2020 Geographic Trends of Gender Disparities in Composition and Compensation for UMC Clergy

Introduction

In the first installment of a three-part series of reports on gender disparities in 2020 clergy compensation, the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (GCSRW) explored the disparity in compensation of clergywomen and clergymen using 2020 U.S. compensation data from the denomination. Despite the trend of women constituting over half of The United Methodist Church (UMC) membership (Pew Research Center, 2015; General Council on Finance and Administration, 2020), women are significantly underrepresented among active, fulltime UMC clergy and are paid significantly less than UMC clergymen (Bethune, 2021).

Now in this second report, we revisit the 2020 compensation data and provide an update to the 2017 report (Bethune M. , 2017) on gender disparity in UMC clergy compensation by jurisdiction and annual conference. Results of this study show that, while the proportion of clergy who are women have increased in some jurisdictional conferences, clergywomen still may lag clergymen in both representation and compensation. What follows is a breakdown of highlights from our analyses and findings.

Demographics

For this study, we used 2020 U.S. compensation data from the denomination that included UMC clergy (N = 14,124) who were actively employed in 2020, 100% fulltime employed (total across multiple appointments as applicable), and who resided or were employed in U.S. jurisdictions. In 2020, clergy were 32% women and 68% men. By member type, clergy were: 46% elders – full connection; 21% full members, 20% fulltime local pastors, 7% provisional elders, 3% deacons – full connection, and 3% other member types (e.g., associate members, provisional deacon, student local pastor, etc.). By jurisdiction, clergy were: 36% Southeastern, 21% North Central, 20% South Central, 16% Northeastern, and 7% Western.

In 2020, clergy were, on average, 52.5 ± 11.1 years of age and had 15.7 ± 11.2 years of service. On average, UMC clergy received $59,515 ± $24,518 (ranging from $0 to $1,028,411) in salary in 2020. Clergy who received a housing allowance (38%; n = 5,364) received, on average, $21,420 ± $10,544 (ranging from $0 to $300,000). Clergy who received parsonage amount (56%; n = 7,862) received, on average, $14,350 ± $4,792 (ranging from $2,416 to $147,675). On average, UMC clergy received $75,637 ± $29,691 in total compensation[1] (ranging from $1,200 to $1,054,211). For a more detailed breakdown of clergy demographics and general figures regarding clergy compensation in 2020, see this previously published report.

Gender Composition of UMC Clergy

In 2020, fulltime UMC clergy were 32% women and 68% men. The gender composition of UMC clergy varies greatly by jurisdiction, as well as at the conference level[2]. Table 1 shows the 2020 gender breakdown of fulltime clergy by jurisdiction and conference. In comparison to other jurisdictions, clergywomen are underrepresented in the Southeastern Jurisdiction[3] – constituting only 27% of clergy in 2020. Meanwhile, women are relatively better represented in the North Central, Northeastern, and Western Jurisdictions, in comparison to all other jurisdictions. The proportion of clergy who are women ranges across annual conferences from 0% (Red Bird Missionary Conference) to 50% (Alaska United Methodist). Women are significantly underrepresented in the following conferences, in comparison to all other annual conferences: West Ohio, Susquehanna, Western Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Northwest Texas, Alabama-West Florida, Holston, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Alabama, and South Georgia.

In comparison to other conferences within their respective jurisdictions, women are significantly underrepresented in the following jurisdictional conferences: West Ohio (in comparison to conferences in the North Central Jurisdiction); Western Pennsylvania and Susquehanna (in comparison to conferences in the Northeastern Jurisdiction); Northwest Texas and Arkansas (in comparison to conferences in the South Central Jurisdiction); Kentucky, Mississippi, North Alabama, and South Georgia (in comparison to conferences in the Southeastern Jurisdiction); and California-Pacific (in comparison to conferences in the Western Jurisdiction).  Please note these disparities have existed over a lengthy period of time and is no reflection on any one administration.

The Gender Pay Gap for UMC Clergy by Conference and Jurisdiction

In 2020, UMC clergywomen, on average, made significantly less salary[4], housing allowance[5], parsonage amount[6], and thus total compensation[7] than did clergymen. When data were disaggregated by jurisdiction, UMC clergywomen made significantly less in salary and total compensation in each of the five U.S. jurisdictions, in comparison to clergymen. UMC clergywomen also received significantly less housing allowance than clergymen in all five U.S. jurisdictions. UMC clergywomen received significantly less parsonage amount than clergymen in all U.S. jurisdictions, except the Western Jurisdiction. Tables 2 through 5 show the average salary, housing allowance, parsonage, and total compensation respectively, by gender and for each jurisdiction. As noted in the tables, most jurisdictions reflect statistically significant and substantial gender pay gaps across all types of compensation.

Data were disaggregated by conference, and the pattern of gender disparity in compensation was observed in many instances at this level, as well. Tables 6 through 9 show the average salary, housing allowance, parsonage, and total compensation respectively, by gender and for each conference. Noted in these tables are the conferences that reflect statistically significant and substantial gender pay gaps for each type of compensation. It is plausible that factors, such as years of service or clergy membership type can sometimes influence how clergy are compensated; in general, these factors were found to be salient in the 2020 data (Bethune, 2021). When analyses were conducted, controlling for age, years of service, clergy member type, and jurisdiction, clergywomen still received significantly less salary than men in 2020 in the following conferences: Central Texas, East Ohio, Iowa, and North Georgia.

