Pastors don't have to worry about a slow market or selling at a loss if they relocate. A housing allowance may cost a church less than building a new parsonage at today's costs. The church is not responsible for maintaining a pastor-owned house. Owning a house may encourage a pastor to stay longer at a church. Home ownership is usually a wise investment.
Pastors can build equity.
There are advantages and disadvantages to living in a parsonage or taking a housing allowance. Either way, the housing decision is a point of negotiation when a pastor contemplates a church's call. The main thing is for both church and pastor to be aware of each other's needs as they work toward a solution that is mutually beneficial. Jeanette Gardner-Littleton is an editor for Moody Magazine . She and her family own their own home in Hanover Park, Illinois.