Important Numbers for 2020

CLERGY BENEFITS AND COSTS FOR 2021

(Expressed in annual cost)

2021 NUMBERS

Effective January 1, 2021

Illinois Great Rivers Conference Minimum Pastors Salary

          Full-Time Local Pastors                                   $41,560

          FM, AM and PE                                               $45,290

Average Compensation

Denominational Avg. Compensation (DAC)       $72,648           1.80% increase

Conference Avg. Compensation (CAC)             $73,666            1.49% increase

The DAC and CAC include a parsonage component of 25%; to approximate only the average salary, multiply DAC or CAC by .80

Due to General Conference action, the Health Insurance Allowance no longer counts toward the calculation of average compensation.

Clergy Retirement Security Program (CRSP)   

CRSP Defined Benefit Pension Cost to the Church:   

Full-Time                                              $5,700

                    ¾-Time                                                 $4,275

                    ½-Time                                                 $2,850

                    ¼-Time                                                 not eligible

The health insurance allowance is not used for this calculation, salary plus parsonage or housing allowance only.

                    For pastor in a parsonage: (Salary x 1.25) x 3%

                    For pastor in his/her own home: (Salary + Housing Allowance) x 3%

Comprehensive Protection Plan Premium (CPP) (for full-time pastors)

The health insurance allowance is not used for this calculation, salary plus parsonage or housing allowance only.

For pastor in a parsonage: (Salary x 1.25) x 3%

                For pastor in his/her own home: (Salary + Housing Allowance) x 3%

United Methodist Personal Investment Plan (UMPIP)

The health insurance allowance is not used for this calculation, salary plus parsonage or housing allowance only.

Pastor’s personal retirement contribution – calculation is for the 1% minimum:

For pastor in a parsonage: (Salary x 1.25) x 1%

               For pastor in his/her own home: (Salary + Housing Allowance) x 1%

Health Insurance Allowance (for full-time pastors)

          Church Share - $17,500

          The Church Share is paid to the pastor for the purposes of health insurance. In nearly all cases, this is taxable income to the pastor.

Standard Mileage Reimbursement

IRS Business rate       57.5¢ per mile (for 2020, rates for 2021 out in December)

IGRC Charitable rate   20¢ per mile         

These figures are accurate only for a clergy person appointed by the Bishop to a valid ministry.

For clergy who reside in a church-owned parsonage, the housing benefit is calculated as 25% of salary ( NOT Including the Health Insurance Allowance) for pensions.

CRSP-DB = the defined benefits portion of the United Methodist Pension Plan.

CRSP-DC = the defined contributions portion of the United Methodist Pension Plan

CPP = A death and disability insurance plan for United Methodist Pastors

Deacons – Same as Elders for Pension; Health Insurance Allowance is optional, unless appointed to a church as the pastor.

Lay Employees, Supply and CLMs are not eligible for the United Methodist Clergy benefits plans, however the employer may provide pension benefits from another United Methodist plan or vendor.