Then and Now

While proportion of fulltime UMC clergy that are women has undergone a modest increase from 2015 to 2020 (Bethune, 2021), women still are significantly underrepresented. This is a pattern that is observed at the jurisdiction as well as annual conference level. From 2015 to 2020, a number of annual conferences have seen increases in women’s representation among fulltime clergy that meet or exceed the average improvement (+3%) of the jurisdictional conferences. Table 1 shows both the conferences and jurisdictions that have increased their proportion of clergy who are women by at least 3 percentage points from 2015 to 2020. It is important to note though that a 3% change over the course of five years is at best, only a modest change. For many conferences, there was much room in 2015 for improvement toward parity in clergy representation.

Overall and at the jurisdiction level, much of the observed gender disparity in compensation persisted from 2015 to 2020. However, at the conference level, notable improvements have been made to reduce the gender pay gap. For example, conferences for whom statistically significant differences in clergywomen and clergywomen’s salary were observed in 2015, but not in 2020 include the following: Baltimore-Washington, Dakotas, Eastern Pennsylvania, Florida, Great Plains, Holston, Illinois Great Rivers, Louisiana, Memphis, Mississippi, New England, New York, North Texas, South Carolina, South Georgia, Susquehanna, Texas, Upper New York, West Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Study findings also suggest that, for some conferences, disparity manifests not only in the ways in which clergy are compensated by gender, but perhaps also in the situation of UM clergywomen in general. For example, clergywomen are likely to have fewer years of service and are less likely to be serving in clergy capacities that are compensated more substantively (e.g., elders in full connection), which seem, in some cases, to impact the salary and other compensation outcomes of clergywomen at large.

In pursuit of equity, it is strongly recommended that conferences and jurisdictions critically examine their policies and procedures that directly influence the ways in which clergy are compensated. Additionally though, it is advised that factors influencing the overall situation of clergywomen (e.g., appointments, ordination processes, pipelines to ministry, etc.) also be reviewed, such that they may better support the participation, promotion, and equitable compensation of clergy along lines of gender.

References

Bethune, M. (2017). Geographic trends associated with gender composition and compensation for UMC clergy. The United Methodist Church, General Commission on the Status and Role of Women. Retrieved from https://gcsrw.org/MonitoringHistory/WomenByTheNumbers/tabid/891/post/geographic-trends-associated-with-gender-composition-and-compensation-for-umc-clergy/Default.aspx

Bethune, M. C. (2021). How far we’ve come and the distance still to go: UMC clergywomen are still significantly undercompensated. The United Methodist Church, General Commission on the Status and Role of Women. General Commission on the Status and Role of Women.

General Council on Finance and Administration. (2020). 2018 Membership by Ethnicity and Gender. The United Methodist Church. Nashville, TN: The United Methodist Church. Retrieved August 2021

Pew Research Center. (2015). America's changing religious landscape. Pew Research Center.

 

 


 

Table 1

Gender Composition of U.S. Clergy by Jurisdictional Conference, 2020 (N= 14,124)

 

Women

Men

Total

≥ 3 percentage points change in % womeng

 

n

%

n

%

N

+/-

NORTH CENTRAL f

DAKOTAS

40

33.1%

81

66.9%

121

+

EAST OHIO

82

30.7%

185

69.3%

267

+

ILLINOIS GREAT RIVERS

94

30.3%

216

69.7%

310

+

INDIANA

108

27.4%

286

72.6%

394

+

IOWA b,d

117

39.8%

177

60.2%

294

 

MICHIGAN

140

33.3%

281

66.7%

421

 

MINNESOTA b,d

77

46.7%

88

53.3%

165

+

NORTHERN ILLINOIS b,d

113

44.3%

142

55.7%

255

+

WEST OHIO a,c

153

30.2%

353

69.8%

506

+

WISCONSIN b,d

88

43.3%

115

56.7%

203

+

NORTH CENTRAL TOTAL f

1,012

34.5%

1,924

65.5%

2,936

 

+

NORTHEASTERN f

BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON b,d

139

43.8%

178

56.2%

317

 

EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA

52

30.6%

118

69.4%

170

 

GREATER NEW JERSEY

90

35.3%

165

64.7%

255

+

NEW ENGLAND b

74

40.2%

110

59.8%

184

 

NEW YORK b

90

40.0%

135

60.0%

225

+

PENINSULA-DELAWARE

41

36.6%

71

63.4%

112

+

SUSQUEHANNA a,c

76

28.5%

191

71.5%

267

+

UPPER NEW YORK b,d

97

43.3%

127

56.7%

224

 

WEST VIRGINIA

69

31.2%

152

68.8%

221

+

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA a,c

59

20.9%

223

79.1%

282

+

NORTHEASTERN TOTAL f

787

34.9%

1,470

65.1%

2,257

 

+

SOUTH CENTRAL

ARKANSAS a,c

55

25.2%

163

74.8%

218

 

CENTRAL TEXAS

62

30.2%

143

69.8%

205

 

GREAT PLAINS b,d

179

40.2%

266

59.8%

445

+

LOUISIANA

57

32.6%

118

67.4%

175

+

MISSOURI

103

31.6%

223

68.4%

326

 

NEW MEXICO

19

25.3%

56

74.7%

75

+

NORTH TEXAS

88

33.8%

172

66.2%

260

 

NORTHWEST TEXAS a,c

15

14.9%

86

85.1%

101

 

