Definitely Ron. We desperately need a grid including volunteer experience. And we need to communicate that grid effectively to churches. In my experience churches are not aware of any such grid and are completely lost as to what youth pastors/directors should be paid. There should be a pension plan and health benefits put in place. Especially if they are commissioned as they are then submitted to the denomination. Churches should be required to follow the grid as a minimum requirement. We could learn a lot From the PAOC and the CBOQ on this. The PAOC youth pastor in my area had a pension plan and health benefits as soon as he was credentialed and it changed when he got ordained. It doesn't have to be the same as minister of the word but something should be there for commissioned pastors and support staff who have been recognized by the denomination.
I think there are too many youth directors who have not gotten commissioned or signaled their commitment to the denomination meaning they have no protection or recognition from the denomination. Either all youth workers should be encouraged to be commissioned pastors as support staff or we need a Credentialing process which requires training and reflection what it means to be a part of the CRCNA. Perhaps a separate ordination or certification for support staff and youth pastors should be made in order to ensure a theological unity between church and staff and a credible support from the denomination?
This has long been my frustration with the CRCNA. We don't have a framework for support staff. Commissioned Pastor has been used as a "catch all" for support staff but I wasn't made aware of it until year 5 and i wasn't pushed to pursue it because people are confused by it. I also think Youth Pastors should have theological training whether it be formal and provided by a university or Bible college or simply provided as a discipleship process through the denomination.
A possible reason there is no grid yet is because youth directors have no accountability or connection with the denomination. Churches can do what they want to person if they are just being hired like any other job.
I hope my reflections are not perceived as a discontentment with the CRCNA or bitterness. I love this denomination but I am excited to see it grow in this area.
As a youth Pastor who is newly commissioned this is a difficult question. Though I believe there is a significant pay gap between ministers of the word and youth directors or commissioned youth pastors, I believe there can also be a significant education gap between the two roles that justifies this pay gap. In evangelical circles a lead pastor is responsible for more of the administration, leadership and vision of the church and as a result they are paid more even when their education is identical to the youth pastor they supervise. In the crc, in many cases, both the youth pastor and the minister of the word answer to council who is charged to lead, do administration , and vision. I think that in an ideal world the minister of the word and the youth director, if they have similar amounts of education and experience should be paid a similar amount if they work a similar amount of hours (in my case I would say I work as much as the other two pastors in my church and I am out about the same amount of nights). Especially because there is a similar amount of responsibility on the part of both parties with the minister of the word making a bit more because of the greater group of people he or she is responsible for. I would love to see the gap narrow but I won't deny that it takes a lot to become a minister of the word and it depends on the specific church model and the responsibilities assigned to each pastor.
Posted in: How Much Should We Pay Our Youth Directors/Pastors?
Definitely Ron. We desperately need a grid including volunteer experience. And we need to communicate that grid effectively to churches. In my experience churches are not aware of any such grid and are completely lost as to what youth pastors/directors should be paid. There should be a pension plan and health benefits put in place. Especially if they are commissioned as they are then submitted to the denomination. Churches should be required to follow the grid as a minimum requirement. We could learn a lot From the PAOC and the CBOQ on this. The PAOC youth pastor in my area had a pension plan and health benefits as soon as he was credentialed and it changed when he got ordained. It doesn't have to be the same as minister of the word but something should be there for commissioned pastors and support staff who have been recognized by the denomination.
I think there are too many youth directors who have not gotten commissioned or signaled their commitment to the denomination meaning they have no protection or recognition from the denomination. Either all youth workers should be encouraged to be commissioned pastors as support staff or we need a Credentialing process which requires training and reflection what it means to be a part of the CRCNA. Perhaps a separate ordination or certification for support staff and youth pastors should be made in order to ensure a theological unity between church and staff and a credible support from the denomination?
This has long been my frustration with the CRCNA. We don't have a framework for support staff. Commissioned Pastor has been used as a "catch all" for support staff but I wasn't made aware of it until year 5 and i wasn't pushed to pursue it because people are confused by it. I also think Youth Pastors should have theological training whether it be formal and provided by a university or Bible college or simply provided as a discipleship process through the denomination.
A possible reason there is no grid yet is because youth directors have no accountability or connection with the denomination. Churches can do what they want to person if they are just being hired like any other job.
I hope my reflections are not perceived as a discontentment with the CRCNA or bitterness. I love this denomination but I am excited to see it grow in this area.
Posted in: How Much Should We Pay Our Youth Directors/Pastors?
As a youth Pastor who is newly commissioned this is a difficult question. Though I believe there is a significant pay gap between ministers of the word and youth directors or commissioned youth pastors, I believe there can also be a significant education gap between the two roles that justifies this pay gap. In evangelical circles a lead pastor is responsible for more of the administration, leadership and vision of the church and as a result they are paid more even when their education is identical to the youth pastor they supervise. In the crc, in many cases, both the youth pastor and the minister of the word answer to council who is charged to lead, do administration , and vision. I think that in an ideal world the minister of the word and the youth director, if they have similar amounts of education and experience should be paid a similar amount if they work a similar amount of hours (in my case I would say I work as much as the other two pastors in my church and I am out about the same amount of nights). Especially because there is a similar amount of responsibility on the part of both parties with the minister of the word making a bit more because of the greater group of people he or she is responsible for. I would love to see the gap narrow but I won't deny that it takes a lot to become a minister of the word and it depends on the specific church model and the responsibilities assigned to each pastor.