Ministers' Financial Vitality Initiative-Program 2

Description

The Mission Statement of The Pension Boards-United Church of Christ, Inc. (PBUCC), adopted in 2015, affirms our ongoing commitment to holistic wellness for those called to serve in authorized ministry in the United Church of Christ. We achieve this through benefits offerings that are designed specifically for church employees and their families, and that reflect our values as a ministry of the Church.

But faith and finance is not limited to the work of managing ministers’ pension accounts. PBUCC’s mission at the intersection of faith and finance also means being an advocate for pastoral leaders by helping members better understand and manage their personal finances. Personal financial wellness is essential to the life of the whole Church. Ministers who are not distracted by overwhelming financial burdens are able to more effectively serve their ministry settings, helping lead to congregational and community vitality.

To this end, the Pension Boards has created a five-year Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders to address economic challenges facing authorized ministers in the United Church of Christ (UCC).

The Ministers' Financial Vitality Initiative is intended to strengthen ministry in the UCC by:
1.) increasing and enhancing financial literacy among UCC authorized ministers, with a particular emphasis on ministers from historically underrepresented groups within the denomination;
2.) assisting UCC ministers and their Ministry settings, Associations, Conferences, and the National Setting of the Church in “breaking the conspiracy of silence” that exists around pastoral finances;
3.) providing financial assistance to UCC authorized ministers toward repayment of educational and personal debt as well as seeding of pension funds;
4.) engaging key lay leaders in UCC churches in collaborative efforts to identify and address the connection between pastoral financial challenges and ministry setting financial challenges; and
5.) launching a major fundraising campaign to solicit major gifts that will enable the long-term sustainability and continued expansion of the program.

The project will be undertaken in collaboration with UCC Conferences and other
denominational ministry partners such as the Center for Analytics, Research and Data (CARD) and Ministerial Excellence, Support and Authorization (MESA).

Requirements

1. Ministerial authorization and standing in the United Church of Christ;
2. Endorsement from the Association and/or Conference in which ministerial standing is held;
3. Seminary or other educational or personal debt;
4. Willingness to engage the members of the congregation in raising a matching up to $1,000 grant.

Number of Awards

100

Award Amount

$1,000