Indiana Yearly Meeting
Expectations for full-time, part-time, and pulpit supply pastoral service
2016-2017
Full-time Pastoral Ministry: Full-time commitment to ministry in the local meeting, with no other outside employment needed to provide adequate financial support for the pastor
Training/educationalrequirements / o Seminary training or equivalent
o Recorded Friends minister of enter recording process within two years after arriving in IYM
o Continuing personal/professional education for ministry
Typical duties
in the local meeting / o Preaching/leading worship every week
o Close cooperation with local Ministry & Oversight
o Spiritual care of members and attenders
o Community outreach
o Calling and visitation with individuals and families
o Officiating at weddings and funerals
o Encouraging all aspects of the meeting’s life and work
o Specific duties/expectations as agreed with the meeting
o Average of 35 or 40 hours a week, with one full day off per week
Typical duties
in the yearly meeting / o Attend Indiana Yearly Meeting sessions (this is not vacation time!)
o Be actively informed on IYM program and missions
o Serve on an IYM committee
Recommended
financial support / o Equal to or exceeding a first-year teacher’s salary in your local public high school (The Indiana average for 2016 was over $34,000.)
o Housing allowance of parsonage and utilities (see note on page 3)
o 50% of Social Security (applies to both salary and housing/parsonage allowance)
o Allowance for attending conferences and retreats ($500 recommended minimum)
o Reimbursement for professional expenses: books, stationary, hospitality, travel allowance of mileage (2017 rate is 54 cents per mile) etc. as agreed with meeting
Recommended
benefits / o Health insurance – preferably paid directly to the provider to prevent the pastor being taxed on that amount as if it were income
o Health care reimbursement plan for non-deductible expenses
o Two weeks of paid vacation annually during first two years of service; three weeks of paid vacation during years three through seven; four weeks of paid vacation thereafter (based on pastor’s cumulative years in full-time service, not just on years at any one meeting)
o Retirement allowance (10% of base salary)
Part-time Pastoral Ministry: 15 to 35 hours/week, with the likelihood that the pastor will need to find additional income from an outside source such as another job, spouse’s employment, pension income, etc.
Training/educationalrequirements / o At least some formal education at the college level in ministry (Bible, theology, other specialized courses)
o Completion of two introductory seminars provided annually by IYM:
a. IYM Faith & Practice
b. Friends history and polity (not required if a person is recorded in another yearly meeting or if the General Superintendent deems it unnecessary for an incoming pastor)
Typical duties
in the local meeting / o Minimum of 15 hours/week (less is considered pulpit supply)
o Visitation on a limited basis, especially in crisis or major illness
o Officiating at weddings and funerals
o Encouraging all aspects of the meeting’s life and work
o Specific duties/expectations as agreed with the meeting
Typical duties
in the yearly meeting / o Attend Indiana Yearly Meeting sessions (this is not vacation time!)
o Be actively informed on IYM program and missions
o Serve on an IYM committee (time and interest permitting)
Recommended financial support / o Base salary on a pro rata basis tied to the IYM recommended minimum salary, divided by the average amount of time expected each week. For example, if a full-time pastor is expected to work 2,000 hours per year, then $34,000 divided by 2,000 = $17.00 per hour. A part-time pastor working 20 hours/week would be paid 20 x $17.00 or $340 per week
o If a parsonage is provided, the cash salary may be reduced, but care should be taken that the pastor’s other financial needs are not neglected (see note on page 3)
Recommended benefits / o Financial benefits (health insurance, retirement) on a pro rata basis tied to the average amount of time expected each week; for example, an expectation of 20 hours/week should mean 50% minimum financial contribution by the meeting towards the cost of health insurance
o Two weeks of paid vacation annually
Pulpit Supply Ministry: Less than 15 hours per week, with reimbursement on an hourly or per diem basis
Training/educationalrequirements / o At least some formal education at the college level in ministry (Bible, theology, other specialized courses)
Typical duties
in the local meeting / o Preaching
o Officiating at weddings and funerals as needed
Typical duties in the
yearly meeting / o None expected, but always welcome
Recommended
financial support / o Minimum $170 per week (based on $17.00 per hour and expecting ten hours for sermon preparation, travel time, and being present for all of Sunday morning)
o Service at weddings and funerals often requires considerable extra time and should be compensated
o If the pulpit supply arrangement continues for more than three months, it should be formalized by an agreement approved by Monthly Meeting for Business
Recommended benefits / o None expected, but always welcome
General Notes
Formal agreement
o IYM M&O recommends that meetings consider using the standard pastoral agreement (available from the Yearly Meeting office)
o Whether or not the standard pastoral agreement is used, a formal agreement should be prepared in writing, approved by Monthly Meeting for Business, and signed by the pastor, the clerk of Monthly Meeting, and the clerk of Ministry and Oversight
o IYM M&O also recommends the IYM Handbook for Elders and Pastors, and Chapter VI in IYM Faith and Practice, both available from the Yearly Meeting office
Parsonage vs. housing allowance
o If a housing allowance is provided, the amount must be approved each year in a separate minute by Monthly Meeting for Business, and a copy of the minute must be provided for the pastor’s tax records
o The pastor must pay 15.3% self-employment tax on the rental value of the parsonage plus utilities; this amount must be set by an experienced real estate person for the pastor’s tax records
Tax advice
o IYM M&O recommends the Income Tax Guide for Ministers by B. J. Worth. Pastors may also wish to consider having their taxes prepared by a professional, or at least use a tax preparation program, to make sure that their tax returns are in order, as the IRS audits pastors more frequently than the general population
Records
o The pastoral salary, including all benefits and reimbursement, needs to be entered into the minutes of the Monthly Meeting and/or minutes of the committee that establishes the support package. Records of salary and benefits are required by the IRS and are essential in case of a tax audit. B.J. Worth’s Income Tax Guide for Ministers has clear instructions for recording this information