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Cash Salary Table

Cash Salary Guidelines and Recommended Minimum Cash Salary Table for Pastors
2008

  1. All congregations are encouraged to meet The Recommended Minimum Cash Salary figures. Congregations should then consider going above and beyond the minimum when weighing:
    • higher than average “cost of living” in various parts of the country
    • merit for outstanding pastoral leadership
    • acknowledgment of milestones and markers of ministerial service
    • evidence of application of growth in leadership through participation in continuing education events

  2. The Recommended Minimum Cash Salary assumes the pastor will pay parsonage utilities and the Self-Employment Tax.

  3. The three columns on the salary scale assume completion of denominational educational requirements as defined in the 1999 Ministerial Leadership paper.

    The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership offers three types of non-degree (certificate) training: TRIM (Training in Ministry), EFSM (Education for Shared Ministry) and ACTS (Academy Certified Training Systems)

    Ministerial training in non-Brethren institutions should be of high quality, as determined by a District Ministry Commission, and it should always be supplemented by additional course work in Brethren life and thought.

    First salary column: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college, and the Master of Divinity degree (M.Div.) from an accredited seminary. The word accredited is important. If you are uncertain about an institution’s accreditation, call one of the Brethren colleges, Bethany Theological Seminary, or the Office of Ministry.

    An adjustment should be made for a Master’s degree other than the M. Div. The Master of Arts in Theology (M.A.Th.), for example, is normally a two-year degree program, and it is not recommended as a ministerial degree. Additional course work would likely be in order for persons serving in the pastoral ministry.

    Second salary column: Persons with a Bachelor’s degree who have completed an approved non-degree ministerial training program comparable to one of the Brethren Academy programs.

    Third salary column: Persons who do not have a Bachelor’s degree, but have completed an approved non-degree ministerial training program comparable to one of the Brethren Academy programs.

  4. Those with the Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.) degree from an accredited seminary, add an additional 5% to the appropriate M. Div. figure.

  5. After 30 years of ministerial service, the congregation and pastor need to negotiate an annual increase in salary that reflects additional years of experience, education, and an annual cost of living increase.

  6. The mileage rate for parish work should be the figure established by the IRS.

For a downloadable version of the Guidelines for Pastors' Salaries and Benefits, click here (PDF)


For a downloadable version of the Cash Salary Guidelines and Recommended Minimum Cash Salary Table for Pastors, click here (PDF)

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