THE EMERITUS FUND COMMITTEE

The Emeritus Committee is responsible for the administration of the denominational Emeritus fund under the direction of Synod. The purpose of the Emeritus Fund is to provide financial assistance to those ministers of our denomination who have become emeritus and to their wives and dependents as well as to widows and dependents of deceased ministers. Synod has appointed the consistory of Kalamazoo to act as Emeritus Committee.

Article 13 of the Church Order of Dordt officially spells out the responsibility of the churches in regard to emeritus ministers. Other references to the care of God’s servants are found in 1 Corinthians 9:11, Philippians 4:15–18 and 1 Timothy 5:18. A minister may become emeritus when he is no longer able to adequately perform the duties of his office on a permanent basis. A temporary interruption of duties is covered by Article 14 of the Church Order. An emeritus minister may continue to perform some of the duties of a minister, such as preaching, as far as he is able. An emeritus minister continues to hold the honor and title of minister.

Among the duties of the committee are: (1) receive funds given by the congregations, (2) make payments to those receiving benefits, (3) keep proper financial records, (4) maintain regular contact with those receiving benefits to ensure adequate support is given, (5) prepare an annual financial report for the congregations and (6) recommend to Synod any necessary changes in benefits or procedures.

In earlier years financial assistance to emeritus ministers and their dependents in the United States and Canada was provided partly by the congregation the minister last served and partly by the Emeritus Fund according to the minister’s need. The amount of support was agreed upon between the committee, the consistory, and the minister or widow. This worked satisfactorily when the congregations were small and there were few who received benefits.

However, as more ministers and dependents received support from the Emeritus Fund, a need was seen for a more equitable and orderly way to determine benefits. Therefore Synod in 1982 requested the committee to investigate and develop such a procedure. A written operating procedure including set allowances for ministers, widows and dependents was presented by the committee and adopted by Synod in 1984. The amount of support was still based on need but a minimum income was established for all. At the same time Synod through the Emeritus Committee assumed overall financial responsibility for emeritus ministers and dependents relieving their former congregations of the responsibility.

Agreement has also been made with our congregations in the Netherlands to share support of those ministers who have served in both countries. Support is provided by each Emeritus Fund in proportion to the number of years the minister served in each country.

The fund is supported solely by donations from the congregations who collect on a regular basis for this purpose. The fund is not a true retirement or pension fund since all fund income is voluntary, benefits are on the basis of need and the ministers do not make special contributions for their retirement. In 1986 the fund made emeritus payments of $31,963 and received $23,805 from the congregations. The Netherlands Emeritus Fund later reimbursed our fund $11,683 as their share of the payments in 1986. At the end of 1986 the fund balance was $14,588. Over the years the support of the fund has been excellent for which the congregations are to be commended.

May the Lord graciously bless both the givers to, and recipients of, our fund with His indispensable blessing. It is our prayer that we may be enabled to fill in some measure, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2).

G. Van Giessen is clerk of The Emeritus Fund Committee and deacon of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

This is the eighth of a series of NRC committee reports.

Members: 8

Rev. H. Hofman, Pres. • 112 Pratt Rd., Kalamazoo, Ml 49001

Garret Van Giessen, Clerk • 2417 Hemlock Ave., Kalamazoo, Ml 49002

Mandate:

To financially assist retired ministers and/or their wives and dependents in accordance with Article 13 of the Church Order of Dordt.

Recent Tasks:

Extensive work in preparing a standard procedure of emeritus policy of fund distribution (to be coordinated with the parallel committee in the Netherlands for ministers who have served in both Europe and North America).

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