The RCA has long recognized that contract negotiations can be challenging for anyone, but it is especially uncomfortable for congregational rabbanim to personally negotiate their own contracts. Rabbis who lack formal legal or financial training are ill-equipped to sit opposite a committee of lay leaders, oftentimes constituted by members of the congregation who work in legal or business fields. These lay leaders, who serve in a volunteer capacity, understandably want to faithfully advocate for the best interests of their congregation. In pursuit of this noble task, though, some may fall back on their own professional context. This leads to mistaking the rabbi for an opposing counsel or for a potentially hostile competitor, or as an employee of a corporation.
Complicating matters further, congregations hire their rabbi to serve as the spiritual leader of their congregational family. The rabbi becomes an integral part of that congregational family. This makes the potential give-and-take of a direct contract negotiation yet more uncomfortable for all involved, particularly if it is a renewal contract.
In an effort to ameliorate the situation and provide an important service to its membership, the RCA has convened a cadre of individuals whose goal is to represent its membership in contract negotiations. These volunteers, as do the lay leaders with whom they will negotiate, come from all walks of life. They include current or former members of the legal profession, individuals experienced in various business endeavors and even some who are former shul rabbis themselves. The goal of the rabbinic contract assistance program is to represent you and you alone to the best of their abilities and to spare you the various challenges outlined above.
Please note that, in the current function, the role of the RCAP is not to recommend terms to a rabbi, but rather to advise him, underpin his wish list, and to guide him in pursuit of that list.
In addition, note that any RCA member filling out this form acknowledges that the RCA is not endorsing any particular negotiator, nor does it take any responsibility for the negotiations themselves. The RCA is facilitating a connection between aspiring or current congregational rabbanim and outside lay leaders who are volunteering their time to assist in contract negotiations.
Further, please be aware that the availability of these professionals is first-come-first-served and may be limited by the quantity of demand.