Pastors encouraged to participate in biennial church compensation survey
By GuideStone Staff
DALLAS (BP) – GuideStone, Lifeway Research and Baptist state conventions have again teamed up for the SBC Church Compensation Survey. Normally a biennial survey, the 2020 survey was canceled due to the pandemic; it was last conducted in 2018.
Pastors and church employees are invited to participate in the brief survey, a resource used by churches of all sizes to determine applicable wages and benefits. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete at GuideStone.org/CompensationSurvey. The survey starts Friday (April 1) and goes until the end of June.
The survey’s results will be available in August, in time for many churches considering their 2023 budgets. The survey is the largest free church compensation study available in the United States.
“We honor the Lord and strengthen the church when we give proper financial support to those who serve,” GuideStone President Hance Dilbeck said. “GuideStone is committed to advocate for pastors and local church employees. We pray this compensation survey will challenge each of our churches to provide appropriate compensation and to do so by following best practices.”
Individual survey results can be contributed anonymously: Survey results are not reported individually. Lifeway Research will compile the results once the survey closes on June 30. Survey respondents will receive advance notice of the survey’s availability.
Respondents should have the church’s average weekly attendance, church membership and 2022 annual budget. Additional information needed to complete the survey is respondents’ annual salary, annual contributions to a retirement plan and annual church-paid insurance premiums, annual housing allowance, Social Security offset and the rental value and utilities for church-provided housing.
Southern Baptist church ministers and staff have until June 30 to complete the online survey.
Mission:Dignity recipients in Alabama to receive 13th check in 2022
By Roy Hayhurst/GuideStone Financial Resources
DALLAS (BP) – Mission:Dignity recipients in Alabama will receive an extra check – a 13th check – in 2022 and annually after, thanks to the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
Alabama marks the fourth state to offer such a partnership between Mission:Dignity/GuideStone and state conventions. Similar programs are underway in neighboring Mississippi and in South Carolina and Arkansas, and Florida recently announced it will become the fifth state to offer a similar program.
“Trustees of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions were excited about participating in the 13th check for Mission:Dignity recipients,” said Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. “We are gratified by this opportunity to bring an extra blessing for our people. We plan to make this an annual gift so that the 13th check can be available for the participants in Alabama. We will consider other ways to be of help in the future.”
In 2022, Mission:Dignity helped more than 2,500 individuals with extra money needed for housing, food and vital medications. It also ensures a well-deserved dignity, independence and, often, the ability to continue serving the Lord. In Alabama, 115 recipients will receive a 13th check, which will be the same amount as their regular monthly benefit.
“We have been blessed to see so many state conventions come alongside our Mission:Dignity recipients to provide additional support,” said GuideStone President Hance Dilbeck. “It reminds them their Southern Baptist family has not forgotten their service to the Lord and His people. These 13th checks have been an encouragement to me personally and will be a tremendous blessing to Mission:Dignity recipients.”
Mission:Dignity recipients in Alabama should receive the extra payment in March.
“We are so thankful for the leadership of Dr. Lance, the State Board of Missions trustees and the people of the churches in Alabama who have made this additional gift possible,” said Aaron Meraz, director of Mission:Dignity. “These pastors and others we serve are truly deserving of a double honor, and thanks to the efforts of so many, those we are privileged to serve will be receiving this blessing.”
For more information on Mission:Dignity, to give, to apply for assistance or to refer someone in need, visit MissionDignity.org.
Mission:Dignity recipients in Florida to receive 13th Check in 2022
By Roy Hayhurst/GuideStone Financial Resources
DALLAS (BP) – Mission:Dignity recipients in Florida will receive an extra check – a 13th check – in 2022 and annually after, thanks to the establishment of the Florida Baptist Retired Shepherd’s Fund. Proceeds from the sale of the Florida Baptist Retirement Center were used to establish the Retired Shepherd’s Fund.
Florida marks the fifth state to offer such a partnership between Mission:Dignity/GuideStone and state conventions. Similar programs are underway in five other states.
“The newly created Florida Baptist Retired Shepherd’s Fund will distribute more than $2.5 million over the next 10 years to retired pastors through Mission:Dignity,” Florida Baptist Convention Executive Director Tommy Green said. “It will be a tremendous blessing.”
Rick Wheeler, president and CEO of Florida Baptist Financial Services, said Mission:Dignity was a natural channel to provide assistance.
“Once we prayerfully made the decision to sell, we began looking for the right partner to continue the ministry in Vero, and the Lord answered our prayer,” Wheeler said. He also indicated that donating the funds through Mission:Dignity would continue to honor the purpose of the retirement center, which was to provide assistance to retiring Florida Baptist pastors who have faithfully served the Lord.
In 2022, Mission:Dignity helped more than 2,500 individuals with extra money needed for housing, food and vital medications. It also ensures a well-deserved dignity, independence and, often, the ability to continue serving the Lord. About 300 Florida recipients and recipients who have served in Florida will receive a 13th check starting this December.
“We have been blessed to see so many state conventions come alongside our Mission:Dignity recipients to provide additional support,” said GuideStone President Hance Dilbeck. “It reminds them their Southern Baptist family has not forgotten their service to the Lord and His people. This generous gift honors the Lord by showing honor to these faithful servants.”
“We are so thankful for the leadership of Rick Wheeler and Tommy Green for making this additional gift possible,” said Aaron Meraz, director of Mission:Dignity. “These pastors and others we serve are truly deserving of a double honor, and thanks to the efforts of so many, those we are privileged to serve will be receiving this blessing.”
For more information on Mission:Dignity, to give, to apply for assistance or to refer someone in need, visit MissionDignity.org.
