The ebook every pastor, every staff member, and every church board should read.
The Problem Nobody Wants to Talk About
Church compensation is one of the most confusing, mismanaged, and avoided topics in leadership.
- Ever heard, “We’re not in it for the money” ... from the person who makes the most money?
- Ever been told, “This is just what we pay” ... without anyone doing the math?
- Ever hired another staff member just to feel like you’re “doing something” ... but the church didn’t grow?
Most churches (yes, most):
- Chase a “standard salary” that doesn’t exist.
- Budget based on feelings instead of math.
- Are overstaffed with doers and under-resourced with leaders.
- Confuse compensation with calling.
The result? Frustrated staff, drained budgets, and leaders who feel stuck.
THE SOLUTION
Overspent & Underbuilt
This 49-page essay is one of the only resources of its kind—direct, disruptive, and practical.
Inside, you’ll discover:
- Why the “standard pay rate” is a myth (and what to use instead).
- The simple two-question filter to set pay.
- How to budget with percentages instead of desperation.
- Why part-time ministry kills full-time momentum.
- How to hire and pay leaders who actually grow the church.
- The mindset shift: you don’t pay for roles, you resource people to carry responsibilities.
This is not HR theory. This is from years of firsthand experience at churches of every size - from broke church plants to $100M megachurches.
Who This Is For
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Lead Pastors who want to stop guessing and start leading with clarity.
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Church Executives & Boards who need a framework for real conversations.
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Staff & Volunteers who want to understand what’s broken (and how to fix it).
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Entrepreneurs & Leaders outside the church who see the same dysfunction in their businesses.
What Leaders Are Saying
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“This ebook put words to the frustrations we’ve felt for years. Swebb doesn’t just critique, he gives clarity and solutions.”
“This gave us the courage to restructure our staff and budget. It saved us money and increased our team’s morale in one month.”
“Every board member should read this. It’s honest, disruptive, and exactly what we needed to stop spinning.”
“Swebb’s insights don’t just apply to churches. The principles reshaped how I think about leadership and compensation in my business.”
Here are a few sample pages. But you need the whole book.Â
For the price of lunch with one staff member, you can unlock perspective that could save your church tens of thousands of dollars.