I was quite shocked recently to see an advertisement posted by a church seeking a youth pastor, with the salary set at nearly $60,000.

I was always under the impression being a church pastor was not for the money, but for compassion, commitment to the role, serving God and supporting the wider community.

It seems I was wrong. There are people in other roles that earn less than $60,000 and these people are in service provision roles, helping people every day such as carers, people with disabilities and those with medical conditions.

One could argue a church pastor is also a serving role, but surely someone taking on the role if truly committed to the role and the Bible would simply receive a stipend covering their basic costs of living and maybe things donated by others part of their religion?

I did not realise church pastors were earning this much money (and there would be some no doubt on higher amounts). I am now left feeling some religions now only seem only focused on the dollar sign and not much else.

Does the youth pastor have a wife / husband and kids and a car and rent or home repayments, and registration, insurance, cost of schooling, birthdays and christmas and all the things normal people have?

Or are they supposed to single, celibate, never marry, have no kids, live in their car in the church carpark and eat from the soup kitchen?

What sort of a youth pastor would one be if they don't have any kids?
$1200 a week probably only barely covers basic expenses.