I would ask how much more you are payed BECAUSE OF your availability for the funerals? You aren't receiving nothing, it's part of your salary. If you're unhappy with the arrangement, perhaps the more appropriate route would be an increase to your salary?

(EDIT) A thought: it would make more sense for the parish to allow you to simply charge per event, since then the FAMILY, and not the parish, would be paying you. It makes no sense to use parish funds to pay for you to play for funerals. You might use this argument.

In our parish, the stipulation is that the DOM gets paid for both weddings and funerals. In fact, the job description includes a stipulation specifically stating that the DOM be paid a just wage.

Here is the job posting reference:

The Director of Liturgical Music will be recommended by the parish to those who would like music at Weddings and Funerals and may charge a just fee.

Where exactly are you guys located, that your only getting $40, and $100 respectively? Down in the South, we get $150 organist, $150 cantor. I have even gotten $250 from some churches. I am curious as to where this backwards pay is coming from. I can understand in smaller, sub-urban, or rural areas perhaps, but in larger, and metro areas, we need to stop allowing the abuse of our skills to continue. Just a thought.

Wow, I am surprised and perplexed as to why the pay is so low. As I am not familiar with your skillset and experience level, I would venture to say your definitely getting shortchanged, unless your getting paid some kind of insane salary, i.e. Diane Bish, kind of salary.

Being that your on this forum, you definitely don't strike me as an Aunt Bea/Uncle Bob, bar and chord, kind of musician, whom that pay would probably more than sufficient.

I really wish you the best, with lots of prayers, in trying to get them to renegotiate your pay/stipend! I would be absolutely frustrated with anything less than $150.00 minimum.

My opinion is- you took the job knowing how much the pay was, and hopefully knowing approximately how much total work would be involved (including funerals.) We don't know your salary, nor your work load, to make any determination about whether you are getting paid enough to have funerals included. I think that if you had a problem with the policy you should have made that clear prior to accepting the position. At this point, you are now basically asking for a pay raise, and I don't think you have much bargaining power.

Given the upsurge in recent years concerning the federal government's level of interest in the fiscal policies of ecclesial institutions-
It might be in a parish's best interest to divorce itself from any fiscal compliance in a formal compact between music provider and the bereaved consumer. In other words, if the family initiates its contract through the agency of the funeral chapel, the chapel can formalize the revenue aspect for taxation purposes with the musician (independent contractor.) An exception could be made for occasions (I had two just this week alone) where my services were donated to the family gratis because of particular circumstances, specifically eliminating presumption of any honorarium or stipend to be gifted later on. This articulated protocol between musician and chapel seems to cover the legal bases very well for all concerned. However, the church's interest in the liturgical propriety and competency of the musician, presumably a directly affiliated person (such as the salaried or contracted parish organist) must be applied, regardless of the fiscal arrangements.
Weddings/Quinceneras/Anniversaries- I tend to think that as the "players" involved in planning these celebrations aren't so clearly articulated, there is more latitude. So, though the church administration is ground zero for all "booking" negotiations, the only thing the church should mandate is a signed agreement between the client and a church-approved musician that services will be rendered. After that, whether monies exchanged are viewed as revenue, compensation, honorarium, stipend or gift is a matter between the client and the provider.
I agree that a church insisting that a parish salaried musician's duties INCLUDE these arbitrary dates is not just; and even more unjust is the $40 tip.
Depending upon experience and other factors, $50 plus for rehearsals, $100 plus for event is minimum anywhere in this economy, IMHO.

Musicteacher56, I don't think anyone is suggesting that the Director of Music should be paid a stipend if others are playing the organ and/or singing for the funeral. Though some parishes operate this way (basically paying off the Director of Music so the musician of the family's choice can play for the funeral), it is not common.

The organist and cantor who actually provide the music for the funeral SHOULD be paid, whether they are the same person or two separate people. That said, the fact that the OP accepted the job with the understanding that funerals would be unpaid puts him or her in a difficult position now.

From the Archdiocese of Indianapolis:

the commission highly recommends:
--that funeral accompanists be paid from $50 to $100, depending on their level of skill and experience and other circumstances

I get more than that per funeral, but I'm not in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, so YMMV.

Source: http://www.archindy.org/worship/files/Funeral survey.pdf

I agree that is tough to argue for more money after the contract has been signed--you're definitely right there, Musicteacher56. Though I find the comparison to ministers a little misleading since, at least in the Archdiocese in which I am employed, the priest who celebrates the funeral Mass DOES receive a funeral stipend of $100.

They shouldn't but, its actually mandated in Canon law, that they receive a stipend. I was surprised to learn of this a few weeks ago.

As a point of reference, until two years ago I played organ/directed choir/chanted psalms/consulted with family/made choir programs for funerals as music director for a 1000 family Catholic parish in northern Indiana and received 100 per, approx. 60 a year.
The parish did NOT charge parishioners any fees, stipends, etc, so my fee did come directly out of the parish's pocket.
Other neighboring parishes, where I subbed, and was paid by either the parish or the funeral home were usually in the 65 to 75 range.
Families sometimes gave a separate honorarium, (which I would put in the choir fund.)
There was a small kerfuffle about a bench fee once.

(Save the Liturgy, Save the World)

I didn't know about this either, until about a month or two ago, when my finance director told me that they are required by canon law to receive a stipend for every mass, and confessions, etc.... Though I believe the requirement didn't stipulate how much. I think at bare minimum is was supposed to be $10.00 lol, but I am not a canon lawyer so I have no idea, but I do know they are supposed to receive stipends for a lot of things. You would be surprised at what they get paid for.

God Bless!

@chonak, I spoke with three priests, the pastor included today, about this, and yes, there are citations in the Code of Canon law regarding stipends. They are not mandatory for those that can't afford, or are in financial distress. It stipulates that the congregation should be properly catechized into understanding the value of supporting the priests. I am awaiting the documents from one of the associates, who will bring me the citation, but while it may not be mandatory in the sense of give, or you won't get. It is expected, and is a part of canon law.

I had no idea about this myself, until my finance director brought it to my attention, but yes, perhaps more on a diocesan level, they are paid for all masses, funerals, weddings, confesssions, etc... et...

And honestly, why shouldn't they be paid something, they to have expenses allbeit, perhaps not as large as we may, but when you look at the big picture of what they have to give up to be a priest, I don't think it's asking that much to be giving a small compensation and appreciation. Not to mention, diocesan priests do typically get pensions, but a lot of order and religious, rely on outside support, and would not otherwise have the luxury of this. This is certainly the case with the nuns. I know some of the sisters that worked at a parish near by, that only got $100-400 a month. That was it. They rely on the support of the faithful.