The Era-leader., 1919-11-06

]
ters of Baptist, as we'll as other
churches in the South, have been fa1
too small in the past to enable them
to lay aside competency for old age
a long step in remedying this situation
Is promised In the Baptist Is Million
| Campaign, which proposes to raise
S2,5OO,O0O for the relief of aged minis
ters during the next five years, and
then bring this sum up to $4,000, ,000
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 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.
ary 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 support for their old age.
The establishment of the Relief and
Annuity Board and the decision to
raise s5,O0O,O0O 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 a 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'
tions 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.
ure it is possible for retired ministers
to receive an annuity Of $500 after
they have reached the age of 6S, and
provided they have been in the minis.
try for thirty years. If they have
served less than 80 years the annuity
is reduced by certain proportion.
To participate in this annuity min
lister must make monthly, quarterly
or annual payments sufficient to bring
in an income Of $100 per year when in.
vested, on the principle Of regular life
insurance, while this is supplemented
by $4O0 provided by the denomination.
A minister's participation in the an.
nuity fund is in addition to his claims
upon the relief fund.
II the minister is disabled at any
time after Joining the annuity fund,
he will receive a certain annuity
throughout the period Of disability. II
he dies his widow will receive an an.
unity of 60 per cent of what would
have gone to her husband as long as
she lives, and should the widow die
her annuity will be divided among
minor children until they become self
supporting, marry or reach the age
Of Fl.
The board has received an endow.
ment Of 100000 from the Baptist Sun.
day School Board at Nashville not in.
cluded in the IS Million Campaign,
and this sum will be divided equally
between the relief and annuity depart
ments. This enables the board to be-
gin work Immediately and assistance
Is already being given to 2s5 aged min.
lsssss aaa ministers l w!dpvs,