STIPENDS OF CLERGY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23594, 1 March 1940, Page 8

STIPENDS OF CLERGY

MINIMUM RAISED METHODIST DECISION INCREASE OF 10 PER CENT [by TF.I.F.GR APH I'IIKSS association] prXF.nrX. Thursday A decision to increase ministers 1 minimum stipends by 10 per cent and to make stipends a first charge on all collections, except those ordered by the conference for connection.il purposes, was made on a vote of laymen at the .Methodist Conference to-day. It was stated during a discussion on the subject that one case had occurred in which a minister's wife had had to undertake outside work to augment her husband's income.

The following recommendations of a special committee set up by the conference to consider the question were adopted:—That the conference believes that adequate maintenance of ministers, probationers and home missionaries is one of great importance; that, in view of the increase in taxation and the cost of living, and in view of general increases given to workmen in industry and commerce, the conference increase the standard of minimum stipends by 10 per cent; that, in cases where stipends of ministers are jn arrear. or in cases where the minimum stipend :is not being paid, the conference should direct that at least 50 per cent of moneys raised by efforts for special local church purposes be used for stipend purposes; that, in cases where the minimum is not being paid or the stipend is in arrear. the chairmen of districts be directed to visit quarterly meetings of circuits concerned and urge them to endeavour to meet the wishes of the conference, and that the chairman ta&e with him some laymen to support him in his appeal. Mr. F. Thompson, of Christchurch, said 43 active ministers were receiving less than £250 a year and 87 were receiving £250 or over. On the average, each minister spent £3O a year more on transport than he received.