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2013 Compensation Guidelines
Guidelines for compensation are just that: guidelines. Different contexts and communities must be taken into consideration. Rocky Mountain Synod Guidelines are based upon the work of the Mountain States Employers Council. The average increase for all employers surveyed is 2.6%.
The Foundational Guidelines pages include essential information for all rostered leaders: pastors, diaconal ministers, and associates in ministry. A worksheet for figuring compensation packages is also included on those pages:
Foundational Guidelines and Worksheet
The 2013 guideline grids (below) are based upon the Mountain States Employers Council figures. The grid for pastors does not include the additional 30% housing allowance figure. Since Associates in MInistry and Diaconal Ministers do not receive housing allowances, their listed figures are higher.
2013 Guidelines for Pastors
2013 Guidelines for Diaconal Ministers and Associates in Ministry
Economic realities in our country and in our local communities mean that many congregations are experiencing financial shortfalls. This is true for the Rocky Mountain Synod and for the ELCA as well. Congregations in these circumstances must prayerfully consider how to balance their income for ministry with their compensation levels.
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Servants of Christ
Congregations receive their leaders as servants of Christ and proclaimers of the Gospel. The Apostle Paul writes that "the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the Gospel should get their living by the Gospel." (I Corinthians 9:14).
The Rocky Mountain Synod offers guidelines to congregations to assist them in determining adequate and fair compensation for those among them who labor in the Gospel.
Pastors, Associates in Ministry, Diaconal Ministers and Deaconesses are all identified in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as rostered leaders. They have met criteria established by the church to assume professional offices in our congregations. They bring to their called positions special training, qualifications, and the approval of the wider church.
Because we call them to service, we must sufficiently compensate them. Rostered leaders must be able to provide for their economic needs. The ethics of ministry do not permit our leaders to be mercenary nor should they depend on discounts, special gifts, or honoraria. They need to know they have an honest and dependable income for their contribution to the congregation’s ministry.
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