​​

 

 

Dear Hope Community,

 

This letter is intended to be an explanation of how the various teams came together regarding the proposed compensation for Pastor Clark and to provide a shortened narrative of the 15-page “Compensation Development Workbook for Congregations.”

 

We utilized the synod’s recommended salary guidelines utilizing education, years of service, our zip code (cost of housing),

 

As per past practice (standard in our synod and church) we are paying the social security offset, as well as the pension cost requirements through Portico (ELCA pension/disability provider), which are 10 percent of the defined compensation.

 

Automobile expenses for church/synod business as well as visitation will be reimbursed at the standard rate set by the IRS for each calendar year.

 

Other standard expenses are budgeted for professional expenses including the synod leadership conference. 

 

Moving expenses have been agreed to not exceed $10,000 (this money has been set aside in a designated account approved by the congregation in 2023).

 

Additionally, Pastor Clark and his wife get their health insurance through the company his wife retired from.  This provided a significant savings for our church; in salary negotiations, the church agreed to pay Pastor Clark and his families cost portion of $9,864.  While this is still a significant amount of money, we are saving the church approximately $19,000 as the cost of health insurance through Portico would be around $30,000.  We would still pay his disability and life insurance (standard cost) of $1,142.

 

Lastly, in our salary negotiations we attempted to present a competitive compensation package to Pastor Clark, while maintaining appropriate fiscal responsibility and stewardship of the resources the congregation and the Lord has entrusted to all of us.

 

For the Committees (Finance, Personnel, and Council),

​

 

 

 

​

Ryan Groft

2024 Congregational President

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

 

September 12, 2024

 

We have an important congregational meeting on Sunday, September 15, 2024, to approve Pastor Clark Brown as the new lead pastor of Hope Lutheran Church.  As stated in the cover letter, rather than reading the 15-page compensation agreement prior to the vote, I have summarized the compensation package of this agreement below.

​

The following, is the compensation package that will be presented for a vote. If you have any questions on Sunday morning at the meeting, please don’t hesitate to bring them up during the discussion time, prior to the vote. 

Base cash salary:  $106,120.48
Social Security allowance: $8,118.22
Health insurance reimbursement: $9,864
Auto allowance : $1,000 plus $.67/mile
Professional allowance: $500
ELCA disability insurance: $1,142.39
ELCA pension:10% of defined compensation
Continuing education: $1,000
Professional leader conference: $1,000
Moving expenses: up to $10,000
Vacation: 20 days a year including 4 Sundays
Term:  initial term is 10-15-2024 through 12-31-2025

Again, if you have questions, please raise them at the meeting during discussion of compensation.
 

Richard Olsson
Treasurer
Hope Lutheran Church

 

 

 

 

 

 

5435 N Fresno St | Fresno CA 93710 | 559-439-4320