OKLAHOMA

83

28.0%

213

72.0%

296

+

OKLAHOMA INDIAN MSNY

5

41.7%

7

58.3%

12

 

RIO TEXAS

89

34.5%

169

65.5%

258

 

TEXAS

133

29.2%

322

70.8%

455

+

SOUTH CENTRAL TOTAL

888

31.4%

1,938

68.6%

2,826

 

+

SOUTHEASTERN e

ALABAMA-WEST FLORIDA a

61

22.5%

210

77.5%

271

+

FLORIDA

133

28.9%

328

71.1%

461

+

HOLSTON a

81

26.1%

229

73.9%

310

+

KENTUCKY a,c

40

16.9%

196

83.1%

236

+

MEMPHIS

33

26.0%

94

74.0%

127

+

MISSISSIPPI a,c

81

21.9%

289

78.1%

370

 

NORTH ALABAMA a,c

56

19.5%

231

80.5%

287

 

NORTH CAROLINA

126

30.5%

287

69.5%

413

+

NORTH GEORGIA d

144

31.9%

307

68.1%

451

+

RED BIRD MISSIONARY

0

0.0%

6

100.0%

6

 

SOUTH CAROLINA

129

30.6%

292

69.4%

421

 

SOUTH GEORGIA a,c

38

16.3%

195

83.7%

233

 

TENNESSEE d

80

33.8%

157

66.2%

237

+

VIRGINIA d

197

30.9%

440

69.1%

637

+

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA d

199

31.4%

435

68.6%

634

 

SOUTHEASTERN TOTAL e

1,398

27.4%

3,696

72.6%

5,094

 

+

WESTERN

ALASKA UNITED METHODIST

1

50.0%

1

50.0%

2

+

CALIFORNIA-NEVADA b

86

42.4%

117

57.6%

203

 

CALIFORNIA-PACIFIC c

113

36.8%

194

63.2%

307

+

DESERT SOUTHWEST b

38

41.8%

53

58.2%

91

 

MOUNTAIN SKY b,d

94

48.5%

100

51.5%

194

+

OREGON IDAHO

35

41.7%

49

58.3%

84

 

PACIFIC NORTHWEST b

59

45.4%

71

54.6%

130

-

WESTERN TOTAL f

426

42.1%

585

57.9%

1,011

 

+

US TOTAL

4,511

31.9%

9,613

68.1%

14,124

+

a Women are significantly underrepresented among clergy in this annual conference, in comparison to all other annual conferences.

b Women are relatively better represented among clergy in this annual conference, in comparison to all other annual conferences.

c Women are significantly underrepresented among clergy in this annual conference, in comparison to annual conferences sharing a jurisdiction.

d Women are relatively better represented among clergy in this annual conference, in comparison to annual conferences sharing a jurisdiction.

e Women are significantly underrepresented among clergy in this jurisdiction, in comparison to all other jurisdictions.

f Women are relatively better among clergy in this jurisdiction, in comparison to all other jurisdictions.

g Proportion of clergy that are women changed by ≥ 3 percentage points from 2015 to 2020

 

 


 

Table 2

Average Salary of Full-time UMC Clergy by Gender and Jurisdiction, 2020, N=14,124

 

Average Salary

 

Gender

 

 

Women

Men

Total

 

n

US$

SD

n

US$

SD

n

US$

SD

North Centrala,b

1,012

53,168

14,540

1,924

57.371

17,316

2,936

55,922

16,531

North Easterna

787

54,549

15,575

1,470

57,712

1,8483

2,257

56,609

17,585

South Centrala,b

888

56,038

38,136

1,938

66,581

33,690

2,826

63,268

35,480

Southeasterna,b

1,398

56,426

20,044

3,696

64,013

25,745

5,094

61,931

24,546

Westerna,b

426

51,393

13,388

585

55,494

14,621

1,011

53,766

14,252

US Total

4,511

54,816

22,801

9,613

61,719

24,982

14,124

59,514

24,518

a In these jurisdictions, there was a statistically significant difference in clergywomen and clergymen’s 2020 salaries.
b In these jurisdictions, gender was still a significant predictor of 2020 salary, even when length of service, age (at the time of report), and membership type were held steady.

 

Table 3

Average Housing Allowance of Full-time UMC Clergy by Gender and Jurisdiction, 2020, N=5,364

 

Average Housing Allowance

 

Gender

 

 

Women

Men

Total

 

n

US$

SD

n

US$

SD

n

US$

SD

North Centrala

290

18,028

7,049

553

19,823

7,798

841

19,206

7,592

Northeasterna

207

20,674

9,033

326

22,843

9,829

533

22,001

9,578

South Centrala,b

453

19,948

10,455

893

23,794

12,934

1,346

22,500

12,287

Southeasterna,b

603

18,505

6,339

1,417

21,052

11,367

2,020

20,292

10,196

Westerna,b

264

23,655

9,802

1,417

26,427

10,837

622

25,251

10,492

US Total

1,817

19,784

8,655

3,547

22,258

11,301

5,364

21,420

10,544

a In these jurisdictions, there was a statistically significant difference in clergywomen and clergymen’s 2020 housing allowance.
b In these jurisdictions, gender was still a significant predictor of 2020 housing allowance, even when length of service, age (at time of report), and membership type were held steady.

