Geneva Benefits Group Partners with The Church Alliance to Advance Clergy Retirement Wellbeing
Geneva Benefits Group’s membership in The Church Alliance reflects a shared commitment to protecting the long-term financial wellbeing of clergy and lay workers who faithfully serve the church. The Church Alliance is a national network representing 34 denominational benefits organizations that provide retirement and healthcare benefits to ministers and ministry workers across a wide range of Judeo-Christian faith traditions. Together, the Alliance members advocate for policies that strengthen church benefits plans and ensure that those who serve faith communities can retire with dignity and security.
A central focus of The Church Alliance’s current advocacy work is support for The CLERGY Act (H.R. 227). This bipartisan legislation is designed to assist ministers who previously opted out of Social Security by allowing them a pathway to re-enter the system. For many clergy families, Social Security plays a critical role in providing a stable foundation of retirement income, particularly when combined with denominational pension and benefits plans. The Church Alliance and its member organizations are deeply supportive of this legislation because of its potential to address gaps in retirement readiness for ministers who now face limited options later in life.
As a member of The Church Alliance, Geneva Benefits Group actively supports this advocacy on behalf of the ministries and families it serves. Geneva’s leadership recognizes firsthand the challenges faced by retired clergy who lack access to Social Security benefits, and the importance of thoughtful policy solutions that reflect both compassion and financial stewardship.
Rev. Dr. Edward W. Dunnington, President and CEO of Geneva Benefits Group, underscored this commitment through his public support of the legislation:
“On behalf of Geneva Benefits Group, I wholeheartedly support the passage of the Clergy Act. As a benefits organization serving multiple denominations, we have witnessed firsthand the essential role Social Security plays in ensuring that our retired ministers and their families have adequate income during their final season of ministry. The Clergy Act will enable ministers who previously opted out of Social Security to reenter the system, helping secure a more stable and financially sustainable retirement.”
Geneva’s influence within The Church Alliance is further strengthened through Dr. Dunnington’s service on the Alliance’s steering committee, where he helps guide advocacy priorities and contribute to national conversations shaping the future of church benefits. This leadership role allows Geneva not only to support important legislative efforts like the Clergy Act but also to bring back insights and best practices that enhance Geneva’s service to churches, ministries, and their employees.
Through its membership in The Church Alliance and its active engagement in advocacy and leadership, Geneva continues to demonstrate its commitment to caring for those who have dedicated their lives to serving the church – today and for generations to come.
To learn more about The Church Alliance, visit www.church-alliance.org.
For more than 50 years, Geneva Benefits Group has been committed to serving those who serve the Church. Established by the PCA General Assembly in 1973, Geneva was entrusted with a clear and enduring mission: to care for pastors, ministry workers, and their families—not just in seasons of flourishing but in moments of real need.
At the heart of that mission is the Relief Fund.
The Relief Fund exists to provide financial assistance and compassionate support to PCA pastors, widows, and ministry families facing hardship. Whether the need arises from illness, loss, or unexpected crisis, the goal is simple: to ensure that those who have given their lives to ministry are not left to carry those burdens alone.
This work is overseen by the Geneva team and guided by people who understand ministry life firsthand. Many on our team are pastors themselves and have spent years walking alongside ministry families. Financial planners, staff members, and committee leaders bring both professional expertise and pastoral care to every situation.
“As a pastor’s wife, I’ve experienced the financial uncertainty of being between calls and the challenges of ministry,” said Holly Pelton, Wellbeing Assistant at Geneva. “That experience provides me with an empathic lens to view the Relief Fund applications we receive.”
Perspective like this matters because behind every application is a person, family, and story that deserves to be met with dignity, compassion, and care.
A Thoughtful and Pastoral Application Process
The Relief Fund is available to PCA pastors, widows, and ministry families experiencing financial hardship. The circumstances vary, but often include medical crises, disability, loss of income, or the death of a pastor—leaving a spouse or family navigating both grief and financial uncertainty.
Applying for assistance is designed to be a private, respectful, and pastoral experience. Applicants are invited to share their circumstances in a way that helps Geneva understand both the financial need and the broader context of their situation. Financial information is gathered but always with an emphasis on dignity, confidentiality, and care.
