Rev. Bruce G. Epperly, PhD
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. (Matthew 12:2)
The Pension Boards interviews the Rev. Dr. Michael L. Sloan, Senior Pastor for The First Congregational Church in Spencerport, New York, to learn of his experiences with the Ministers’ Financial Vitality Initiative (MFVI) program, a three-year personal finance program designed to alleviate the debt burden of UCC authorized ministers. Rev. Sloan is also a participant in the Next Generation Leadership Initiative (NGLI). Both programs are administered by the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance, the philanthropic arm of the Pension Boards.
Did you know that despite the significance of sight in our daily lives, many individuals neglect regular eye check-ups, potentially jeopardizing their eye health?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of the estimated 93 million U.S. adults at high risk for vision loss, only half visited an eye doctor in the past 12 months.
The ability to consistently save money is a crucial aspect of financial stability and achieving long-term goals. As a United Church of Christ minister, lay member, or retiree, perhaps you are already living on a tight budget. But that doesn’t mean sacrificing your quality of life and enjoying the money you do have.
Consider exploring and practicing these five ways to saving money while you manage your current budget.
As spiritual anchors for your congregation or community, you can spend hours of personal sacrifice providing guidance, solace, and wisdom to those you serve in times of need.
However, a deep commitment and passion to your call should never come at the sacrifice of your own personal wellbeing—spiritually, emotionally, physically, and financially.
By Emma Gun, Marketing and Communications Intern
My summer was full of exciting opportunities when I served as the Marketing and Communications Intern for the Pension Boards’ Summer Internship Program. I strengthened my video editing and graphic design skills, broadened my understanding of data analysis, and met incredible people. These opportunities were most accessible in my contributions to the Capstone Project, which engaged summer interns to analyze, discuss, and explore how clergy member’s mental health might affect their personal financial decision-making.
Rev. Bruce G. Epperly, PhD
African American spiritual leader Howard Thurman invites us to awaken to the angels in our midst and the better angels of our own nature.
Q&A with Andrew Russell, Director of Fixed-Income Investments
What does it take to become a responsible investor in today’s world? Do you think about making moral investment choices in ways that can impact the climate, our environment, or the way we utilize our natural resources?
Andrew Russell, Director of Fixed-Income Investments shares how investing in green bonds (bonds specifically earmarked to raise money for climate and environmental projects) are one way Pension Boards members can add their footprint to mitigate climate change.
By Travis Marks, CFP®, CFA®
Director, Generations University
A minister’s housing allowance (sometimes called a parsonage allowance or a rental allowance) is excludable from gross income for income tax purposes*. It is an amount officially designated (in advance of payment) as a housing allowance and in reasonable compensation for services rendered as a minister.
The Pension Boards-United Church of Christ (PBUCC) is deeply saddened by the ongoing crisis in the Israel-Palestine region, a situation that has caused immeasurable suffering for countless innocent victims of terror. In recent years, several PBUCC leaders have visited the region and witnessed firsthand the pain and hardship experienced by the individuals and communities affected. Our hearts are heavy by the violence that continues to unfold in the land held sacred by the three Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We mourn the thousands of women, children, and men whose lives have been lost.