Has there ever been a serious discussion United Methodism about clergy salaries?
I suspect the conversation is usually about how poorly clergy are paid compared to “other professionals.” But, I’m wondering if we don’t need to talk about a ceiling.
The Get Religion blog had a post recently about a pastor of a Manhattan church. A New York paper stirred up controversy by saying he would be paid $600,000. It turns out, he “only” gets paid $250,000 a year. That may be a pittance by Manhattan pay scales, but it boggles my mind that a minister would make that much.
Leaving aside the grotesque excess of TV preachers who own private jets and live in mansions, I find myself wondering how much is too much for a pastor to earn without risking damage to his ministry?
Would it not be a powerful witness if pastors adopted as a matter of church policy a reasonable ceiling on salaries?
I am a part-time local pastor serving 
The doctrine of original sin is surely more humbling to man than the opposite: And I know not what honour we can pay to God, if we think man came out of His hands in the condition wherein he is now.
I think a living wage + enough to pay off seminary loans is adequate.