Financial Impact of Ministerial Changes

This plan envisions going from two ministers to 1 1/2 ministers plus some additional administrative support, and provides us some additional financial flexibility compared to our approved budget.

First, the difference between Reverend Eileen’s total compensation as Acting Senior Minister and Reverend Greg’s total compensation is sufficient to allow us to cover the one month of overlap (Rev Greg will be taking his allotted vacation from mid-June through the end of July), pulpit coverage for dates when neither Rev Eileen nor Rev Karen will be available, and the two “below-the-line” items in the budget approved by the congregation on Sunday.  Those items are additional raises for certain staff who are low in their salary ranges, and paying the full denominational dues set by the UUA.

Second, the difference between Rev Eileen’s current compensation as a full-time Assistant Minister and the cost of Rev Karen as Part-time Interim Minister is sufficient to hire a half-time Congregational Life Coordinator.  This assistant will manage coordination and administrative functions related to membership, social justice, worship and religious education, among other duties, that are currently performed by ministers and senior staff.

Compensation Detail:

Acting Senior Minister:  The board has agreed to a salary (including housing allowance) for Rev Eileen of $80,750 (total compensation package of $109,482), which is the minimum of the UUA lead or co-lead salary range for our geography and our size congregation.  This compares to Rev Eileen’s current Assistant Minister salary of $55,620 (total comp package of $77,320), which was well below the $72,500 midpoint of that range due to financial constraints in our budget. Rev Greg, with 25 years of ministerial experience, has a salary of $103,950 and total comp of approximately $146,000.  We believe that it is important to compensate Rev Eileen fairly for the senior minister work she will be assuming, but we also recognize that she has not had the length and breadth of experience that other ministers have had.

Part-time Interim Minister:  Compensation for Rev Karen is set at $4,000 per month for a planned 9 months plus a lesser amount for some planning work to occur in August.  Her expenses include travel and housing expenses, and we are estimating the total cost at $53,000.

Congregational Life Assistant:  To support Rev Eileen and the other program staff we plan to hire a half time assistant at a total cost of $22,000.

Financial questions?  Please email UCE Treasurer Susan Comstock at Susan.L.Comstock@gmail.com or come to one of the two open sessions described in Jeanne Kerl’s email.