Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-03-21
Justice to the Vet
erans of Church
Rather than Charity


Chicago. Ill. March 20-Justice to
the veterans" of the church rather
than charity to disabled or aged min
listers has became the keynote of min
isterial relief in many Protestant
churches. The denominations gener-
ally have increased the amounts dis
tributed, and many have made radi-
cal changes in their method of dis
tribution. Retirement pensions have
frequently been provided in addition
to the original provision for relief in
cases of pressing need. The need OF
assuring prospective ministers of pro-
vision for old age disability, in order
to gain new recruits for the pulpit
despite low salaries is said to have
been one of the motives which led to
the Introduction of pension systems.
These facts are brought out in state
ments from the various denomina-
tions compiled by The Veteran
Preacher, publication of the Board
of Conference Claimants of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church.
Help to Self-help is stressed in
these statements, as a principle un-
| derlying the newer pension plans.
Most of the plans involve some ele-
| ment of insurance, and ministers
! qualify for the benefits by paying an
! nual dues. Provision is usually re-
| tanned for emergency relief as we'll
or for aid to ministers for whom tie
general pension plans arrived too
! late.
Denominations and religious organ
izations which have developed or in
| troduced pension plans under which
| ministers pay dues include, in alpha
betical order. Baptists (Northern and
SOUTHERN, the Church of Christ. Con-
Sregationalists, Methodists of Cana
ua, PresbyterianS, til, Reformed
. Church of America, Southern Metho-
dists, United Brethren, United Luth-
Grams, United Presbyterians. and the
y. VI. {. a. III some cases q clc..,Y.
mans dues arc paid or shared hy :iia
| congregation. The part contributed
to the fund by clergymen'S or officers
dues varies; under the plan Of the y.
NJ. c. A. yearly payments based on 4
percentage of salaries are made to Il
| common fund. TO which the Associa-
ton pays half and the employed of
ticer half.
The Methodiats (northcrm provide
pension based on wears of service
| from funds contributed by the entire
church on the principle that the
strong should bear the burdens Of
the weak" The Southern Mcthodists
have a General Superannuatc I'm
doWInent fund for which there is a
one per cent assessment on pastors
salaries.
The Augusta Lutherars. the South
crn PreSbyterians and Evangelical
Lutheran Synod Of Missouri Ohio
and other states. administer relief as
benevolence and on basis of need.
Both pension and relief plans gen
orally provide for widows and minor
orphans Of ministers as well as for
ministers themselves. and the truS-
tees of the Protestant F,piscopal
Church authorize an immediate grant
OF $1,000 to Il clergyman's widow at
the time of tie death of her husband.
in addition to n pension which is paid
TO widows or their minor children un-
der separate provision. There is no
instance of a similar grant having
been provided by any other church, It
is said.
Another method for aiding widows is
tie Joint life annuity. under the en-
panded annuity plan Of the Congrc-
gational Church. This Joint annuity
is payable to minister during his life
time and to his widow in case of his
prior death.
The plan of which this annuity is
feature permits Congregational
minister to become n member Of an
annuity fund by paying annual dues
OF SIX per cent of his salary. Should
minister having salary of $1,000
take out 4 membership at the age Of
thlrty. the accumulation when he
was siXty-fivc would provide an an
nuity of about $1,000
Further indications of an appar-
entity general awakening of responsi-
bIllty 10 aged ministers is the report
OF tho Methodists tnorthern, that
their distrihutivc income for confer
ence claimants was s2,35O.000. four
times as much as in 1908. and that n
permanent fund of $4,000, 600 is
sought. Similar progress and aspila-
tion is reported by va'joIs dcnomin1-
tioOS