College Minister Salaries

 I recently posted this statement on Facebook.

"One of the concerns being expressed in college ministry circles is that Baptist Conventions are now only willing to pay "entry level salaries."  Yet, most large college ministries are led by older, experienced veterans.  It takes time to win the respect of the administrators and develop an alumni network. ( I would add to that, and to develop the respect of churches, pastors, and community leaders.)

Many campus Baptist ministries now receive a significant  part or even the majority of their budget funding from individuals rather than churches.

Plus, we need the wise and experienced veterans to mentor the newbies."

I wanted to share some of the responses I got from those with years of experience in college ministry and funding for college ministry.

Brenda Crim, who has served in several states and now is in Alaska, said, Our fundraising training tells us that missionaries' funding is 85% individual giving and 15% church support.  Additionally, 17% of individual givers need to be replaced each year."

Gary Stidham, who serves in Baptist Campus Ministry in Texas and teaches College Ministry at Southwestern Seminary said, "Yes inadequate salaries  for campus directors is a big issue.  I interviewed a bunch of collegiate ministry leaders this summer, both inside and outside of Baptist life.  The tenure and temperament of the of the campus director was the most common factor in success - they were entrepreneurial with a long tenure.  Because of that, some of the best campus ministry in Baptist life is done by those who raise their support, since it rewards those with an entrepreneurial bent!

We have a hybrid model in Texas with support from the convention along side many support raising staff.  Interestingly, many churches love their people being able to give both ways, and having great local ministries has become a point of pride for them.  It's often the denominational leadership, not the churches, that are averse to staff raising support."

Chris Julian, IMB Missionary who has done college ministry in Brazil and Canada said, "The impact these ministries have reach far beyond the local campus.  We have used dozens of collegiate teams in Brasil and Canada, 33 Hands On semester students and more.  Campus ministries impact the world.  These ministers are missionaries."

Many outside of college ministry circles do not realize all the mission teams, Summer Missionaries, and other short term missionaries that come from and through local Baptist campuses based ministries.

Let's learn from one of the impacts of the frequent turnover of Youth Ministers.  Those that study and write on the loss of high school youth to church involvement indicate that one factor is the frequent turnover of Youth Ministers in local churches.  If College Minister salaries are "entry level" then we will see more frequent turnover in local campus based College Ministers.  As families grow and children need braces and college tuition, etc, these men and women will be forced out of campus based college ministry.

Cutting college ministries positions means reaching fewer college students and we need to understand that not paying adequate salaries for people to stay long term reaches fewer college students.  

If we want strong, effective, and yes, large college ministries, we must be willing to invest in those doing it and allow them to stay long term.  Does that mean better funding, allowing them to raise some of their salary or what?  Let's have those discussions.

Arliss Dickerson's book, Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades is available at Amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9 and A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula is at Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV.