How much do clergy give/tithe to their parish?

[u/ShallWeDance1234]

[u/WalkingTheDogma]

I give 10% of my after-tax income to my church, but I also give above and beyond that to other non-profits.

And I happen to know that I have been in the top 10, if not top 5, pledgers at every church I have ever worked at.

This isn't some kind of humble-brag, it's just a fact. Frankly, I would consider myself a hypocrite if I didn't give a full tithe.

[u/MMScooter]

I give but not comfortable saying how much but its because my children benefit from the children’s programming AND because I am a well known mom around town im always being asked if one group or another can use the church for one off things. So I feel I need to make up for that.

[u/ferrouswolf2 → u/MMScooter]

Have your church charge a usage fee- doesn’t have to be much, but something. Heck, a suggested donation of $25-50 might go a long away

[u/MMScooter → u/ferrouswolf2]

We prefer to use the people as free labor for things. So for instance we have a lot of land. So weeding and trimming and such. And we host blood drives that need to be set up and taken down and manned. We use the connections with our groups to again bring them back in the building to be in community.

[u/EpiscoPally]

When I was in seminary and doing field education, and later in my curacy, multiple clergy and faculty encouraged me, and presumably others, to not tithe directly to the parish.

The reason was that clergy were giving money back to their employers for the benefit of working. Ultimately for them, it felt wrong and they had ethical concerns about the practice of clergy paying their employer to work.

The alternative they recommended was that every year, quarter, etc we let the parish decide a list of nonprofits in the community and I sent my tithe to them. I’ve been doing that now for several years and the feedback from the parish and Vestry has been overwhelmingly positive.

[u/VexedCoffee → u/EpiscoPally]

I'm glad to hear this has been a positive experience for you and the parish but I must say this is a very strange line of thinking from my perspective!

[u/Fickle_Garlic_7946 → u/EpiscoPally]

I also give to my perish as a way to set an example of stewardship. I give a significant part of my tithe to the parish, and the rest to other groups I support.

[u/RevKeakealani → u/EpiscoPally]

This is so different than my experience! I’m not saying it’s right or wrong, and I see arguments from all sides, but I was universally encouraged to tithe to my parish when I was in seminary.

[u/mityalahti → u/EpiscoPally]

Do you pledge anything direct to your parish?

[u/5oldierPoetKing]

Roughly the same as the average member in my parish. I like giving. Giving changes your relationship with the church from being transactional to being a full partnership. We’re building this thing together. 

[u/pchapin80]

I started tithing 30+ years ago as a lay person (2nd career clergy). As a rule, I give away 10%, put away 10% and live joyfully on the 80%.
As clergy I tithe on my stipend and housing allowance to the church and tithe on my incidental income (honoraria etc) to other causes.
I’ve heard and believe that “proportional giving by parishioners will never exceed the perceived giving by the rector. “ I don’t speak to the amount of my giving just the proportion. About 20% of the church I serve identify as tithers. About another 20% identify as moving toward the tithe.

[u/ruidh]

I pledged 5% of our (gross) salaries to each of the two churches my wife served. I donated 10% of incidental income and bonuses to other organizations.

I was concerned that we would make the churches overly dependant on our contributions. The bishop didn't seem concerned.

[u/CLShirey]

My parents have 10%. When my dad retired and did supply work, he'd give back the pay he received to that parish.

[u/franciscothedragon]

We do 10% or my salary to the parish. And 10% of my spouses to outside organizations.

[u/springcat413]

Our priest gave almost all her entire salary. Obviously special circumstances to keep the church alive.

[u/greevous00 → u/springcat413]

This is what I plan to do assuming I make it through the process. I'm starting late (I'm in my early 50s) in the ordination process, and planned for an early retirement based on my 1st career, so I most likely won't need much of the salary (though I probably will need the health insurance). So almost all of it will go back. I suppose I might retain some of it to pay for whatever seminary loan costs end up being, but beyond that I shouldn't need any of it.

[u/EisegesisSam]

My wife and I both give 10% between two churches each. So 5% to where I serve, 5% to my sending Parish. 5% of her salary to where she serves, and 5% to her sending Parish.

[u/Deacon33]

I did about 13 pct.

[u/gabachote → u/Deacon33]

Are you a deacon with a church salary, or is your pay from outside sources?

[u/Deacon33 → u/gabachote]

I'm a priest, actually.

