Nepotism and the Rise of Unmarried Clergy

Last updated on: September 30, 2015 at 8:35 am by John Mark N. Reynolds

Nepotism and the Rise of Unmarried Clergy 2015-09-29T18:46:35-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In dealing with the “blood moon” debacle, I noticed how often one generation in a church passes on the power to the next generation of family. A visit to many a mega-church website reveals a disturbing phenomena: God seems to call a startling number of children of clergy to take over the “family church” or become prominent in that ministry.

One of the best arguments for unmarried clergy, or at least unmarried bishops (or higher church leaders), is that celibate clergy cannot give their kids a job. If we think the problem is bad now, it is far worse in earlier periods of church history. One hates reading of churches handed down like property from father to son and would thank God we did not live in the bad old days if it were not still happening.

Let’s learn from church history. When married clergy were allowed to put their kids in charge by the church, it bred abuse at every turn. There are reasons that denominational structures worth having forbid this practice. No church is a business. No ministry should belong to a private family and should not be able to be left to the family. As Plato points out in Meno, it is the rare family where the child has the same gifts and calling as the parent. One effective solution is to prevent pastors from having children . . . though there are cases where pastors had children out of wedlock and left them their church in any case. If we are not going to take that solution (and I think we should not), what should we do to avoid a real problem?

Here are four proposals based on church history and my own family experience.

First, if a church is going to hire a member of the family of the lead pastor, put them in a job that fits the credentials and pay they would have if they did not know “the boss.” If a kid comes back from college to clean toilets or cut brush on the property, that can work, if they make what the everyone else makes and are held to the same standards.

Often this should be avoided simply because the pastor’s kid is held to an unbelievably high standard.

Second, kids are often called to follow Mom and Dad into ministry. That is a good thing, but it is also a big world. Do what my Dad did: send your kids out to start their own thing or ministry outside parental control. That is good for the child, good for the church, and good for the other ministry. Should there be exceptions?

Of course, but so many have been made that perhaps we should call a moratorium for a time in evangelical ministry. Surely, in all American it is odd, very odd, that so many big ministries end up dominated by the next generation.

Third, avoid Boards or structures where family “outsiders” lack a super majority.

Families all have blind spots. Some are too hard on family members and others too soft. Boards should not have more than one voting member from the same family.

Finally, a good rule of thumb for ministerial pay remains the pay for a local elementary school principal. Pastoral ministry is hard work. As a pastor’s kid, I know how hard it is. Pastors are often well trained educationally, as my Dad was. If a church can afford it, a solid income is a good thing. A worker is worthy of his hire. However, not all jobs in the church should be monetized.

Pastoral spouses have always worked. I did stuff around the church because Dad asked me to do so. That is part of the gig. Many families pitch in to help the main breadwinner make a go of the business or ministry without monetary compensation. As a result, however, persons in the church should not make any demands on the spouse or preacher’s kids.

This can be a big problem.

Unless we want to end up with bloated payrolls, we have to accept that much of the work is done by volunteers and should be done by volunteers. The church is a ministry.

Spiritual Reflections

Previous Post

September 29, 2015

What if you are wrong? (On the Second Coming and Theological Mistakes)

Next Post

October 1, 2015 I Give Up: History Wins

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Though you sit among the coals lamenting, you must remember that_________. What does Lamentations say will not cease?

Select your answer to see how you score.

His compassions His presence His covenant His love

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »