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A Resolution Establishing Minimum Clergy Compensation for 2012

RESOLVED, That the 179th Convention of the Diocese of Vermont approve the recommendation of the Diocesan Council that the minimum full time stipend for priests receiving compensation in the Diocese of Vermont for the year 2012 be set at $37,541 no change from 2011), and that travel allowance be reimbursed at the current IRS standard.

The salary schedule below is updated from previous years and is based on a resolution adopted by the 2006 Diocesan Convention.

In addition to the cash salary, an annual housing equity allowance of at least seven percent (7%) of the Year 1/Level 1 from the Schedule of Mandatory Minimum Cash Salaries is to be provided for those clergy living in church furnished housing. The minimum for 2012 is $2,627.87.

The procedure for establishing compensation for clergy working less than full time follows the chart for full-time compensation below.

Schedule of Mandatory Minimum Cash Salaries for 2011
Years of
Service    Level 1*   Level 2**
   1          $37,541     $42,259
   2          $38,142     $42,935
   3          $38,752     $43,622
   4          $39,372     $44,320
   5          $40,002     $45,029
   6          $40,642     $45,750
   7          $41,292     $46,482
   8          $41,953     $47,225
   9          $42,624     $47,981
 10          $43,306     $48,749
 11          $43,999     $49,529
 12          $44,703     $50,321
 13          $45,418     $51,126
 14          $46,145     $51,944
 15          $46,883     $52,775
 16          $47,633     $53,620
 17          $48,396     $54,478
 18          $49,170     $55,349
 19          $49,957     $56,235
 20          $50,756     $57,135
* Level 1 represents parishes with annual budgets below $143,000.
**Level 2 represents parishes with annual budgets of $143,000 and above.

A Resolution to Establish a Process for Determining Minimum Clergy Compensation for Clergy Employed Less Than Full-Time (adopted at the 2007 Diocesan Convention)

Resolved, That the 175th Convention of the Diocese of Vermont recommend to the congregations of the diocese the adoption, within the next four years, of the following procedure for determining minimum clergy compensation for clergy employed less than full time:

First, that a “full-time equivalent” minimum compensation amount shall be determined, this amount being the minimum compensation that would result from the application of the process defined in the resolution approved by the 2006 Diocesan Convention titled, “Establish a Process for Determining Minimum Clergy Compensation,” if the cleric were employed full-time instead of less than full-time.

Second, that a “percentage of full-time” be determined, where the numerator is the units or hours per period to be worked by the cleric and the denominator is the units or hours per period that a full-time cleric would work.

Third, that minimum cash compensation for the part-time cleric be the product resulting from multiplying the “full-time equivalent” minimum compensation amount by the “percentage of full-time.”

Fourth, that the minimum cash salary be adjusted annually to reflect the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) based on an average of Consumer Price Index (CPI) of Northeast Urban Index and the United States All Cities Index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, or as determined by Diocesan Council, pursuant to Canon 6.7.

Fifth, that in addition to cash salary, an annual housing equity allowance be provided for any cleric living in church furnished housing, the allowance to be at least the product of multiplying the “full-time equivalent” percentage by the minimum annual housing equity allowance for full-time clergy as determined in accordance with the 2006 Diocesan Convention titled, “Establish a Process for Determining Minimum Clergy Compensation.”

Sixth, that health and dental insurance be provided as though the cleric were full-time for any cleric whose “percentage of full-time” is 50% or more.

Seventh, that pension be provided in accordance with the Canons of the Episcopal Church.

Eighth, professional expenses, vacation time, holidays, continuing education and sabbatical leave be provided at the same level as for clergy employed full-time.