Dear Addie,
As I see the “dare to be brave” theme for the Baptist Women in Ministry annual gathering, I am wondering if bravery sometimes looks like advocating for yourself. For those of us who do ministry in non-traditional settings, speaking honestly about your needs and expectations can be troubling. Sometimes freelance writing, pulpit supply and leading special events like retreats can feel life-giving, especially when I get to use my gifts in creative ways. Life-giving work, however, does not always have a paycheck that matches the experience. What are some good ways to respond when the small stipend offered by an organization feels too small? I hate to say no to an invitation, but sometimes I need to be realistic about the compensation and whether it is worth my time and work. For those of us who take these sort of ministry opportunities, and welcome them for the experience, how can we speak honestly about what we need? How do organizations get to the decision about what to pay for these ministry moments, and how could they do better? What should ministers think about when we accept an invitation to a non-traditional ministry gig?
Sincerely,
Learning to Be Brave
Dear Learning to be Brave,
My sisters and I have not practiced advocating for ourselves enough. We have let churches and male leaders presume they are doing us a favor to invite us and assumed that we would be pleased with whatever token compensation offered. For years when I was asked what I charged to lead a retreat or preach, I would simply say “I will be happy with whatever you budgeted for the event.” In more recent years, I have asked for upfront clarification about expenses and honorarium. I have even said, “what do you usually pay men you invite for this particular responsibility?”
While it is not easy to decline an invitation because of what is being offered, giving up a weekend or finding days in an already busy schedule has its cost. If the compensation seems light, it is better to do this prior to making the commitment and then feeling abused after it.
I was once invited to be a “resident theologian” for a weekend, which included Friday evening teaching, Saturday morning teaching, Sunday School teaching, and preaching. I was paid $400—far too little for the time and energy I had put into the responsibility. Yet I said nothing, and I regretted having gone.
Learning to be brave requires us to name the money factor upfront. If invited to preach, the minimum should be $150; two services should double that. For a weekend retreat, the presenter should receive $200 for every hour of presentation, minimally. A major lectureship should be at least $1500—if two lectures $2500 and up. A commencement address is worth about $2000. My figures may be dated or modest, but at least I have named them.
I wish you well. Learning to be brave will increase your joy in ministry, I believe.
Faithfully,
Molly T. Marshall
President, Central Baptist Theological Seminary
Shawnee, Kansas
Dear Learning to Be Brave,
Never accept an invitation immediately, leave a waiting period of at least twenty-four hours to pray and think about it. Sometimes we accept invitations for the wrong reasons, and we regret it later.
Negotiate you honorarium in advance. Payment does not come only in money, but in looking at the organization and people who will be there, who may be sources of future opportunities. Maybe this organization, even if they do not pay much, will help you to nurture a certain image that you want to promote about yourself. Ask if the honorarium is an all inclusive one, or if travel expenses will be covered in addition to the honorarium. If they ask you to cover in advance your travel expenses, under the promise that they will reimburse you later, be sure to bring to the speaking engagement a printed copy of all of your receipts, give them to the appropriate person, and ask for an estimated time for the reimbursement.
As Molly mentioned, set you minimum honorarium for a particular speaking engagement. Again, research the organization. If it is a large organization, and they can pay more, ask for more. If you always have a hard time negotiating an honorarium, get an agent. The agent does not have to be a professional one, but maybe a good friend who has the ability to negotiate better for you. You and your friend can decide on the honorarium for these agent services.
If you are serious about making a career as a public speaker, promote yourself in social media every time that you participate in an event. Have a website and business cards. Non-traditional ministry gigs are fine, as long as they fit with your personal mission statement, and they honor God in the overall purpose of the event.
If you are interested in doing “business” with this organization again, send a thank you note or email, expressing how much you enjoyed the event and offering yourself for future opportunities of service.
Blessings,
Nora Lozano
Associate Professor of Theological Studies
Director of Christian Latina Leadership Institute
Baptist University of the Americas
Dear Learning to Be Brave,
I remember years ago our church received a contract from a female guest preacher detailing her compensation expectations. How dare she? I was offended. THEN, when I started preaching more frequently and experiencing the abuse of not being compensated fairly, I had to get on my knees and repent!
The only thing I would say differently from Molly is that the minimum for preaching should be $200 (for any preacher at least a Master of Divinity degree and who travels 50 to 75 miles to the church). I often encourage churches to write two checks (1) for honorarium and (2) for travel/expenses (unless someone is wise enough to list in the memo section of the one check the distinction between the two). By doing this, it trains churches to recognize that a $200 honorarium (out of which the preacher must pay his or her traveling expenses) means that the actual income the preacher “earns” is substantially less than the face amount of the honorarium check.
I recently turned down serving as the interim pastor because I was offered $350 a week to lead mid-week Bible Study and to preach on Sunday. Most interim pastors I know get more than that. The church’s previous male interim pastors had been paid more than $350 just to preach on Sunday. I really wanted this experience, but I wasn’t going to let them not pay me what I was worth. Don’t accept engagements or positions from churches or organizations that don’t value you. If I give up time with my daughter or “me time,” it has to be worth the investment.
An important part of this conversation is our discomfort with those who are not “in tune” with the preaching ministry and who often say, “Well, you are doing the Lord’s work and shouldn’t expect to be paid.” Learning to hear those words and have an good answer is an important part of learning to be brave.
Keeping on learning!
Lynn Brinkley
Director of Student Services and Alumni Relations
Campbell University Divinity School
Buies Creek, North Carolina
Dear Learning to Be Brave,
Prayerfully consider EVERY request. I believe whenever God sends me somewhere it is for an assignment, and sometimes I’m the assignment. There is something I need to see or hear or learn.
I recommend higher compensation for preaching–at least $250-300 per service; more if it is a larger church. Believe me when I say that I’ve seen brothers get much more than this whether they have a seminary degree or not. Send a completed W-9 form in advance so the church or organization will know who to make the check payable to. And NO, perfume, lotion, sweet treat baskets, journals, and snacks are NOT sufficient compensation.
Find out in advance if the church or organization will provide a hotel room if you drive beyond your personal driving distance comfort level. The hotel is in addition to the honorarium. As with Lynn, I have them separate the travel check from the honorarium.
I have learned recently to share travel preferences, and I recommend that practice now. Identify your preferred hotel chain (you don’t want to end up in a dive). Add your reward number to your reservation once you receive the confirmation or upon arrival. Also identify your preferred airline. I request that the church or organization add my frequent flyer number to the reservation and to purchase economy airfare or higher for travel within the continental United States and economy plus or higher for international destinations. Always have direct contact information for the person designated to pick you up from the airport.
Blessings on you as you are brave,
Jewel London
Pastoral Assistant
Church Without Walls
Houston, Texas