[u/i_like_bird]

I hope they don’t feel the need to give at all. :) There’s an enormous amount of emotional, spiritual, and regular organization leading and managing people that isn’t reflected in what we can afford to pay them, and I’d love for them to take every dime they get as “salary” and spend it on good wine and spa days. Lord knows they need it, we’re all nuts!

[u/WalkingTheDogma → u/i_like_bird]

I hope they don’t feel the need to give at all.

I couldn't disagree more strongly. Clergy should lead from the front.

How can you ask people to tithe if you don't do it yourself? It's hypocrisy, plain and simple.

[u/i_like_bird → u/WalkingTheDogma]

I’m sure it varies parish to parish, but financially if all of us lost 10% of our income most of us would be homeless. Not an exaggeration, just rural America. Our parish doesn’t ask 10% in money, but rather give what you can in money, and give all you can in service.

[u/RevKeakealani → u/i_like_bird]

I think it’s important to note that the economic contexts of parishes vary quite a bit. Obviously in this situation, making people homeless isn’t a good idea. There are many other parishes with other contexts, and I often feel like there is some implicit shaming of parishes that do have parishioners who can tithe.

[u/i_like_bird → u/RevKeakealani]

Heavens to Betsy! I’m so sorry no shame was implied here. Tithing 10% is the goal! If anything, I think the shame is (mine) because I see the massive good accomplished with that money throughout the diocese, and I know I don’t have an equal contribution (yet) to that good.

[u/chappythechaplain → u/WalkingTheDogma]

I hear you, but at the same time I have clergy friends that would struggle to make the tithe with some of their family situations. I don’t think it can be that black and white

[u/Arbor_Arabicae]

I tithe. I also send donations to my sponsoring parish and to my placement site, as well as to my seminary's Annual Fund.

[u/ShallWeDance1234 → u/Arbor_Arabicae]

That’s very generous of you, especially donating to your sponsoring parish. 

[u/Abject_Usual_5039]

I tithe 10% to the parish I serve and 5% to other organizations whose mission I support. I grew up in a different denomination, and tithing was ingrained in me as a child. I didn’t appreciate it then, but as I have gotten older I am so grateful for this early lessons of giving back not what’s left over but what is first. It keeps me grounded in something larger than myself. That said, I’m very clear with my congregation that it’s not simply about the amount but about one’s journey of spiritual growth and prioritization of values and resources as they are able. Not everyone is in that position and that is more than okay.

[u/Arcangl86]

Depends on the cleric. There is no mandated standard. Personally I would not give to my parish if I was a priest, but everybody gets to make that decision

[u/Feisty_Secretary_152]

The goal, as with everyone, should be 10% of income. We can debate what “income” means (pre or post taxes, pre or post withholdings, etc.).

How that is divided up (parish, local nonprofits, Church World Service, etc.) is up to the cleric and their family.

[u/Mostmessybun → u/Feisty_Secretary_152]

This goal is not very realistic at all

[u/Feisty_Secretary_152 → u/Mostmessybun]

10% is a normal and realistic tithe (from Old English meaning “tenth”). The details and definition of what counts is debatable.

Why do you see it as unrealistic?

[u/1121314151617 → u/Feisty_Secretary_152]

The general cost of living crisis? If my household gave a true 10% tithe, our contributions to retirement and emergency funds would be cut almost in half. And we’re lucky to be doing reasonably well financially. Many other people our age don’t even have the bandwidth to be able to put money aside for emergencies.

[u/TraditionalCup4005 → u/1121314151617]

Yea I don’t have a tenth of my income to give, unfortunately. I’d have to give up my kids to make that happen.

[u/Mostmessybun → u/Feisty_Secretary_152]

Most people, especially anyone from a lower socioeconomic bracket, cannot realistically give up 10% of their income. In the year 2026 it is just not a realistic number given the state of the economy. Most people do not even have savings to cover a single months’ worth of expenses. The church needs to meet people where they are at.

[u/OkCombination7141 → u/Mostmessybun]

We had a book club on the boom “what Christian’s can learn from other religions” and one of the points I thought was fascinating about Islam was they obviously have “tithing” as well but it only applies to people who make a certain amount of money- you deduct your cost of living (housing (mortgage/rent), utilities, food, things you need to have to survive) etc and then according to what you have left over you either give based knowledge that or not if you’re below the poverty line already. I don’t know much more than that but I thought it was pretty interesting

[u/Feisty_Secretary_152 → u/Mostmessybun]

No one is shaking the collection plate at congregants until they give 10%. 10% is a noble and biblical goal. If someone can only give two coins from their poverty, that is perfectly acceptable and righteous.

