Helping Churches Better Care for Their Staff

How Perimeter Church partnered with Geneva to strengthen financial wellbeing, retirement planning, and pastoral support.

When Brent Curl stepped into the role of Director of Human Resources at Perimeter Church, he inherited far more than payroll, benefits, and hiring responsibilities. He took on the responsibility of assisting with the care for hundreds of people.

After spending more than two decades in leadership roles with Perimeter’s summer camp and outdoor adventure ministry, Brent transitioned into HR in 2023. Today, he and his team oversee the care and support of nearly 750 employees who serve across the church’s many ministries throughout the year.

From onboarding and benefits to retirement planning and financial wellbeing, the role is incredibly complex. As Brent settled into the position, he quickly discovered he didn’t have to navigate it alone.

Director of Retirement Readiness, Rev. Paul Chi, leads a retirement planning seminar at Perimeter Church in Atlanta, GA.

“An Extension of Our HR Ministry”

Geneva had long served as Perimeter’s retirement and benefits provider, but Brent’s perspective changed during his transition into HR.

“From day one, they were just incredibly generous with their time,” he said. “They kept saying they would love to come alongside us any way they can.” In a short span, Brent began to see Geneva as more than a benefits administrator.

“I’m more and more viewing them as partners in the ministry we’re doing,” he said. “It struck me the last time they were here—they shared with our entire staff that they’d love for us to view them as an extension of our HR ministry. The questions that come up that they can be experts on, they want to be invited into that.”

For an HR department responsible for everything from business insurance and tax compliance to retirement plans and staff development, having trusted specialists who understand ministry has been invaluable.

And while Perimeter is one of the PCA’s largest churches, Geneva serves congregations of every size. In each setting, Geneva’s role is the same: to come alongside church leaders with practical expertise, pastoral understanding, and personalized support that fits their specific needs.

Meeting a Real Need

Recently, Perimeter encountered an issue affecting several pastors. Because housing allowance rules can be complex, a few teaching elders unexpectedly owed taxes they hadn’t anticipated.

Recognizing the need for both education and a long-term solution, Brent invited the Geneva team to come on site for an in-person training. Rather than simply answering a few questions, Geneva helped the church take a step back and evaluate the entire process.

Leading up to the training, Geneva met with members of the HR and accounting teams to review how housing allowances were being determined, communicated, and processed. The result was a customized on-site training designed specifically for Perimeter’s needs.

Geneva first led a financial wellness session for the entire staff before hosting a more in-depth workshop for the church’s teaching elders focused on housing allowance, followed by an extended Q&A.

Because many members of Geneva’s team are pastors themselves, the training was both technically accurate and reflected firsthand understanding of ministry life.

“They’re incredibly knowledgeable,” Brent said. “But also because many of the Geneva team are pastors themselves, they’re just able to empathize and connect.”

Consistent Care

Geneva’s support didn’t end when the presentations were over. Four Geneva team members remained on site throughout the day, offering individual 45-minute financial wellness consultations for staff members who wanted personalized guidance. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

“I think the biggest thing we heard over and over was ‘Thank you,’” Brent said. “Anytime we’ve done something like this, I think it just shows care. We’re not concerned with you just getting your work done. We’re concerned with you as a holistic person.”

Perhaps most importantly, the Perimeter staff walked away knowing they had someone they could call in the future.

“The Geneva team said it over and over: ‘If you have questions later on, we’re here,’” Brent remembers. In the month following the training, he found himself directing employees to do just that. “When a complicated question has come up, I’ll say, ‘Hey, let’s call Paul,’ or ‘Let’s call Don,’” he said. “And we have.”

Freedom to Focus

For Brent, one of the greatest benefits of partnering with Geneva has been the freedom it has created. Church administrators are expected to understand an enormous range of subjects, from insurance and compliance to retirement plans, taxes, and employment law.

“It’s very, very complicated,” Brent said. “ My tendency is to want to know everything, but I’m recognizing more and more you can’t.”

Rather than trying to become an expert in every area, Brent has learned to lean on Geneva’s expert guidance from people who understand both financial planning and ministry life.

“I’ve got this incredible resource…they are the experts,” he said. “It creates freedom for me to know, ‘Oh, I don’t have to go learn everything there is to know about 403(b) programs. I just have to have Paul’s number so I can reach out or direct our people to him.”

An Invitation to Other Churches

Brent has one message for church administrators who may be reluctant to invite Geneva to serve their staff.

“Don’t hesitate to do it,” he said. “What I’ve realized is, it’s a blessing for them. That’s what they’re here for. That’s what they want to be doing.”

For Brent, the relationship has become a picture of how the body of Christ is meant to function.

“It’s not necessarily asking something from them,” he said. “It’s allowing them to play their role in the body of Christ…providing a better benefit to our people and supporting me as an administrator.”

Interested in learning more about Geneva’s retirement and benefit services? Schedule a consultation today. We’d love to serve and visit your church or school next.