funerals & weddings

My time is as valuable as the Mortician's.

Why should he get paid and me not get paid?

I have expenses that are extra for weddings and funerals = Gas for my car, Dry Cleaning for my shirts and suits, paper for my printer, not to mention the wear and tear on my shoes and my Bible.

Dr. Bob, I'm real interested in how you classify money received for doing weddings and funerals as nontaxable.

I always report that on my Schedule C.

 

I do not ask for an honorarium when doing weddings for my church members. However, most of the time they do give me one. For non-church members, I tell them my charge is a minimum of $100 plus expenses. We also have a policy that non-church members pay the musicians, the sound tech, and the janitor. Even church members have to pay the janitor.

For funerals, I never ask for a fee. Most of the time, I receive no renumeration from church members or non-church members.

 

I certainly agree with Dr. Bob and Hardsheller. I do not see why a pastor/preacher should perform weddings and funerals for free.

 

My church when I was married charged for the use of the church for weddings, and kept two price lists. The one for "members" requested a small fee that was meant to cover cleaning and utilities. That form suggested a donation to whoever performed the service was in order. Non-members were flat out charged for the minister's time.

In regards to funerals - I've tried to pay ministers, and they never ever let me. I turned around and made donations to the church in their name. I certainly hope that these dear men were paid by the funeral home, because I don't think there is a more difficult job in a minister's career than handling grief stricken individuals.