 

Table 4

Average Parsonage Amount of Full-time UMC Clergy by Gender and Jurisdiction, 2020, N=7,862

 

Average Parsonage Amount

 

Gender

 

 

 

 

Women

Men

Total

 

n

US$

SD

n

US$

SD

n

US$

SD

North Centrala,b

643

13,087

3,299

1,261

13,978

3,731

1,904

13,677

3,615

North Easterna

527

13,442

3,405

1,079

14,135

4,222

1,606

13,908

3,985

South Centrala,b

394

13,426

4,238

998

15,629

7,019

1,492

15,006

6,432

Southeasterna,b

623

13,979

4,487

1,971

15,218

5,222

2,594

14,920

5,082

Western

152

13,052

4,487

214

13,415

2,621

366

13,264

2,686

US Total

2,339

13,459

3,820

5,523

14,728

5,103

7,862

14,350

4,792

a In these jurisdictions, there was a statistically significant difference in clergywomen and clergymen’s 2020 parsonage amount.
b In these jurisdictions, gender was still a significant predictor of 2020 parsonage amount, even when length of service, age (at time of report), and membership type were held steady.

 

Table 5

Average Total Compensation of Full-time UMC Clergy by Gender and Jurisdiction, 2020, N=14,124

 

Total Compensation

 

Gender

 

 

 

 

Women

Men

Total

 

n

US$

SD

n

US$

SD

n

US$

SD

North Centrala,b

1,012

66,649

18,449

1,924

72,230

21,622

2,936

70,306

20,751

Northeasterna

787

68,988

18,980

1,470

73,153

22,481

2,257

71,701

21,414

South Centrala,b

888

72,171

41,392

1,938

85,594

41,845

2,826

81,376

42,159

Southeasterna,b

1,398

70,638

23,811

3,696

80,199

31,415

5,094

77,575

29,829

Westerna,b

426

70,710

17,374

585

76,573

19,840

1,011

74,103

19,053

US Total

4,511

69,764

26,150

9,613

78,394

30,833

14,124

75,637

29,691

a In these jurisdictions, there was a statistically significant difference in clergywomen and clergymen’s 2020 total compensation.
b In these jurisdictions, gender was still a significant predictor of 2020 total compensation, even when length of service, age (at time of report), and membership type were held steady.

 

Table 6

Average Salary of Full-time UMC Clergy by Gender and Annual Conference, 2020, N=14,124

 

Gender

 

 

 

 

Women

Men

Total

 

