Board of Pensions Annual Enrollment reminder: review your Employer Agreement by Oct. 4

Over the past year, the Board has engaged with 100% of Committees on Ministry and 92% of ministers in Pastor’s Participation to help them understand the options available to them through the 2025 Benefits Plan. We’re grateful to those who have engaged with us as we walk this journey together.

Have you reviewed your 2025 Employer Agreement yet? If not, now is the time for congregations and ministers to make benefits decisions for 2025. Employer Agreements for 2025 benefits are available in Benefits Connect through Friday, Oct. 4.

As a reminder, ministers enrolled in Pastor’s Participation as of Dec. 31, 2024, will automatically be enrolled in Transitional Pastor’s Participation for 2025. Staff will automatically be enrolled in the same benefits for 2025 that they had for 2024.

If you would like to make any changes to your Employer Agreement, or offer new benefits, please call the Board at 800-PRESPLAN (800-773-7752) (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. Otherwise, your Employer Agreement is complete, and no further action is required.

There are several helpful e-learning resources to help make benefits decisions and complete Employer Agreements, such as:

  • Employer Agreement for 2025 Benefits, a tutorial to guide you through completing your 2025 Employer Agreement
  • Faithful Decision-Making, an e-learning series designed to equip pastoral leaders and congregations to make faithful decisions about benefits
  • Serving More, Serving Better (2025), a benefits literacy e-learning

Read more about 2025 Employer Agreement.

Board of Pensions 2025 Employer Agreement

The time to review Employer Agreements for 2025 benefits is Thursday, Aug. 29 through Friday, Oct. 4. During this period, employer representatives can log in to Benefits Connect to review benefits selections and pricing for 2025. For more information, visit https://pensions.org/what-we-offer/employer-guidance/employer-agreement.

Presbytery approves 2025 budget

At the stated meeting of the Presbytery on August 17, 2024, the 2025 budget was approved. The 2025 final, approved, budget can be found here and is available in the Financial Documents section of the Documents page of the Presbytery website.

226th General Assembly approves new churchwide Special Offerings menu

The 226th General Assembly (2024) approved several changes to the churchwide Special Offerings to take effect January 1, 2026. These changes were recommended by the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board through the Special Offerings Review Task Force.

The biggest change you will note is a new lineup of offerings:

  • One Great Hour of Sharing
  • World Communion Offering
  • Christmas Joy Offering

That means:

    • The Pentecost Offering will be discontinued after the 2025 Offering. However, all current recipient causes will continue to be funded through the churchwide Special Offerings. Specifically, ministries focused on children-at-risk, youth, and young adults will now be part of the Christmas Joy Offering.
    • The Peace & Global Witness Offering will transform into the World Communion Offering beginning in 2026. Through 2025, congregations and mid councils are invited to retain a percentage of gifts from their Pentecost and Peace & Global Witness Offerings. In 2026, there will be a new grant-making program to support local and regional ministries. Your congregation or mid council will be able to apply for a grant for your own ministries that align with the causes supported through this new Offering. PMA staff are already working to create an accessible grant process that centers equity, creativity, and flexibility.
    • Overall, causes, rather than programs will receive funds as determined by leadership of the future unified agency. This does not mean currently funded programs will no longer receive funding. Broadening the scope of funding areas will invite more congregations, mid councils, and individuals to support the churchwide Special Offerings while discovering new ways to do God’s work in the world.

Over the next year, we will be redefining the Special Offerings experience to encompass this new direction. Be on the lookout for occasional updates on this process while continuing to receive resources, communication, and opportunities for the current schedule of Offerings.

Church Financial Literacy and Leadership Program

The Presbyterian Foundation recognizes the significance of providing resources to pastoral leaders and the congregations they serve, focusing on enhancing church financial literacy, leadership, and management to foster vitality and excellence in ministry. The following programs are possible through a grant received from the Lilly Endowment Inc.’s initiative to tackle economic challenges faced by pastoral leaders. Read about each component of the Church Financial Literacy and Leadership Program and contact the Presbyterian Foundation for more information.

Church Financial Leadership Academy

There is new video content available in the Church Financial Leadership Academy, which is a website with free videos offering training on demand. Watch new topics like “Generosity for Families” with Rev. Ellie Johns-Kelley, who discusses teaching generosity within your home and to the youngest members of your congregation. Other new videos include: Planned Giving, Endowments Part 1, and Endowments Part 2.

If you aren’t already registered, sign up today using the registration code PCUSA. Since 2019, the CFLA has provided pastors with financial education in a convenient online setting. New videos will be added each month until the Fall, so check back often for new content. Visit the Academy at: https://churchfla.com/.

Church Financial Literacy Grant Program

Are you considering your current stewardship education needs? Submit a grant application for the Church Financial Literacy Grant Program. These are matching grants; we cover up to half of the total cost of attending church financial leadership education programs including Stewardship Kaleidoscope. Visit our website for more information including pre-approved events/courses.

Church Financial Leadership Coaching Program

We are accepting application for our coaching program. This program offers a one-year relationship with a trained coach to help you walk through church finance with the goal of making pastors more confident in how to help their church through finance.

Stewardship Navigator

The Stewardship Navigator is a free program offered to help pastors, staff and church volunteers build a stewardship program. It offers a stewardship calendar, campaign options, narrative budget builder and legacy giving program. This program puts resources at your fingertips.

QuickBooks Online available through TechSoup

As QuickBooks Desktop is being decommissioned, you may be moving to QuickBooks Online. TechSoup offers QuickBooks Online for $80 a year. If you need help registering for a TechSoup account, please feel free to reach out to me.

Church treasurers and finance committees

As the Treasurer of our Presbytery, I am reaching out to offer my support and assistance to you in your vital role within your congregations. Navigating the financial responsibilities of a church can often feel like a daunting task. However, you don’t have to face these challenges alone. I am here to help ease your burden and provide guidance wherever needed.

I understand the unique complexities involved in managing church finances, and I am committed to offering support to your church. Whether you require assistance with budgeting, financial reporting, or any other aspect of financial management, I am at your service. Furthermore, I am more than willing to make visits to your church if that would be beneficial to you. Sometimes, a face-to-face conversation can be the most effective way to address concerns and find solutions. Please feel free to reach out to me at treasurer@wvpresbytery.org or 304-744-7634 any questions or to schedule a visit. Together, let’s ensure that our congregations are equipped with the financial tools and support they need to thrive.

2024 Special Offerings Calendar

Here is this year’s calendar for the four churchwide Special Offerings of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), of which two remain:

PEACE & GLOBAL WITNESS: Sept. 8 to Oct. 6

A gift to the Peace & Global Witness Offering enables the church to promote the Peace of Christ by addressing systems of conflict and injustice across the world. Individual congregations are encouraged to utilize up to 25% of this Offering for peacemaking efforts that align with their passion. Mid-councils retain an additional 25% for ministries of peace and reconciliation. The remaining 50% is used by the Presbyterian Mission Agency to advocate for peace and justice in cultures of violence, including our own, through collaborative projects of education and Christian witness.

CHRISTMAS JOY: Dec. 3 to Dec. 24

NOTE: Donations to the four Special Offerings are accepted at any time. The dates above are for times of special emphasis on the offerings. Click here for more information or to order resources, or call the PC(USA) Store at 800-533-4371.