The Board of Pensions recognizes that pastors do work in isolation from one another and can, therefore, feel disconnected. There are many ways in which the Board can help. Clergy Colleague Groups build networks of mutual support among pastors within a presbytery, while the Assistance Program provides grants to support ministers in times of need.

Clergy Colleague Groups

To help alleviate pastoral problems of loneliness and disconnection, the Board of Pensions has pledged partial financial support to the formation of Clergy Colleague Groups. Under the direction of a professionally licensed facilitator, the groups encourage pastors to grow personally, emotionally, and spiritually, while inviting them to take personal responsibility for their success in ministry.

Each month over the course of a year, pastors meet to exchange ideas, garner support, and build relationships. Individual groups determine their own agendas and issues for discussion.

Clergy Colleague Groups receive partial funding of $1,000. Presbyteries interested in forming a group must complete and submit an application letter to the Board.

Clergy Support Series

As part of its continuing efforts to support and strengthen the ministry of the PC(USA), the Board of Pensions has undertaken a series of studies on the state of clergy with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The following booklets were born of conversations that originally took place at the Regional Benefits Consultations (RBCs) from 2004 to 2007. They include:

Report on Clergy Recruitment and Retention

A task force convened by the 2003 Board of Directors investigates the need for recruiting and retaining effective ministers. This report also looks at three primary concerns of parish clergy: stress, conflict, and burnout.

Conversations on Candidacy

As an outgrowth of the first report, the 2005 RBCs considered the issue of attracting and preparing candidates for productive church ministry. The candidacy process, the importance of mentoring, and the role of the CPM are all discussed.

Supporting Mid-Career Pastors

The third report focuses on the support of mid-career pastors. This study examines demographic data of both male and female pastors to identify trends, as well as explore ways to support the clergy’s continued development.

Transitions in Ministry

Transitions in Ministry explores the significant moments that occur throughout every pastor's vocational journey, moments that have profound significance, but sometimes are missed opportunities to affirm a pastor's vocation. By suggesting ways of honoring these moments, this study seeks to enhance our clergy's transitional experiences and celebrate the high calling of ministry.

The Assistance Program

The Board of Pensions Assistance Program helps church workers with special financial needs. It also helps to strengthen church leadership through grants and programs designed to improve the practical skills needed to minister in today’s world.

Programs of special concern to the Middle Governing Bodies include:

Shared Grants

Shared grants help active and retired church workers and their spouses with special financial needs or emergency situations. The grants must be recommended by a governing body or an employing organization that is willing to share equally with the Board in the cost of providing the grant.

Middle Governing Body Grants

In addition to their pastoral duties, ministers are expected to offer congregational leadership and participate in financial, management, and strategic planning decisions. Middle Governing Body Grants are intended to help fund continuing education for pastors in need of skills development in these critical areas.

Seminary Debt Assistance Grants

The Seminary Debt Assistance program is designed to offer debt relief to newly ordained ministers who are serving small or underserved churches. The grants will be made to ministers of the Word and Sacrament who are serving churches with fewer than 150 members and a budget of less than $250,000.

Sabbath Sabbatical Support Grants

Intended to supplement the financial aid of congregations, foundations, middle governing bodies, or other contributors, the Sabbath Sabbatical Support Grant program will help to address the need of a pastor at a smaller church to take time away from the all-consuming demands of the job and engage in a period of personal and professional renewal.

Presbyterian CREDO

CREDO is much more than a "how-to" workshop; it is a faith-based conference aimed at unifying the disparate, often conflicting elements at work in the life of a minister. The eight-day curriculum is designed to trigger personal discovery through guided reflection, introspection, and dialogue.