Church employment and benefits

[_Yoda]

Liz's relative got "salaried", called as a GA so they could penny-pinch. But, he's got to be 2nd Quorum or lower.

Actually, you are incorrect. The example I gave earlier in the thread is a friend of mine who works in IT for Church Headquarters. He is salaried.

My relative is not salaried. He does, however, receive health insurance through the Church, and his travel expenses are covered through the Church. He is a member of the Quorum of the 12....considerably higher than the 2nd Quorum.

[_Doctor Scratch]

Liz---

Are you certain that he's not receiving some other kind of income? I.e., does he get some other form of payment which simply goes by some name other than "salary"? E.g., does he get a "stipend"? Or an "honorarium"? Or a "Onyx Credit Card"? Or "dividends"? Or, was he a very wealthy businessman in his secular life, such that he could essentially afford to live off his very cushy retirement while "serving" the Church?

[_Yoda]

Or, was he a very wealthy businessman in his secular life, such that he could essentially afford to live off his very cushy retirement while "serving" the Church?

That is the situation.

I don't doubt that some of the brethren who can't afford it are given some type of stipend. But my relative is fortunate that he is a retired engineer, and is quite well off.

[_solomarineris]

It seems some how and somewhere they turned a 19th century sect into a 21st century corporation.

Now it comes back, the memories...
I had a friend who was next door neighbor, in fact two of them happen to work at Church Office Building, they were always tight
moneywise, granted I probably made more but when you include the burden of tithing they were screwed from getgo.
How would you like to have 10% automatic deduction?

[_Gadianton]

Liz, putting "salaried" in quotes was a nudge, companies that pay benefits hate non-exempt employees and like to "salary" them, so they can get 80 hours of work a week and pay 40. So, what I meant was the engineer friend got the COB equivalent of being "salaried". He got a crummy base package of being a worker-bee "GA", so he gets a bone thrown at him for a 100 hour work week. Wheras, the higher GA positions, like 1st quorum and apostle, get the "executive" package.

[_truth dancer]

Hey Gad,

TD's relative is director of marketing, sales, or something similar for something lucrative on the for-profit side or very, very key on the non-profit side. I had to laugh at Doctor Scratch's humor, what crossed my mind is that if he's making that much, why haven't they called him to be a GA? LOL!

Make that FORMER relative.

His job is with LDS church media.

No GA.

[_harmony]

Liz---

Are you certain that he's not receiving some other kind of income? I.e., does he get some other form of payment which simply goes by some name other than "salary"? E.g., does he get a "stipend"? Or an "honorarium"? Or a "Onyx Credit Card"? Or "dividends"? Or, was he a very wealthy businessman in his secular life, such that he could essentially afford to live off his very cushy retirement while "serving" the Church?

Ya know, Scratch, most days I don't get too irritated at what you say, but this is so insulting to Liz and to Liz's relative.

What the hell? Why the "are you certain blah blah blah"? She said what she meant, she knows what she knows, and you're essentially calling her a liar, when she's never given you cause to do so. She's not Daniel and she doesn't deserve to be treated like you treat Daniel (I'm not sure he does either, but that's another thread). She shouldn't have to explain anything to you, outside of what she's already said, and it speaks very badly of you that you'd start a post with "are you certain...".

And why shouldn't Liz's relative be allowed to spend his retirement doing whatever the hell he wants? If he wants to spend it serving the church (no quote marks required) instead of playing golf all day, why does she or he have to justify that to you? Why does he have to justify a comfortable retirement account? He worked hard for it; he didn't make feeding at the tithing trough his career. Your critical prying nosiness is both misplaced and downright annoying.

[_Yoda]

I knew what point Scratch was trying to make. He is trying to make the case that the LDS Church's claim to an unpaid ministry is false...that those who are in higher Church positions do receive some type of compensation, even though the callings on the ward and stake levels are not paid.

He actually has a basis to his argument, but he is incorrect in how the process works. I was simply trying to enlighten him because I'm privy to how it works.

Basically, if the GA's have sufficient means to help themselves, the Church does not interfere with them financially. They will be eligible for health insurance through the Church, and receive travel compensation. The Church will also help with living quarters if need be.

Again, the Church will help those in upper level positions who have a financial need. If they can support themselves, however, they are expected to do so.

[_harmony]

I knew what point Scratch was trying to make. He is trying to make the case that the LDS Church's claim to an unpaid ministry is false...that those who are in higher Church positions do receive some type of compensation, even though the callings on the ward and stake levels are not paid.

He actually has a basis to his argument, but he is incorrect in how the process works. I was simply trying to enlighten him because I'm privy to how it works.

Basically, if the GA's have sufficient means to help themselves, the Church does not interfere with them financially. They will be eligible for health insurance through the Church, and receive travel compensation. The Church will also help with living quarters if need be.

Again, the Church will help those in upper level positions who have a financial need. If they can support themselves, however, they are expected to do so.

I knew what Scratch's point was too: he was needling you with the "are you certain" comment because he so desperately needs to prove that the church uses tithing funds to pay the GAs. And he wasn't willing to take your word for it that at least some of the 12 aren't paid. And it was a sideways swipe at your relative, with the "very cushy" comment.

Not good form on his part at all.

[_karl61]

There are some that have been on the Church payroll for many decades. If you add teaching or other situations, working for Deseret inc., then a GA calling then they have always been on the Church's payroll.