Wages paid to Seventh-day Adventist Church employees in Australia will now be determined by several different “streams” rather than by reference to a single wage scale.  Under the changes voted mid-May by South Pacific Adventist Church leaders, the wage system for ministers will remain, with the addition of separate schedules and wage factors for those employed in education and business, and for employees of Avondale College, Australia’s only church-owned tertiary institution.

The changes follow recommendations made by a committee of lay people who also serve on the church’s executive committee.

Professor Warren Grubb of Curtin University, Western Australia, chaired the lay committee.  He emphasizes that the church has not sought parity with non-church organizations, but has attempted to increase a loading for responsibility. There is, he says, a “degree of sacrifice involved that we felt should always govern our work.”

Several practical problems also needed addressing. Rod Brady, treasurer of the Adventist Church in the South Pacific, says that not the least of these problems were the recruitment and retention of staff. “The education department has difficulties in getting people to fill senior positions,” he says, “and we see the same thing happening in business or treasury positions.”

Grubb heard concerns raised by teachers, such as, “Why should I take a school principal’s position where there is hardly any extra remuneration, but a lot more stress? Why should I go through all that stress?”

“The separation of schedules allows us to cater for the needs of each group in the best way possible,” he adds. “This recognizes that there are differences in the types of employment—for instance, ministers and teachers operate differently and have different needs.”

Under the new system, wage rates will remain unchanged for those remunerated on the ministry schedule. This group includes church presidents and departmental leaders.

Also recommended was an ongoing Employee Remuneration and Conditions Advisory Group for each stream. These will consist of seven employees, two laypersons with relevant expertise and two employer representatives.