The Workman Is Worthy of Their Hire
Good Design Is Good Ministry, Article 1
By Libby Clarke, Stoneroller CooperativeScripture Says What It Says
Let’s get one thing clear: Jesus didn’t mince words. If someone is doing the work, pay them. This wasn’t just about the folks picking grain or herding sheep—he was laying down the law for the early church as it grew: treat your people well. How you honor workers is part of your witness.
And yet, here we are. Creative ministry folks—graphic designers, web workers, photographers, illustrators, musicians, communication officers—can find themselves expected to donate or deeply discount their labor “for the Kingdom.” Most of the time, this isn’t because anyone’s cheap or cruel. It’s because the scope of creative work is invisible unless you’ve done it. Finished products look easy, but they’re the tip of a much deeper, messier iceberg. Research, iteration, revision, discernment, prayer, and (let’s be honest) a lot of time on YouTube troubleshooting your way through the weeds.
Recognizing the process is step one. Respecting it is step two. Serving God together is step three!
Creatives Are Co-Laborers in the Gospel
A designer in ministry isn’t window dressing. They’re translating the Gospel for your people—visually, digitally, and yes, theologically. Their work shapes how your parish is seen, heard, and understood, inside and out.
When I’m designing for a church—be it a stewardship campaign for St. Martin’s, Holy Week graphics for St. Mark’s, or a justice gala for Christ Church—I’m not “helping out.” I’m practicing theology. This is spiritual labor. It deserves spiritual respect and fair compensation.
The “Ministry Discount” Problem
I love the Church. I believe in its mission. So do most of us who serve as creative workers. But here’s what happens when you treat creative work as a hobby: the people most committed to your message end up giving away the most, quietly, consistently, and sometimes at their own expense.
Ministry is joyful. But it’s not costless. Valuing creative labor—through support, clarity, and fair pay—isn’t charity. It’s part of the Church’s commitment to justice, dignity, and honest relationship.
What You See / What Went Into It
What You See:
A new logo
What Went Into It:
Listening sessions, theological reflection, sketches, digital drafts, accessibility checks, file prep:
20–30 hours
A new logo
What Went Into It:
Listening sessions, theological reflection, sketches, digital drafts, accessibility checks, file prep:
20–30 hours
What You See:
A printed flier for a capital campaign
What Went Into It:
Layout, copy editing, brand alignment, image licensing, press prep, proofing:
10–16 hours
A printed flier for a capital campaign
What Went Into It:
Layout, copy editing, brand alignment, image licensing, press prep, proofing:
10–16 hours
What You See:
A website sequence or video for this year’s stewardship drive
What Went Into It:
User experience design, content strategy, responsive coding, alt text, SEO basics, script writing, audio and video production:
15–25 hours
A website sequence or video for this year’s stewardship drive
What Went Into It:
User experience design, content strategy, responsive coding, alt text, SEO basics, script writing, audio and video production:
15–25 hours
What You See:
A visual campaign for a large project
What Went Into It:
Concept development, team meetings, asset design, feedback loops, multi-platform delivery, training for staff use:
40–60 hours
A visual campaign for a large project
What Went Into It:
Concept development, team meetings, asset design, feedback loops, multi-platform delivery, training for staff use:
40–60 hours
Try paying anyone a living wage at $10/hour for this kind of labor and we see why “ministry discounts” turn into burnout and ghosting. We are in this together and can do better for all, especially if we stay aware.
Canva Is a Tool, Not a Substitute
Branding in ministry isn’t just a pretty logo or a slick bulletin. It’s the sum of every visual and digital touchpoint—woven together, intentionally, as an act of witness. Templates are a tool, not a strategy. Overusing them without vision fractures the very identity you’re hoping to build.
I’ve seen churches do beautiful work with Canva. I’ve also seen them lose their way in a jumble of mismatched flyers, orphaned logos, and re-center vibes. The difference? One uses Canva in service of a brand. The other lets Canva dictate the brand. Only one of these actually builds trust.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: replacing a skilled staff person or professional designer with a templated app is not a cost-saving shortcut—it’s a false economy. You lose not only quality and cohesion, but the deep, contextual knowledge that a real creative brings to your ministry. When the human element leaves, the vision thins out fast. Software can support a ministry, but it can’t replace the thinking, listening, or accountability that comes with a dedicated creative presence.
Designers in ministry are here to make things true, not just pretty. Consistency and clarity are spiritual assets. They say, “We care. We notice. We have something real to offer.”
A Practical Theology of Pay
Paying church creatives fairly is liturgical integrity.
When Jesus sent out the seventy-two, he said to accept food and shelter—not as handouts, but as wages earned. Paul doubled down: “Don’t muzzle the ox.” The worker is worthy.
This isn’t about hustle culture or squeezing every cent out of a budget. It’s about honesty. Creative work is rarely budgeted for in many groups. Creatives (even if they’re “in the family”) have bills, families, and the same 24 hours as everyone else. When you compress both pay and timeline, you get what you pay for: burnout and mediocrity. Asking for a living wage is not selfish—it’s faithful. It’s about bearing witness to the dignity of work.
