Wedding on 9/27/08 - Pay one pastor fee? Uncommon circumstance.
My son is getting married this Saturday, 9/27/08; rehearsal is Friday night.
Our rather new associate pastor will be performing my son's wedding. It is the pastor's first wedding. Typically, couples in our church meet with the pastor three times before the wedding for counseling, confirming details, etc. Our senior pastor met first with the couple twice, since the assoc. pastor is not yet "OK'd" to do couples counseling. The assoc. pastor then met with the couple once, for their last session, to confirm all the details. As I said, the assoc. pastor will perform the ceremony. I don't believe the senior pastor will be at the rehearsal, and I know he definitely won't be at the ceremony.
The time spent and services the couple received were equal to what one pastor provides for a wedding in our church, so it seems we should just pay an amount equal to what one would pay for one pastor's services. There are no guidelines given by the church, just "a gift is in order according to the ability of the bridal couple and in consideration of the time spent". My husband and I are paying the fee, since it is our church.
Should we pay an amount in line for services rendered by one pastor? Should we make the check out to the assoc. pastor?
Thank you in advance for your much-needed response! I hope you're able to answer before the wedding. Would still like to hear your response, though, even if it is after the wedding, in case we need to make any adjustments or do anything more. Right now, I'm thinking to just pay the associate pastor, and if he feels like the senior pastor should receive part of it, he can give him a share. In this scenario, should I also send a thank you note (sans money) to the senior pastor for what he did provide?
Any suggestions are appreciated.
Nancy Tucker
PRESIDENT - WEDDINGS BEAUTIFUL
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Re: Wedding on 9/27/08 - Pay one pastor fee? Uncommon circumstance.
[In reply to]
Hello Cumulus, I would think that the fee would be presented to the associate pastor for performing the ceremony. Check with the church secretary, the check may have to be made out to the church. A thank you note to the original pastor would be very nice. Nancy Tucker President of Weddings Beautiful US http://www.weddingsbeautiful.com
Wedding on 9/27/08 - Pay one pastor fee? Uncommon circumstance.
