I am always tempted to put "God" when this question appears on a form. It wouldn't be far wrong, either. The work of the clergy is so varied from one day to the next that we do not work to a job description or contract. But in deciding what to do and when I am always conscious that God is the one to whom I am accountable.
It is true that my stipend comes from the money you put in the plate on Sundays and that also creates a sense of responsibility. But a priest's duty to God (expressed in his ordination vows and the promises made when he is installed in his parish) always comes first. The way we Anglicans understand the Church is expressed in part by the fact a new chaplain (vicar etc) is appointed and installed by the Bishop or his representative, not the local church leaders. The priest then ministers in that parish by virtue of the Bishop's licence. In fact, the relationship between a priest and the congregation is more like that of a marriage or a family than that of employer and employee. The speaker at a conference I attended last month said that clergy are called to be "Mum and Dad" to their congregations. (He is an Irish Presbyterian, so I am not just expressing an Anglican viewpoint here.) Your children do not employ you to look after them and similarly I do not pay Shareene to cook my meals and iron my shirts.
Mum and Dad do feed and clothe their children but not because they are under contract to do so. Such a contract would in fact undermine the basis of their relationship. Parents' primary rôle is to nurture their children and promote their healthy growth. At times this means that parents will say "No". Children are, of course, skilful in pester-power but any child-guidance expert will tell you that giving in to their demands can do more harm than good. To say "Yes" might make for a quiet life for a while but there are times when we have to say "Dad (or Mum) knows best!" A wise parent learns how to channel these demands and expectations in more healthy directions.
Dr Trevor Morrow (our speaker) put this into a church context by saying that being Mum and Dad to their congregations means that clergy have to be imitators of God. We are called by him to speak his word and to be servants of his truth, and to apply that truth in hard places sometimes.
This is a rather long way of saying that nobody really employs the clergy. They are put in place to serve the God by being Mum and Dad to a diverse collection of people. Like parents, their joy is not so much to be able to please their children but to boast about them.
Peter Potter