A Parsonage or Housing Allowance-- Which is Better?
Manfred Holck, Jr., contrasts the viewpoints of pastors and congregations.
Manfred Holck, Jr.
April 1, 1980
The Pastor's Point of View It's hard to know. It all depends. Which way is better for whom-congregation or the pastor's family? For pastors there's a number of reasons why a parsonage makes sense; why the housing allowance makes: sense too. Why many pastors prefer parsonages. 1. When the pastor wakes up in the middle of the ~~: night, hears water running, and discovers there's a leak in the plumbing, what does he do? He calls the: parsonage committee. That's a major advantage of the parsonage. He doesn't have to bother with these problems personally. It's the committee's job to fix the leak. The congregation is the landlord; the pastor is only the tenant. No fuss, no mess. Leave it to the committee. 2. Not every house in every community is easily sold. If marketability or residential housing is - 0:g limited, a pastor should not become a home owner. A parsonage avoids the risk of a soft market. 51 3. For pastors eager to relocate quickly, the parsonage offers an immediate exit; no selling problem, no fixing up to sell, no haggling with buyers,> no delay in moving. Just call a moving van, pack a suitcase, and leave. , 4. Some parsonages are elegant, far more - REP housing than a pastor could ever afford to buy. It's a dream come true for the pastor's spouse. Church members are often proud to have their pastor's:: family live in a very fine home. 5. Pastors who cannot afford to purchase a home may have no choice. It's not easy to come up with a down payment on a pastor's pay. Often a parsonage is the only alternative. 6. In most places a parsonage is exempt from real estate taxes. The pastor who owns a house pays those taxes. 7. Some pastors simply do not want to be bothered with the details, problems, and potential t headaches of home ...
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