The Shared Ministry Program encourages Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations to covenant to create sustainable pastoral positions. New for 2025, the program provides dues subsidies for benefits, effective Jan. 1, 2025.
The Shared Ministry Program is a new dues incentive program through the Board of Pensions for pastors when two or more congregations desire to work together to call full-time pastoral leadership. A departure from the traditional ministry model, it helps ministry to flourish and sustains it for the long term.
The program is designed and supported through covenant agreements between the congregations. These covenants are important so that congregations fully discuss all aspects of coming together for a shared ministry. With guidance from the presbytery, leaders from each congregation interested in pursuing a shared ministry should have honest and open conversations about the relationship.
Please note this is not a yoked situation. Each congregation maintains its own identity, building, budget, and session. Those in split services are not eligible for the Shared Ministry Program. If you are interested, you must first dissolve that relationship and pursue a shared ministry based on the information below.
If you are interested in the Shared Ministry Program, here are some
questions to consider and a
sample model for engagement.
The program offers benefits support when two or more congregations partner to provide employment to one or more ministers and sign a covenant with each other:
Subsidies are limited to benefit dues and may not be used to pay salary or housing. For ministers enrolled in the Covenant Package, a provision must be made for medical coverage, whether it is provided through a spouse’s employment, a state exchange, or another government program such as TRICARE.
Who’s eligibleThe Shared Ministry Program is designed for:
Pastoral positions created by shared ministries:
Part-time calls may be considered for those working at least 20 hours per week, which is required for benefits enrollment. |
If you are interested in participating in the Shared Ministry Program and know of or are looking for a partnering congregation, contact your presbytery. The Church Consultant for your region can assist with program information and the covenant and registration process.