These grants support the evangelism efforts of presbyteries planting churches and cultivating new ministries by funding the enrollment of organizing pastors and evangelists in Pastor’s Participation, in the Benefits Plan.
Many communities served by organizing pastors and evangelists (church job code 301) face economic challenges. It may not be feasible to provide comprehensive benefits for their ministers through the Benefits Plan of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
To support the PC(USA)’s evangelism efforts, the Board is offering presbyteries that employ these ministers a limited number of grants to fund the cost of enrolling them in Pastor’s Participation. Pastor’s Participation includes family medical, pension, Retirement Savings Plan of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and death and disability coverage.
The cost to the presbytery for this coverage is free for the first three years, with a reduction through year five.
For a presbytery to be eligible for the grant, the minister must
The presbytery applies for the grant during the application period.
The grant and payment process is as follows:
Benefits dues payments | ||
---|---|---|
Grant year | Board pays | Presbytery pays |
Years 1-3 | 100 percent | 0 percent |
Year 4 | 66 2/3 percent | 33 1/3 percent |
Year 5 | 33 1/3 percent | 66 2/3 percent |
The presbytery must submit a completed application to the Board of Pensions; the process requires a review and endorsement by the Committee on Ministry.
The Board will accept completed applications for these grants on a quarterly basis.
Application period | Benefits effective date |
---|---|
November 1, 2019-February 29, 2020 | April 1, 2020 |
March 1-May 31, 2020 | July 1, 2020 |
June 1-August 31, 2020 | October 1, 2020 |
September 1-November 30, 2020 | January 1, 2021 |