Executive Pastor Online

I am frequently asked how I recommend that a salary amount be determined for a potential candidate a church may be considering for a new position.

Here’s a quick summary:

In determining the amount a potential new staff member should be offered in terms of compensation, there are 3 primary considerations:

1. Market
2. Current Compensation Package
3. Internal Equity

Market
We do an annual market survey looking at “comparison positions” from our staff versus the national market.  We use the NACBA (National Association of Church Business Administration).  They have an online “salary survey” database that allows you to customize your search very well. Of course there are only a certain number of positions, so you have to pick something that it “close” to the Job Description you’ve created for the position.

Current Compensation Package
If the candidate to whom you are considering making an offer is currently employed, you have to consider where their “total compensation” is at their current place of employment and what it will take to get them.  If the person is coming from outside the church, this is often the biggest challenge.

Internal Equity
Obviously, you have to consider how the amount you are going to have to pay this individual will impact other people on your staff.  I know that salaries are supposed to be “confidential,” but my experience has been that people talk whether you like it or not.  So, you have to be able to “defend” anything you do when it comes to compensation should the need arise.  If nothing else, you have to defend it when you are gaining Management Team buy in on your annual salary budget!

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One of the things I like most about traveling is the opportunity to visit other churches, learning something from every visit.  This past Sunday, while in Colorado, I had an opportunity to visit Rocky Mountain Christian Church's new Frederick campus.  Man!  What a nice place!

I don't know if you've heard, but Rocky Mountain has been in a dispute with Boulder County (the location of their Niwot campus) over their desire to build on their Niwot site.  Read more about it here.

The long and short of it is that their application for a "special use permit" that would allow them to add to their existing campus was denied.  It's interesting what God did with the situation, though.  Although they are still in litigation with the County of Boulder, they found land in neighboring Weld County and built a beautiful new facility.  They've got around 15 acres and a 70,000 square foot facility.  Nice!

This past Sunday was their 2^nd weekend in the new digs.  I was there.  I enjoyed the new facility and reconnecting with Rick Thielen their Operations Executive Pastor.  Their opening weekend saw more than 1,400 people from the surrounding community.

I think it's amazing to see God work despite our disputes, disagreements, and court battles.

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I'm sure you've heard the term "eminent domain."  It is defined as "the inherent power of the state to seize a citizen's private property, with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent. The property is taken either for government use or by delegation to third parties who will devote it to public or civic use or, in some cases, economic development."

It's not such a bad concept, I guess, unless it's happening to you.  There is a couple in our church that is learning firsthand how it feels to have the government take your property ... in this case for way less than "fair market value."

Check out this website ... www.helpoutyourneighbor.com

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On Tuesday night (9/2/08), I went where I've never gone before; I became a fantasy football team co-owner and participated in a live draft.

This must be the year of "firsts" for me or something.  (See my Renaissance Faire post.)  Another thing I've contemplated but never chose to take the time to do is to own a fantasy football team.  This year is a bit different.  My daughter and family (including my 3 grandkids!) recently moved to Pennsylvania from Colorado.  My son-in-law is even more of a football fan than am I, and he's a "major league" fantasy football fan.

He and I had the opportunity to co-own a team this year in our neighborhood's league.  These are the guys that I've spent lots of time with over the years as part of our neighborhood pool league and other stuff.  I've been fortunate to make friends and stay connected to a bunch of guys who are not part of our church community.

As leaders in the church we are especially required to make and foster friendships with people outside the church.  The best way to do this, of course, is through doing stuff that we like to do.  I love to shoot pool (and am pretty good at it), and I love NFL football.  Now I'm part of our neighborhood's fantasy football league.

We'll see if I'm any good at it!

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On Monday (Labor Day) I attended my first ever Renaissance Faire and I have to say I should have gone a long time ago.  My kids have been after me over the years, first in Colorado and now in Pennsylvania, to check it out and I never have.  I'm now a believer.

The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire is a Renaissance faire located in Manheim Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. As of 2008, the faire is in its 28th season. The 35-acre Shire hosts close to 100 permanent Tudor-style shoppes, 12 stages, one of the largest joust arenas outside of Europe, its own winery, and on site microbrewery. The Faire runs 12 weekends from mid-August through the last weekend of October. It has 250,000 annual patrons, not counting additional festivals held on the same site.

 It's cool!  The costumes, food, and fun are all worth experiencing.  I have to admit that I don't know much about the era, but I'm committed to learn more now that I've experienced a small part of it.

Being a bit of a "people watcher" I'm always amazed at the number and different types of people that attend stuff like this.  There were a bunch and they all seemed to be enjoying themselves.  Many of the people that attend are in the costume of the time.  They really go all out!

If you haven't been ... you should check it out.

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