Should a preacher have a $1M dollar salary?

It’s all business, baby.

I guess it can be seen like the salary of an athlete. If the church gets so much more attendance due to the preacher being dynamic, and then therefore they get more in the offering plate, and more to their funds, then it may be worth 1 mil. Look at Joel Osteen, who is a celebrity preacher. If Joel Osteen’s church has people who go just because he is the preacher, and they are inspired to give so generously because of seeing him, that’s worth something. Something more than the “average member’s salaries who pay their tithes” in the words of the OP.

@Charles: “Is it fair for a mega church to pay these salaries?”

Fair? Huh? I’m not sure I understand this question at all. Unless you are advocating reducing income inequality. In that case, I’m right with you! But why did you specify this particular type of business (mega churches) rather than businesses in general?

Should religion be used to take advantage of people?

How much should he make? You think he should be poor and donate his time?
There were many rich men in the bible. Job, King David, Abraham, etc.

If he can sucker the board of directors (or whatever they call themselves) into paying him, then why not? Ministers are first and foremost salesmen – selling the word of god, and selling themselves in the process.

The question should not be “is it fair” – the question should be: what are the church members getting for the $1 million they are paying this guy?

Nobody has to go to church. Nobody has to go that one. If the members object to the salary, pressure the Board to fire him, or go someplace else. Seems pretty simple.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being rich, or earning a 7-figure salary. If someone finds a way to do this by marketing “spirituality”, well, OK. I would know instantly, though, that I want nothing at all to do with whatever they’re selling as spirituality.

You can package spiritual practice in many different ways, but I expect to see certain qualities emerge from someone who pursues a valid form of spiritual practice. The way I see it, spiritual development will necessarily entrain deep humility. It will necessarily produce a person of simple needs, easily satisfied. It will disarm greed.

I don’t automatically assume that everyone with a high salary is a greedy, self-centered bastard. But when you set yourself up as a spiritual exemplar, and then tell your supporters that they’re gonna have to cough up a cool million to make it worth your while, that, to me, is a big red flag (satin, gold embroidered).