One Size Doesn’t Fit All Chapter Reflection: Chapter 7
Crystal Dotson
WRSP 440: Strategies for Worship Leading
May 6, 2023
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Chapter 7 Reflection
Every organization has a problem with salaries, but churches have it worse than most. It
can be challenging for a small church to decide which personnel to make, and choosing a wage
for those recruits makes the decision-making process even more challenging. Before looking up
wage information, start by looking into the cost of living in the region where your future
employee will live and work because it differs greatly across the US. Nearly equally crucial is
the requirement to share this information with prospective new personnel. Before they ever agree
to join your group, they need to be aware that they may need to make major changes to their
level of living. This can help you avoid potentially awkward conversations about pay and raises
in the future and guarantee that you are hiring someone who will be a good long-term fit. I am
not going to put my pastor’s business out there, but I know he makes less that $2,000 a month.
Because of this he does side job just to have a little extra money. Even though we, as a
congregation, have ask for him to get a raise it is merely impossible without the means to
produce the funds. At this time he is the only paid staff of the church which is definitely
discouraging. Being a small church, expansion should be expected. Not merely in the sense of
"expect great things," but also in terms of financial projections. As your church expands, you will
eventually need to hire more staff and convert part-time workers to full-time status. These times
of development ought to be treated with celebration rather than anxiety. The best way to do this
is to anticipate financial growth and be very comfortable with your budget. Give your budget to
several reliable people and keep an eye on your financial goals and progress. As I have
mentioned before, we have seen an increase in attendance over the last couple years but everyone
in the church doesn’t have the same income. Therefore, some can give more than others.
Nevertheless, it is a blessing. I am praying over the next year that God will increase our
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attendance and we will be able to show our appreciation to our pastor more. We do try and give
non-monetary things to show appreciation. Staffing in a small church is tricky and a very
sensitive matter. You have numerous amounts of volunteers because the funds are not available
to have paid staff. It is important to never forgot the ones who are not on a pay roll as well. I pray
that God provides for each church the opportunity to bless their leader the way they would like.
