With few exceptions, the vocation of a pastor is not a lucrative career. In many cases, especially with small churches, the salary of a pastor is inadequate for maintaining a family. The financial pressures on a pastor with a family can have a negative effect on the health of the family. In some ways this is similar to the pressure felt by many families in our congregation, so again, examining this subject with respect to pastors can have a beneficial result in understanding the parallel pressures on many congregants. Some items to be considered might include the following:
1. Has the church leadership had an honest conversation with the pastor about fair compensation?
2. Have you explored with the pastor and a financial planner with knowledge of pastoral issues, how to best structure the pastor’s compensation?
3. Does the pastor have an advocate when the congregation considers his or her salary?
4. Can the church provide some sessions with a financial planner for the pastor and spouse to consider how best to manage their situation?
5. If the pastor must take an additional job to support the family, has the leadership interpreted the implications of that decision to the congregation?
6. As the pastoral salary is determined each year, does someone sit down with pastor and spouse to explain that decision?
7. if the pastor’s spouse chooses to work to augment the family’s finances, does the congregation understand how that affects the pastor’s availability when family responsibilities occur?
8. When the pastor’s family includes small children, are there ways to provide child care from volunteers when church responsibilities seek the presence of both the pastor and spouse?
9. Are there some non-financial benefits that might be made available in compensation? EG, loan of a vacation cabin, frequent flyer points, etc.
10. Would the congregation be responsive to a seminar on the faith implications of financial pressures on all families?
Try to extend this list with other possibilities and then put together an action plan.
