Frequently Asked Questions

Youth


FAQs - Pastoral Relations
An occasional newsletter of *Frequently Asked Questions* in the area of Pastoral Relations … What are some of the implications in the provision of a housing allowance? - In Section 036 (f) of The Manual it states: “The minister shall be provided with either a manse or an equivalent housing allowance, and with a telephone.“ Subsection (ii) says, “…Where a Pastoral Charge provides a housing allowance instead of a manse, the allowance shall take into account the cost of providing heavy appliances, rugs and drapes and shall be based on fair rental value of suitable accommodation …” The amounts for salary, housing and other allowances in the Terms of Call or Appointments are set according to the provisions of The Manual and the policies of The United Church of Canada. As 36 (f) ii notes the Presbytery shall review the fair rental value once every three years. Section 36 (f) ii makes clear that the housing allowance must include a component for the cost of providing heavy appliances, rugs and drapes. In an Opinion of the General Secretary in 1996 it was stated that whether this component was in addition to the fair r rental value would depend on whether or not the rental rates obtained were for premises which were furnished with heavy appliances, rugs and drapes. Presbyteries must be clear when approving the housing rates at the time of call or appointment that the rates for housing are sufficient to include these items. Heating expenses, utilities and other related expenses do not apply to housing allowances. How is fair rental value established? The Manual states “…fair rental value shall be supported by data.” Presbyteries should be aware of the housing costs within their bounds. Many Presbyteries set a suggested minimum rate by securing information from local real estate agencies. The suggested rate within the Presbytery may vary from an urban setting to a rural setting. It is important that Presbyteries keep these rates current with the changing housing market. In a question raised by a member in 1995 it was noted in an opinion by the General Secretary that“Presbytery approval must be obtained for the housing allowance at the time of a call or appointment. If a housing allowance does not meet the requirements set out in Section 36 (for example there is not supporting data and Presbytery decides that the housing allowance is not based on fair market rental), Presbytery could refuse to give its approval. The housing allowance is also subject to review on the same basis once every three (3) years. Presbytery may set guidelines for housing allowances under its general duty of oversight of the Pastoral Charges within its bounds, but Presbytery has no power to insist that the Pastoral Charge comply with these guidelines. Presbytery could not refuse to approve a housing allowance on the basis that it did not comply with these guidelines, as long as the housing allowance met the requirements set out in Section 36. Who does the tri-annual review of the housing allowance? The housing allowance is to be reviewed every three years. This review would be done by the Presbytery Oversight Committee and could be done at their tri-annual visit to the pastoral charge. When the minister was called to the pastoral charge he/she agreed to live in the manse but now he/she wants to receive a housing allowance. What is involved in this change? Should the minister wish to change the terms of the call by moving out of the manse and then receiving a housing allowance, normally the minister would begin this conversation with the M&P committee and the committee would then take the recommendation to the Church Board or Council. A congregational meeting to approve the decision would be necessary. After congregational approval the request would go to the Presbytery for final approval. If the change in the terms of the call is deemed to be “apparently detrimental” to the minister or the pastoral charge, a Joint Needs Assessment report would be necessary (The Manual section 51). When a pastoral charge has two ministers do they each get the same housing allowance? This question was put to the General Secretary for an opinion in 1999. The response was “The amount of the housing allowance is based on the ‘fair rental value of suitable accommodation comparable to …a manse in the area.’ If the housing allowance is calculated objectively in compliance with Section 36 (f) the end result could only be one amount for the housing allowance, not two different amounts. It follows that all ministry personnel serving in a Pastoral Charge are entitled to the same amount for a housing allowance. The amount cannot be different for two people serving the same Congregation in the same community.”

FAQs - Pastoral Relations

An occasional newsletter of Frequently Asked Questions in the area of Pastoral Relations …

What are some of the implications in the provision of a housing allowance? - In Section 036 (f) of The Manual it states: “The minister shall be provided with either a manse or an equivalent housing allowance, and with a telephone.“ Subsection (ii) says, “…Where a Pastoral Charge provides a housing allowance instead of a manse, the allowance shall take into account the cost of providing heavy appliances, rugs and drapes and shall be based on fair rental value of suitable accommodation …”

The amounts for salary, housing and other allowances in the Terms of Call or Appointments are set according to the provisions of The Manual and the policies of The United Church of Canada. As 36 (f) ii notes the Presbytery shall review the fair rental value once every three years.

Section 36 (f) ii makes clear that the housing allowance must include a component for the cost of providing heavy appliances, rugs and drapes. In an Opinion of the General Secretary in 1996 it was stated that whether this component was in addition to the fair r

rental value would depend on whether or not the rental rates obtained were for premises which were furnished with heavy appliances, rugs and drapes. Presbyteries must be clear when approving the housing rates at the time of call or appointment that the rates for housing are sufficient to include these items. Heating expenses, utilities and other related expenses do not apply to housing allowances.

How is fair rental value established? The Manual states “…fair rental value shall be supported by data.” Presbyteries should be aware of the housing costs within their bounds. Many Presbyteries set a suggested minimum rate by securing information from local real estate agencies. The suggested rate within the Presbytery may vary from an urban setting to a rural setting. It is important that Presbyteries keep these rates current with the changing housing market.

In a question raised by a member in 1995 it was noted in an opinion by the General Secretary that“Presbytery approval must be obtained for the housing allowance at the time of a call or appointment. If a housing allowance does not meet the requirements set out in Section 36 (for example there is not supporting data and Presbytery decides that the housing allowance is not based on fair market rental), Presbytery could refuse to give its approval. The housing allowance is also subject to review on the same basis once every three (3) years.

Presbytery may set guidelines for housing allowances under its general duty of oversight of the Pastoral Charges within its bounds, but Presbytery has no power to insist that the Pastoral Charge comply with these guidelines. Presbytery could not refuse to approve a housing allowance on the basis that it did not comply with these guidelines, as long as the housing allowance met the requirements set out in Section 36.

Who does the tri-annual review of the housing allowance? The housing allowance is to be reviewed every three years. This review would be done by the Presbytery Oversight Committee and could be done at their tri-annual visit to the pastoral charge.

When the minister was called to the pastoral charge he/she agreed to live in the manse but now he/she wants to receive a housing allowance. What is involved in this change? Should the minister wish to change the terms of the call by moving out of the manse and then receiving a housing allowance, normally the minister would begin this conversation with the M&P committee and the committee would then take the recommendation to the Church Board or Council. A congregational meeting to approve the decision would be necessary. After congregational approval the request would go to the Presbytery for final approval. If the change in the terms of the call is deemed to be “apparently detrimental” to the minister or the pastoral charge, a Joint Needs Assessment report would be necessary (The Manual section 51).

When a pastoral charge has two ministers do they each get the same housing allowance? This question was put to the General Secretary for an opinion in 1999. The response was “The amount of the housing allowance is based on the ‘fair rental value of suitable accommodation comparable to …a manse in the area.’ If the housing allowance is calculated objectively in compliance with Section 36 (f) the end result could only be one amount for the housing allowance, not two different amounts. It follows that all ministry personnel serving in a Pastoral Charge are entitled to the same amount for a housing allowance. The amount cannot be different for two people serving the same Congregation in the same community.”