Parsonage

I had a call today from a church that is seeking a new pastor.  The call was about whether or not I thought they should sell their parsonage.  Some have advised them that it will be difficult for them to find a pastor without being able to offer a parsonage while others have given them several reasons why selling their parsonage would be best for the church and any prospective pastor they might call.  I should mention this is a fully-funded church that actually owns two parsonages: one for the pastor and one for the associate pastor.  Due to deed restrictions they cannot sell the one lived in by the associate so they are just considering the one their former pastors have lived in.  I should also mention that this is a nice home that has had regular upkeep.

My advice was to sell the parsonage for several reasons.  Increasing the cash salary for their next pastor would allow him or her to purchase a home which helps the pastor put roots down in their community.  There is a sense of permanence when one owns their home.  It will allow the pastor to build equity as the value of the home increases.  By setting aside part of the salary as a housing allowance it will save the pastor money on taxes which makes home ownership easier.  When the pastor does leave and sells the house he or she will have money for a down payment for another home.  I once talked to a 41 year old pastor who had lived in a parsonage all his adult life.  He now needed to buy his first home and had very little money down and no idea how to go about buying a house.  It would also get the church out of property management.

Quite often a minister's family never really feels comfortable living in a church parsonage.  In some churches the members view the parsonage as the church's property and feel they have the right to go in any time they wish.  Sometimes they want to hold meetings or even Sunday school classes in the parsonage.  There are churches that restrict what the pastor can do with the parsonage and forbid pets and even changing the colors of paint on the walls.  None of these are fair to the minister or to the family.

What are your views on this?  Would you prefer to go to a church that offered a parsonage or would you rather receive a housing allowance so you could purchase your own home?  Why?  I also wonder how many readers who are bivocational pastors live in a parsonage.  I would like to hear from you and hear your feedback.