Rector Letter of Agreement

between ________________________ Church, ________________ and _____________________________(Rector)

Preamble
The Rector shall lead ________________ Church as pastor, priest, and teacher, sharing in the councils of this congregation and of the whole Church, in communion with the Bishop. By word and action, informed at all times by the Holy Scriptures, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Constitution and Canons of the General Convention of our Diocese, the Rector shall proclaim the Gospel, love and serve Christ’s people, nourish them, and strengthen them to glorify God in this life and in the life to come.

1. The Rector’s work includes not only activities directed to the parish and its well being, but also labors on behalf of the Diocese and community. The Rector’s scheduled work week is five and one half (5 ½) days, which shall include Sunday activities. The Rector is expected to preserve at least one continuous twenty-four hour period each week for personal and family use.
2. The Rector will have the following periods or leave at full compensation:
1. National holidays, at the discretion of the Rector, to be taken so as not to interfere with worship for major occasions.
2. Four calendar weeks annual vacation plus – see addendum
3. Up to two-calendar weeks continuing education leave each year.
4. One month after two years of service in this parish for sabbatical leave.
5. See Sec. E, last paragraph

1. The Rector’s annual cash salary will be $__________ paid bi-monthly or monthly and to be reviewed and adjusted annually.
2. The Vestry shall pay the following benefits:
1. Church Pensions Fund Assessment on the sum of the Rector’s total annual cash salary (including Housing Allowance)
2. Health and Hospital Insurance, equivalent to or better than the group plan provided through the Diocese.
3. Group Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance.
4. Workers’ Compensation Insurance, as required by Commonwealth Law.
5. The Rector shall have full use of the Rectory at ________________ as a residence or a housing allowance of $ ________________ per year,including utilities. It is understood that, upon the Rector’s request, the Vestry will designate a portion of the total cash salary as "Housing Allowance" under the Federal Internal Revenue Code.
6. One half social security shall be paid per year to the Rector as a salary supplement.

Section C – Expenses
The Vestry shall pay the following expenses incurred by the Rector in fulfilling the duties of office:

1. Normal local travel expenses up to $________________ annually for use of his/her privately owned vehicle (excluding one round trip per day between home and the church.)
2. The normal expenses of the church’s operation, such as telephone, postage, office equipment, supplies, secretarial services.
3. A Continuing Education Allowance of at least $________________ per year, to be reviewed annually, set aside in a special account, and paid to or on behalf of the Rector toward expenses incurred in relation to continuing education leave.

Section D – Discretionary Fund
In accordance with the canons of the General Convention, a Discretionary Fund is to be established under the Rector’s sole control.

Section E – Supplementary Compensation
The Rector shall not charge fees for performing any rites of the Church (for example, baptisms, marriages, and funerals) for members of ________________ Church. The Rector may, however, receive income from other sources, such as:

• Sacramental services on behalf of persons not in any way related to ________________ Church.
• Fees and honoraria for professional services performed on personal time for groups unrelated to ________________ or for sermons, books, or articles published outside the parish.

The Rector may engage in non-parish activities up to a total of 14 days per year, which shall not be counted against any leave time (Assigned to Section A, 2F)

Section F – Use of Buildings
In addition to use and control of the church and parish buildings for the discharge of duties of the Rector’s office, as provided by canon law, the Rector shall have the right to grant use of the buildings to individuals or groups from outside the parish, following guidelines approved by both the Rector and Vestry.

Section G – Revision
This letter may be revised by mutual agreement at the time of the annual mutual ministry review or as deemed necessary by the Bishop, the Vestry, and Rector. Compensation and other expense revisions shall be mutually agreed upon in a separate budget process.

Section H – Other Agreements

1. All moving and travel expenses incurred in making the move from ________________ to ________________, Virginia shall be paid by ________________.
2. This agreement shall be effective ________________, _______ and supersedes all previous agreements.
3. It is the expectation of the Bishop of Virginia that the rector will participate in the Fresh Start Program of the Diocese of Virginia.

Section I – Ministry Review
There shall be an annual discussion and mutual review of the total ministry of the parish in order to:

• Provide the Bishop, Rector, Wardens and Vestry opportunity to assess how well they are fulfilling their responsibilities to each other and to the ministry they share.
• Establish goals for the work of the parish for the coming year.
• Isolate areas of conflict or disappointment which have not received adequate attention and may be adversely affecting mutual ministry.
• Clarify expectations of all parties to help put any future conflicts in manageable form.
• A mutually agreed upon third party may be engaged to facilitate the ministry review process.

__________________________________________
Rector

__________________________________________
Senior Warden

Date: _______________________