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-   -   The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package). (https://www.landoverbaptist.net/showthread.php?t=100315)

Faith_Machine 07-06-2014 12:00 AM

The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
Friends, I know this might be a delicate subject, but I was just enjoying some whiskey with the ladies on the Steering Committee, and we got to talking about the considerable financial challenges our church faces in the coming fiscal year, and, well, I'm sure you all know we're going to have a heck of a time balancing our budget.

At present, the church is operating with an ongoing structural deficit of approximately $1 million per year. Growing our membership, and being better about making sure everybody tithes at the appropriate amount, is clearly part of the solution.

However, I've looked at the numbers, and I feel it would be irresponsible of us not to include Pastor Zeke's compensation package among the areas where we might employ a little belt-tightening.

For example, he is allocated $6,000 per year for auto lease payments, and his leased Cadillac Escalade is traded in every two years for a new one. And he gets $4,000 per year for gasoline.

http://www.autoweek.com/storyimage/C...c-escalade.jpg

What I'm thinking is it would probably be pretty painless for him if, when the lease is up on his current Caddy, which costs $500 per month, we were to trade it in on something like a Ford Fusion Hybrid...

http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/cro...-18_600x0w.jpg

...which can be leased for $300 per month. That right there saves us $2,400 per year just on lease payments, and when you consider the fact that the Fusion Hybrid gets 47mpg vs. the Cadillac's 14mpg, we'd be saving at least another $3,000 on Zeke's gas bill.

And that's not the only savings I can see us realizing in the transportation area of Zeke's expenses. For example, instead of sending him to his yearly golf junket in Dubai, why not have him enjoy some golf courses closer to home?

http://www.expatechodubai.com/wp-con...g-in-dubai.jpg

Anyway, I just thought this was something we should maybe consider. I love Pastor Zeke with all my heart, and I know he works very hard, but I know he also loves this church more than he loves his own life, and I'm sure he would not want to ever feel like his expenses were unduly burdening this fine organization.

TheLittleBoy 07-06-2014 12:23 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
JAYSUSSS is all powerful but he needs your money!

Faith_Machine 07-06-2014 12:37 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLittleBoy (Post 1098838)
JAYSUSSS is all powerful but he needs your money!

Nobody asked for your opinion, you little tulip! How can you even see this thread? I thought I posted it with the privacy set to "church members only!"

I sure hope you're not hacking us!

:nono:

Zechariah Smyth 07-06-2014 12:42 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLittleBoy (Post 1098838)
JAYSUSSS is all powerful but he needs your money!

Who mentioned "JAYSUSSS" (sic) anyway?

:huh:

TheLittleBoy 07-06-2014 12:53 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
A simple question: As seen in the original post. Why does the church budget goes to luxurious cars for a pastor instead of the church well being? Isn't luxury a sin ? James 5:5 . Sounds like a con. :innocent:

Pim Pendergast 07-06-2014 01:03 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLittleBoy (Post 1098847)
A simple question: As seen in the original post. Why does the church budget goes to luxurious cars for a pastor instead of the church well being? Isn't luxury a sin ? James 5:5 . Sounds like a con. :innocent:

Pastors who do their job well are worthy of double pay. In the passage below, the word "honour" means "pay." Clearly, God doesn't expect pastors to endure an austere lifestyle.

1 Tim 5:17-18 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

God has ordained that pastors should earn their living from preaching the Gospel (v 14).

1 Cor 9:9-14
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

Gal 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

Wide-Open 07-06-2014 01:12 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Faith_Machine
However, I've looked at the numbers, and I feel it would be irresponsible of us not to include Pastor Zeke's compensation package among the areas where we might employ a little belt-tightening.

:o

Quote:

something like a Ford Fusion Hybrid...
:fear2:

Brother. I'm sad to note you choose to no longer wanting to be a part of our congregation. :( I don't know what happened between you and Pastor Zeke, and perhaps the whisky didn't become you, but for you to be this cruel - for anyone to read!!!! - and even hint at the hardest working Pastor on this planet (and thus on all planets that exist) being forced to make do with a hyb.. hyb... I can't say it!

Truly truly shocking. :(

Benedict A. Davis 07-06-2014 01:39 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
The Brothers and sisters of the Landover Baptist Church look To Pastor Zeke to lead us to the gates of heaven. I, for one, believe he should become used to the grander things here so he is not overwhelmed on our trail to Heaven.
Reading Revelations 21:10-27 tells everyone how grand Heaven will be and I do not believe that a bigger car is nothing close to that wonderful thought.
Quote:

Revelation 21:10-27King James Version (KJV)

10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.


