In 2010 the Methodist Conference agreed that the rates of the Living Wage, as published by the Living Wage Foundation, should form the minimum basic salary for people employed by a district, circuit or a local church. This policy also includes young people below the age of 18
The resolution of the 2015 Conference confirmed that the implementation of the Living Wage (based on LWF rates) is now mandatory in all but the most extreme and exceptional circumstances and that all outstanding exceptions must continue to be reviewed by the appropriate District Policy Committee.
In practice this means that districts, circuits and local churches are required to ensure that the Living Wage is a minimum that is paid to lay employees throughout the Connexion.
The Living Wage Foundation Pay Rates from 23 October 2024
£12.60 per hour in all regions (including Scotland)
Annual Salary Increase and Timing of Salary Increases
The rates are announced by the Living Wage Foundation annually in Autumn (normally October). Employers are expected to implement the rise within six months. Therefore all lay employees should be receiving the new rates by 1st May. You may wish to check the Living Way Foundation website and social media channels for future updates.
As long as Lay Employees’ salaries are based on this pay scale, any subsequent uplift to the pay scale on a yearly basis will be the decision of relevant budget holders.
There is no mechanism for increments or uplifts to this scale other than adjusting the amount for the Living Wage. Each church can apply its own cost of living increase according to affordability and sustainability.