Show me the money.

The March issue arrived just in time for my annual performance review meeting with the pastor, and I brought Bob McClory's article, "Does it pay to work for the church?" with me. I am a director of faith formation. I don't know what the other staff at my parish are paid, but the article showed that people with business aptitude and music abilities are in general paid more than youth ministers or DREs. I am guessing that is because they have marketable skills outside the church arena. How ironic, I said to my pastor, that many of us who have advanced degrees in the very specific field of church work, such as theology and ministry, are paid less.

I have devoted all of my learning time over the last 20 years to becoming more knowledgeable about church doctrine and practice so I would be better able to teach adults and children about our faith. I see my colleagues give to their parishes so unselfishly and tirelessly because of their own personal faith and dedication to the mission of the Catholic Church. Had we all gotten MBAs instead, we could be business managers and zoom right past our fellow ministers. If I ever try to leave the church business, my future employers will likely not be impressed with my theology degree or years of coordinating volunteers. I would never choose a profession because of the pay scale, nevertheless it seems wrong for our church to use a purely business model to determine compensation.

Karen Dix

Addison, IL

Your March cover article elicited both laughter and tears from a father-son duo who reacted this way:

Old guy: "I don't even know how to respond to this!" Young Guy: "I think that sarcasm is the best route." The old guy, a career lay minister, is fast approaching the "not-so-golden years"; and the younger, in his first year, is "in it for the long haul." In 30-plus years of church work, the former has found that mortgage companies will not accept spiritual benefits as payment. The latter is a recent college graduate who is beginning a career in ministry "singing for his supper" to pay off college loans.

We thought we'd take a poll searching for some hint of the 22.5 percent of church employees who "strongly agreed" that "compensation was sufficient for their personal, family, and church needs," but they weren't available because they were putting in extra hours trying to explain to the new pastor what they do.

We in the 32 percent are not, as written, "frustrated and unhappy"; it is that we are not paid well. We are in fact fulfilled and happy here; we remain in ministry because we enjoy ministry. We may complain, but no one is looking for a ladder out. But just because we are not looking for a ladder doesn't mean our willingness should be taken advantage of.

Tom and Brian Rinkoski

Gainesville, Fla.

According to Robert McClory's data, full-time male lay ministers in the church receive a median annual pay of $37,500. Full-time female ministers (excluding nuns) receive $32,500. So, in addition to being denied one of the sacraments, and in addition to being excluded from significant leadership positions, Catholic women are also shortchanged (literally) when it comes to compensation for the identical work that lay men do for the church. Isn't it time for women to "Just say no"?

A. Regina Schulte

Burlington, Wis.