What if all Nazarene pastors in USA/Canada—regardless of the size or location of their church—earned the same salary? Large church. Small church. Urban church. Rural church. It wouldn’t matter. Compensation would be standardized. There could still be a sliding scale based on years of service, education, or experience, but pastors with similar credentials would receive the same pay.
(Funny-only-to-me alert: Last week, I was called a “capitalist” because of something I wrote on this blog. I assume cries of “socialist” or “communist” are forthcoming.)
Think about it: every pastor receiving the same compensation package, the same healthcare coverage, and the same benefits. Maybe everyone would be bi-vocational. Maybe no one would be. Either way, all pastors would be in the same boat. While we’re at it, what about a pay scale for district superintendents, too? (Uh-oh. Now I’ve struck a nerve.)
The idea isn’t completely unprecedented. Nazarene missionaries are compensated according to a standardized system and receive the same healthcare benefits. It seems I read somewhere that the early church shared all things in common? (See Acts 4:32). Wasn’t Paul a tentmaker who supported himself through additional work? Yes, he was.
Let me be clear: no Nazarene pastor is getting rich from serving a local church. In some denominations or independent churches, perhaps, but you won’t find Nazarene pastors living in mansions or driving a Bugatti. What you will find too often are pastors who are struggling financially, trying to support their families on salaries that barely cover basic expenses. For many, it’s a difficult reality.
One argument against equal compensation is that it could encourage laziness. Some pastors might do very little while earning the same salary as those who work tirelessly. Yup, that’s a possibility. I know this—when I was pastoring, I never felt that I was working for a paycheck. I was working for the Lord. Giving my best to Christ was never about my bank account. I suspect most pastors would say the same. Not all, of course. Let’s be honest—there would be some lazy pastors under this model.
There are also practical challenges. A proposal like this would likely require a significant increase in district apportionments or the creation of a new compensation fund. Some churches would undoubtedly try to avoid the system. Large churches might have to reduce staff to contribute. Some pastors would take a pay cut. I’m not suggesting implementation would be easy. Any serious proposal would need careful consideration by people far smarter than me.
The system would also need to account for regional differences in the cost of living. A pastor serving in a high-cost city faces different financial realities than one serving in a rural community. But that’s not an impossible challenge. The denomination already addresses similar issues with missionaries. A missionary serving in the Philippines does not require the same level of support as one living in Paris because the cost of living is dramatically different.
Reality Alert: All the above is a pipe dream. Too many obstacles. Too much money. Too many paychecks would be impacted. To those who say, “it shouldn’t be about the money.” It’s always about the money. Who’s a capitalist now?
Even if we can’t make pastors pay equal across the board, can’t we at least think more intentionally about clergy compensation? Pastoring is difficult, regardless of church size. The pressures, responsibilities, and stresses are real. What if we found ways to reduce at least some of the financial burden? Can we discuss ways to help pastors at the lower end of the pay scale? Can we ensure that no pastor is living below the poverty line and that all have access to adequate healthcare for their families?
The United Methodist Church has established compensation minimums for clergy. Perhaps the Church of the Nazarene should consider something similar. Here’s the question of the week: Can the Church of the Nazarene in USA/Canada care for its pastors in a more equitable way?
My Two Cent Offering 