Would A Higher Salary Make Your Job Easier?

It was a feeling of excitement followed by anxiety. My wife and I had just bought our first house, and as we slept in it for the first time, I wondered, “Did we make a mistake?” I’m not a numbers guy, but I was doing my best to calculate our salaries, add up our expenses, and no matter how I looked at it there was no way we could afford our house. The only solution that came to mind was asking my pastor for a raise.

The next morning I shared this idea with my wife. She reassured me that our budget would be tight, but we would be okay. She also reminded me that I couldn’t ask my pastor for a raise because we chose to buy a house. She was right; purchasing a home had nothing to do with my value as an employee. My pastor could always pushback and ask, “Why did you buy a house out of your range?” I had to come to the reality that homeownership can be stressful.

Recently I was asked, “If youth minister’s salaries increase would that reduce the turnover rate we see in churches?”

It’s an interesting question and while I do believe turnover occurs because of a variety of reasons, having a better salary would increase a youth ministry’s production because:

Your Employees Aren’t Worrying About Paying The Bills

Scripture talks about the battle for one’s heart between possessions and God. If you underpay your staff, then they are always worried about debt and paying bills. A better salary (with proper budgeting) takes those worries away.

There Is No Need For Side Hustles

If your full-time youth minister is working another job, it probably isn’t because they are torn between two passions. Having a side job to pay the bills will not only take them away from ministry but eat up time off when they can recoupe.

An Investment Given Is An Investment Returned

When a church gives an employee a pay increase, it says, “You are worth the investment.” Many time people leave their positions because they don’t know if their employer cares.

Will increased salaries reduce turnover? A little bit, but to even change that reality is tough because budgets are tight for churches, but it doesn’t mean you can’t get creative. If you can’t  increase the paycheck but want to show your employees value consider the following:

• Growing vacation
• Allow for telecommuting
• Partner with parishioners who could provide perks (e.g., gym memberships)
• Buy staff lunch on a weekly or monthly basis

At the same time, begin looking at how you talk to your congregation about money. Do they know that you can’t pay your staff the salary they need? Are you educating them on financial giving? If you are a pastor, don’t carry the burden on your own.

We shouldn’t be scared to ask our pastors for raises, but we also need to know when that’s appropriate. To set yourself up for success, make sure you:

Understand The Church’s Budget

Your church has a system when it comes to managing money. To learn more about your church’s budget, sit down with your pastor, finance, or business manager, and ask questions about giving, income, and expenditures. Learn when the budget is prepared so that you know when to make the ask.

For example, you wouldn’t want to ask right after a new fiscal year because the budget is done. You also want to get an idea for its financial health. If offertory is down, it’s going to seem insensitive if you ask for a raise. By knowing the budget, it allows you to seem prudent with your ask.

Ask Out Of Value And Not Need

It’s okay to ask for a raise when you are in need, but make sure it’s not the only reason. The reason you have a salary is that you bring value to the parish. You need to clarify what that value is and why you need an increase.

To figure out your value, you can compare what you do to other youth ministers or research salaries for non-profit volunteer coordinators or project managers. You also need to show what you’ve done since you’ve been with the church. What goals and initiatives beyond the usual expectations have you reached?

Seek Financial Advice

If managing money is something you find difficult, then look for assistance within your parish. There might be someone who is a financial advisor or an accountant who can give you advice or even help you set up the best practices. When you can find someone to help you manage your finances, it can eliminate some of the angst that comes with being underpaid.

If you are looking for a six-figure salary, the ministry might not be the best place to start. There is a portion of sacrifice, but not to the point it’s making it hard to focus on what God is calling us to do.

What are your thoughts and comments? Share below.