This survey of pastors' salaries was conducted in February/March 2001, and relates to the year 2000.
There are 250 UK churches in the Grace Directory.
Replies
Surveys sent 210
Surveys returned 138
Percentage response 66%
This represents a very high response rate and therefore enhances the accuracy of the figures.
On the basis of this survey we may calculate that out of 250 churches there are 109 full-time pastors (44% of all churches) and 19 part-time pastors (8% of all churches). The residue does not represent the number of churches without pastors. That would be higher because some churches have assistant or co-pastors who were included in the survey.
These figures mask the significant number of elderly pastors (i.e. past retirement age) who continue in office either because they cannot afford to retire or because there are no younger men in prospect.
The remainder of this survey will deal with the full-time pastors as the part-time ones have such a wide variety of remuneration that their inclusion would distort the bigger picture.
Full-time pastors
The majority, 57, fall between £10001 and £17500 with 28 below £10000 and 22 above £17501. The less than £10000 are spread across Greater London (8), the South East (7), East Anglia (10) and the South West (3). Of those paid over £17501 the majority (13) are scattered throughout the South East, West, Cambs./Herts./Beds. and Oxon/Bucks./ Berks.
There is therefore no strong geographical effect upon the salaries. It is a local church matter with little regard for location.
Pensions
37% of full-time pastors receive pension provision - the remaining 62% do not. Some already have a pension from previous secular employment and others benefit from their wife's pension.
This is one of the statistics that give the gravest cause for concern. Grace Baptist Trust Corporation can provide names of Independent Financial Advisers to assist pastors and church officers in this important area.
Life assurance
3% of full-time pastors benefit from life assurance cover paid for by the church.
Cars & mileage allowance
56% of full-time pastors receive a mileage allowance for church related use. 21% received financial assistance to purchase their cars, mostly by way of a gift but some by way of a loan.
Book allowance
26% of full-time pastors receive a book allowance.
This is a legitimate expense for pastors and is a tax efficient way of increasing the pastor's overall remuneration. In addition the GBIC manages the B.A. Warburton Memorial Fund which provides book grants for student pastors for study purposes.
Conference fees
46% of full-time pastors are allowed conference fees.
This is an important aspect of the pastor's expenditure; the opportunity to meet his peers and to receive ministry rather than give it.
Health care
Only 1% of pastors benefit from health care cover. None have this benefit for their families. 54% replied that they would be interested in following up this matter.
At present quotations are being obtained from Healthcare providers and the answers will be circulated when known.
Other expenses
On average 25% of full-time pastors receive financial help with their phone bills, electricity, gas and council tax for the manse.
It should be noted that council tax relief can only be claimed if paid for by the pastor himself if he is living in a manse. No relief can be claimed if it is paid direct by the church to the local authority.
Gifts in kind
Only 6% of full-time pastors receive gifts in kind, e.g. anniversary collections or similar. There is no geographical pattern for the 6%.
Help with tax
42% sought professional assistance with their tax returns.
We trust that the information supplied elsewhere in this document will be helpful.
Self-employed
21% of full-time pastors said they were and 76% said they were not. 2% did not answer.
There is an anomaly here. Under employment law pastors are regarded as self-employed. They are considered to be employees under Inland Revenue rules in respect of income arising from their duties connected with their church, but as self-employed in respect of income arising from other duties performed elsewhere (e.g. preaching fees received from other churches).
Indebtedness
21% of full-time pastors were in debt.
The extent was not revealed but is an obvious matter of concern.
14% in addition had significant hire purchase debts (not related to car or mortgage).
Wife earning
53% of full-time pastors' wives were working full or part-time themselves and 35% were paid by the church direct.
There are advantages and disadvantages in paying wives direct by the church. An alternative is for the pastor to claim her salary as a secretarial expense and then no national insurance is payable. On the other hand, if national insurance is not paid it will reduce the amount of pension the wife can claim per week at 60 years old.
In addition some pastors make a salary sacrifice so that their wife can receive the maximum non-taxable income (currently £4,535) and thereby pay less tax themselves.
Living in the manse
Only 48% of full-time pastors live in a manse rent free. 7% live in rented accommodation and 6% live in a manse which they own jointly with the church. 39% live in their own home. Of those living in a manse 23% own a property in which they do not live. Of those living in the manse rent free less than half contributed to internal or external redecoration and repairs.
One way of addressing the housing issue is for the pastor to buy and rent out a property elsewhere in the country. In this way he would have some investment in the property market when he retires.
University education
25% of full-time pastors consider they can afford to provide for their children's education, 33% consider that they cannot afford this. Only 7% have asked for assistance from the church for this matter.
Quite apart from the political point of who should pay for tertiary education, many parents consider it unacceptable for their children to be saddled with student loans that can take years to pay off. Consequently, rather than deny them the opportunity of obtaining a degree, parents try to assist their children financially. The real point is that the pastor's children should not be disadvantaged just because they are children of the manse. They should have the same opportunities as their peers in the church family.
State benefits
11% receive family credit and 5% receive housing benefit.
This is a sensitive subject, but the question must be asked, whether it is Scriptural for the pastor to be so lowly paid that he has to rely on such state benefits.
Church team
Co-pastor - 7% of full-time pastors have a part-time co-pastor and 5% have a full-time co-pastor.
Assistant pastor - 10% of full-time pastors have a part-time assistant and 6% have a full-time assistant.
Student pastor - 10% of full-time pastors have a part-time student pastor.
Administrator - 8% of full-time pastors have the services of a part-time administrator.
Caretaker - 17% of full-time pastors serve in churches where there is a paid part-time caretaker and 1% where there is a full-time caretaker.
Holidays per annum
No holiday - 9%
2 weeks - 2%
3 weeks - 2%
4 weeks - 45%
5 weeks - 28%
>5 weeks - 11%
No answer - 3%
Sundays preaching away
(not including holidays)
No Sundays - 11%
2 Sundays - 1%
3 Sundays - 10%
4 Sundays - 36%
5 Sundays - 7%
>5 Sundays - 32%
No answer - 3%
Preaching fees & travel expenses
´ Highest fee received for a Sunday £150
´ Lowest fee received for a Sunday Minus £26 (i.e. it may have cost him approx. £30 to get there and he was given £5)
´ Average of highest fees - £41
´ Average of lowest fees - £6
´ Travel expenses - always covered 43%
´ Travel expenses - usually covered 49%
´ Travel expenses - rarely covered 2%
´ 94%
´ No response 6%
´ Total 100%
Retirement
64% of full-time pastors believe they will be able to retire at a pensionable age, but 29% believe they will not be able to afford to retire.
There is a worryingly large percentage of pastors in this latter category and this matter should be addressed urgently by church officers.
Comparatives
The following figures may be helpful for churches when assessing their pastor's salary.
The two figures below are minimum salaries and exclude any allowance for the vicarage or manse which is provided rent-free.
Anglican churches - £16,420.00
Baptist Union churches - £15,100.00
Conducted by the Grace Baptist Trust Corporation, relating to Grace Baptist pastors.
