Rector Letter of Agreement 2024 - Macro Enabled

Aug 30, 2026

Letter of Agreement (LOA) template for a Rector in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, designed to strengthen the relationship between the Rector and Vestry through clear practical arrangements and to reduce later misunderstandings. The LOA is intended to be negotiated after the Vestry extends the initial call, reviewed annually, and coordinated using guidance from a Regional Canon. It includes required policy minimums and recommended provisions, with section-by-section instructions covering non-discrimination, transition review, Total Clergy Compensation (TCC), housing options, clergy compensation components, and related premiums, including how forms are completed and shared for electronic signatures.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatDOCX

Pages11

Reading Time4 min

AccessFree to download

Letter of Agreement for a Rector

Instructions for completing the attached Template

Section A - Statement of Non-Discrimination

Section B - Transition Review

Section C - Total Clergy Compensation (TCC)

Section D - Premiums

Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts INSTRUCTIONS AND TEMPLATE Letter of Agreement for a Rector The relationship between Rector and Vestry is unique, and evolves within a larger covenant of mutual trust and ministry. The purpose of the Letter of Agreement (LOA) is to strengthen that relationship by clarifying the practical arrangements so as to reduce later misunderstandings. This LOA is intended to be negotiated after the Vestry has extended the initial call to the Rector and it should be reviewed annually. Negotiations can be facilitated by your Regional Canon. This template contains required policy minimums and in other places contains recommended provisions that may be negotiated according to the particular facts and circumstances. The section by section instructions are meant as guidance and help for negotiating this LOA. The first five pages (A-E) are instructions to help you fill out the template which follows on pages 1 through 5. When this document is in final form, please send an unsigned electronic copy, preferably in PDF format, to your Regional Canon for review, along with the names and email addresses of the Interim Priest, Wardens and Vestry Clerk. Once review is complete, Jennifer Garrett, of the administrative staff at the Diocesan Center, will send the document by email to all involved for electronic signing. A completed, tamper-proof, signed copy will then be provided to each signer for their records. Instructions for completing the attached Template: These first five pages A-E are section by section instructions to aid you with the filling out of the LOA template which begins on page 1) As you work through this template, please consult our Diocesan Guidelines for Compensations and Benefits for greater detail. That document can be found at the bottom of this subpage of the Diomass website, HYPERLINK "https://www.diomass.org/clergy_transition" https://www.diomass.org/clergy_transition -under the heading “Compensation and Benefits Resources for Congregations. The TCC worksheet for the current year is also found there. For a part-time Rector, the various sections should be prorated on the basis of a fraction (or percentage), e.g., half-time, three quarters time, etc. Section A – Statement of Non-Discrimination Required by Diocesan Convention since 2001 Affirms employment processes should be open, fair and free of bias. Section B—Transition Review During a parish transition, a Diomass consultant produces a transition review report This review is to be shared with the finalists for the position in final interviews. If it has not been, they must see it before negotiating this LOA. Please be in touch with your Regional Canon if a copy of your parish’s transition review report is needed. Section C – Total Clergy Compensation TCC Since 2001, our diocese, through our Comp & Benefits Committee and Diocesan Convention vote has maintained the minimum Total Clergy Compensation (TCC) to be paid to a priest in parish ministry. The TCC is meant to: Attract talented clergy to achieve our collective mission Promote an environment of mutual ministry between parishes and clergy Promote a reasonable standard of living for clergy based on local / regional measures. The minimum TCC is based on several measures of parish size and on an individual priest’s years of service in that parish. A parish may (and is encouraged to) provide additional compensation for special skills, abilities and competencies that may be relevant to a parish’s specific needs. Required TCC Compensation Salary: Salary is the cash compensation paid to the clergy person less any housing allowance designated, and other TCC Compensation. The Salary amount is labeled “cash stipend paid directly” found on the TCC worksheet at line 46. Housing Option 1: Living in own housing: they may designate a portion of their cash compensation as a housing allowance for tax purposes. During the negotiating of this covenant, the clergy person will provide that number to the

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Letter of Agreement (LOA) for a Rector?

The LOA clarifies practical arrangements to strengthen the relationship between the Rector and Vestry and reduce later misunderstandings.

When should the LOA be negotiated and reviewed?

The LOA is intended to be negotiated after the Vestry extends the initial call to the Rector and should be reviewed annually.

What does the template cover regarding Total Clergy Compensation (TCC)?

It explains the minimum TCC structure, salary and housing components, required TCC compensation, negotiable other TCC compensation, and how related amounts are entered using the TCC worksheet.

Aug 30, 2026

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