[Trapped]

Although some elders are not full-time, I would say they are permanent (under normal conditions), are they not?

From what I've seen, the local church both pays and doesn't pay those who serve it.

I know of elders who do not have another "vocation" who are not paid or supported by the church because they can live off of what they already have.

I know of elders who DO have another job who are not paid or supported by the church.

I know of elders who are solely supported by the church.

I know of elders who are supported by a church that does not have sufficient funds to do so, so they take multiple other jobs to cover the rest.

I know of serving ones who are supported (usually just barely above the point that covers their basic living expenses).

I know of serving ones who are not supported at all.

I wonder if Witness Lee's issue was with the "hiring" of an "outside person"? As opposed to someone being appointed from within and being supported because he otherwise could not do it. I understand both appear the same, and I am in no way defending the dripping derision from Witness Lee.

How do other churches (non-LC) handle the elder/pastor thing? I don't even know. Is it often members from within who grow/mature into the position? Or is it really bringing in someone from "the outside" who does not know the congregation? Genuinely asking here....not even really in the context of this discussion, just curious now because I never thought about it until now.