What is the salary of an AME Bishop? What are the benefits?

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2000

Answers

I will have to check my wife's delegate information, but I believe the salary was raised from $45K to $55K per annum. In addition to salary, bishops are allocated travel allowances, and most districts have an episcopal residence. Some districts (1, 10, 11) have their own headquarters buildings that house the episcopal offices.

In return for this remuneration, a bishop is expected to administer a "staff" of 200 to 400 ministers, with 219 to 350 charges on their district. This administration includes presiding over 5 to 7 annual conferences, collecting the general budget assessment from each charge, presiding over a mid-year meeting (and usually a Founder's day meeting), directing a staff of intermediate managers (The Presiding Elder's Council), attending called meetings of the Council of Bishops, supervising the assigned functional area of the church in addition to the charged district (e.g., Women in Ministry, General Officer area, General Board, etc.), interface with the Press, the Law, and the Public on behalf of the district, and oh by the way, remain holy, prayed up and full of Godly judgement to carry out these duties in a manner that is efficacious for the district.

Yes, $55K certainly seems like a fair wage. :-)

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2000

I followed the national news coverage of this year's general conference, both television and print media, and I read an associated press report which stated that the bishop's salary approached the $100K mark. I don't know if this is accurate or not, but it is rife for discussion.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2000

The actual salary is $55,000 (or is it 54,500). The travel allowance was $15,000 a year last quadrennium (sure it has been raised but did not catch what to at GC2000). Plus anytime a bishop is asked to come speak somewhere there is an honorarium and expenses paid. Also in some districts there are large "voluntary" gifts paid to the bishop on birthday's, anniversaries etc. So $100,000 is closer to truth. (This does not include the episcopal residence which is paid for by the indvidual districts including utilities and staff!)

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000