n

US$

SD

n

US$

SD

n

US$

SD

ALABAMA-WEST FLORIDAa

61

55,797

21,717

210

68,514

27,745

271

65,651

27,000

ALASKA UNITED METHODIST

1

42,815

--

1

56,000

--

2

49,408

9,323

ARKANSASa

55

82,048

132,331

163

79,082

27,802

218

79,830

70,260

BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON

139

59,463

19,438

178

62,494

21,512

317

61,165

20,651

CALIFORNIA-NEVADA

86

56,527

11,473

117

58,320

14,075

203

57,560

13,036

CALIFORNIA-PACIFIC

113

54,877

15,014

194

57,676

13,962

307

56,646

14,398

CENTRAL TEXASb

62

55,654

22,493

143

74,499

36,121

205

68,799

33,686

DAKOTAS

40

54,859

15,126

81

58,853

14,130

121

57,532

14,526

DESERT SOUTHWEST

38

48,900

12,615

53

53,771

11,474

91

51,737

12,138

EAST OHIOa,b

82

47,113

10,701

185

52,004

15,114

267

50,502

14,071

EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA

52

56,358

18,432

118

60,761

16,898

170

59,414

17,445

FLORIDA

133

57,045

18,426

328

65,703

26,263

461

63,205

24,559

GREAT PLAINS

179

52,726

13,529

266

58,436

38,570

445

56,139

31,131

GREATER NEW JERSEYa

90

56,198

16,694

165

59,940

15,891

255

58,619

16,245

HOLSTON

81

57,441

19,946

229

59,131

20,686

310

58,689

20,476

ILLINOIS GREAT RIVERS

94

58,591

16,233

216

62,225

18,541

310

61,123

17,925

INDIANAa

108

55,459

14,569

286

61,770

16,914

394

60,040

16,528

IOWAa,b

117

55,403

12,337

177

62,234

22,644

294

59,515

19,480

KENTUCKYa

40

48,372

15,054

196

56,572

18,886

236

55,182

18,523

LOUISIANA

57

56,598

19,331

118

67,513

31,923

175

63,958

28,841

MEMPHIS

33

51,988

19,401

94

58,881

22,019

127

57,090

21,509

MICHIGANa

140

51,747

15,769

281

56,321

16,303

421

54,800

16,252

MINNESOTA

77

52,366

12,758

88

51,236

8,704

165

51,764

10,767

MISSISSIPPIa

81

57,623

26,293

289

62,106

26,221

370

61,125

26,267

MISSOURI

103

51,037

16,253

223

56,332

17,732

326

54,659

17,429

MOUNTAIN SKY

94

45,853

13,300

100

50,540

17,877

194

48,269

15,959

NEW ENGLAND

74

54,525

11,898

110

58,102

26,406

184

56,664

21,791

NEW MEXICOa

19

55,564

13,011

56

64,672

19,730

75

62,365

18,612

NEW YORK

90

55,331

14,437

135

60,386

23,981

225

58,364

20,809

NORTH ALABAMAa

56

54,561

23,714

231

64,299

28,357

287

62,399

27,744

NORTH CAROLINAa

126

59,130

16,178

287

65,414

22,453

413

63,497

20,922

NORTH GEORGIAb

144

57,134

23,457

307

75,578

34,104

451

69,689

32,247

NORTH TEXAS

88

53,981

20,683

172

71,789

48,227

260

65,761

41,839

NORTHERN ILLINOIS

113

50,389

16,011

142

53,558

17,774

255

52,154

17,056

NORTHWEST TEXAS

15

56,038

17,449

86

62,612

22,218

101

61,635

21,627

OKLAHOMAa

83

54,102

21,060

213

67,122

31,295

296

63,471

29,350

OKLAHOMA INDIAN MSNY

5

33,845

3,493

7

43,054

19,182

12

39,217

15,087

OREGON IDAHO

35

45,091

12,023

49

50,940

14,541

84

48,502

13,781

PACIFIC NORTHWESTa

59

51,557

8,569

71

56,271

11,999

130

54,132

10,803

PENINSULA-DELAWARE

41

52,707

13,409

71

54,570

15,217

112

53,888

14,547

RED BIRD MISSIONARY

0

--

--

6

34,422

3,619

6

34,422

3,619

RIO TEXASa

89

55,547

18,350

169

57,901

19,293

258

57,089

18,970

SOUTH CAROLINA

129

64,048

20,002

292

69,106

24,045

421

67,556

22,977

SOUTH GEORGIA

38

63,640

20,491

195

72,118

26,786

233

70,735

26,016

SUSQUEHANNA

76

56,730

13,659

191

59,768

13,980

267

58,903

13,932

TENNESSEEa

80

55,351

21,731

157

59,488

21,306

237

58,092

21,494

TEXAS

133

57,351

24,200

322

73,543

37,740

455

68,810

35,095

UPPER NEW YORK

97

50,890

10,558

127

52,738

12,985

224

51,938

12,004

VIRGINIAa

197

48,876

12,878

440

53,703

18,675

637

52,210

17,229

WEST OHIO

153

52,157

14,170

353

54,599

15,990

506

53,861

15,489

WEST VIRGINIA

69

46,415

14,059

152

48,475

14,785

221

47,832

14,562

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINAa

199

57,552

19,527

435

65,044

25,991

634

62,692

24,383

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

59

51,696

14,086

223

57,187

16,416

282

56,038

16,089

WISCONSIN

88

54,752

13,515

115

57,899

15,841

203

56,535

14,925

US TOTAL

4,511

54,816

22,801

9,613

61,719

24,982

14,124

59,515

24,518

a In this annual conference, there was a statistically significant difference in clergywomen and clergymen’s 2020 salaries.
b In this annual conference, gender was still a significant predictor of 2020 salary, even when length of service, age (at time of report), and membership type were held steady.

 

 

Table 7

Average Housing Allowance of Full-time UMC Clergy by Gender and Annual Conference, 2020, N=5,364

 

Gender

 

 

 

 

Women

Men

Total

 

