Compensation Standards

At the 2022 Synod Assembly, a thorough revision to the Compensation Standards was overwhelmingly approved by the assembly. The 2022 Compensation Standards included for the first time a worksheet to assist with the calculations – and in 2023 this work expanded to providing three different worksheets to address different scenarios: for new calls, for continuing calls, and for congregations with a parsonage.

In 2024 a proposal for changing the timing of setting the baseline salary was presented to and approved by the Synod Assembly. In prior years, the baseline salary was adjusted based on the Social Security Administration’s Cost of Living Increase (COLA) that had been set the previous fall. This had the effect that compensation typically lagged a year behind. The Compensation Standards approved in 2024 specify that the baseline salary for 2025 will be set by the Synod Council after the COLA is announced in October. As soon as that baseline salary is set, adjustments will be made to the Compensation Standards document and the accompanying worksheets.
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The expectation is that congregations will use the current Compensation Standards document and appropriate worksheet whenever calling a pastor or deacon and when reviewing compensation for the next year.
If you have any questions about the Compensation Standards, please contact Pastor Mitch Phillips, Assistant to the Bishop for Leadership: [email protected]

An Introduction & Background to the Compensation Standards (2022):