September 2005

To Clergy and Wardens of the Diocese of Virginia

Dear Friends,

The Commission on Professional Standards and Support of the Diocese of Virginia has finalized Compensation Guidelines for 2006. Enclosed is a copy of the guidelines for 2006 for your planning purposes.

You will note that for currently employed clergy, the Commission recommends a minimum 3.05% increase in compensation.

The guidelines include a list of the minimum starting salaries and recommendations for other benefits, as well as suggested compensation for clergy employed on a part-time basis. A copy of the Clergy Housing Allowance Clarification Act of 2002, signed into law on May 20, 2002, is included as it was such a major change in recent guidelines.

New this year is the suggested use of a clause in Letters of Agreement, or for compensation reviews, to address the continuation of benefits upon the death of a cleric while employed by a church entity.

For 2006, the format of the guidelines has been addressed to place selected items in an order of “compensation” and then “benefit” categories, and it is hoped that this is a more usable layout. The compensation tiers have been modified in recent years and only the compensation amounts have changed for this year. The modified tiers provide the churches with a better range for the stewardship of our resources. Attracting and retaining effective clergy leadership and sustaining their morale are directly related to stewardship expressed in appropriate compensation through salary and benefits.
Please use these figures as you make plans for your budget in 2006

Faithfully yours,


Peter James Lee