n

US$

SD

n

US$

SD

n

US$

SD

ALABAMA-WEST FLORIDAa

35

17,755

5,647

123

22,483

8,917

158

21,436

8,519

ALASKA UNITED METHODIST

1

30,605

--

1

21,000

--

2

25,803

6,792

ARKANSAS

27

18,398

9,487

75

19,028

6,714

102

18,861

7,502

BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON

96

25,174

8,972

112

26,894

9,910

208

26,100

9,505

CALIFORNIA-NEVADA

42

24,144

10,668

56

28,315

11,787

98

26,528

11,453

CALIFORNIA-PACIFIC

69

26,149

10,392

120

29,346

11,141

189

28,179

10,955

CENTRAL TEXASa

35

17,826

8,901

79

24,077

12,360

114

22,158

11,734

DAKOTAS

12

19,692

7,995

20

21,731

4,255

32

20,966

5,898

DESERT SOUTHWEST

31

23,612

6,784

51

24,467

8,850

82

24,143

8,097

EAST OHIO

11

12,733

3,113

42

17,953

12,879

53

16,870

11,714

EASTERN PENNSYLVANIAa

27

18,590

6,948

66

22,072

7,218

93

21,061

7,279

FLORIDAa

43

22,525

6,634

119

27,429

8,583

162

26,127

8,378

GREAT PLAINSa

75

15,504

5,270

93

17,991

7,610

168

16,881

6,764

GREATER NEW JERSEY

6

22,720

7,497

11

25,891

14,346

17

24,772

12,191

HOLSTON

31

14,206

4,193

91

14,704

5,384

122

14,577

5,096

ILLINOIS GREAT RIVERS

14

14,869

4,039

25

16,414

5,833

39

15,860

5,257

INDIANA

28

19,195

4,283

95

21,256

7,658

123

20,787

7,070

IOWAa

21

17,008

3,368

36

18,858

2,821

57

18,177

3,136

KENTUCKY

19

19,657

6,756

76

19,770

5,473

95

19,748

5,713

LOUISIANAa

26

17,030

4,819

56

20,976

7,129

82

19,725

6,715

MEMPHIS

20

22,915

8,395

50

27,317

12,341

70

26,059

11,470

MICHIGANa

22

14,024

7,039

67

17,520

6,918

89

16,656

7,072

MINNESOTA

49

21,655

6,708

58

22,658

9,236

107

22,199

8,155

MISSISSIPPI

5

17,638

7,248

4

19,200

9,075

9

18,332

7,604

MISSOURIa

59

18,581

9,167

91

21,840

7,498

150

20,558

8,320

MOUNTAIN SKY

63

25,340

10,694

59

26,270

11,906

122

25,790

11,259

NEW ENGLAND

13

16,825

6,685

17

23,125

10,142

30

20,395

9,237

NEW MEXICO

7

20,636

7,098

17

23,691

9,637

24

22,800

8,931

NEW YORK

11

19,664

9,690

15

26,993

12,726

26

23,892

11,912

NORTH ALABAMAa

25

14,814

5,918

99

18,766

8,079

124

17,969

7,834

NORTH CAROLINA

55

18,749

4,637

111

23,045

27,101

166

21,622

22,378

NORTH GEORGIAa

108

20,962

5,230

193

24,176

7,707

301

23,023

7,082

NORTH TEXAS

76

26,764

12,492

124

29,366

15,680

200

28,377

14,573

NORTHERN ILLINOIS

24

22,037

9,840

35

24,549

7,068

59

23,527

8,320

NORTHWEST TEXAS

2

12,000

8,485

30

24,457

7,644

32

23,678

8,147

OKLAHOMA

23

14,758

5,166

90

16,823

7,890

113

16,403

7,444

OKLAHOMA INDIAN MSNY

1

12,000

--

1

7,000

--

2

9,500

3,536

OREGON IDAHO

20

16,291

6,507

32

19,738

8,016

52

18,412

7,596

PACIFIC NORTHWESTa

38

19,524

6,547

39

23,163

7,414

77

21,367

7,190

PENINSULA-DELAWAREa

14

16,639

7,228

32

22,042

5,601

46

20,397

6,559

RIO TEXAS

35

20,580

9,057

79

21,727

10,596

114

21,375

10,123

SOUTH CAROLINA

37

16,678

4,447

93

17,772

7,215

130

17,461

6,549

SOUTH GEORGIA

11

14,955

4,974

55

18,403

8,850

66

17,828

8,399

SUSQUEHANNA

3

12,579

6,303

12

18,762

10,103

15

17,525

9,614

TENNESSEEa

55

19,084

7,495

86

23,137

12,854

141

21,556

11,221

TEXASa

87

22,297

13,000

158

32,078

17,435

245

28,605

16,64

UPPER NEW YORK

21

14,463

6,255

31

16,638

6,936

52

15,760

6,694

VIRGINIA

84

18,364

7,085

181

19,210

6,902

265

18,942

6,958

WEST OHIOa

70

15,363

7,397

129

18,494

7,013

199

17,393

7,288

WEST VIRGINIA

6

12,250

4,756

9

11,292

4,242

15

11,675

4,312

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

75

15,588

4,722

136

16,943

5,020

211

16,461

4,948

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

10

14,173

3,661

21

16,534

9,396

31

15,773

8,009

WISCONSIN

39

19,875

4,782

46

20,261

5,202

85

20,084

4,988

US TOTAL

1,817

19,784

8,655

3,547

22,258

11,301

5,364

21,420

10,544

a In this annual conference, there was a statistically significant difference in clergywomen and clergymen’s 2020 housing allowance.

 

 


 

 

Table 8

Average Parsonage Amount of Full-time UMC Clergy by Gender and Annual Conference, 2020, N=7,862

 

Gender

 

 

 

 

Women

Men

Total

 

