By J.A. Dunn

LAKELAND — The Florida Conference Committee on Clergy Housing was given the daunting task at last year’s annual conference event of reviewing the guidelines for parsonage housing for the first time in 20 years.

The committee presented a report of its findings and recommendations May 30 during the last business session of the 2003 Florida Annual Conference Event here.

Among its four recommendations, the committee focused on standards for parsonages.

The committee said its studies show the parsonage has the lowest priority in many congregations in terms of maintenance or investment. As a result, committee members asked for the adoption of a list of required and recommended standards that must be implemented by June 1, 2007.

At the same time, they acknowledged they cannot legislate that churches develop a spirit for providing the same quality and maintenance of parsonages as they would have for their own homes.

Some of the required standards include up-to-date electrical wiring sufficient to meet today’s needs, climate controls for heating and air-conditioning, maintained smoke alarms and a monitored security system.

Recommended standards included accessibility for physically disabled residents, permanent hurricane shutters for all exterior glass areas for parsonages within 10 miles of the coast and an irrigation system.

The committee also presented guidelines for churches building new parsonages, such as locating in a good school system, a safe community and a neighborhood that permits children.

After significant debate from the floor, the Rev. Warren Langer, who chaired the committee and presented the report, asked delegates to search their hearts and ask themselves if they would want to live in the houses provided for pastors.

“A lot of pastors will live where they are and do not ask for things,” said Langer, who serves as pastor at Sanlando United Methodist Church in Longwood. “It’s time for us to be responsible.”

The guidelines were approved.

A second recommendation proposed required guidelines for churches providing housing allowances, an option that is becoming more common in the Florida Conference, according to committee members.

Nationally there are conferences in which more than 50 percent of the churches utilize housing allowances rather than parsonages.

Delegates approved the committee’s recommendation that a district’s trustees or clergy housing committee provide a housing allowance comparable to the amount needed to rent or own a home or condominium within 20 miles of the church.

The committee’s third recommendation concerned transferring the responsibility of providing furniture from churches to clergy families.

Under the proposal clergy would be required to provide all bedroom and study furniture by 2005. By 2007 they would provide all furnishings.

Langer spoke about the trauma clergy children often face when they must be repeatedly uprooted as their parents move and suggested having familiar furnishings would add a level of comfort. Clergy families would also be able to retain inherited furniture.

Additionally, many clergy are entering the ministry as second careers and already have furniture.

Langer said getting out of the furniture business would diffuse the stress often felt between churches and pastors about furniture quality.

A move to table the decision failed, and the recommendation was approved.

These are all moves the Rev. Moses Johnson applauds. Johnson is the pastor at Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church in Jacksonville.

“I think looking at clergy housing is long overdue,” Johnson said. “The parsonage is an extension of the ministry to the church. Many churches have been neglectful stewards. We have to be faithful stewards to what God has given us.”

The committee also recommended churches form a district housing committee to handle any disputes between a minister and the church, inspect the parsonage as needed and ensure compliance with required and recommended standards.