Cost of Living Average (COLA) increases for 2025 are estimated to be 3% based on the Consumer Price Index.  The Synod Council takes the COLA estimates into account when setting synod guidelines.  For the last four years we did not encourage the full COLA increase (20.3%) knowing that amount would be a big hit to our congregations, instead recommended increases totaling 17%.  Specifically, this year we are recommending a 4% increase, 1% greater than the anticipated COLA, to help get our rostered ministers closer to where they should be if they stayed with COLA. ​

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This is the second year the Synod Council has increased the pay difference for each year of experience after 15 years, from $750 to $1,000, to better follow the annual pay increases earlier in one’s career.  While this has not caught up to the almost 2% difference in the first years of ministry, our plan is to continue to slowly increase this amount over the next few years.

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The 2026 Rostered Minister Compensation Guidelines provide explanations and presents aids for determining the various parts of compensation. The components of Pastor’s compensation package will be presented as follows:  

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• Base Salary (not including housing or professional expenses)

• Parsonage or Housing Allowance

• Supplemental Benefits

• Professional Expenses
   

There are different standards of living in the communities which compose the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod.  Guidelines which seem low and inadequate to some may be a significant challenge for others.

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The Base Salary for rostered ministers should compare to others in the community of similar responsibility, training, and activity. 

 

Please regard these as minimum guidelines.

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​Congregations are encouraged to exceed the guidelines in compensating their pastors. These guidelines and suggested compensation levels for 2026 were reviewed and approved by the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod Council August 22, 2025.