Times of economic stress create tensions in religious bodies. I remember so well my first full-time church located in a far western county of Virginia known commonly as Missouri. Our church gave 18 percent to the Cooperative Program and 4 percent to associational missions. After the treasurer presented a rather dismal financial outlook during one business meeting, the people began to express their opinions. They discussed whether we really needed to provide every pupil with a Sunday school quarterly. They reasoned that we could save by using fewer lights. Someone even suggested, not seriously, that we ask people to bring their own tissue from home if they planned to use the restrooms!
But, bless their hearts, not one of them suggested cutting the Cooperative Program. They understood that the church is the most important contributor to our global mission endeavor. Historically, Baptist churches have sent individuals’ tithes and offerings to Baptist state offices. States, in turn, have sent monies to the appropriate mission organizations. Without the churches’ offerings, Baptist missions would not happen.
Jim White
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Like our church in Missouri, the BGAV has faced circumstances that have required a change. Sometimes things change for the better, as they did in 1994 when the BGAV began to contribute funds to supplement the retirement of annuitants. Sometimes they change the other way.
Discussion of the 2010 BGAV budget created tension at last week’s annual meeting. Even though the theme of the meeting was “Extravagance,” the budget committee recommended that the BGAV no longer contribute the supplemental retirement funds, up to $17.50 monthly for each annuitant (a church employee in an approved retirement plan). The committee recommended that the BGAV continue paying the $9.80 monthly premium for life and disability insurance per annuitant. This change did not come without significant discussion.
First, we all know that the cost of employee benefits has become almost impossible to manage in recent years. Out of necessity, employers have changed their practices. For instance, when I became the editor of the Religious Herald, the finance committee explained that I would be the first employee for whom the Herald could no longer provide health insurance during retirement. I understood because times change.
When I served as a pastor, escalating medical insurance costs caused the church to stop providing full coverage for all staff family members. Church employees assumed responsibility for a portion of the premiums themselves because things change.
The BGAV began paying part of employees’ life and disability premiums in 2007 because GuideStone could no longer absorb the total cost. That year, GuideStone asked state associations to pay half of the $24.50 monthly premium for each annuitant by 2011. According to GuideStone’s plan, the BGAV began paying $2.45 (10 percent) per month per annuitant ($44,000+) in 2007, with another 10 percent added each year. In 2010 Virginia will pay $9.80 per month for each annuitant, nearly $180,000. In 2011, the BGAV will pay 50 percent or $12.25 of each month’s premium per annuitant because things change.
Second, as I think about it, I consider the money the BGAV contributed toward my retirement as a gift. Each month Virginia Baptists put $17.50 into my retirement account. I am profoundly grateful for each one of those gifts. But I never considered what the BGAV did for me as an entitlement.
If the BGAV somehow owes me that money, then I have a right to be angry if they decide to withhold it. But, if they have been giving me a gift, my appropriate response is thanksgiving. Some may feel they are entitled. I feel grateful. Do I wish the gifts could continue? Of course! But I understand.
Third, should pastors feel discounted by the discontinued supplement? Not when I think about the investment the BGAV makes in pastors in the form of networking, conferences and even the Religious Herald. The BGAV pays $11.00 of the $14.83 it costs to provide the Herald to pastors (and deacon chairs and WMU directors). The BGAV supports pastors through the work of field strategists and other support personnel. No Virginia Baptist pastor could reasonably claim that the BGAV doesn’t care.
Fourth, when I understand the reason the supplements were given, I feel a little uneasy. Because so many pastors were spending their entire ministries serving small churches that contributed little or nothing to their pastor’s retirement, and because many of these pastors were living in parsonages, when they retired they had almost nothing to live on. To encourage these small churches to contribute something, the BGAV agreed to match (up to $17.50 per month) whatever the church would give toward their pastor’s retirement.
I have been privileged throughout my ministry to serve churches that understood their responsibility to provide for the retirement of those who served them. For me, the $17.50 was a bonus; a lagniappe. For some of my fellow servants, the $17.50 could be crucial.
What about these pastors and other church annuitants for whom the retirement supplement is crucial? I have given that a lot of thought. I think First Baptist Church of Richmond has the right idea. It has taken the lead in establishing a “helping hand” fund for churches in need. I hope that larger churches, and even individuals, will feel some responsibility to contribute to this fund. The commitment I have heard made is that if a church simply cannot provide for their pastors, the BGAV will find a way to help.
Aunt Ida says she will give enough through the helping hand fund to take care of at least one person who may need the supplement for a year. She told Connie and me to take care of it and she and Uncle Orley will pay us later. This we will gladly do. I encourage other Virginia Baptists to follow her example.
Yes, we had some tensions, but we have love enough and commitment enough to overcome our tensions. And, bless our hearts, one thing we surely won’t do is cut Cooperative Missions. After all, the church is the key to global missions.
Jim White is editor of the Religious Herald.