As a way of saying "thank you" for years of service to the Church, some annuitants with limited financial resources receive an annual Christmas “Thank You” Gift Check.
Eligibility
Eligible persons are one of the following:
- Authorized Ministers with current UCC Standing
- Lay Employees of a UCC congregation, Association, Conference, or National Setting (aka Qualified Church Controlled Organization), with a minimum of 10 years of service
- Surviving spouses/partners of the above
In general, these requirements must also be met:
- Age 65 years or older
- Total household Income is below $45,500 for retired clergy or lay employee and Total household Income for a surviving spouse/partner is $35,600
Values listed are effective as of January 1st, 2025. It may be expected but there is no guarantee that the established income levels would increase every year based on market inflation.
Application
There is no individual application process for this gift. Recipients are nominated by their Conference Minister, Associate Conference Minister, or Annuitant Visitor. Also, every applicant for one of the other retiree grants is considered for this gift.
Funding
The source of these gifts is Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM), and the Christmas Fund Offering.