Last week someone requested information on how a church puts together a "package" when calling a minister. I knew I had used a form from the denomination previously and went on a quest to find it. The "Letter of Call" is available on the CRC website. Sometimes churches forget all the costs involved with a call to a new minister, and this sample is certainly helpful in preparing that Letter of Call.
I was intrigued by the sentence below the delineation of costs: "We also promise and oblige ourselves to review with you annually in the light of the synodical Ministers' Compensation Guidelines the adequacy of this compensation prior to the adoption of the church budget..." Since our office recently sent out a disability salary survey to pastors for 2009 and after the new year will again send out a salary survey for 2011 salary information, I am reminded how important it is that the denomination receives accurate salary information from each church so we can analyze the data and assist the churches in providing updated annual compensation information. Thanks, pastors, for answering salary information twice but I hope you see the value (and difference) of both surveys.
Has your church used the "Letter of Call?" I'm also wondering how you budget the business expenses in automobile expenses, other travel, continuing education, and hospitality. Do you have a line item in your budget and the pastor submits receipts to obtain reimbursement for these expenses? Or do you give your pastor an automobile and continuing education allowance that is not handled through expense reimbursement?