No one is treated like a number. Every application represents a person, a family, and a story that matters.
How Relief Fund Grants Are Prayerfully Distributed
Once an application is submitted, it is carefully reviewed by Geneva’s Financial Assistance Committee. This team includes financial leaders, pastoral staff, and experienced advisors who bring both wisdom and compassion to the process.
Each request is approached with prayerful discernment. In many cases, applicants also meet with a Geneva financial planner to gain a clearer understanding of their financial picture and to receive guidance on next steps. This ensures that assistance is not only timely, but also thoughtful and sustainable.
Several factors are considered in determining how relief is given:
- The nature and urgency of the need
- The applicant’s available resources
- The long-term impact and sustainability of support
Support may come in the form of a one-time emergency grant or ongoing assistance for more extended situations. Each case is handled individually, with care taken to tailor support to the specific need. Relief is delivered as quickly and practically as possible—meeting people where they are, when they need it most.
“At Geneva, we are uniquely called to serve at the intersection of financial wisdom and pastoral care, and nowhere is that calling more evident than in how we walk with those facing hardship through our Relief Fund,” said Rev. Paul Chi, Director of Retirement Readiness at Geneva. “We come alongside those in crisis with both financial guidance and pastoral care. It is a privilege to care for those who have faithfully served in our denomination over the years.”
How Your Generosity Changes Lives
Every dollar distributed through the Relief Fund begins as a gift.
Donors make this work possible by giving generously to support pastors, widows, and ministry families they may never meet but with whom they share a deep bond in Christ. These gifts are carefully stewarded by Geneva to ensure both immediate impact and long-term sustainability.
Supporting the Relief Fund is relational, not transactional. To give to the Relief Fund is to participate in the care of the Church. It’s a way of saying, “You are not forgotten.” It’s a tangible expression of gratitude for those who have spent their lives serving others.
The impact of your generosity is literally life-changing:
“My wife and I would not have made it financially for the last few years without the help from the Relief Fund.” -Scott, PCA Pastor
“When I got the call that I was going to be given help, I cried for 20 minutes straight on the phone…It felt like a miracle and that the Lord saw me.” -Jen, Widow
“Without the Relief Fund, I don’t know where I would be. I could very well be homeless. I have no family that can help. I can’t say enough good things about this ministry.” -Kimberlee
Time and again, these gifts become lifelines—helping families stay afloat, covering essential expenses, and providing stability in seasons that might otherwise feel overwhelming. “The stories we hear are the difficult ones,” said Holly Pelton, Wellbeing Assistant at Geneva. “But seeing the generosity of our donors and the difference the Relief Fund makes is a great encouragement. Being cared for through the application and awarding process not only provides financial support, but often recipients express how this help is something the Lord uses to tangibly remind them of His care and love for them.”
A Growing Need
As the PCA continues to grow and mature, so do the needs within it.
More pastors are reaching retirement age. More widows are living longer and requiring ongoing care. At the same time, rising healthcare costs and financial pressures are increasing the strain on ministry families.
The need for the Relief Fund is growing.
And with that growth comes an opportunity for the church to respond–to live out its calling as a connected, caring body, and to ensure that those who have faithfully served are, in turn, faithfully supported.
How to Get Involved
At its core, the Relief Fund is a bridge.
It connects those in need with those who are able to give. It reflects a shared commitment to care for one another across churches, cities, and generations. It honors the service of pastors and ministry families by ensuring they are not alone in times of hardship.
“You often don’t know the struggles and trials your pastor, his family, and other ministry workers endure. They often put on a great public face while having many internal struggles and weariness in the ups and downs of hard ministry work. Being able to provide relief is essential for helping those who serve the Lord openly and, in their calling, when they have extraordinary need.” – Relief Fund Monthly Sustainer
This is what it looks like to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). And it is an invitation:
- To pray for those in need
- To give to the Relief Fund as you are able
- To apply for help
As we support one another in times of need, the Church becomes a clearer picture of Christ’s love and care for His people.
Geneva Benefits Group serves those who serve others, providing practical support for the financial, physical, and mental wellbeing of people who work in full-time ministry.