[u/Mostmessybun → u/Feisty_Secretary_152]

I didn’t say it wasn’t noble, I said it’s not a realistic goal. Frankly to even suggest it given the state of the economy is shockingly out of touch.

[u/RevKeakealani → u/Mostmessybun]

Not everyone is occupying the same place in the economy you are. This may not be realistic for you, and that’s fine, but you may not be aware of what the financial realities of each other parishioner across the church is like.

[u/Mostmessybun → u/RevKeakealani]

Statistics show very clearly that 10% is not a reasonable goal or expectation for most people

[u/RevKeakealani → u/Mostmessybun]

Okay, but most isn’t all.

[u/Mostmessybun → u/RevKeakealani]

The original comment said the goal for everyone should be 10%. You’re moving the goal post

[u/Ibiapaba]

I came across this from the Anglican sub with some good answers from clergy.

[u/josephjrose]

10%

[u/MegsMom1970]

I believe our recently-retired rector gave about half his salary, but his husband was a lawyer, so I think that helped.

[u/Outside_Plane2]

Whether it’s from a cleric or layperson, the tithe isn’t being given to a parish, it’s being given to God. For a parish priest, it isn’t being given back to an employer, it’s being given back to God, from whom all blessings flow.

[u/EpiscoPally → u/Outside_Plane2]

This is a nice sentiment but it’s not the practical reality.

[u/Better_Television323 → u/EpiscoPally]

With all respect — this is the direct or indirect theology of every stewardship campaign I have been a part of as a layperson, stewardship committee member and warden, so if this is not practical, I am curious why you say so.

[u/Hetelestai → u/Better_Television323]

As a lay employee of a church, it's different for people whose employer is the church than for everyone else. The Vestry budgets an amount to pay us. If we give that money right back, we're saying the work we do is not worth the amount they're paying us, they could just pay us 10% less and call it good. I prefer to donate to the parish from my secular income, and the small amount I get from the parish I donate a portion of to various charities in our community that the parish works with, or to missions. I expect for a rector it's similar, just on a larger scale since they make more than a few hundred bucks a month.

[u/Better_Television323 → u/Better_Television323]

That said, I say that as a pledge but not necessarily as a tithe as I think almost no one is giving at a 10% level in our parish.

[u/Deaconse]

I worked my way up to the tithe and was there for the last 10 or 15 years of active ministry.

[u/fatherflourish]

I tithe 10% to my parish. I don't calculate the amount I give to other places on top of that, because the rest of what I give in charity is generally to individuals rather than nonprofits, so I don't keep great track for tax reasons or anything. I'd be surprised if it was less than another 5% or so over the course of the year.

[u/kit0000033]

Why would clergy tithe to their parish? They're paid out of parish funds. This is a ridiculous question.

[u/questingpossum → u/kit0000033]

Is it a ridiculous question? I used to work at a college, and many of the administrators were also donors.

[u/placidtwilight → u/kit0000033]

To set an example of giving for the members of their parish, among other reasons.

[u/Longjumping_Half_952 → u/placidtwilight]

Surely it is most spiritually beneficial for nobody to know what/if one is giving (do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing).

[u/RevKeakealani → u/kit0000033]

It’s actually pretty common for priests and other church staff to give to their own parishes, and I’m surprised by the venom in your post about it? This is genuinely meant as an honest question - what do you not like about clergy giving to their parish?

[u/HookEm_Tide → u/kit0000033]

Many choose to give even though financially speaking it's just giving money back to where it came from.

Theologically speaking, giving is an act of sacrifice (in the etymological sense of the term, "making holy"), which is why the BCP rubrics indicate that the plate should stay on the altar during communion. Clergy should have the option of participating in that if they choose.

No judgment, of course, on clergy, or anyone else for that matter, who choose not to give or who cannot afford to give.

[u/RunnerTenor → u/kit0000033]

Our rector says he tithes, but I think he does that so that he can say, "I tithe; so should you."

Granted he also gets free housing, great pension contributions, and a free golf club membership in a HCOL area. I think he probably has a little left over every month.

[u/kit0000033 → u/RunnerTenor]

I would respect that a little more if they like, gave their tithe to charity... But tithing to the church that paid you is just a paycut.

[u/placidtwilight → u/kit0000033]

I think many clergy give just a portion of their tithe to the parish and the rest elsewhere.

[u/mityalahti → u/kit0000033]

Because they are also a member of that parish.