If I remember correctly, Jon Lovitz used to do a regular skit on Saturday Night Live featuring a very whiny guy who, upon proposing some horrible idea, would follow it with, "is that so wrong?" (I tried googling this but the SNL archives online are pretty limited.) At any rate, there's a reason I feel a bit like said character today.
In the Lutheran system, here's how the call process works: the pastor goes through an interview; if the call committee chooses that person then they propose that name at a congregational meeting; the congregation votes to extend the call; then the pastor has 30 days to consider his/her response. So far, so good. We're currently in the purgatory between call committee recommendation and congregational vote.
And in this purgatory is the special hell of package negotiations. When I accepted my first call, here's how that process went for me:
1. I receive official letter of call from Current Congregation.
2. I notice that Current Congregation is planning to pay me, you know, ANYTHING.
3. I think about student loans starting repayment in six months.
4. I pray for, oh, thirty seconds.
5. I sign on dotted line and say yes. I am genuinely excited about doing ministry with Current Congregation. I am also delighted by the prospect of any salary at all. And benefits, too! I'm rich.
Now I'm married. And we have a house. And Beloved has a job. And those two latter things, plus all our friendships and family in this place, will be pulled up by the roots if we move. And we will move into a much higher-cost housing market. All of which means I need to be a little more savvy when it comes to negotiating a salary for this potential new call.
Is that so wrong? Because half of me thinks it is, and the other half thinks that's how a lot of pastors let themselves get in a financial hole.
This is something they don't teach you in seminary. And I hate that phrase, generally, because a lot of people blame all their shortcomings on the seminary, as if any educational institution could ever teach you absolutely everything you need to know. Ask any business person with an MBA or even doctor with an MD: you won't learn everything in school. Get over it.
Nevertheless...how do you balance responsible finances with Jesus' call to give up everything and take up the cross and follow? My brain tells me that asking for a salary appropriate to my experience and education is not a bad thing. My heart worries about being too demanding and self-centered.
Yet another wrinkle in an increasingly complicated pattern. Yet more on which I can fixate my anxiety - and not in a good way. Meanwhile, the six confirmands are preparing their statements of faith for Sunday and, you know what? They're really good. Those kids were six years old when I came to this congregation. I can't believe they're in high school.
I always thought that taking a new call would be a clearer process. That I would just know what to do in every situation. Life isn't like that. Is that so wrong?
Not as Digital as I Thought
1 day ago
5 comments:
o.k., i know nothing about how to do this. i share your issues (as usual).
but i do know this. you should absolutely ask for what you need to live on wherever you'll be- even if that feels high. you should absolutely be paid commensurate with your significant gifts and experience. you should be paid something that resembles parity with the head of staff (this is an associate position, right?) And you should be wary of them assuming they don't have to pay you as much because you're married. Be aware. And don't be afraid to counter offer if necessary.
That's probably not helpful.
Pulling for you, dear one.
oh, and NOT WRONG.
I would simply echo what MoreCows says: you should be clear about what you need. And you should be clear if an offer is not enough to live on. It's irresponsible to your family to take less than will enable you to live in this new, more expensive market.
And... I share these issues as well. Much easier to counsel someone than to do it myself.
Peace,
Mags
In my tradition, there are very specific guidelines about experience, years of ordination, etc. which aren't really based on whether the position is associate or senior. I suppose your denomination does, too. In any case, negotiate. Negotiate. I agree with More Cows. Negotiate. Absolutely. Yesterday, my clergy group were talking about how in many Jewish congregations, rabbis have someone to negotiate for them. How cool is that?
Peace and prayers to you.
I will face the same problem if I get the theology teaching job I'm interviewing for.
In academia it is very standard for women to be offered less, paid less, negotiate less, etc. than comparably qualified men. I know that and yet I don't know how I will negotiate when it gets down to it (I don't have a permanent position now, and the market is way tight, so I have less leverage on both counts. But I guess by the time you get the offer they are pretty invested in you and don't want to do a full year search so you have some leeway).
Don't know if it's the same in the church but I bet so, and that women are more likely to need encouragement to expect what they have earned than to get all greedy and materialistic. So stay strong and go for it and we will uphold you in prayer.
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