Youth Ministry, the Gender Pay Gap, & the Problem of Underpaid Staff

Youth Ministry, the Gender Pay Gap, & the Problem of Underpaid Staff

Earlier this year the 2023 Youth Pastor Compensation Report was released. This is sponsored annually by The Youth Cartel, Chemistry Staffing, and Christianity Today’s site, Church Salary.  As Director of Searches for Ministry Architects, I found this report helpful in providing a glimpse into the larger picture of church staffing today. As a former youth…

How to Ask Your Pastor for Continuing Ed Money (Pt. 1)

How to Ask Your Pastor for Continuing Ed Money (Pt. 1)

Are you wondering what happens to all the continuing ed dollars in churches across the country that weren’t spent in 2022? Yeah, me too. If you’re like me, at some of the churches where I’ve worked, those budget dollars don’t roll over.  And if you’re like me, at other churches where I’ve served, they never…

How to Ask Your Pastor for Continuing Ed Money (Pt. 2)

How to Ask Your Pastor for Continuing Ed Money (Pt. 2)

Welcome back! In part one of this resource, Anthony Prince and I (Brandi Kirkland) shared thoughtful ways to ask for continuing ed and professional development funds. While the way you ask might depend on the what you’re asking for, there are definitely some similarities in approach, regardless of the what. But where there are nuances…

Preventative Maintenance Calendar? WHAT?!

Preventative Maintenance Calendar? WHAT?!

“Okay,” you say to yourself, “something with that many syllables in it better be good.” Well, give me a few minutes of your time and a chance to convince you! I must admit that “Preventative Maintenance Calendar” does not immediately stir the imagination, nor does it quickly inspire teenagers to new heights of faith and…

Church-Wide Norms

Church-Wide Norms

If you are looking for the best church statistics and church budget data, you’ve come to the right place. As we’ve expanded our work over the years to guide and support whole church initiatives, we’ve identified seven different norms that are useful, when it comes to comparing your church numbers with numbers from other churches:…

Financial Stewardship

Financial Stewardship

How will God use YOUR church in the coming year? Every church has the ability to build a thriving, sustainable stewardship ministry by attending first to two key foundational areas: 1. Architecture: the structures of sustainability and 2. Atmosphere: the culture, climate, and ethos that sustains the health of the congregation. So why do countless…