n

US$

SD

n

US$

SD

n

US$

SD

ALABAMA-WEST FLORIDAa

19

12,459

3,498

82

15,473

4,275

101

14,906

4,290

ALASKA UNITED METHODIST

0

--

--

0

--

--

0

--

--

ARKANSASa

24

15,602

4,386

87

18,715

6,026

111

18,042

5,837

BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON

34

13,613

2,632

53

14,096

2,795

87

13,907

2,727

CALIFORNIA-NEVADA

44

14,128

2,817

58

14,021

2,155

102

14,067

2,450

CALIFORNIA-PACIFIC

39

13,890

2,719

71

13,896

2,541

110

13,894

2,593

CENTRAL TEXAS

17

15,380

6,702

56

16,043

4,699

73

15,889

5,189

DAKOTAS

25

12,625

2,156

54

13,844

2,833

79

13,458

2,685

DESERT SOUTHWEST

6

11,869

2,667

2

13,804

3,459

8

12,352

2,755

EAST OHIOa

64

11,665

2,700

133

12,675

3,250

197

12,347

3,111

EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA

20

14,347

2,488

47

15,458

2,966

67

15,126

2,860

FLORIDA

83

14,722

4,718

190

15,395

4,638

273

15,190

4,664

GREAT PLAINS

100

12,482

2,546

166

14,171

10,981

266

13,536

8,842

GREATER NEW JERSEYa

76

13,222

4,176

151

14,681

4,298

227

14,193

4,304

HOLSTON

42

13,629

4,157

119

13,654

3,617

161

13,647

3,752

ILLINOIS GREAT RIVERS

74

14,510

3,850

177

15,306

4,284

251

15,072

4,169

INDIANAa

71

13,462

3,006

183

14,437

3,267

254

14,164

3,220

IOWAa

81

13,744

2,666

124

14,968

3,248

205

14,485

3,084

KENTUCKYa

19

11,686

2,139

110

13,043

3,714

129

12,843

3,553

LOUISIANA

30

14,091

4,328

61

16,251

5,370

91

15,539

5,128

MEMPHIS

13

14,824

4,026

43

14,987

3,977

56

14,949

3,952

MICHIGAN

110

12,983

3,514

207

13,816

3,842

317

13,527

3,747

MINNESOTA

28

12,461

2,667

30

12,834

2,133

58

12,654

2,391

MISSISSIPPIa

31

12,670

4,433

183

14,662

4,928

214

14,373

4,900

MISSOURI

43

12,194

3,233

124

13,101

3,360

167

12,867

3,342

MOUNTAIN SKY

29

11,891

2,972

37

12,023

2,405

66

11,965

2,648

NEW ENGLAND

58

13,721

2,803

88

14,258

6,667

146

14,045

5,462

NEW MEXICOa

11

12,883

3,078

37

16,210

4,997

48

15,448

4,810

NEW YORK

74

14,106

3,172

112

15,044

5,508

186

14,671

4,732

NORTH ALABAMAa

24

12,670

3,341

117

15,392

6,533

141

14,929

6,185

NORTH CAROLINAa

56

14,066

2,974

169

15,558

4,862

225

15,186

4,507

NORTH GEORGIA

30

14,593

6,517

103

17,431

7,477

133

16,791

7,345

NORTH TEXAS

11

15,967

2,465

47

17,423

6,384

58

17,147

5,855

NORTHERN ILLINOIS

83

12,827

4,034

99

13,521

4,825

182

13,205

4,483

NORTHWEST TEXAS

13

13,402

4,911

55

14,373

4,738

68

14,187

4,750

OKLAHOMAa

53

12,956

3,964

117

16,014

7,106

170

15,061

6,443

OKLAHOMA INDIAN MSNY

3

8,745

1,103

3

8,558

1,633

6

8,652

1,251

OREGON IDAHO

14

11,237

1,243

16

11,539

2,847

30

11,398

2,216

PACIFIC NORTHWESTa

20

12,365

1,660

30

13,794

2,844

50

13,222

2,521

PENINSULA-DELAWAREa

26

13,981

3,402

37

13,324

3,660

63

13,595

3,542

RED BIRD MISSIONARY

0

--

--

6

7,932

2,094

6

7,932

2,094

RIO TEXASa

50

12,841

3,441

86

14,380

4,306

136

13,814

4,066

SOUTH CAROLINA

77

16,304

5,272

164

16,842

5,000

241

16,670

5,084

SOUTH GEORGIA

23

15,831

5,421

133

16,973

5,138

156

16,805

5,178

SUSQUEHANNA

71

14,388

3,260

174

14,964

3,483

245

14,797

3,423

TENNESSEEa

17

12,431

4,303

63

15,437

3,975

80

14,798

4,205

TEXAS

39

15,699

6,714

159

17,346

6,804

198

17,021

6,801

UPPER NEW YORK

68

13,274

2,780

90

13,198

2,677

158

13,231

2,713

VIRGINIAa

93

12,030

3,024

229

13,100

4,537

322

12,791

4,180

WEST OHIO

59

12,811

2,742

187

13,333

3,408

246

13,208

3,263

WEST VIRGINIA

59

11,199

3,610

139

12,048

3,810

198

11,795

3,763

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINAa

96

14,493

4,364

260

15,955

5,701

356

15,561

5,407

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

41

13,199

3,626

188

14,163

3,373

229

13,991

3,431

WISCONSIN

48

12,756

3,158

67

13,566

3,432

115

13,228

3,331

US TOTAL

2,339

13,459

3,820

5,523

14,728

5,103

7,862

14,350

4,792

a In this annual conference, there was a statistically significant difference in clergywomen and clergymen’s 2020 parsonage amount.



 

Table 9

Average Total Compensation of Full-time UMC Clergy by Gender and Annual Conference, 2020, N=14,124

 

Gender

 

 

 

 

Women

Men

Total

 

