Time to Do Away With Parish Housing?

Parish housing has been a fundamental part of how Orthodox parishes across North America compensate pastors in the 20th century. At first glance, parish housing is an economic boom. When a priest comes to a parish, he often lives with his family in a residence owned by the parish. On the surface all appears to be well: The pastor receives "free" housing and is not responsible for the expenses and maintenance that normally come with private home ownership. However, appearances can very deceiving.

As Orthodox Christianity enters the 21st century, the reality of parish housing needs to be reconsidered. Parish housing in the early to mid part of this century may have been a blessing, but today it is a burden for clergy families across North America. We, who make up the lay membership of local parishes, must recognize the need to change this practice of clergy compensation.

The problem with parish housing today is that it traps clergy families in a cycle of economic dependency in a culture where clergy families need real economic freedom. A pastor who lives in parish housing is never given an opportunity to enjoy the economic and cultural fruits that come with home ownership. These fruits include equity and the peace of mind that comes with knowing the house you live in and care for is truly your own.

Today, many clergy families are in crisis due, in large part, to parish housing. Consider the fact that parish boards place a cash value on living in parish housing in addition to regular take-home compensation. Pastors are taxed at increasingly high rates while neither building equity nor being able to take the various tax deductions that homeowners enjoy. The long-term result for clergy families with children in college or clergy approaching retirement is catastrophic. A clergy family who raises children in parish housing for 25 years and retires has virtually none of the economic freedom or equity that a family that owns their own home has. The family also lives under the shadow of having no permanent home should the priest pass away unexpectedly.

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