CHAPTER 11
Responsibilities, Duties, & Salary
Because of their experience in the 70's with different leadership styles, the founders took steps to protect the mosque from anyone who would assume tacit authority. The first guidelines for the duties and responsibilities of the Religious Director were worked out in committee by the Board. Under Article V in the Constitution (revisions made prior to 1983), the Religious Director and the length of his tenure are determined by the Board, with the approval of the general membership. Under "Powers and Duties" it says:
"1) ...shall lead or supervise all religious services of the Corporation.
2) ...shall be an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Board of Directors.
3) ...in his absence, his duties shall be performed by the religious committee."
In accordance with the corporate format, the Board views the imam as a salaried functionary of the mosque. The title, Religious Director, corresponds most likely to this perception of his role in the corporation. The sphere of his influence within the community is restricted to the realm of religious matters and does not include administration.
Imam Eid describes his job as: Leading the prayer,
teaching (school, lectures & the khutbah), lecturing at and attending interfaith activities, performing burials, witnessing marriages (not a sacrament in Islam), family counselling, and witnessing conversions. His position is most accurately described as imam-khatib (prayer leader/preacher).
His salary is subsidized by the Muslim World League for approximately $13,000 a year. The Center pays all other expenses amounting to about $25,000 a year (health insurance, rent, etc.). He recently received an annual cost of living increase, but would prefer to be signed to a contract like the other clergy in America. His income from marriages is nominal and is divided for the Center to get half.
Since 1983 to date (July 11, 1991), he has performed 450 marriages. The number of converts recorded from July 1983 to July 1991 was 229. Conversions as a result of marriage make up approximately 60-70%, and most of these are women. That is about 28 conversions per year, or, over 2 conversions per month. A convert receives a document signed by the Imam and two witnesses. He may use this document to obtain a visa from the Saudi government if he decides to pilgrimage to Mecca. This document is an indigenization which has no basis in Islamic law, yet it does not conflict with Islamic principles.