Money, Sex and Religion: The Case of the Church of Scotland

Abstract

This empirical study addresses whether the gender of a minister has any effect on remuneration in the Church of Scotland in 2004. The data set merges three cross‐sectional sources, namely denominational data, church census information and local geographic (postcode) characteristics. We find that male ministers are more likely to be matched to affluent churches permitted to pay a voluntary stipend premium all else equal. Moreover, conditional on eligibility, there is evidence that male clergy are more likely to receive this bonus. The data are unable to discriminate between demand and supply side explanations of these findings.

Clergy in place in England: Bias to the poor or inverse care law?

“…The second part of Hart's proposition suggests that inequalities in the availability of clergy by area are driven in part by market forces influencing the demand for and supply of clergy. On the demand side, financial resources are an important consideration at the local level (Smith, Sawkins, & Mochrie, ). Clergy appointments depend on the ability of congregations to contribute towards their stipend, pension, office, travel and accommodation costs—usually at rates set by the religious organisation.…”

Competition and Participation in Religious Markets: Evidence from Victorian Scotland

“…There is also therefore, by implication, only limited evidence for a 'lazy clergy' explanation of the low market share of the Church of Scotland in those markets where it has a monopoly. Presbyterian governance gives so much weight to congregational preferences in choice of minister that there is an active market allowing for matching of ministers and congregations, described fully in Smith, et al (2006).…”