Homepage / Academy Catalog / Financial Wellness for Church Leaders: Compensation Negotiation
Financial Wellness for Church Leaders: Compensation Negotiation
Learn to advocate for yourself with a practical, step-by-step guide to compensation negotiation in ministry.
About this Course
Many ministry leaders enter negotiation conversations at a disadvantage—unsure of compensation guidelines or market rates for their desired role, unfamiliar with the negotiation process, and uncomfortable asking for equitable compensation. This mini-course invites you to see compensation negotiation not as a confrontation, but as an act of faithful stewardship: for yourself, for the ministry you serve, and for the person who will one day step into your role after you.
What You’ll Be Able to Do:
Whether you are considering a new call, renegotiating your current position, or simply want to be better prepared for what lies ahead, Financial Wellness for Church Leaders: Compensation Negotiation offers practical tools, honest encouragement, and a theological frame for understanding why this work matters.
Drawing on her own journey from negotiation-avoider to negotiation-convert, Grace Duddy Pomroy will guide you through the negotiation process from start to finish. Learn how to conduct meaningful compensation research for the unique landscape of ministry roles—from denominational guidelines to peer conversations, and consider you and your ministry’s interests in the negotiation process - what’s bringing each of you to the table.
Finally, walk through the "dance of negotiation" itself: how to respond to an offer, how to prepare a well-rounded counter-offer, and how to stay in the conversation even when it gets hard.
Modules
Financial Wellness for Church Leaders: Compensation Negotiation
In this course, you will:
- Understand the full arc of negotiation for ministry leaders — from researching compensation, to responding to an offer, preparing a counter-offer, and navigating the conversation with confidence.
- Develop a sense of agency in self-advocacy, grounded in the understanding that negotiation is an act of faithful stewardship — for yourself, for the ministry you serve, and for those who will follow in your role.
- Grow in the emotional preparedness to hold empathy and healthy boundaries together throughout the process.
- Apply a practical, step-by-step negotiation process to your own context: research compensation using at least two sources and one peer conversation, examine your and your employer’s interests, and use a strength-based counter-offer framework to prepare for a current or anticipated compensation conversation.
Get to Know Your Instructors
Grace Duddy Pomroy
Grace Duddy Pomroy is the Director of the Stewardship Leaders Program at Luther Seminary. She’s a lay, millennial stewardship leader, speaker, and financial educator based in Allyn, WA. She is the co-author of the stewardship book, Embracing Stewardship: How to Put Stewardship at the Heart of Your Congregation’s Life, as well as author of the free 2013 ELCA stewardship resource, “Stewards of God’s Love.” Her latest book, Funding Forward: A Pathway to More Sustainable Models for Ministry, was just released September 2024.
Grace is also a consultant with Relèven, a charitable organization that lovingly preserves, restores, and repurposes under-utilized churches into community hubs and affordable housing. She graduated from Luther Seminary in 2012 with a Master of Arts degree in Congregational Mission and Leadership.
Ready to Enroll?
Enroll in this on-demand course today or unlock free access to this and all Faith+Lead’s on-demand courses, plus more with a Faith+Lead Membership.
Enroll in this on-demand course
One-time purchase
- Access to this on-demand course
- Access the leaders guide for group study
- Access the course workbook for individual study
- A private, supportive online community
- Public display license for all on-demand courses and workshop recordings
- Access to 40+ on-demand courses
- Access every live and recorded workshop
Popular
Access this on-demand course
$0*
*by joining Faith+Lead Membership for just $19.99 per month
- Access to this on-demand course
- Access to all 40+ on-demand courses
- Public display license for all on-demand courses and workshop recordings
- Access all leaders guides for group study
- Access all course workbooks for individual study
- A private, supportive online community
Need financial support?
Check out the newest courses
What to Expect with a Faith+Lead Academy Course
You’ll get a transformative learning experience that combines trustworthy theological teaching with spiritual practices, interactive elements, and a supportive online community.
