Church Staff Bonuses? Here’s What I Recommend After 40 Years in Ministry
A friend recently asked for my thoughts on staff bonuses in the church world—and I realized it’s one of those topics that often gets brushed aside or oversimplified. So I figured I’d share my take here and invite your perspective as well.
First, I think bonuses can be a really good thing. But like most things in ministry, they need to be approached with intentionality and nuance.
Let me start with what doesn’t feel great: tying bonuses directly to giving. If bonuses are calculated as a percentage of church revenue or offerings or even attendance, it can unintentionally create an icky dynamic—almost like performance is being rewarded at the expense of spiritual outcomes. People in the church who hear about it, and they will, begin to question your motives as to why you want them to give more or invite their friends to church. That model might work in the marketplace, but in the church, it blurs a line that’s better kept clear.
Instead, here’s what I’ve seen work well:
Build it into the budget. Let’s say you have a team of 10 staff members. You set aside a $15,000 line item in your annual budget—not advertised, not promised, just planned for.
Use discretion and performance as your guide. Toward the end of the year, if giving held steady and your budget is on track, you can distribute bonuses based on performance. I’m not talking about across-the-board equal payouts. I’m talking about identifying team members who went above and beyond—who helped move the ball down the field in meaningful ways—and saying, “Thank you. We see you.”
Another option is to tie bonuses to projects or additional work a staff member had to pick up because of a vacancy on the team.
Avoid predictability. Once something happens two years in a row, it becomes an expectation. Shake it up. Vary the amount, the timing, the criteria—whatever keeps it from becoming a guaranteed entitlement.
At the end of the day, bonuses aren’t just about money. They’re about honoring the people who pour themselves out in ministry, often without much fanfare. They’re about recognizing performance and contribution, not revenue.
That’s my take. What’s yours? I’d love to hear how you or your church handles this conversation.
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