Metropolis of Denver Clergy Compensation Guidelines

Clergy Compensation Guidelines

Parishes are required to compensate each full-time assigned clergyman in accordance with the annual guidelines developed by the Archdiocese Benefits Committee (APC) in consultation with the Archdiocese Presbyters Council (APC). Once approved, these guidelines are issued to each parish by the Archdiocese Chancellor's Office.

The Clergy Compensation Plan for 2010 is described in the following documents:

Parish Obligations

Each parish is obligated in accordance with the provisions of the Uniform Parish Regulations (UPR) to pay the following for each assigned clergyman:

Clergyman's Salary, in accordance with the annual Archdiocesan guidelines
The full amount of the Clergyman's FICA, which is 15.3% of the salary amount
The annual clergy health insurance premium (payable in monthly installments)
Annual cost of a parish-provided car, including insurance and maintenance
Cost for the clergyman to attend (1) clergy retreats, (2) the biennial Metropolis Clergy-Laity Assembly, and (3) the biennial Archdiocese Clergy-Laity Congress

Each parish is also obligated in accordance with the UPR to pay the annual cost for the Archdiocese Benefits Program (ABP) for each assigned clergyman. The annual amount in 2010 is $5,700 payable via automatic electronic funds transfer (withdrawal) in the monthly amount of $475.

Note:The Parish monthly Benefits Contributions ($475 per month for 2010) are not priest-specific and are therefore not credited to the priest's individual account. Rather, they are credited to the general Benefits Fund, which, in addition to supporting the pension plan, provides the other important benefits included in the Archdiocese Benefits Program at no cost to the participant. This includes the Life Insurance Benefit, the Long Term Disability Benefit, and the Confidential Assistance Program, to name three.

Each clergyman is obligated in accordance with the UPR to remit either 3% or 5% of his earnings to his personal acount in the Archdiocese Pension Plan, also via automatic electronic funds transfer.