Here is the link to the resources provided by the Cog benefits Board.www.benefitsboard.com/manualsHere is the minister compensation manual docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/c75680_fdd269c3551f46ab9c84f6b92dd82928.pdfSadly pay scale is not listed. In the 2016 minutes it is listed in Section 69
The most recent scale I have is from 2012
It is Section S69 in the 2016 Minutes.Here’s a link to the Kindle version: Church of God Minutes 2016
S69. PASTOR’S MINIMUM COMPENSATION SCALE Effective September 1, 2016 (Based on 2015 scale with an increase of 1% COL) Membership Weekly Compensation 1-25 $ 801.00 ———— 226-250 $ 1,170.00 26-50 $ 850.00 ——— 251-275 $ 1,187.00 51-75 $ 897.00 ——— 276-300 $ 1,207.00 76-100 $ 942.00 ——— 301-325 $ 1,224.00 101-125 $ 988.00 ——— 326-350 $ 1,246.00 126-150 $ 1,036.00 ——- 351-375 $ 1,263.00 151-175 $ 1,083.00 —— 376-400 $ 1,282.00 176-200 $ 1,133.00 ——- 401-425 $ 1,300.00 201-225 $ 1,146.00 —— 426-450 $ 1,322.00 451-475 $ 1,337.00 ——- 1251-1300 $1,960.00 476-500 $ 1,358.00 —— 1301-1350 $2,000.00 501-525 $ 1,377.00 —— 1351-1400 $2,034.00 526-550 $1,398.00 —— 1401-1450 $2,072.00 551-575 $ 1,413.00 —— 1451-1500 $2,113.00 576-600 $ 1,432.00 —— 1501-1550 $2,146.00 601-625 $ 1,451.00 ——-1551-1600 $2,188.00 626-650 $ 1,472.00 ——-1601-1650 $2,223.00 651-675 $ 1,490.00 —— 1651-1700 $2,260.00 676-700 $ 1,509.00 —— 1701-1750 $2,300.00 701-725 $ 1,524.00 ——-1751-1800 $2,337.00 726-750 $ 1,549.00 ——-1801-1850 $2,376.00 751-775 $ 1,566.00 ——-1851-1900 $2,411.00 776-800 $ 1,581.00 ——- 1901-1950 $2,451.00 801-825 $ 1,603.00 ——-1951-2000 $2,488.00 828-850 $ 1,622.00 851-875 $ 1,640.00
Is this salary only________________“Hell will be filled with people that didn’t cuss, didn’t drink, and may even have been baptized. Why? Because none of those things makes someone a Christian.”
According to the paragraph immediately following the “Pastor’s Minimum Compensation Scale†in the 2016 Minutes, the scale is for salary:
Is this salary only? I’m wondering how many pastors of small churches are shaking their heads at what is listed as the WEEKLY recommended salary. I imagine that many of us would be happy to get that amount a MONTH, let alone a week.Of course, I would estimate that most churches cannot keep up with the salary scale. In fact, I’d be interested in knowing what percentage of Churches of God do pay their pastors according to the scale.
