Rest Creates Resilience
Rest is built into God’s design for the world. We were not created for ceaseless work. It’s important to acknowledge our finiteness. Christ will build his church and even your vacation will not impede his progress!
Articles
Generosity amidst Tragedy: The Testimony of Pastor Mike Fennema
However, on November 28, Mike went on a mountain bike ride with his children—one of their favorite activities. In a fluke accident, he flew over his handlebars and crashed onto his helmet. He suffered a spinal cord injury, severely limiting his movement.
“I had literally lost everything.” Peggy West and God’s Provision
After her husband passed away, Peggy moved to live closer to family. She brought all her belongings, including family photos, her treasured violin and piano, and original music compositions, to an apartment—only to have a second tragedy strike when a fire consumed the building.
Caring for the Called: The Importance of a Healthy Call Package
Call Packages should be designed with the whole person in mind. But more often than not, churches and lay leaders feel unequipped to put together a comprehensive package that covers the four essential elements: compensation, retirement, insurance, and wellbeing.
A History of Geneva Benefits Group and the PCA
For fifty years, Geneva Benefits Group has administered the Ministerial Relief Fund on behalf of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). The first General Assembly of the PCA established this committee to manage retirement and benefits of the newly formed denomination and to develop a program to “meet the needs of ministers and other workers in the church in an adequate manner.”
How To Enroll in a Church Retirement Plan
As our name suggests, Geneva Benefits Group is a part of the reformed tradition. That means our decisions are directed by Scripture and guided by our church documents, even in financial matters like church staff compensation packages. But when it comes to enrolling a church staff in a retirement plan, it can be difficult to know where to start.
Bible Verses About Widows
From the very beginning of the church, the apostles called Christians to care for widows. The most famous passage in the Bible about widows carries that very message, and it is the inspiration for our yearly Look/After campaign: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 1:27).
Retirement Planning for Pastors
In our research, we found that 70% of PCA pastors are not confident that they have enough savings for retirement, and therefore need to plan for retirement. As many PCA pastors reach retirement age, Geneva helps the most pressing cases with financial aid through the Relief Fund.
Q&A: Should pastors opt out of Social Security?
Under U.S. tax code, ordained ministers can opt out of Social Security. Form 4361 declares that ministers who are theologically opposed to receiving benefits from the government can excuse themselves from Social Security. While keeping 15.3 percent each paycheck instead of giving it to the government might seem like the way to go, opting out of social security is not a decision to make lightly. There are irrevocable repercussions. Once a pastor chooses to opt out, they are out for good in most cases.