Interim Ministries-ABC Guidelines

Financial Arrangements for an Interim Minister’s Services

 

Interim Ministries-ABC operates its programs on a fee for service basis.  Each

church pays a fee for service that is equal to the former pastor's compesnation amount, plus auto reimbursement amount.  This fee is set during consultations between the church contact person and Regional Staff.  IM-ABC has established a minimum fee amount.  Consequently, the fee is different for each church.   This fee structure makes it possible to provide quality interim leadership for a wide variety of churches.

 

So that IM-ABC can continue to attract and compensate quality leaders, the

church fee is adjusted annually.  The adjustment will correspond to the

MMBB recommendation to American Baptist congregations for a cost of living

percentage increase.  IM-ABC will notify your church treasurer in the fall of the

anticipated increase in your church’s fee.  The new rate will take effect on January 1

of the next calendar year.  This fee increase will be assessed on all assignments

starting prior to November 1.  Any church starting an assignment November 1

through December 31 will not be assessed the fee increase for the next calendar year.

 

Apart from a fee for service, other costs of interim ministry include:

• Provision of a parsonage, house, or apartment, including furnishings, utilities,               and related costs;
• Securing pulpit supply on those Sundays when the interim is away for vacation, continuing education, or sick leave.

 

Payment Procedures

 

Financial arrangements made at the beginning of an assignment will remain constant

through the calendar year.  An annual cost of living adjustment for all churches being

served by the program will take effect on January 1 of each year.  Specific

information will be provided in advance to church treasurers.

 

The church pays the full fee for months that include any of the following events:

• One week’s vacation per quarter.  Interim Ministries-ABC encourages                that vacation weeks be taken on a quarterly basis, but more than one week            per quarter may be taken with the approval of the church.  However, if the          interim takes vacation before it is earned and the assignment ends, an            adjustment will be made at the end of the assign­ment to both the interim’s honorarium and the church’s fee.  An interim may not accrue more than two weeks of vacation to be used at the end of the assignment.

• One week of continuing education per calendar year;

• Up to the first two weeks of illness in the course of the assignment;

• Up to one week away in the event of a death in the family.

The church will assume all pulpit supply costs when the interim pastor is absent

for any of the above reasons.

 

For partial months of service, usually at the beginning or end of an assignment,

fees are based on a 4-week per month schedule, regardless of the number of

Sundays in the month.

 

The church should direct any request for fee adjustments in writing to the

IM-ABC Executive Director after consultation with the Region Executive or

Area Staff.  The letter should describe the special circumstances prompting the

request.

 

IM-ABC invoices the church on a monthly basis, and payment is due at the

IM-ABC office within 30 days of the date of invoice.  Checks are to be made

payable to:  Interim Ministries-ABC.

 

Late Payments or Contract Issues

IM-ABC expects the church to honor all the arrangements agreed to in the

handbook and to initiate contact with the IM-ABC Finance Manager or

Executive Director if questions arise.

 

When payment is not received in the IM-ABC office within 30 days of

an invoice, the account will be considered in arrears, and a 1.5% late fee

will be assessed.

 

When payment is not received in the IM-ABC office within 60 days of the

date of invoice, the church and the Regional Staff will be contacted by

IM-ABC to discuss the matter.  If it is deter­mined that the payment schedule

cannot be fulfilled, closure of the assignment will be discussed.

 

Lack of payment for 120 days will automatically terminate the contract,

and the interim pastor will be withdrawn.  The church will not be eligible  for

services of another IM-ABC interim minister until any unpaid balance is paid

in full.  If it is decided that an assignment must be terminated, the church

will maintain responsibility for all fees owed up to the interim pastor’s completion date. 

We realize Church Treasurers work many hours each month on behalf

of the congregation and manage many details unseen by the members.  We

want to thank you for all your work and especially for your attention to these

financial arrangements during this transition period for the congregation.

 

 

 

Interim Ministries-ABC P. O. Box 851 Valley Forge, PA  19482-0851	800/ABC-3USA, ext. 2063
	Sandra.Albitz@abc-usa.org
	www.interimministries-abc.org
	Fax:  610/768-2266