Reviewing the Church Finance & Administration Guide for the USA I noted that the cash salary percentile chart is not included. Will it be included in the guide for Canada. The data on the percentile chart is very helpful in reviewing / establishing start and end points of salary grids. Thank you. Lubbert van der Laan
I’ve had an opportunity to review the 2022 report and have 2 questions:
Pensions: Did the per member cost decrease from $37.20 from $42.96 and with the base starting at $7,704 for 207 members rather than $9,840 for 229 members, or are the former numbers for the USA Pension Plan?
Total Cash Salary: Why is the quartile chart 2022 the same as the one for 2021?
Since I prepare an annual compensation report, it would be helpful to understand the rationale for aligning the Canadian pension assessment with the US assessment to when the report is presented at the Personnel Committee and Council.
Secondly, I would appreciate if the 2021 Quartile Salary Chart in the Report be updated to include the 2022 data. The information is pertinent as guideline to reviewing the pastor's salary grid, but more so as the church starts a recruitment process due to a retirement. Can I be emailed the data?
In the authors's question, "How can the church become unified with the world without being corrupted by it, without setting God’s Word aside?" doesn't he direct you to to the answer you are looking for?
The second part of his sentence is indicative of the concerns articulated in your scriptural quotations. What you are looking for would appear to be articulated in the following paragraph, "What did Paul, Silas and Timothy do? What did other church leaders in the Old and New Testaments do? The answers are in God’s Word. Perhaps review Acts, an epistle or two, consider John 13:35 and Matthew 28:16-20."
Is it possible that you are reading something into the article that is not there; or is not related to the focus of article?
Nowhere in the article does the author argue that the Body of Christ can be "unified with the world." Secondly, the author provides specific parts of scripture as a guide to how to relate to the world "and fellow christians" in their brokenness from our Lord and Saviour.
Though one can appreciate the COD / Canadian Ministries is working to address the alignment of CRC ministries with CRA / charity legislation – key to understanding developments on this matter are the reservations that have been expressed in communications to Synod 2020, but also in the Banner, Network, etc. To-date Canadian Ministries / COD has dismissed those expressed reservations.
Now reservations are being expressed by a number of classes that the COD / CRCNA Canada Corp. / Canadian Ministries is operating outside of the parameters of Church Order as an appointed body of Synod, the oversight assembly. One might argue that the COD / CRCNA Canada Corp. / Canadian Ministries is appropriating “deliberative” functions that more properly belong with delegates at Synod, as one of three “assemblies” of the CRCNA. In particular see:
Postma, Gayla R. “Classis Watch: Fall 2020” Banner 2020-12-08
Classis Toronto will send a request to Synod 2021 to halt all proceedings related to the administrative restructuring of the Canadian CRCNA churches “as the actions taken by Canadian representatives serving on the denomination’s Council of Delegates and the CRCNA’s Canada Corporation are in violation of Church Order Article 27(a) and Article 28(c).” Classis Alberta South & Saskatchewan will send a similar request, as “such a move is unnecessary as the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) has not communicated that the CRCNA Canada is in violation of current tax law.”
My comments assume there is some missing information that might be helpful in providing an answer. The question indicates that the church is "technically" vacant, as per Church Order, even though it has two pastors. My assumption is that these pastors are not yet ordained CRC pastors. As such, the classis to which the church belongs should have assigned a church counselor to provide advice on the calling of a pastor; and classical pulpit supply, if requested by the church to deal with baptisms, communion, etc. I would recommend your church council contact the appointed church counselor to seek their advice on how to more forward on this matter. Alternatively, classis is also required to appoint church visitors to each church for advice and counsel. Your church council could also seek their advice.
Rather than addressing the question of "membership" directly with a scriptural reference, I would like to suggest that there is a problem with the "Safe Church Policy" if a principal requirement is "membership in the church." What constitutes membership?
1. baptized;
2. completed profession of faith, but under 18;
3. active professing member, over 18;
4. inactive professing member; or
5. lapsed member.
Is a baptized child a member in the sense of being an "active professing member," i.e. one who has made profession of faith; has full voting rights at congregational meetings; can stand for office, etc. Do members in #2. & 3.- #5. meet the former criteria, even if they are membership categories. One might still want #2. - #3. to participate in the life of the church where the Safe Church Policy applies.
Secondly, can you think of a situation where someone might be worshipping with you for a short or longer period from another denomination who holds their membership where enfolding them into the membership of the Body of Christ on an interim basis only makes sense.
A Safe Church Policy should non-discriminatory in applying to members and non-members alike.
I hope this take on the issue is of some assistance.
PS Maybe there's a deeper story behind the stance on membership. Personally, I know of someone who did not transfer their membership from their previous church due hurts arising in the former church and saw membership as problematic but wanted to be part of a worshipping community.
Posted in: Updated 2025 Church Administration & Finance Guide for US and Canada
Thank you for posting the Canadian 2024-205 report.
Posted in: Updated 2025 Church Administration & Finance Guide for US and Canada
Hi Kristen...
Reviewing the Church Finance & Administration Guide for the USA I noted that the cash salary percentile chart is not included. Will it be included in the guide for Canada. The data on the percentile chart is very helpful in reviewing / establishing start and end points of salary grids. Thank you. Lubbert van der Laan
Posted in: Updated 2025 Church Administration & Finance Guide for US and Canada
Hello…
I’ve had an opportunity to review the 2022 report and have 2 questions:
Pensions: Did the per member cost decrease from $37.20 from $42.96 and with the base starting at $7,704 for 207 members rather than $9,840 for 229 members, or are the former numbers for the USA Pension Plan?
