PCA Process on modifying the pastor's call

[LighthouseAttendant]

What is the PCA process on modifying the pastor's call to increase his salary?

In year's past we have seen a budget presentation with the pastor's salary listed on it, then the pastor and family leave the room while the remaining congregation discuss and vote to approve that number.

But shouldn't the entire call, with all details of insurance and vacation, be circulated to the congregation? Are we voting on the entire call?

 

[iainduguid]

As I understand it, in the PCA the Session is responsible for the budget, not the congregation. The congregation votes to adopt it as a whole (after all, they are going to be paying for it), but they don't have a line by line veto. Of course, if there are particular concerns, I would ask a Session member ahead of time, and if necessary raise the issue at the congregational meeting. But the outcome would potentially be sending the budget back to the Session to reconsider, not making changes at the congregational meeting.

It's also true that pastoral pay is a bit of an oddity compared to a regular job, so a Session would be wise to explain some of those things. Part of his salary may be a housing allowance, in recognition of the fact that his job requires extensive hospitality (which has tax benefits). The pastor is responsible for more of his social security contributions than a regular employee. And his study leave is not extra vacation time. But it's fair game to ask questions about these things and expect answers. If I was making a presentation, I'd probably list the pastor's salary + housing allowance rather than the total cost of his package (including health insurance, retirement, etc) because it is the closest comparison to what ordinary people make. Sometimes I've seen the whole cost listed as if it were salary, which makes it seem like he's making a lot more than he actually is.

 

[Edward]

Approving the budget (including the salaries) is the function of the session in the PCA BCO 12-5 (b).
" to examine the records of the proceedings ofthe deacons; to approve and adopt the budget;"

Spending, on the other hand, is the function of the Deacons (PCA BCO 9-2)

Under the section on Congregational Meetings, there is this for churches that are incorporated:

"All funds collected for the support and expense of the church and forthe benevolent purposes of the church shall be controlled and disbursed by the Session and the Board of Deacons as their relative authorities may from timeto time be established and defined." (BCO 27-7)

So the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws can't reserve powers granted to the Session and Diaconate under the BCO to the members of the corporation (the members).

In short, the congreation shouldn't be voting on the budget at all, including the salaries.

 

[LighthouseAttendant]

Approving the budget (including the salaries) is the function of the session in the PCA BCO 12-5 (b).
" to examine the records of the proceedings ofthe deacons; to approve and adopt the budget;"

Spending, on the other hand, is the function of the Deacons (PCA BCO 9-2)

Under the section on Congregational Meetings, there is this for churches that are incorporated:

"All funds collected for the support and expense of the church and forthe benevolent purposes of the church shall be controlled and disbursed by the Session and the Board of Deacons as their relative authorities may from timeto time be established and defined." (BCO 27-7)

So the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws can't reserve powers granted to the Session and Diaconate under the BCO to the members of the corporation (the members).

In short, the congreation shouldn't be voting on the budget at all, including the salaries.

As of now we are not voting on the budget. The meeting agenda says we are voting on a modification to the pastor's call.

So, given that, whose duty is it to put forth the call to the congregation for vote, since it is a modification and not a new call where a pastoral search committee is involved? The session?

As I understand it, in the PCA the Session is responsible for the budget, not the congregation. The congregation votes to adopt it as a whole (after all, they are going to be paying for it), but they don't have a line by line veto. Of course, if there are particular concerns, I would ask a Session member ahead of time, and if necessary raise the issue at the congregational meeting. But the outcome would potentially be sending the budget back to the Session to reconsider, not making changes at the congregational meeting.

It's also true that pastoral pay is a bit of an oddity compared to a regular job, so a Session would be wise to explain some of those things. Part of his salary may be a housing allowance, in recognition of the fact that his job requires extensive hospitality (which has tax benefits). The pastor is responsible for more of his social security contributions than a regular employee. And his study leave is not extra vacation time. But it's fair game to ask questions about these things and expect answers. If I was making a presentation, I'd probably list the pastor's salary + housing allowance rather than the total cost of his package (including health insurance, retirement, etc) because it is the closest comparison to what ordinary people make. Sometimes I've seen the whole cost listed as if it were salary, which makes it seem like he's making a lot more than he actually is.

Right now we vote to modify the call, not to adopt the budget. But we are also modifying the call every year for annual salary increases.

 

[Edward]

As of now we are not voting on the budget. The meeting agenda says we are voting on a modification to the pastor's call.

To my recollection, the BCO is silent on the process for amending a call. Our sesssion doesn't bother the congregation with such details, and I would anticipate the percentage of the congregation that knows the current terms of the pastor's call is pretty close to zero. For the diaconate, you could probably get up to single digit percentages. If I really wanted to know, I could find out. I am aware that there has been a change in the terms of the call within the last year.

You might take a gander at this post from earlier this year. https://www.puritanboard.com/threads/pca-bco-20-1.113131/

 

[LighthouseAttendant]

To my recollection, the BCO is silent on the process for amending a call. Our sesssion doesn't bother the congregation with such details, and I would anticipate the percentage of the congregation that knows the current terms of the pastor's call is pretty close to zero. For the diaconate, you could probably get up to single digit percentages. If I really wanted to know, I could find out. I am aware that there has been a change in the terms of the call within the last year.

You might take a gander at this post from earlier this year. https://www.puritanboard.com/threads/pca-bco-20-1.113131/

Edward,

Thank you for the reply and the link.

My conclusion seems to be this: that there is not straightforward language in the BCO about modifying the call, that a change to the base salary only portion of the call would not reasonably require presbytery or congregational approval (because of inflation meaning cost of living raises are prudent), and that my session wisely options to seek congregational approval to salary increases in the wisdom of providing transparency to the congregation (and we do this alongside a presentation of the session approved budget).