Church employees in UK struggling with debt
Debt is a common experience for UK church employees, according to the results of a new survey.
In the survey of 182 individual church employees, 24% said they currently had personal debts - excluding mortgage debt - which were exceeding the equivalent of one month's salary.
One in three said they felt there was no one in the church they could go to about their financial position.
One in eight said their ministry role was being affected by their situation.
The survey looked at data from over 400 churches and found that pay levels tend not to keep pace with inflation, while less than half of staff are contributing to a church sponsored pension scheme.
One church worker, named only as Julian, told of how he left his job as a chartered surveyor to become a pastor and soon hit upon financial difficulties.
He said the salary was "modest" and paid "erratically". The family eventually resorted to paying for groceries with credit cards, despite Julian taking on a second job in a factory to help make ends meet.
"Being in debt is a massive taboo subject especially for a church leader – who can you confide in? You worry that your ministry will be affected if people in your church learn of your struggle," he said.
Stephen Mathews, senior consultant at Stewardship, agreed that the topic of personal debt can be taboo in many churches.
Matthews called for "open and honest" discussions between church employers and employees.
"Church ministers who struggle with personal finances can perceive that their ability to teach on money and finances is seriously affected," he said.
Stewardship is urging any church worker struggling financially to contact Christians Against Poverty for their free debt counselling service.
Tags : Church employees UK debt
Hot Trends
-
Here Are the Lyrics to Transformation Worship's "Yahweh"
-
Former Avalon Singer Michael Passons Says He Was Let Go Because of His Sexuality
-
Paul and Hannah McClure Re-Release "Christmas Morning" Album
-
Riley Clemmons Releases “All Is Well” with Michael W. Smith
-
Wilson Fairchild, Sons of the Statler Brothers, to Debut Album
-
Dr. Altheresa Goode Howard Presents NexDimension Worship's Debut Single "I'm Ready"
-
“Radiating Joy: The Michelle Duppong Story” Coming To Theaters, Nov. 12
-
Joy Williams Reveals the Real Reason Behind Civil War's Breakup
-
Our Top 5 Favorite Versions of "We Three Kings"
-
Rachel DeLong's "That's Who He Is" Encourages Us to Find Confidence in God
-
Lee Greenwood Collaborates with Drew Jacobs on New Version of "God Bless The U.S.A."
-
Leap of Faith: Lionel Cartwright Explains Why He Left Country Music & is Now a Worship Pastor
-
Brandon Lake & His Wife Are Expecting Their Third Child
-
Brandon Lake Signs with Provident Entertainment
-
11 Years Ago, Steve Green Released "Somewhere Between"
Most Popular
-
Here Are the Lyrics to Transformation Worship's "Yahweh"
-
Former Avalon Singer Michael Passons Says He Was Let Go Because of His Sexuality
-
Paul and Hannah McClure Re-Release "Christmas Morning" Album
-
Riley Clemmons Releases “All Is Well” with Michael W. Smith
-
Wilson Fairchild, Sons of the Statler Brothers, to Debut Album
-
Dr. Altheresa Goode Howard Presents NexDimension Worship's Debut Single "I'm Ready"
-
“Radiating Joy: The Michelle Duppong Story” Coming To Theaters, Nov. 12
-
Joy Williams Reveals the Real Reason Behind Civil War's Breakup
-
Our Top 5 Favorite Versions of "We Three Kings"
-
Rachel DeLong's "That's Who He Is" Encourages Us to Find Confidence in God
-
Lee Greenwood Collaborates with Drew Jacobs on New Version of "God Bless The U.S.A."
-
Leap of Faith: Lionel Cartwright Explains Why He Left Country Music & is Now a Worship Pastor
-
Brandon Lake & His Wife Are Expecting Their Third Child
-
Brandon Lake Signs with Provident Entertainment
-
11 Years Ago, Steve Green Released "Somewhere Between"