Russell Holbeck 07-06-2014 02:03 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLittleBoy (Post 1098847)
A simple question: As seen in the original post. Why does the church budget goes to luxurious cars for a pastor instead of the church well being? Isn't luxury a sin ? James 5:5 . Sounds like a con. :innocent:

Hello TheLittleBoy.

Pastor Ezekiel came down to help me with my estate planning because my children do not talk to me since I started walking with Jesus Christ.

It may look like he is rich because he has a very nice airplane and a telephone that takes pictures but when I asked him about that he laughed and said Boy the church owns all of that I'm just taking it all for a spin and I'm gone give it back just like Psalms 37 says.

I am not a boy he likes to joke around he smells like Aqua Velva.

Thank you.

Rusty

Faith_Machine 07-06-2014 02:57 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
Friends, hold on a second! I just don't want our church to have an ongoing budget deficit! If we can't find a few areas to save money in Pastor Zeke's compensation package, then how are we going to pay down this deficit? I would hate to see us have to lay off some of the other pastors or administrators, but somebody whose name I won't mention did happen to tell me she thought we were "top heavy" with "overpaid" pastoral and admin staff.

Said individual made the observation that if it comes down to laying off one senior pastor vs. laying off ten or twenty church gardeners, custodians, or valets, why, it would make the most sense to just lay off that one pastor, because you're getting the same cost savings, but sacrificing fewer jobs.

Pastor Ezekiel 07-06-2014 03:25 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
The truth is, I need my stipend tripled. Jesus has endowed me with great gifts and you people are letting Him and I down. Oh ye of little faith! Tithe more and your reward in Heaven will be unspeakable! :threaten:

I'm not misbehaving like so many false Pastors!


Faith_Machine 07-06-2014 03:36 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
Pastor Zeke, with all due respect, how is the church going to pay for tripling your stipend? That money's got to come out of some other program or service, right?

Elmer G. White 07-06-2014 03:43 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Faith_Machine (Post 1098834)
...What I'm thinking is it would probably be pretty painless for him if, when the lease is up on his current Caddy, which costs $500 per month, we were to trade it in on something like a Ford Fusion Hybrid ...which can be leased for $300 per month. That right there saves us $2,400 per year just on lease payments, and when you consider the fact that the Fusion Hybrid gets 47mpg vs. the Cadillac's 14mpg, we'd be saving at least another $3,000 on Zeke's gas bill... Anyway, I just thought this was something we should maybe consider. I love Pastor Zeke with all my heart, and I know he works very hard, but I know he also loves this church more than he loves his own life, and I'm sure he would not want to ever feel like his expenses were unduly burdening this fine organization.

Dearest Brother,

I always try to give everybody the benefit of doubt, even for vile unsaved trash. I could not do anyhing less for you.

So I researched the issue of the car:




Not good. Many extremely unpleasant aspects emerged:angry::
  1. The Ford Fusion Hybrid was designed by abominable hippie GREENS for other sodomistic hippies. God hates greens. He intended us to multiply and subdue the Earth's disk (Genesis 1:28). This car is both atheist and ungodly.
  2. Steve Ballmer of Microsoft owns a Ford Fusion Hybrid.
  3. Steve Ballmer is a known homersex enthusiast (Leviticus 18:22), who actually donated lots of actual MONEY to the homer agenda. Had he given it to LBC, no-one would be in this mess!
And the worst part...:

Quote:

The attractively styled front seats have headrests that protrude too far forward for those who are slender or petite. I’m tall and thin and just couldn’t get comfortable behind the wheel, even with the headrest pushed to its most rearward position. No matter how I positioned the seat and steering wheel, my shoulders and neck invariably got cramped on long rides from straining to keep my head clear of the headrest.

That seems innocent... BUT IT IS NOT! "A headrest that protrudes..." - this is a clear euphemism and metaphor for male arousal. This car can turn people to the dark gayside of God's force. Of course, nothing can turn Pastor Zeke homer, but he might be entertaining more susceptible young students and disciples that are more prone to the gay innuendo.


Dearest Brother,

I am most certain that Pastor Zeke would be the first one to follow God's Word on wealth, such as the one that follows:

Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

..and I know financial issues ARE important, but this proposal of yours was not perhaps prepared in the best possible manner? I encourage you to continue your mission to ensure the continued enabling of spreading the GOOD WORD as efficiently as possible. BUT NOT WITH THIS HOMERCAR, please!

