Jan Gartner

Compensation and Staffing Practices Manager

Office of Church Staff Finances in Ministries and Faith Development

Email: jgartner@uua.org

Telephone: (617) 948-6424

Jan Gartner

Jan Gartner

Jan is passionate about helping congregations live their values within their walls! Her work is inspired by the mission of the UUA Office of Church Staff Finances: Guided by the values of our faith, we equip congregations for excellence as employers and their staff for financial competence and well-being.

In her role as Compensation and Staffing Practices Manager, Jan oversees the UUA Compensation Program and helps congregational leaders and staff with a wide variety of personnel-related matters. She is the primary author of the monthly publication, Compensation and Staffing News. She serves on the Transitions Plus Team.

Special interests include productive professional transitions, robust staff teams, economic sustainability of congregations, and Polarity Thinking. Jan’s 2019 sabbatical project is entitled, Reimagining for Resilience: Evolving Reflections on Congregational Staffing and More.

Jan joined the UUA staff in 2011, moving to the Office of Church Staff Finances after 5 years in the Professional Development Office. A Credentialed Religious Educator, Jan previously worked in religious education at the congregational and district levels and served as a Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) Good Officer and Board member. She strives to bring all of the skills and sensibilities of an educator to her current role!

Jan telecommutes from her home near Rochester, NY, where she lives with her husband, Mike. They have three young-adult children. Jan is an avid walker, a lover of word and number puzzles, and an enthusiastic soprano in the First Unitarian Church of Rochester choir.

From Jan Gartner

Displaying 31 - 40 of 60

A congregation's paid staff are leaders, modelers, and tone-setters. Well-equipped, spirit-filled staff provide consistent, skilled, accountable leadership, which in turn builds capacity and ownership among the laity and enables congregations to thrive....

Leader Resource | By Jan Gartner | February 25, 2020 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: Staffing & Supervision

This Sample Personnel Policy Manual is intended to assist Unitarian Universalist congregations and other UUA-related organizations that are creating a Personnel Manual for the first time, or updating their current Personnel Manual. This Manual is an outgrowth of the work done by UUA Compensation...

By Richard Nugent, Jan Gartner | February 17, 2020 | From LeaderLab

Wherever you may be in your process of hiring and supporting staff at this moment, exploring your vision and values is an important starting place for thinking about diversity.

Leader Resource | By Jan Gartner | February 17, 2020 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: Staffing & Supervision, Anti-Racism

In February 2020, the UUA shifted from Compensation Guidelines (salary and benefit recommendations) to Compensation Standards. While we continue to provide recommendations for salaries and benefits, the new UUA Compensation Standards also include legal requirements related to pay and benefits...

Leader Resource | By Jan Gartner, UUA Office of Church Staff Finances, Ministries and Faith Development | February 10, 2020 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: Benefits & Compensation for Congregations

Can you provide guidance and resources for completing W-2 forms for both ministers and other congregational staff? Deadline by January 31 after the tax year (February 1 in 2021), W-2 forms must be given to employees and sent to the Social Security Administration.

Leader Resource | By Jan Gartner | December 6, 2019 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: Benefits & Compensation for Congregations

You’ve probably heard that there are special tax rules for ministers. Most church leaders don’t need to be experts on ministerial compensation, but it’s important to understand the basics of how payroll and taxes for the minister differ from other employees. Your Minister is an Employee, Not...

By Jan Gartner | December 6, 2019 | From LeaderLab

The UUA Compensation Program is evolving! We launched Phase I of of our program revisions in early 2020 with the introduction of new Compensation Standards. Please sign up for Compensation and Staffing News and stay informed about upcoming changes....

Leader Resource | By Jan Gartner, Richard Nugent | December 5, 2019 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: Benefits & Compensation for Congregations

These recommendations and reminders are provided in order to support you in having meaningful, fruitful conversations with any congregation you might consider serving. We want to help you maximize your chances of negotiating an offer that you feel good about, with terms that serve you well...

By Richard Nugent, Jan Gartner | December 5, 2019 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: Benefits & Compensation for Congregations, Support for Ministers

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a federal law that protects employees by establishing standards for a minimum wage, overtime, recordkeeping, and youth employment. Every employee needs to be properly classified as exempt or nonexempt. Make sure you are in compliance! ​UUA Resources Notice:...

By Jan Gartner | December 5, 2019 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: Benefits & Compensation for Congregations

Last revised: July 2019 Highlights Nearly all congregational ministers are employees, not independent contractors. There are 3 important tax provisions for ministers – dual tax status, housing allowance, and optional tax withholding. Benefits recommended for all staff, including ministers, are...

Leader Resource | By Richard Nugent, Jan Gartner | December 5, 2019 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: Benefits & Compensation for Congregations, Support for Ministers

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