I would be fooling myself if I said that I am not concerned about the economic crisis that is occurring in the world today. Bank failures, stock market declines, and acknowledgements that we are in a severe recession are regular newspaper headlines. I have watched my personal retirement fund decline by 40%. More important, I observe the poor being hit hard in this crisis as food and gas prices make everyday living a struggle for survival.
More than once in the last months I have intentionally turned to the Sermon on the Mount for comfort and perspective. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” (Matthew 6:11f) These words are powerful reminders that we have a sovereign God and that He has made promises in His Word that we can rely on.
But, that doesn’t mean we might not have to adjust our lifestyles and perhaps face some times of hardship and struggling. There have been a number of candidates in the MFCA program who have been hit hard by the economy. Some have had their nest-egg erode and have been forced to pick up extra jobs and go part-time in their studies in order to make ends meet.
Theological education has become expensive and many candidates have incurred large student loans in order to complete their preparation. Some will end up with student loans over $100,000 when they graduate. The average debt for candidates seven years ago was around $18,000.00. I suspect it is much higher today. If reading this prompts you to share your situation, I will gladly collect information and stories for future newsletters. Write me at (ckors@rca.org)
The dilemma for those going into ministry is the fact that the potential to realistically earn enough to pay off debt is not good. For many it will be years and years before the student debt will be eliminated. I read in the November issue of Leadership the latest statistics collected. They are as follows:
The 2009 Compensation Handbook for Church Staff surveyed 4,800 U.S. churches, representing about 11,000 employees. Among the report’s findings:
• Churches that draw 101 to 300 people for worship services each week typically offer senior pastors a compensation package of $72,664 (this includes base salary, housing allowance, pension/retirement contribution, continuing education, health insurance, life insurance, and disability insurance, but not car, cell phone, or book allowances). That figure grows to $88,502 – a 22 percent increase – when attendance averages between 301 and 500 people, and $102,623 – a 41 percent increase - when attendance averages between 501 and 750.
• Music, choir, and worship pastors average about $51,954 at churches of 101 to 300 people, while their peers at churches of 501 to 750 people average $62,781.
• For senior pastors, the gap in compensation between those with doctoral degrees and those without remains distinct. Including benefits, those with a doctorate earn $14,000 more per year than those who complete a master’s degree, and $24,000 more per year than pastors with a bachelor’s.
-The 2009 Compensation Handbook for Church Staff, available at yourchurchresources.com.
When I read the “classis minimums” for RCA salaries I see figures mostly around $30,000 - $40,000; add $8,000 - $12,000 for housing. Although listed as minimums, in many regions of the RCA these are the actual salaries for pastors. The potential for candidates to repay student debt is appearing more difficult as time goes along.
The matter of finances for seminary students and candidates for ministry has been a concern for many years. These are not the days of 40 years ago when those who were called to ministry received a free education. The churches saw this as their responsibility. Back in the early 1990s I served on a task force which looked at the classis procedures for the preparation of ministers. The statement in the report which was unveiled at the General Synod of 1993 said the following regarding finances:
“The classis should have a policy concerning the financial support of candidates and a procedure for monitoring the material well-being of candidates. The policy should be designed to optimize the financial resources available to the candidate from (a) personal savings and current income, (b) the student’s greater family, (c) sponsors who believe in the student’s potential, (d) the home congregation, (e) the home classis, (f) seminary scholarships, grants and loan funds. The classis committee for care and supervision should recommend a debt limit (including consideration of preexisting debt) based on a realistic assessment of the candidate’s earning potential and other financial obligations. The classis committee should regularly monitor the candidate’s financial condition to assure that the candidate and his/her dependents have adequate income for their material needs, including health care, and to assure that the candidate’s debt burden does not exceed what can be realistically repaid from the income likely to be realized in ministry.” (Pg. 333, MGS,1993)
I continue to support the intent of this statement despite the fact it is somewhat idealistic in these times. The MFCA Board of Trustees is also keenly invested in improving the situation of emerging church leaders in the RCA. The board has asked the General Synod Council (GSC) for a collaborative effort by the different parties in the denomination to do something about the finances and material well-being of candidates.
General Secretary, Wes Granberg-Michaelson, on behalf of the GSC, responded to the board request with the following:
“… we are committed to exploring future ways in which we might increase financial support to MFCA candidates and to other emerging pastors. You realize the difficult challenges that confront this task. But this is an opportune time to begin examining our current levels of support to MFCA and to our seminaries, and to ask whether there are new ways in which we could enhance that support in a denomination-wide manner, especially as there is so much variance in levels of classis support for candidates.” (Letter of October 28, 2008)
Obviously, finances should not be our main concern and the words of Jesus need to be at the center of how we operate. At the same time, I believe we have a responsibility to individuals and the church to provide for those who are in ministry and preparing for ministry. We cannot allow the economic crisis of 2008 hinder God’s mission for the future.
Cor
