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Women Clergy in TEC Make $10,000 a Year Less Than Male Counterparts
Between 2002 and 2009 TEC lost 877 of its male clergy (18.6%)
In 2009 The Episcopal Church lost 181 or 3% of its clergy
By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
Sept. 23, 2010
Figures released in September by the national Episcopal Church reveal a church in continued decline with male clergy still making at least $10,000 a year more than their female counterparts.
The average median salary for all clergy was $71,859 based on a survey of 3817 male clergy. For female clergy, based on a survey of 1914 women, the figure was $61,519.
In 2008 there were 4021 male clergy. In 2009 that figure had dropped to 3817 a drop of 204 clergy.
The number of female clergy rose, from 1891 in 2008 to 1914 in 2009 an increase of 23.
Going back to 2002, male clergy numbering 4694 made an average salary of $59,868. 1568 female clergy made $50,673.
Between 2002 and 2009 the Episcopal Church lost 531 of its full time clergy or 8.4%.
Also startling is that between 2002 and 2009 it lost 877 male clergy, or 18.6% of its male clergy.
Other highlights:
In 2002, 42.8% of clergy were over the age of 55.
The 37.88 represents clergy 55-65 in 2002
The 4.98 represents clergy over 65 in 2002
Dioceses that had the largest year over year decline in clergy were:
Fort Worth: 46 down to 13 (Diocese split from TEC)
San Joaquin: 26 down to 14 (Diocese split from TEC)
Michigan: 69 down to 56 (economy exposes weaknesses)
Virginia: 233 down to 219 (diocesan defections)
Nebraska: 34 down to 26
Missouri: 41 down to 34
Spokane: 23 down to 17
Who is growing?
Olympia 76 to 83
Tennessee 55 to 63
Central PA 37 to 41
Puerto Rico 15 to 45 (although there is a comment that these figures are not derived the same as for other dioceses)
Domestic dioceses with the lowest number of full time clergy were:
Navajoland 0
Quincy 2
Northern Michigan 4
Eastern Oregon 5
Eau Claire 6
Nevada 8
Western Kansas 9
One observer noted, "To be accurate, it would probably help to know whether these comparisons took into account the years of ordained service of the two groups, and the size of parishes where they are now serving."
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