The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-03-28
Keynote Of Ministerial Relief

'"e 'eIeranS Oh the ,church rathe
than charity to disabled or aged min
isters has become the Keynote Of min
isterial relief in many Protestan
churches. The denominations gen
orally have increased the amount
distributed, and many have made rad
ioal changes in their method of dis
tribution. Retirement pensions hav,
frequently been provided in addition
to the original provision for relief il
cases of pressing need. The need Of
assuring prospective ministers Of pro
vision for old age of disability, in or
der to gain new recruits for the pul
PIT despite low salaries is said to hay,
been one of the motives which led tc
the introduction of pension systems
These facts are brought out in state
ments from the various denominations
compiled by the Veteran Preacher. 9
publication Of the Board of Conference
Claimants of the Methodist Episcopa'
Church.
Help to self-help is stressed in these
statements, as principle underlying
the newer pension plans Most of the
plans involve some element Of insur.
ancc, and minister's qualify for the
benefits by paying annual dues. Pro.
vision is usually retained for emer.
gcncy relief as well, or for aid to min.
isters for whom the 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
Southcrn), the Church of Christ. Con
eregationalists, Methodists of Can
ada, Presbyterians, the Reformed
Church of America, Southern Meth
cdists, United Brethren, United Luth-
Grams, United Presbyterians and the
I. NJ. c. A. In some cases a clergy
mans dues are paid or shared by his
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
percentage of salaries are made to !,
common fund, to which the association
rays half and the employed officer
half.
The Methodists (northem) provide
pension board on years of service
from funds contributed by the entire
church on the principle that the
strong should bear the burdens of the
weak The Southern Methodists have
general superannuate endowment
fund for which there is a one percent
assessment on pastors salaries.
The Augusta Lutherans, the South
ern Presbyterians and Evangelical
Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and
other states, administer relief as be,
nevolence and on basis of need.
Both pension and relief plans gen.
orally provide for widows and minor
orphans of ministers as we'll as fo,
ministers themselves, and the trus
tees of the Protestant Episcopal
Church authorize an'hmrpediate grant
of $1,000 to clergyhfhs widow at
the time of the death of her husband
in addition to a pension which is paid
to widows or their minor children un.
der separate provision. There is nc
instance Of similar grant having
heen provided by any other church, il
is said.
Another method for aiding widows
is the joint life annuity, under the ex-
panded annuity plan of the Congre.
gational Church. This joint annuity
is payable to minister during his life.
time and to his widow n case of his
prior death.
The plan of which this annuity is
feature permits 4 Congregations
minister to become member of ar
annuity fund by paying annual dues
of six per cent Of his salary. Should
a minister having salary of $4,000
take out a membership at the age OF
30, the accumulation when he was g.
would provide an annuity Of about
$1,000
Further indication of an apparently
general awakening Of responsibility tc
aged ministers is the report Of tn.
Methodists (northern) that their dis
tributive income for conference claim
ants was $2,35O,OOO, four times a.
much as in 1908, and that permanent
fund of $4,000, 900 is sought. Simila,
progress and aspiration is reported b,
various denominations.
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