What should you pay pastor for a wedding in Ohio?

Answer 1

An iffy question at best and rarely publicly scrutinized. There are far to many variables involved and no legitimate ordained Minister would provide such a fee for service arrangement. If married on the church property itself the church (not the Pastor) may have a standard fee for cleanup and janitorial services which does not include any Pastoral service. Here are some things to consider: * Are you or your spouse long time and regular parishoner of this church. * Are you simply using the facility for a gala event. * Are you or your future spouse's families regular parishoners. In any case membership within that body provides an individual right and privilegeto a free and open discource on the issue. Ask the Pastor what he expects to receive for his services and if he or she is an honest broker of their services they will be quite up front with their answer. * Most accept nothing and a few hold dearly to un-cashed checks from members of their flock for decades. That is a good footnote on the issue: If the check remains uncashed for months or years and you aren't asked about it after services you either paid too littlle or too much. * There are regrettably a very small number of 'pastors' who accept the fee for services rendered concept as a legitimate pastime. Simple math received from an authority un-named says that the current assesed fee to non-Parishoners for use of facilities and ceremony is 500 dollars. The larger the facility the greater the cost. A simple ceremony in your rural church is free. A major cathedral costs a few bucks more.