Shared Ministry Program

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 among the congregations, minister(s), and presbytery. These covenants are important so that congregations fully discuss all aspects of coming together for a shared ministry. When congregations covenant, they enter into a five-year dues subsidy program with the Board. 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.

If you are interested in the Shared Ministry Program, here are some questions to consider and a sample model for engagement.

What it provides

The Shared Ministry Program helps realize the promise of vital and flourishing ministry by bringing benefits support to both congregations and pastors throughout a five-year dues subsidy.

Dues subsidies for congregations

Participating congregations receive a dues subsidy of the cost of benefits for one or more pastors, as follows:

• Years 1-3: 50% subsidy of benefit dues, up to a maximum of $10,000 per call, per year
• Year 4: two-thirds of the subsidy received in the third year
• Year 5: one-third of the subsidy received in the fourth year

Here is how subsidies for each year are calculated:

Subsidies are limited to benefit dues and may not be used to pay salary, housing, or post-retirement dues. 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.

Benefits for ministers

Ministers are enrolled in the Congregational Pastors Package, the Covenant Package, Transitional Pastor's Participation, or Benefits Plan offerings, depending on position, benefits needs, and eligibility criteria, and receive access to assistance and education programs through the Board of Pensions. These programs support wholeness and help ministers bring their best gifts to ministry.