September 29, 2007

 

TO:                  Pastors and Clerks of Session

FROM:            Catherine Blacka, Chair of Committee on Ministry

RE:                   Remuneration for 2008

 

Greetings to you in the name of Christ!

 

Here is the information on remuneration for pastors for 2008.  As you probably know, the Presbytery of Baltimore uses a factoring system for determining clergy salaries.  This system of evaluating the requirements of a position produces a base salary for every position in the Presbytery.  The factor for each position is determined at the same time that the Church Information Form is approved, and it remains in force for the length of the ensuing ministry unless a Session requests a revision according to changes in the position description.

 

The base salary determines the minimum salary (80% of the base salary) and the maximum salary (120% of base salary).  A basic premise of this system is that a new minister shall not receive less than the minimum salary and that the church should work towards reaching the base salary by the fifth year of ministry.  A church should not exceed 120% of the base salary regardless of how long a pastor has held the position.  This salary range provides room for churches to recognize merit.

 

Each year the church and minister are required to report changes in the Terms of Call to the Presbytery for its assent as well as to the Board of Pensions so that the pension dues may be adjusted. The Presbytery Form is enclosed. Both the Presbytery Form and the Board of Pensions Form are available on the Presbytery’s website, www.baltimorepresbytery.org.  We ask that you report to the Presbytery by December 31, 2007 and that you report to the Board of Pensions within 30 days of the change in the Terms.

 

At its September meeting the Presbytery approved a 2.05% increase in the factoring table. This figure is based on the Consumer Price Index for the northeast region of the United States. This means that base salaries (and therefore minimums and maximums) will increase by 2.05%.

 

At the time of writing this memo, the following is also in force:

Current IRS standard mileage rate per mile                                58.5 cents

            Minimum Continuing Education Allowance for 2008      $1,000

Pension/Medical dues for 2008 based on effective salary           31.5%

                                                                                                           

If you have any questions, please contact Judi Forrester or Peter Nord at the Presbytery Office (410-433-2012) or me at my home telephone (410-531-4910) or by email at cblacka@firstpreshc.org.