Yours in Christ,

Elmer:bye:

Naomi Ruth Lamb 07-06-2014 03:47 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
I do think that Pastor's package is quite large. In fact, his is probably the largest package I have ever seen. Having said that, I would be disappointed to see it become smaller. If anything, we need it to be as large as possible so that he can give Sister Daisy what she needs if he ever gets off his high horse and makes an honest woman of her (Even so, Come, Lord Jesus).

My business continues to prosper and allows me to increase my tithe, if that will help the budget at all. I believe the settlement Sister Derringer recently received is also worthy of a tithe (ahem, Sister!). It is my opinion that those people sitting in the platinum tithing pews that are slipping in a ten dollar bill should be rebuked in Jesus Name one fine Sunday (perhaps this one?).

There are other vehicles besides the Escalade that have better mileage. The men of the church should do some comparison shopping. I know that pastor uses the vehicle for ministering to his flock, since I have seen that Escalade parked for hours in various parishioners' driveways - sometimes all night long, GLORY TO GOD. Zeke's dedication is unmatched, Hallelujah! I had no idea that Dr. Niles had so many pastoral needs, by the way - but I digress.

Anyway, FM, please let me know if my additional tithe will help ensure that Pastor has a nice, well-rounded package that he can use for Christ's Glorious work.

Praying that others will also reach in and go deep,
NRL

Faith_Machine 07-06-2014 03:56 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Elmer G. White (Post 1098883)
Dearest Brother,

I always try to give everybody the benefit of doubt, even for vile unsaved trash. I could not do anyhing less for you.

So I researched the issue of the car:




Not good. Many extremely unpleasant aspects emerged:angry::
  1. The Ford Fusion Hybrid was designed by abominable hippie GREENS for other sodomistic hippies. God hates greens. He intended us to multiply and subdue the Earth's disk (Genesis 1:28). This car is both atheist and ungodly.
  2. Steve Ballmer of Microsoft owns a Ford Fusion Hybrid.
  3. Steve Ballmer is a known homersex enthusiast (Leviticus 18:22), who actually donated lots of actual MONEY to the homer agenda. Had he given it to LBC, no-one would be in this mess!
And the worst part...:




That seems innocent... BUT IT IS NOT! "A headrest that protrudes..." - this is a clear euphemism and metaphor for male arousal. This car can turn people to the dark gayside of God's force. Of course, nothing can turn Pastor Zeke homer, but he might be entertaining more susceptible young students and disciples that are more prone to the gay innuendo.


Dearest Brother,

I am most certain that Pastor Zeke would be the first one to follow God's Word on wealth, such as the one that follows:

Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

..and I know financial issues ARE important, but this proposal of yours was not perhaps prepared in the best possible manner? I encourage you to continue your mission to ensure the continued enabling of spreading the GOOD WORD as efficiently as possible. BUT NOT WITH THIS HOMERCAR, please!

Yours in Christ,

Elmer:bye:

Brother Elmer, the Ford Fusion was just an example. How about a Chevy Malibu Eco? I understand it's quite thrifty with fuel.

Pastor Ezekiel 07-06-2014 03:59 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
How can you ask me to drive a communistic car and represent God's favorite Church? I need a new, customized Cadillac Escalade EVERY YEAR. Gas prices and mileage are up the the Lord! :innocent:

Elmer G. White 07-06-2014 04:12 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Faith_Machine (Post 1098893)
Brother Elmer, the Ford Fusion was just an example. How about a Chevy Malibu Eco? I understand it's quite thrifty with fuel.

I DO believe you, Brother. But. What I said. The proposal was not perhaps prepared in the most careful manner worthy of Pastor Zeke or you as a True Christian™. Please, make a decent memo and provide us the Bible verses that support your suggestions.:( And some informative pictures and Tables. A worthy cause may be lost because of careless presentation.


Exodus 16:5 And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.

Yours in Christ,

Elmer:bye:

Naomi Ruth Lamb 07-06-2014 04:26 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
If we are truly looking to economize, perhaps the Smarte car would be a good choice.

In Jesus,
NRL

Faith_Machine 07-06-2014 05:19 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
No, no, Naomi, those Smart cars are two seaters. Pastor needs a sedan so he can drive visiting dignitaries around.

Levi Jones 07-06-2014 05:47 AM

Re: The elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about (Pastor Zeke's compensation package).
 
Brother Faith,

I hear your concerns loud and clear. That is why we are opening up a service center on the member's only section. From there we can help get you on food stamps and medicaid if you are having a hard time making ends meet with your tithing requirements.

Yours in Christ,

Levi


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