Healthy Pastors, Healthy Congregations

How it works

Pastor education

The pastor receives a grounding in financial literacy and financial management skills by completing online learning modules in two series: Terms of Call and Personal Financial Planning. The pastor also attends a training session with congregational leaders.

*Available through the HPHC Learning Path  

Congregational leader education

Educating congregational leaders is a key component of the program. Members of session or the Personnel Committee or any other congregational leaders, along with the pastor, commit to a single, two-hour training session. This training teaches congregational leaders to

• understand the financial realities of those who answer God’s call to congregational ministry;
• appreciate the role justly compensating their pastors, including benefits, plays in the vitality of the Church; and
• better care for, and support, their pastoral leadership, whose well-being is essential to congregational well-being.

Participants should reach out to their Church Consultant to schedule the congregational leader training session.

Grant awards

A one-time grant of up to $10,000 is available to eligible pastors after the pastor and congregational leaders have completed their educational sessions and the pastor has received financial counseling through Ernst & Young Employee Financial Services. 

The grant may be used to reduce or eliminate the pastor's educational or other debt, or to boost personal savings in the Retirement Savings Plan of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), a 403(b)(9) plan. 

The grant is available through the Ministerial Excellence Fund of the Assistance Program. Primary support for the fund comes from the Board of Pensions, with additional support from Lilly Endowment and participating churches.

Healthy Pastors, Healthy Congregations plans to give out 500 grants over three years, for a total of $5 million.

Pastor eligibility

Steps to complete the program

1. Sign the Healthy Pastors, Healthy Congregations Program Covenant and Covenant of Financial Commitment. After each convenant is signed, return to the appropriate parties. Signing commits each party to take specific actions to help build a better financial future for the church. 
2. Reach out to your Church Consultant to schedule a congregational leader training session. After the convenant process has been completed, email or call your Church Consultant to schedule a two-hour, in-person training session. This session helps congregational leaders better understand the financial realities of those who answer God’s call. 
3. Register for e-learning courses. Once in-person congregational leader training has been completed, the pastor will then register for e-learning courses through Benefits Connect. The series of online learning modules include two courses, Terms of Call and Personal Finance, which help with financial literacy and management. Here's how to register:
• Log in to Benefits Connect.
• Choose Board University at the top of the page.
• After clicking on Board University, you will be automatically directed to our learning management system.
• Navigate to the Course Library.
• Select the Healthy Pastors, Healthy Congregations Learning Path to begin the e-learning courses. 
4. Consult with a financial professional from Ernst and Young Employee Financial Services (EY). After completing the online learning modules and a training session with congregational leadership, an EY counselor will contact the pastor directly for counseling sessions. The counseling consists of two to three phone calls and requires an assessment by your EY counselor. This is a requirement of the program and results in a personalized financial plan.
   • This EY financial planning benefit is offered by the Board of Pensions at no cost and includes online tools and personal financial advising with a team of certified planners.
5. Receive the grant application. After the program administrator, Ruth Adams, receives the assessment from EY, verifying completion of counseling, you will be emailed the application for grant funds. The grant can be applied to the following:
   • Personal loan debt. To help reduce or eliminate the pastor’s personal debt, a payment is sent directly to the pastor. This option may require verification of payment.
   • Student loan debt. To help reduce or eliminate the pastor’s educational debt, a representative from PeopleJoy Educational Debt Reduction Firm contacts the pastor via email, and a one-time payment is made directly to the educational lender. Further financial counseling through PeopleJoy, specific to student loan debt, is available at no cost.
   • Retirement Savings Plan (RSP) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), a 403(b)(9) plan. To boost personal savings in the Retirement Savings Plan, a check is issued to the pastor's church for an employer contribution.