Total Cash Salary: Why is the quartile chart 2022 the same as the one for 2021?
Yours in Christ,
Lubbert
********
Lubbert van der Laan, Clerk, Council,
Trinity Christian Reformed Church
Posted in: Updated 2025 Church Administration & Finance Guide for US and Canada
Hi Majorie...
Since I prepare an annual compensation report, it would be helpful to understand the rationale for aligning the Canadian pension assessment with the US assessment to when the report is presented at the Personnel Committee and Council.
Secondly, I would appreciate if the 2021 Quartile Salary Chart in the Report be updated to include the 2022 data. The information is pertinent as guideline to reviewing the pastor's salary grid, but more so as the church starts a recruitment process due to a retirement. Can I be emailed the data?
Posted in: Updated 2025 Church Administration & Finance Guide for US and Canada
Hi Marjorie...
Thank you. Appreciated. I'll do that.
Lubbert
Posted in: Unity with Questions
Hi Eric...
Isn't the object of the article asking Christ followers to focus on the "great commission?"
Posted in: Unity with Questions
In the authors's question, "How can the church become unified with the world without being corrupted by it, without setting God’s Word aside?" doesn't he direct you to to the answer you are looking for?
The second part of his sentence is indicative of the concerns articulated in your scriptural quotations. What you are looking for would appear to be articulated in the following paragraph, "What did Paul, Silas and Timothy do? What did other church leaders in the Old and New Testaments do? The answers are in God’s Word. Perhaps review Acts, an epistle or two, consider John 13:35 and Matthew 28:16-20."
Posted in: Unity with Questions
Hi Eric...
Is it possible that you are reading something into the article that is not there; or is not related to the focus of article?
Nowhere in the article does the author argue that the Body of Christ can be "unified with the world." Secondly, the author provides specific parts of scripture as a guide to how to relate to the world "and fellow christians" in their brokenness from our Lord and Saviour.
Posted in: Unity with Questions
Hi David...
Thank you. Appreciated.
Lubbert
Posted in: Recording: Town Hall for Christian Reformed Canadians
Though one can appreciate the COD / Canadian Ministries is working to address the alignment of CRC ministries with CRA / charity legislation – key to understanding developments on this matter are the reservations that have been expressed in communications to Synod 2020, but also in the Banner, Network, etc. To-date Canadian Ministries / COD has dismissed those expressed reservations.
Now reservations are being expressed by a number of classes that the COD / CRCNA Canada Corp. / Canadian Ministries is operating outside of the parameters of Church Order as an appointed body of Synod, the oversight assembly. One might argue that the COD / CRCNA Canada Corp. / Canadian Ministries is appropriating “deliberative” functions that more properly belong with delegates at Synod, as one of three “assemblies” of the CRCNA. In particular see:
Postma, Gayla R. “Classis Watch: Fall 2020” Banner 2020-12-08
https://www.thebanner.org/news/2020/12/classis-watch-fall-2020
Classis Toronto will send a request to Synod 2021 to halt all proceedings related to the administrative restructuring of the Canadian CRCNA churches “as the actions taken by Canadian representatives serving on the denomination’s Council of Delegates and the CRCNA’s Canada Corporation are in violation of Church Order Article 27(a) and Article 28(c).” Classis Alberta South & Saskatchewan will send a similar request, as “such a move is unnecessary as the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) has not communicated that the CRCNA Canada is in violation of current tax law.”
Posted in: Who Can Conduct Baptisms in the CRC?
Good afternoon...
My comments assume there is some missing information that might be helpful in providing an answer. The question indicates that the church is "technically" vacant, as per Church Order, even though it has two pastors. My assumption is that these pastors are not yet ordained CRC pastors. As such, the classis to which the church belongs should have assigned a church counselor to provide advice on the calling of a pastor; and classical pulpit supply, if requested by the church to deal with baptisms, communion, etc. I would recommend your church council contact the appointed church counselor to seek their advice on how to more forward on this matter. Alternatively, classis is also required to appoint church visitors to each church for advice and counsel. Your church council could also seek their advice.
Posted in: Biblical Foundation for Membership?
Rather than addressing the question of "membership" directly with a scriptural reference, I would like to suggest that there is a problem with the "Safe Church Policy" if a principal requirement is "membership in the church." What constitutes membership?
1. baptized;
2. completed profession of faith, but under 18;
3. active professing member, over 18;
4. inactive professing member; or
5. lapsed member.
Is a baptized child a member in the sense of being an "active professing member," i.e. one who has made profession of faith; has full voting rights at congregational meetings; can stand for office, etc. Do members in #2. & 3.- #5. meet the former criteria, even if they are membership categories. One might still want #2. - #3. to participate in the life of the church where the Safe Church Policy applies.
Secondly, can you think of a situation where someone might be worshipping with you for a short or longer period from another denomination who holds their membership where enfolding them into the membership of the Body of Christ on an interim basis only makes sense.
A Safe Church Policy should non-discriminatory in applying to members and non-members alike.
I hope this take on the issue is of some assistance.
PS Maybe there's a deeper story behind the stance on membership. Personally, I know of someone who did not transfer their membership from their previous church due hurts arising in the former church and saw membership as problematic but wanted to be part of a worshipping community.