Benefits Grants for Organizing Pastors and Evangelists

Many communities served by organizing pastors and evangelists (church job code 301) face economic challenges. It may not be feasible to provide comprehensive benefits for their ministers through the Benefits Plan of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Without the health and financial protection of these benefits, a minister may not be able to devote their best gifts to ministry.

To support the PC(USA)’s evangelism efforts, the Board of Pensions is offering presbyteries that employ these ministers grants to fund the cost of enrolling them in Pastor’s Participation.

What's included

Pastor’s Participation benefits, designed to meet the health, financial protection, and retirement needs of ministers, include the following:

• Defined Benefit Pension Plan
• Death and Disability Plan
• Temporary Disability Plan
• PPO medical coverage for family

For ministers enrolled in Pastor's Participation, employers may share in the cost of additional benefits.

Assistance and education programs

Through Pastor's Participation, ministers also have access to important assistance and education programs* that help cultivate wholeness and nurture ministries:

• CREDO
• Board University
• Assistance Program, including Minister Educational Debt Assistance, Minister Debt Relief, Emergency Assistance, Adoption Assistance, Transition-to-College Assistance, and Sabbath Sabbatical Support

*Member must meet eligibility requirements. 

Cost and billing process

The cost to the presbytery for this coverage is free for the first three years, with a reduction through years four and five.

The grant and billing process is as follows:

• The grant and dues will be established at minimum participation levels for Pastor’s Participation.
• The grant will be issued as a credit to the presbytery’s monthly bill for benefits, which will show the cost of Pastor’s Participation for the approved individual.
• The grant covers the full cost of enrollment in Pastor’s Participation the first three years the individual qualifies, two-thirds of the cost in the fourth year, and one-third in the fifth year, as shown in the chart.

Who’s eligible

For a presbytery to be eligible for the grant, the minister must

• be an ordained minister of the Word and Sacrament ordinarily employed by the presbytery in church job code 301 for no less than 20 hours per week;
• have an effective salary that is less than the congregational ministers' median ($67,100 for 2024);
• not currently be enrolled in Pastor’s Participation and not have been enrolled for Pastor’s Participation in this employment relationship, or with this employer, for at least two years before enrollment in this grant program; and
• not have initiated a retirement benefit with the Board of Pensions.

How to apply

The presbytery applies for the grant during the application period.

The presbytery must submit a completed application to the Board of Pensions; the process requires a review and endorsement by the Committee on Ministry.

The Board will accept completed applications for these grants on a quarterly basis.