife’s décor, etc., but the opposite is also true.  If a preacher is being a “bad renter” and destroying the property, the congregation must seriously consider addressing him on this issue and create an enforceable plan of action.

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