churches and the Living Wage

Why should churches pay a Living Wage?

"Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who are kind to the needy honour God." (Proverbs 14:31)

We believe that it is the churches' moral responsibility to take a lead by paying all their employees a Living Wage, not the Minimum Wage.

Methodists – All churches, districts, circuits and projects are required to pay the Living Wage by the end of the 2010-11 financial year, except in exceptional circumstances. See the text of the 2010 Conference decision here.

Baptists – In 2008, the Assembly of the Baptist Union of Great Britain passed a resolution on care for church employees, calling for churches to “consider carefully their employment practice in the light of Church Action on Poverty’s work highlighting the need for churches to work for social justice within their own communities”
Church of Scotland – The 2010 General Assembly instructed the Church and Society Council “to work with presbyteries to help congregations become Living Wage employers”. There will be a progress report to the 2011 General Assembly.
United Reformed Church – The URC’s 2008 General Assembly passed a resolution calling on all URC Synods and churches to “support Church Action on Poverty’s call for churches to pay a living wage as determined by the Living Wage campaign”.
Church of England – The 2006 Faithful Cities report recommended the Living Wage.
Roman Catholic Church – At least one diocese has pledged support for the principle.
The Society of Friends - Quakers in Britain are committed to maintaining a ratio of four to one between their lowest- and highest-paid workers, and consider that "economic systems which are based on justice rather than exploitation are a necessary part of a peaceful society". All staff in their centrally managed work are paid well above a living wage.