The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-11-08
3 REV. j. N. RUSSELL
1TypicaI Retired Minister.

/
While the salaries paid the minis
ters of Baptist, as we'll as other
churches in the South, have been fal
too small in the past to enable them
to lay aside a competency for old age,
long step in remedying this situation
is promised in the Baptist rs Million
| Campaign, which proposes to raise
$2,50O,0O0 for the relief of aged minis
ters during the next five years, and
then bring this sum up to $5OOO,OOO
during the two years Immediately fol,
lowing the campaign.
Looking to the adequate care of hun.
dreds of aged Baptist ministers and
ministers widows in the ranks of the
Southern Baptist Convention who, are
now in need of financial assistance,
this body, at a recent session, author,
lied the creation of the Relief and
Annuity Board at Dallas, Texas, with
DR.. William Lunsford as correspond.
ing secretary.
Heretofore the average annual sal.
airy of Baptist ministers in the South
has been less than $500, meaning that
a large number of preachers received
considerably less than that sum, max.
ing it necessary that they engage in
other occupations during the week in
order to support themselves and their
families, and rendering it practically
impossible for them to lay aside any
money as a support for their old age.
The establishment of the Relief and
Annuity Board and the decision to
raise $5,O00,O00 during the next seven
years for the relief of the aged minis
ters already in need of assistance and
the more adequate care of the men
who hereafter give their lives to the
Christian ministry without an oppor.
tunity to save up a competency to tide
them through sickness or care for
them in their declining days, has met
with cordial reception at the hands
of Southern Baptists, and it is be.
lieved the provision of better treat,
ment for the ministers in their retire.
ment will not only tend to cause young
men to look with greater favor upon
the ministry as life work, but will |
bring the members of local congrega
tons generally to see the need of pay
Ing pastors more adequate salaries be-
fore these pastors become old and
helpless.
By the addition of an annuity feat.
Ire it is possible for retired ministers
o receive an annuity of $500 after
ley have reached the age of 6S, and
provided they have been in the minis
ry for thirty years. If they have
crved less than 30 years the annuity |
s reduced by certain proportion.
70 participate in this annuity min.
ster must make monthly, quarterly
# annual payments sufficient to bring
n an income of $100 per year when in.
ested, on the principle of regular life
insurance; while this is supplemented
y $500 provided by the denomination.
! minister's participation in the an
uity fund is in addition to his claims
pom the relief fund.
If the minister is disabled at any
me after joining the annuity fund,
e will receive a certain annuity
the period of disability. If
e dies his widow will receive an an.
nifty of 60 per cent bf what would
ave gone to her husband as long as
ne lives, and should the widow die
er annuity will be divided among /
inor children until they become self
lpporting, marry or reach the age
21.
The board has received an endow-
ent Of 100000 from the Baptist Sun
~ School Board at Nashville not in
uded in the rs Million Campaign,
Id this sum will be divided equally .
tween the relief and annuity depart :
ents. This enables the board to be- !.
n work Immediately and assistance
already being given to 2s5 aged min