April 29, 2024
We are pleased to announce, the United Church Board of Ministerial Assistance (UCBMA) is officially the Grant Program Administrator of the Massachusetts Board of Ministerial Aid (BMA). This exciting partnership represents an important step forward in our commitment to serving pastoral leaders who serve or have served the UCC denomination in the historic Massachusetts Conference.
BMA and UCBMA share an overlapping mission to provide for the financial security of pastors serving the United Church of Christ (UCC). BMA provides assistance for those ministers who serve or have served in the historic Massachusetts Conference. UCBMA provides similar assistance for ministers across the denomination.
BMA's ongoing grants include over 100 Christmas Gift recipients and 22 Pension Supplement recipients. The organization also provides emergency assistance for a total annual outlay of approximately $300,000 in assistance.
By partnering together, UCBMA and BMA aim to streamline the grant-making process, making it more accessible and efficient. This collaboration not only strengthens our collective impact but also reinforces our dedication to supporting the vital work being done within our denomination.
We look forward to the opportunities that this partnership will create and the positive impact it will have on the grant programs within the UCC. Together, we are committed to empowering and equipping active and retired UCC Ministers in Massachusetts to further their mission and ministry.
If you or a clergy person you know could benefit from any of our programs, please contact your Area Conference Minister. If assistance needed is for someone else, encourage him/her/them to contact us directly; you also may contact us on his/her/their behalf.
Massachusetts Authorized Ministers who wish to apply for an emergency grant offered by the BMA should complete the online UCC Pension Boards Request for Emergency Assistance application. Or, you can print this paper form and email/mail it to the Pension Boards at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | 475 Riverside Drive, Room 1020 New York, NY 10115. On the application, please list your Area Conference Minister as the “endorser;” this enables your application to be processed in a timely manner. All information is held confidentially and in prayer.
For more information about the grant application process and/or to discuss potential partnership arrangements with UCBMA for administering the grantmaking process, contact:
Joaquin A. Labour-Acosta
Director, United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance
The Pension Boards, United Church of Christ
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Since its inception in 1869, the Massachusetts Board of Ministerial Aid (BMA) has performed exceptional work in providing vital financial support to ministers across the historic Massachusetts Conference. For over a century, BMA has played an instrumental role in sustaining and nurturing the religious community by alleviating the financial burdens faced by ministers. Through their dedicated efforts and commitment, countless ministers have been able to pursue their calling, serve their congregations, and uplift their communities.
As BMA ages, the organization faces challenges such as those presented by an evolving landscape. By partnering with UCBMA, BMA seeks to leverage its established infrastructure, expertise, and resources to maintain and advance its mission. A strategic move that would enable a smooth transition, minimizing disruptions to services and programs while maximizing impact on the communities that BMA cares about and serves.
BMA's unwavering commitment to supporting ministers who serve or have served in the historic Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ and other churches of the "congregational way" has fostered a flourishing religious landscape in Massachusetts, ensuring that the financial needs of the ministerial community are met. Their unparalleled dedication and impact have solidified the BMA as a beacon of hope and a crucial pillar in the spiritual fabric of the state.