There is more good news to share. Earlier today the presbytery got word that our Organizing Pastors Grant was approved by the Board of Pensions. This allows for another critical financial piece to help us nourish this new blossoming community, Loved First. They are the presbytery’s newest New Worshipping Community, and they reach out to those aging out of the foster care system. Jason will be ordained to this work on March 22 and we hope you are able to come and be a part of this exciting chapter in the life of our presbytery.
In this formative time for this New Worshipping Community, a grant like this takes the financial burden off the presbytery, allowing us to amplify the funding of this community and nourish this community by taking care of pieces behind the scenes like caring for its first pastor,
The Board of Pensions lays the following out in their website: “These grants support the evangelism efforts of presbyteries planting congregations and cultivating new ministries by funding the enrollment of organizing pastors and evangelists in benefits through the Congregational Pastors Package. Without the health and financial protection of these benefits, a minister may not be able to devote their best gifts to ministry.”
This means that for the first three years we are able to offer the organizing pastor the Pension Plan, Death and Disability, Temporary Disability, PPO medical coverage, as well access to the assistance and education programs like CREDO. This is free for the first three years, with subsidies in year four and five. This is huge!
I am thankful for those who are doing a lot of the heavy lifting in helping this ministry happen, namely First Presbyterian Church in Maumee, Love and Luggage, Maumee Valley Presbytery, and now the Board of Pensions. If you are also feeling called to assist this community, and nurture those who are aging out of the foster care community, we would welcome your support. You may also want to talk to Jason Armstrong, who is available some Sundays to come and share the good news of what this important ministry looks like and how you can be a part.
God is truly doing new things in our midst, and I am honored to be a witness to it.
-Matt