Here are the paragraphs which precede the scale in the Minutes:S68. COMPENSATION FOR PASTORS (64th A., 1992, pp. 81-84; 71st A., 2006, pp. 44, 45) I. BASIC COMPENSATION “Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel†(1 Corinthians 9:13, 14). The basic pastoral compensation shall consist of the following, based on the availability of appropriate tithe funds in the local church: 1. The compensation as designated for the appropriate membership category in S69. PASTOR’S MINIMUM COMPENSATION SCALE. 2. One-half of the pastor’s Social Security tax (which is to be reported as taxable income according to the information of federal income tax consultants) 3. Premiums for health insurance coverage 4. Contribution by the local church to the Church of God Ministers’ Retirement Plan for the pastor of an amount equal to at least five percent of the cash compensation received by the pastor 5. Adequate housing accommodations, including utilities These guidelines are ecclesiastical in application and are not a basis for any involvement outside the process of the Church of God. III. EXPENSES AND OTHER BENEFITS There is clear instruction in the Scripture which admonishes the members of the church to recognize effective and fruitful spiritual leadership. “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. The labourer is worthy of his reward†(1 Timothy 5:17, 18). Therefore, all churches are encouraged to provide automobile travel expense allowances and to provide incentives such as higher percentages of retirement, annuity and insurance plans, and so forth, based on increases in finances, pastoral responsibility, pastoral effectiveness, and longevity. The church to which the pastor has been appointed should pay reasonable moving expenses. IV. SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT BENEFIT PROGRAM That we amend the 2008 book of Minutes, page 169, S70. Compensation for Pastors, VI. Supplemental Pastor’s Retirement Fund, by deletion, and that the monies be used to fund the participants in the Aged Ministers Fund until such time as the fund liabilities cease, as determined by a certified actuarial report. Further, that a report on the status of the Aged Ministers Fund be given [to the International General Council] at each International General Assembly (73rd A., 2010, p. 188).II. UNDERPAID PASTORS Pastors of churches where the tithe income is not sufficient to meet the Pastor’s Minimum Compensation Scale shall receive 90 percent of the gross tithe. Further, that churches where the tithe income is not sufficient to pay the pastor’s salary according to the minimum scale should endeavor to increase the pastor’s income in an amount equal to minimum scale or more through freewill offerings or other means.III. EXPENSES AND OTHER BENEFITS There is clear instruction in the Scripture which admonishes the members of the church to recognize effective and fruitful spiritual leadership. “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. The labourer is worthy of his reward†(1 Timothy 5:17, 18). Therefore, all churches are encouraged to provide automobile travel expense allowances and to provide incentives such as higher percentages of retirement, annuity and insurance plans, and so forth, based on increases in finances, pastoral responsibility, pastoral effectiveness, and longevity. The church to which the pastor has been appointed should pay reasonable moving expenses.
I doubt most CoG churches can pay the minimum scale. I appreciate the fact that in those cases, the pastor is supposed to receive 90% of the tithes which come in locally. Even still, I have pastored before where if I took the 90%, the church utilities couldn’t be paid.
I don’t think greed has anything to do with it. I think the pay scale is fine as is. Where I have a problem however is if you are going to set a salary scale, provision must be made to ensure the salary is met. A pastor has the right to assume that he is going to be compensated per the scale, or why bother?Of course no one at the executive level would ever agree to this,but if the local church cannot afford to pay per the scale,any deficiency should be made up from either the general fund or home missions. Im reasonably certain that if a certain project was found to be under funded, somehow the money would be found to make up the shortfall.Why should the pastor’s salary not be given the same level of importance?After all,a workman is either worthy of his hire or he isn’t.The days of pastor’s struggling to make ends meet should be long over,and would be if the denomination would prioritize their pastor’s as they should________________“Hell will be filled with people that didn’t cuss, didn’t drink, and may even have been baptized. Why? Because none of those things makes someone a Christian.”
I don’t think greed has anything to do with it. I think the pay scale is fine as is. Where I have a problem however is if you are going to set a salary scale, provision must be made to ensure the salary is met. A pastor has the right to assume that he is going to be compensated per the scale, or why bother?Of course no one at the executive level would ever agree to this,but if the local church cannot afford to pay per the scale,any deficiency should be made up from either the general fund or home missions. Im reasonably certain that if a certain project was found to be under funded, somehow the money would be found to make up the shortfall.Why should the pastor’s salary not be given the same level of importance?After all,a workman is either worthy of his hire or he isn’t.The days of pastor’s struggling to make ends meet should be long over,and would be if the denomination would prioritize their pastor’s as they should.
QW,I understand where you are coming from, but doesn’t I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. and the surrounding passage imply that the church that is receiving the ministry actually has an obligation to support the ministry? At least in the case of the type of apostolic ministry like Paul was doing. Wouldn’t that apply even moreso for local church elders________________
I agree with you Sheik. Where I probably differ is that I do not believe the coG actually cares any longer whether or not pastors are as well take care of as they should be. Sorry if that sounds harsh as that is not my intent,however there are far too many stories out there of pastors being either kicked to the curb or abandoned by the side of the road by those who have the care of them.Don’t get me wrong,I believe fundamentally that the coG does understand what it would take to accomplish this,but that it is no longer a priority with the executive leadership.I sincerely hope that you do decide to enter the church consultation business, the young ministers are in real need of someone to tell them how it really is instead of the company line________________“Hell will be filled with people that didn’t cuss, didn’t drink, and may even have been baptized. Why? Because none of those things makes someone a Christian.”