How We Can Do Better (A Call to Co-Labor)
Budget for design. Don’t know what it costs? Ask. And listen. Make design part of your ministry strategy, not an afterthought.
Pay your creatives like you pay your preachers and consultants. Treat branding as an ongoing system, not a one-off purchase.
Marketing note: A strong, sustained brand increases giving, attendance, and outreach. This isn’t a “nice-to-have”—it’s mission-critical.
Know your worth. Set boundaries. Offer “ministry rates” only when you choose, not because you’re pressured. Don’t apologize for your expertise or your process. Where possible, train up volunteers, build solid templates, and teach others how to carry on your work. If the budget’s tight, make a plan that keeps dignity intact for all involved.
Creative labor is not extra. It’s not dessert. It’s part of the meal.
And sometimes—let’s be real—you just don’t have the budget. That’s fine. Say it up front. Invite your designer to help you figure out what’s possible. Maybe it’s a phased rollout, a barebones system, or a toolkit for volunteers.
It’s one thing to admit you can’t pay what creative labor costs. It’s another thing entirely to treat designers as greedy for quoting a price that reflects real-world expenses and professional standards. I—and many others—have occasionally experienced shock, suspicion, or even outright offense from church teams when presenting a fair price for this work.
This reaction doesn’t come from nowhere. The culture of “gifts” in ministry often slides into an expectation that creative labor should be given freely or at a deep discount, simply because it’s “for God.” The reality is, creative workers are not trying to take advantage; we are asking to be treated with the same respect you’d show any other skilled professional. If you wouldn’t call your plumber arrogant for charging a living wage, don’t treat your designer that way.
Respect goes both ways. If your budget can’t stretch, be honest—and don’t make the creative the problem for naming the value of their labor. We truly can understand if the money just is not available for the project to proceed.
For Designers: Show Up With Integrity
The pressure to “just help out” is real. But so is the responsibility to show up with integrity—for yourself, your clients, and the communities you serve.
Integrity looks like:
- Clarity: Be transparent about your process, pricing, and limits. Don’t hide behind jargon or fake confidence.
- Boundaries: Only offer discounts or “gifts” of labor if you choose to—never out of guilt or expectation. And never at the cost of your own well-being. I have never once in 25 years had free work turn into paid opportunity—now, I ask for some sort of recompense so that there is a value exchange. That way, everyone realizes we are doing real work even when the budget is slim.
- Professionalism: If you agree to a job, deliver what you promise, when you promise. No ghosting, no martyrdom, no “creative genius” drama. If a client relationship needs to end for whatever reason, we have to be adults and let that client know we intend to move on, then give them a dignified off-ramping.
- Education: Teach your clients what goes into the work. Invite them to collaborate so they learn how to be a part of that process. Help them understand timelines, revision limits, licensing, accessibility, and the real cost of getting it right–I have always found clients rise to the occasion when I invite them! Our craft is a skilled one, but we cannot afford to pretend we alone can access the process.
- Community Care: Remember, you’re shaping not just brands, but cultures. Your work echoes in Sunday bulletins, neighborhood flyers, and digital archives. Make it worthy of the people you serve. Be sure to choose legally free fonts and images if the budget is tight, set templates up on Google Docs if the team cannot afford software suites. We can make beauty with very little!
- Self-Respect: The church (or any client) isn’t your family or a cash cow, and no one worth their salt would want to treat them that way. If the conditions are exploitative, say no—or work with them to find a real solution. If your fees are truly hard for a church to pay, you need to be clear. Give them a solution that advances them and move on. Be the change while being a professional.
Final Word: A Hopeful Witness
Right now, churches are pressed for resources, and creatives are pressed for time and credit. With honest conversation, strategic partnership, and a commitment to treating creative work as ministry, the Church can be a place where beauty and justice meet—without burning anyone out.
Creative work is ministry. Let’s all treat it that way. Let’s build something sustainable, faithful, and true.
Series Note
For churches: This is your invitation to treat design not as decoration, but as part of your spiritual and strategic witness. You deserve to have your ministry represented with real skill!
For creatives: This is your toolbox. Especially if you're self-taught, flying solo, or figuring it out as you go—we see you. This series will help you level up, build systems, and own your role in the Gospel story. You don’t need a BFA to do this work well. But you do need support, structure, and a better way than burnout.
Good Design Is Good Ministry: 6-Part Series
-
The Workman Is Worthy of Their Hire
Why creative work in ministry should never be unpaid—or undervalued. - The True Value of a Logo
Why investing in thoughtful design strengthens your ministry. - Creative Work as Sacred Work
Design as a form of formation and faithful service. -
Designing with Integrity
Ethics, responsibility, and care in church communications. - Making the Most of Limited Resources
Creative ways to serve well when budgets are tight. -
Building Design Systems That Serve You Well
Templates, handoff documents, and tools that stand the test of time.
Libby Clarke is a designer, educator, and aspirant for the Episcopal priesthood.
Through her studio, Stoneroller Cooperative, she and her collaborators help churches, schools, and justice-driven organizations create design that tells the truth beautifully. Their work is rooted in both liturgical rhythms and punk-rock ethics. Libby lives in New Jersey with her wife, daughter, and an abiding sense of creative purpose.
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