April 10, 2014
Based on data from the 2013 New England Annual Conference Journal, there were 215 United Methodist elders in full connection appointed to local churches in New England that year. 49% of those elders were women. Approximately 17% of those elders were persons of color.
33 United Methodist elders in full connection were paid $55,000 or more in base compensation in 2013. Of those elders, only 15% were women, and 12% were persons of color.
Four United Methodist elders in full connection appointed to local churches were paid more than $70,000 in base compensation in 2013. All were white men.
While we commend the Cabinet for attention to some proportional distribution of the highest-paying appointments to persons of color, the extreme under-representation of women among those same higher-paying appointments is unacceptable.
Therefore, be it resolved that the New England Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church strongly urges its Cabinet to exercise diligence in dismantling gender discrimination in the consideration of appointments, considering qualified and talented female pastors for the same appointments and on the same standards as their male colleagues.
Be it further resolved that the Conference strongly urges its Cabinet to take steps to close this disparity through the 2018 appointment cycle, bringing the percentage of women among the highest-earning clergy appointed to local churches to within at least a 10% margin of the representation in the general pool of elders in full connection (39% in 2013).
Be it further resolved that the Conference strongly urges the Conference Commission on the Status and Role of Women to evaluate the appointment and salary data reported in 2018 for evidence of improvements in gender parity in the appointive process and submit their findings to the Cabinet and to the 2019 session of the New England Annual Conference.
Be it further resolved that the Conference strongly urges the Conference Commission on Religion and Race to evaluate the appointment and salary data reported in 2018 for evidence of race and ethnic parity in the appointive process and submit their findings to the Cabinet and to the 2019 session of the New England Annual Conference.
Submitted by: Sean Delmore, Kristen Dart