Pastor with $457,000 salary is resigning

Brad Braxton was two months into job at NYC's Riverside Church

Laos Fois / The Riverside Church via AP	The Rev. Brad Braxton

How we worship

	Christianity Brazilians get baptized in Israel, a megachurch opens in Houston, and devotees carry a cross in the Philippines.
	Islam Whirling dervishes perform in Turkey, pilgrims gather in Mecca, and an elderly man is doused with holy water.
	Judaism Jews pray at the Mount of Olives, matzoh is baked in Brooklyn, and thousands of rabbis pose for a group photo.
	Hinduism and more Japanese ascetics hang from a cliff, Shinto believers pray in ice water and a 60-foot statue takes a colorful bath.

Video: Faith

More video

The year in religious sightings
Dec. 14: Willie Geist looks back at a year when Jesus and Jacko reappeared again and again.

Rick Warren forced out of silence on Uganda

Orrin Hatch pens Hanukkah tune

Uganda be kidding me…

Uganda’s anti-homosexuality bill

RSS feeds on msnbc.com

Add these headlines to your news reader

Faith

Learn more about RSS

updated 1:59 p.m. ET July 1, 2009

NEW YORK - The pastor of New York City's Riverside Church is resigning after only two months in the job.

The Rev. Brad Braxton notified the church's board of his decision Monday night.

He had been criticized for his $457,000-plus salary package, which included a $250,000 annual salary and $11,500 living allowance. The package was approved by church members.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

Earlier reports indicated that it totaled $600,000, but the president of the church's council told the New York Times that the actual figure was $457,000.

Dissidents unsuccessfully tried to block his installation by going to court. They charged the package strained the church's budget.

The cathedral on Manhattan's Upper West Side was built by John D. Rockefeller.

A church spokeswoman said Braxton's "end date will be determined after further discussion with church leadership."