Supporting abundant life for ministers

In a time of profound change for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and other mainline denominations, ministers continue to nurture faith, proclaim the Gospel, and bear witness to God’s love in the world. They accompany us through life’s most pivotal moments, and as they serve, the Board of Pensions creates opportunities and spaces for them to live into the promise of Jesus Christ for life abundant. 

Recognizing the particular demands and concerns of ministry, we design educational programs that support ministers in key areas of well-being: spiritual, health, financial, and vocational. When they are spiritually vital, vocationally centered, financially healthy, and they are at a place of emotional and physical health, they can live fully into their ministry. The support the Board of Pensions provides spans the arc of ministry, from seminary to ordination to retirement. 

Guided by A Theology of Benefits, our commitment is to ensure that ministers, indeed all who serve the Church, flourish in every dimension of their lives. We are informed by the rich research on minister well-being that has emerged in recent years (e.g., Duke Clergy Health Collaborative, Flourishing in Ministry) and identifies key ministerial challenges, causes of diminished well-being, and offers insights for enhanced resilience, thriving, daily well-being, and authenticity. We know that our ministers are more likely to flourish when they have supportive relationships, find meaning in their work, and have people who mentor and support them. 

From preparation for a first call to opportunities for renewal at key points to support in retirement, we leverage research, scholarship, experience, and feedback from and conversations with those who serve to design robust programs to support ministers through every season of living and sharing the Gospel. 

Conversations focused on just compensation have been at the forefront of our denomination for a number of years. We recognize ministers are in the unique position of serving with and covenanting terms of call with people who are responsible for their well-being. Navigating the call process and compensation discussions requires an understanding of multiple factors, self-awareness, effective communication skills, and a theological framework. Some ministers are hesitant to advocate for themselves, and navigating conversations around compensation and boundaries, including time away from the congregation, stretches them beyond their comfort zone. 

Our First Call, First Steps seminar guides seminarians and candidates for ordination in laying the foundation for the lifelong work of pursuing wholeness, which includes successfully covenanting calls. Knowledge of benefits and their value for lifelong wholeness is important, and the seminar provides that, as do the Terms of Call and Faithful Decision-Making e-learning series and our webinars on leveraging specific benefits available through the Board of Pensions.  

Building on First Call, First Steps, we are piloting a six-week Beginning Well online course for recently ordained pastors in fall 2026. Ministers will explore foundational practices for flourishing in ministry, preparing them for a future of healthy service to the Church. 

Individuals enter the ministry with a deep sense of call to serve the Church and be agents of God’s grace in a broken world. Such a call is not without emotional labor, personal sacrifice, and myriad expectations. Opportunities for relationships with other ministers and ongoing formation and discernment regarding how best to use their gifts in service to God’s kingdom can have immense value.  

Our Presbyterian CREDO conferences give minister members opportunities for such discernment and renewal at three important stages in their service to the Church: recently ordained, mid-career, and late-career. The Board's goal is to ensure that eligible ministers are able to attend a conference during each season, expanding our support across the arc of ministry. We are delighted to begin implementing this program expansion in 2027. 

For the recently ordained, CREDO is a time to build relationships with other ministers that can help sustain them through the years ahead. Ministers at the mid-career point enter discernment over how to maintain (or regain) ministry vitality, asking whether they are still aligned with God’s will. At the late-career juncture, CREDO participants consider opportunities for growth and the potential for evolving further in their mission, especially seeking to complete their ministry well.  

The pursuit of wholeness is a lifetime journey, and the Board of Pensions is committed to traveling this path with ministers. For those preparing to transition from active ministry, our virtual Retirement Conversations provide guidance in the key areas of well-being, as does the THRIVE seminar, which we offer virtually and in person.  

After they retire, ministers, their spouses, and surviving spouses often look for the meaningful fellowship and connection they found in active ministry. For those, we host the Third Act Seminar & Luncheon multiple times a year across the country.  

Providing ministers with the resources and relationships they need to faithfully respond to God’s call, whether in active ministry or retirement, honors the covenant we make to care for those serving the Church. As the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) continues to evolve, the Board of Pensions remains deeply committed to our ministers and our Church, adapting our support to meet ministers’ changing needs and creating pathways for them to live abundantly in every season of life and ministry.