CA RI NG CO M M U N ITY
The desire for wholeness at the heart of the Gospel inspires every Board of Pensions plan and program, from our benefits offerings, to CREDO, to new forms of ministerial support. This is especially true of the Assistance Program, the Board of Pensions’ longstanding ministry of caring for those who serve the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Through it, the Board offers need-based grants to active and retired ministers, employees, and their families. These grants range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, and total more than $5 million a year.
How we can help The Assistance Program helps support church servants with a wide range of financial needs. A pastor may be ministering to members of a congregation while carrying a personal burden that takes a significant financial and emotional and spiritual toll. Maybe a long-serving minister, now retired, needs the services of an assisted living community but can’t afford it. Or maybe it’s a bad year — one in which the roof leaks, the water heater breaks, and the car needs major repairs. Even joyous occasions, from adoptions to sabbaticals to children starting college, may be reasons to receive a grant. During times of need, the Assistance Program provides tangible support by caring for church workers and restoring shalom.