Know
Expand your theological toolkit with fresh insights for today’s ministry landscape. Connect timeless wisdom with practical frameworks for navigating change.
Be
Do
Practice skills to lead confidently in your ministry context. Take actionable steps to invite your community into God’s unfolding story.
Every Academy course is designed to
Help your growth in one of these core areas:
Develop a Christ-centered identity, grounded in theology, scripture, and spiritual practice, that empowers community members to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in everyday life.
Tell the story of Jesus and invite neighbors into Jesus’ way of life and love through words and actions they can recognize.
Listen deeply, name God’s presence in the midst of everyday life, and form life-giving relationships across all dimensions of diversity—both within and beyond the church.
Through mutual relationships with the neighbors among whom you’re hosted, join in acts of compassion, justice, and reconciliation as a witness to the ministry of Jesus—especially in places of suffering and despair.
Harness skills of agile leadership, stewardship, fundraising, entrepreneurism, and management to be nimble enough to respond to a changing cultural landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this course only for people who are actively job searching?
Not at all. This course is helpful whether you are exploring a new call, renegotiating your current position, or simply want to be better prepared for a future conversation.
I've never negotiated before. Is this course appropriate for beginners?
Yes! Grace designed this course specifically for ministry leaders who are new to negotiation or who have avoided it in the past. She shares her own story of learning and invites you to start wherever you are.
How long will this course take to complete?
This is a self-paced mini-course with two videos. You can complete it in one sitting or return to it at your own pace.
Is compensation negotiation really appropriate for ministry leaders? Doesn't it seem self-serving?
Grace addresses this directly. She frames negotiation as an act of faithful stewardship—not just for yourself, but for the person who comes after you in your role and for the long-term health of the ministry. The course invites you to find an approach that aligns with your own integrity.
What if my denomination has set compensation guidelines—is there still room to negotiate?
Yes. The course covers not just salary but benefits, vacation time, sabbatical, remote/hybrid arrangements, professional development, and more—many of which offer flexibility even when base salary ranges are set.
What if the employer rescinds the offer because I tried to negotiate?
Grace addresses this directly. While offer rescission is rare, she helps you think through the risks and encourages you to see negotiation as worth the effort in the vast majority of situations.
Who is Grace Duddy Pomroy?
Grace is the Director of the Stewardship Leaders Program at Luther Seminary, a financial educator, speaker, and author of Funding Forward: A Pathway to More Sustainable Models for Ministry. She has walked many Luther Seminary students through their first negotiation processes over the last six years.
What can I expect when I take an Academy course?
Academy courses consist of 6-10 lessons or modules, each walking you through the “know, be, do” learning framework. You’ll learn some new information with instructor videos and other resources (know). You’ll engage in a spiritual practice that will help you develop your faith around the topic (be). Then, you’ll be asked to apply what you’ve learned through activities completed online or in the “real world” (do).
How long will it take me to complete a course?
Each module is designed to take 15-45 minutes. Some learners complete the course in as little as one day. Some do a module a day or even a module a week. We suggest allowing some time between modules to process what you are learning, but not so much time that you lose momentum.
What resources are available if I’m a group leader?
Each course includes a flexible leader’s guide with multiple pathways for group facilitation. You’ll find thought-provoking discussion questions and practical activities that connect faith with daily life, designed to work with whatever preparation time you have available. These resources equip you to foster meaningful discipleship experiences that meet your community where they are.
What do I need to know about the free private online social group?
The private online group allows you to connect with others. Because our courses don’t have a required start or stop date, you will encounter others in different places in the course and even in different courses altogether. This is by design. Feel free to interact as much or as little as you like.
What should I do if I have questions or problems with my registration?
Reach out via email to faithlead@luthersem.edu with your question and we’ll get back to you with a response within two business days.
What if I have a suggestion or request for a course topic?
The best way to connect with us is to complete this form with your suggestion. We always want to hear your feedback. You may also include it in the comments section of the course evaluation.
Don’t see your question addressed?
Email us at support@faithlead.org for more information. We’ll be delighted to connect!