Layton, UT – The 2022 UISBC Pastor’s Conference featured Dr. Ray Van Neste, dean of the School of Theology and Missions at Union University, as the primary speaker. Dr. Van Neste led pastors through four exhortations based on 1 Corinthians 15 and the book of 2 Timothy. The title of each address encapsulates the thrust of these exhortations: Brothers, Hold Fast; Brothers, Be Bold; Brothers, Seek God’s Approval; Brothers, Fulfill Your Ministry. In addition to the messages, Zach and Andrew Thompson, members of Christ Fellowship Church of Utah County, led the gathering in worship. The conference had over 60 pre-register with even more attending on the day of the event.
The conference also included electing the President of the Pastor’s Conference for 2023 and 2024. Clint Henry, pastor of Central Valley Baptist Church, and Charles Cutrera, pastor of Mountain View Baptist Church, were elected as presidents of the 2023 and 2024 Pastors Conferences respectively. The entirety of the 2022 UISBC Pastor’s Conference can be streamed on demand from Mountain View Baptist Church’s YouTube page or by following this link.
Draper, UT – An oversight in the scheduling of this year’s Annual Meeting in Layton, we failed to recognize the families of those in our Utah Idaho SBC who have graduated to heaven this past year. We regret that slide failed to be shown and wanted to recognize them here. We pray for the three families of these treasured saints and are thankful for their years of contributions they gave in our convention faithfully serving with grace and dignity.
from Baptist Press, published Monday, October 18, 2021
DALLAS (BP) – Many churches could give their pastor a pay raise, and it wouldn’t cost the church an extra dime, said O.S. Hawkins, president of GuideStone Financial Resources. How? Simply by changing the structure of his salary and benefits.
A hypothetical pastor, with annual total compensation of $65,000, could see his take-home pay rise by almost 20 percent, net of taxes, by applying a salary and benefits approach rather than a package approach.
“These aren’t loopholes,” Hawkins said. “This is the proper use of tax law, as intended, to provide employee benefits to the pastor and other ministers for tax purposes on a church staff. In this manner, it’s following the best practices recommended by most accountants, business managers and others. Essentially, it is what most business owners provide for their employees.”
As churches seek to celebrate and honor their pastor during Pastor Appreciation Month, and as they think toward next year’s budget, now is a great time to review not just what the church pays but how the church pays it.
In a package approach, the church sets aside an amount of money to pay the pastor and then tasks the pastor with delegating money for housing, insurance, retirement contributions, SECA taxes and more. This distorts what the pastor actually earns to provide for his family.
In a salary and benefits approach, the church pays for any insurance – medical, life and disability – and makes contributions to a retirement plan. Money is set aside for housing allowance for ministers for tax purposes. A SECA offset is made available to help pastors who must pay both the employee and employer part of Social Security. Finally, the cash salary is calculated.
The church could pay the same total amount in both the package approach and the salary and benefits approach, but the full package amount is taxable for the minister. In contrast, in the compensation plan, only the cash salary is taxable.
“It’s important that churches look at their local community to determine an appropriate salary for the pastor,” said GuideStone President-elect Hance Dilbeck. “Consider other pastors or other professionals in the community who have similar education, credentials and responsibility in determining an appropriate salary and benefits package.”
Restructuring his salary package could be an easy way for a church show its appreciation for its pastor.
“At GuideStone, we consider it our sacred responsibility and joy to be an advocate for the scores of thousands of God-called pastors we serve,” Hawkins said. “It is right; it is biblical. Churches are called to provide for those who labor in the word and doctrine.”
To aid churches in their quest to be the best stewards and providers for their pastors, GuideStone provides a free Compensation Planning Guide and other compensation resources at www.GuideStone.org/CompensationPlanning. Additionally, Hawkins offers a chapter on pastor’s pay and benefits in a free e-book, The Pastor’s Primer, available for download at www.OSHawkins.com/books.
“We want to continue to be a resource for churches as they seek to do right by their pastors in the areas of benefits and compensation,” Dilbeck said. “The best practices outlined in GuideStone’s Compensation Planning resources will help churches on that path.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ROY HAYHURST
Roy Hayhurst is director of denominational and public relations services for GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Read All by Roy Hayhurst ›
Layton, UT – The 2022 UISBC Pastor’s Conference featured Dr. Ray Van Neste, dean of the School of Theology and Missions at Union University, as the primary speaker. Dr. Van Neste led pastors through four exhortations based on 1 Corinthians 15 and the book of 2 Timothy. The title of each address encapsulates the thrust of these exhortations: Brothers, Hold Fast; Brothers, Be Bold; Brothers, Seek God’s Approval; Brothers, Fulfill Your Ministry. In addition to the messages, Zach and Andrew Thompson, members of Christ Fellowship Church of Utah County, led the gathering in worship. The conference had over 60 pre-register with even more attending on the day of the event.