n

US$

SD

n

US$

SD

n

US$

SD

ALABAMA-WEST FLORIDAa,b

61

69,865

26,413

210

87,724

33,305

271

83,704

32,703

ALASKA UNITED METHODIST

1

73,420

--

1

77,000

--

2

75,210

2,531

ARKANSASa

55

97,888

135,490

163

97,826

32,254

218

97,841

73,109

BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON

139

80,179

20,163

178

83,613

21,623

317

82,108

21,032

CALIFORNIA-NEVADA

86

75,546

16,583

117

78,823

18,754

203

77,435

17,898

CALIFORNIA-PACIFIC

113

75,638

18,481

194

80,914

19,693

307

78,972

19,39

CENTRAL TEXASb

62

69,934

28,547

143

94,083

44,184

205

86,779

41,548

DAKOTAS

40

68,657

20,176

81

73,448

17,817

121

71,864

18,683

DESERT SOUTHWEST

38

70,036

15,676

53

77,835

16,334

91

74,578

16,436

EAST OHIOa,b

82

57,925

13,596

185

65,193

20,916

267

62,961

19,241

EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA

52

71,528

18,394

118

79,264

19,818

170

76,898

19,666

FLORIDA

133

73,515

22,309

328

84,572

31,261

461

81,382

29,372

GREAT PLAINS

179

66,195

16,458

266

73,570

47,352

445

70,603

38,209

GREATER NEW JERSEYa

90

68,878

21,965

165

75,101

20,212

255

72,905

21,017

HOLSTON

81

69,945

23,634

229

72,069

24,509

310

71,514

24,263

ILLINOIS GREAT RIVERS

94

72,228

20,069

216

76,668

22,869

310

75,322

22,120

INDIANAa

108

69,285

18,510

286

78,068

21,574

394

75,660

21,123

IOWAa,b

117

67,971

14,838

177

76,555

24,162

294

73,139

21,344

KENTUCKYa

40

63,260

18,667

196

71,558

23,350

236

70,152

22,80

LOUISIANA

57

71,782

23,144

118

85,869

36,386

175

81,281

33,263

MEMPHIS

33

71,716

21,361

94

80,268

28,922

127

78,046

27,340

MICHIGANa

140

64,152

18,346

281

70,676

20,310

421

68,506

19,897

MINNESOTA

77

70,678

17,438

88

70,545

14,683

165

70,607

15,978

MISSISSIPPIa

81

63,561

26,772

289

71,656

28,320

370

69,884

28,153

MISSOURI

103

66,771

21,760

223

72,529

22,885

326

70,710

22,661

MOUNTAIN SKY

94

66,504

18,432

100

70,488

24,056

194

68,558

21,553

NEW ENGLAND

74

68,236

14,219

110

73,082

32,882

184

71,133

27,025

NEW MEXICOa

19

70,625

17,100

56

82,574

26,098

75

79,547

24,591

NEW YORK

90

69,332

16,887

135

75,866

29,532

225

73,253

25,403

NORTH ALABAMAa

56

66,605

28,144

231

80,138

34,526

287

77,497

33,761

NORTH CAROLINAa

126

73,566

20,112

287

83,488

33,014

413

80,461

30,00

NORTH GEORGIAb

144

75,895

27,111

307

96,625

40,222

451

90,006

37,779

NORTH TEXAS

88

79,091

22,505

172

97,720

57,377

260

91,415

49,211

NORTHERN ILLINOIS

113

64,491

20,251

142

69,036

22,072

255

67,022

21,363

NORTHWEST TEXAS

15

69,253

21,360

86

80,335

28,156

101

78,689

27,448

OKLAHOMAa

83

66,465

24,573

213

83,027

37,033

296

78,383

34,770

OKLAHOMA INDIAN MSNY

5

41,492

6,380

7

47,722

18,395

12

45,126

14,480

OREGON IDAHO

35

58,895

13,669

49

67,597

17,059

84

63,971

16,232

PACIFIC NORTHWESTa,b

59

68,323

11,718

71

74,823

15,540

130

71,873

14,266

PENINSULA-DELAWARE

41

67,255

16,622

71

71,448

19,825

112

69,913

18,749

RED BIRD MISSIONARY

0

--

--

6

42,354

5,233

6

42,354

5,233

RIO TEXASa

89

70,854

24,543

169

75,375

25,425

258

73,815

25,168

SOUTH CAROLINA

129

78,563

24,976

292

84,226

28,724

421

82,491

27,724

SOUTH GEORGIA

38

77,551

25,199

195

88,885

32,211

233

87,037

31,409

SUSQUEHANNA

76

70,667

17,419

191

74,579

17,604

267

73,466

17,608

TENNESSEEa

80

71,113

24,522

157

78,356

27,632

237

75,911

26,791

TEXAS

133

76,539

31,762

322

97,849

49,752

455

91,620

46,234

UPPER NEW YORK

97

63,326

14,208

127

66,152

15,531

224

64,929

15,005

VIRGINIAa

197

62,385

17,107

440

68,423

23,598

637

66,556

21,963

WEST OHIO

153

64,126

19,115

353

68,421

21,384

506

67,122

20,800

WEST VIRGINIA

69

57,056

17,546

152

60,161

18,571

221

59,192

18,274

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINAa

199

70,418

23,577

435

79,877

30,832

634

76,908

29,068

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

59

63,270

18,376

223

70,685

19,432

282

69,133

19,420

WISCONSIN

88

70,519

17,619

115

73,907

20,295

203

72,438

19,209

US TOTAL

4,511

69,764

26,150

9,613

78,394

30,833

14,124

75,637

29,691

a In this annual conference, there was a statistically significant difference in clergywomen and clergymen’s 2020 total compensation.
b In this annual conference, gender was still a significant predictor of 2020 total compensation, even when length of service, age (at time of report), and membership type were held steady.

 

 

 



[1] Total compensation was computed by adding the 2020 salary and either the housing allowance or the parsonage amount of each clergyperson.

[2] Chi-square analysis was used to examine the proportional differences in the gender composition of clergy across annual conferences.

[3] Chi-square analysis was used to examine the proportional differences in the gender composition of clergy across jurisdictions.

[4] An independent samples t-test was performed to compare the 2020 salaries of clergywomen (n = 4,511) and clergymen (n = 9,613). There was a substantial and statistically significant difference in the 2020 salary for clergywomen and clergymen; t(9594) = -16.26, p < .001.

[5] An independent samples t-test was performed to compare the 2020 housing allowance of clergywomen (n = 1,817) and clergymen (n = 3,547). There was a substantial and statistically significant difference in the 2020 housing allowance for clergywomen and clergymen; t(4582) = -8.90, p < .001.

[6] An independent samples t-test was performed to compare the 2020 parsonage amount of clergywomen (n = 2,339) and clergymen (n = 5,523). There was a substantial and statistically significant difference in the 2020 parsonage amount for clergywomen and clergymen; t(5804) = -12.12, p < .001.

[7] An independent samples t-test was performed to compare the 2020 total compensation of clergywomen (n = 4,511) and clergymen (n = 9,613). There was a substantial and statistically significant difference in the 2020 total compensation for clergywomen and clergymen; t(10264) = -17.24, p < .001.

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