Issues@Hand

AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs

November 2014 – The Leadership Network and Vanderbloemen Search Group joined forces to survey 727 megachurches (churches with more than 1,000 members) across America and Canada. The survey focused on the salaries of staff and on how much of a church’s budget is used for day-to-day operation of ministries.

In regard to salaries of various ministry positions, the Leadership Network found that senior/lead pastor is typically the highest paid staff member, with executive pastor/church administrator typically second. The difference between the salaries for the two positions varied from 2% to 92%. The graph below illustrates how the average megachurch pays its various ministry staffers.

Of the 727 megachurches surveyed, 81% offer online giving, 80% pass a collection plate, 37% have donation boxes in the lobby and 25% have electronic kiosks in the lobby. Those that offer online giving have higher giving rates than those that do not. The report, which covers a wide range of church compensation and financial issues, can be read or downloaded at leadnet.org. 

leadnet.org, 9/15/14; relevantmagazine.com, 9/15/14