About
In 2017, the General Assembly established the Committee on Ministerial Care (CMC) for the purpose of providing general financial advice and ministries of encouragement and support to ministers of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
The CMC serves in the following ways:
- Maintains, manages, and provides oversight of the OPC Retirement Account.
- Provides or recommends counsel and assistance in financial risk management (Health, Life, Disability, Counseling, and such other types of insurance as may be advisable).
- Provides or recommends counsel and assistance in financial planning, including retirement planning and investment portfolio management.
- Maintains, manages, and provides oversight of the OPC Obadiah Fund; and provides for the diaconal needs of all OPC ministers and their widows.
- Consults with North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council churches and other churches of like faith and practice regarding their experience and best practices in the care of their ministers.
- Informs presbyteries and local sessions of tools available for the care of their ministers.
- Provides resources to congregations and presbyteries to improve the terms of calls.
- Maintains denominational salary scale guidelines.
- Maintains a voluntary and confidential database of OPC ministerial compensation.
- Provides advice to the General Assembly regarding the Book of Church Order on retirement-related matters.
- Provides financial instruction and counsel in educational venues; e.g., the Ministerial Training Institute of the OPC.
- Assists presbyteries and sessions in considering other means of strengthening the care of ministers; e.g., ministerial mentoring, counseling, retreats, and sabbaticals.
How it Started
In 2017, the General Assembly established the Committee on Ministerial Care (CMC) for the purpose of providing general financial advice and ministries of encouragement and support to ministers of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
The CMC serves in the following ways:
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- Maintains, manages, and provides oversight of the OPC Retirement Account.
- Provides or recommends counsel and assistance in financial risk management (Health, Life, Disability, Counseling, and such other types of insurance as may be advisable).
- Provides or recommends counsel and assistance in financial planning, including retirement planning and investment portfolio management.
- Maintains, manages, and provides oversight of the OPC Obadiah Fund; and provides for the diaconal needs of all OPC ministers and their widows.
- Consults with North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council churches and other churches of like faith and practice regarding their experience and best practices in the care of their ministers.
[/one_second][one_second]
- Informs presbyteries and local sessions of tools available for the care of their ministers.
- Provides resources to congregations and presbyteries to improve the terms of calls.
- Maintains denominational salary scale guidelines.
- Maintains a voluntary and confidential database of OPC ministerial compensation.
- Provides advice to the General Assembly regarding the Book of Church Order on retirement-related matters.
- Provides financial instruction and counsel in educational venues; e.g., the Ministerial Training Institute of the OPC.
- Assists presbyteries and sessions in considering other means of strengthening the care of ministers; e.g., ministerial mentoring, counseling, retreats, and sabbaticals.
[/one_second]
Who We Are & What We Do
Meet Members of the Committee
Front row (L to R): John Hearn, Andrew Stafford, Ron Pearce, John Hartley
Back row: Greg De Jong, Ken VanderMolen, Dave VanderPloeg, John Fikkert, Doug Watson, Darren Thole
More Resources & Support
Beyond these core responsibilities, CMC is developing a wide array of resources to assist ministers directly, when appropriate, and to work closely with local congregations and presbyteries.
[accordion title=”” open1st=”0″ openAll=”0″ style=””][accordion_item title=”Ministers & Their Wives”]
CMC provides resources directly to ministers:
- OPC Retirement Plan to save for retirement in a tax-efficient, low-cost, professionally
managed 403(b) plan - Financial Planning assistance through online resources and advice from volunteer
professional financial planners - Education through online resources, recommended books and webinars
- Diaconal assistance for retired ministers and their widows through the Obadiah Fund (in consultation with presbyteries and local diaconates)
[/accordion_item][/accordion][accordion title=”” open1st=”0″ openAll=”0″ style=””][accordion_item title=”Local Congregations”]
CMC works with local congregations to assist in the care of any ministers and ministers’ widows in their congregation:
- Salary Scale Guidelines to help gauge the adequacy of the minister’s compensation
- Advice on ministerial calls
- Diaconal assistance for retired ministers and their widows
- Resources and ideas to support and encourage your minister and his family
[/accordion_item][/accordion][accordion title=”” open1st=”0″ openAll=”0″ style=””][accordion_item title=”Regional Presbyteries”]
CMC works with presbyteries to provide ideas, information and resources which may not be available in the regional church:
- Assist Candidates and Credentials Committees in evaluating ministerial calls
- Identify resources for ministers who seek financial planning assistance
- Develop other means of caring for ministers, such as retreats, counseling, mentoring and sabbaticals
- Work with Diaconal Committees to care for retired ministers and their widows using the Obadiah Fund
[/accordion_item][/accordion]
Meet Members of the Committee
Front row (L to R): John Hartley, John Hearn, Andrew Stafford, Doug Watson, Brett McNeill
Back row: Greg De Jong, John Fikkert, Ron Pearce, Darren Thole, Ken Vander Molen
More Resources & Support
Beyond these core responsibilities, CMC is developing a wide array of resources to assist ministers directly, when appropriate, and to work closely with local congregations and presbyteries.
[accordion title=”” open1st=”0″ openAll=”0″ style=””][accordion_item title=”Ministers & Their Wives”]
CMC provides resources directly to ministers:
- OPC Retirement Plan to save for retirement in a tax-efficient, low-cost, professionally
managed 403(b) plan - Financial Planning assistance through online resources and advice from volunteer
professional financial planners - Education through online resources, recommended books and webinars
- Diaconal assistance for retired ministers and their widows through the Obadiah Fund (in consultation with presbyteries and local diaconates)
[/accordion_item][/accordion][accordion title=”” open1st=”0″ openAll=”0″ style=””][accordion_item title=”Local Congregations”]
CMC works with local congregations to assist in the care of any ministers and ministers’ widows in their congregation:
- Salary Scale Guidelines to help gauge the adequacy of the minister’s compensation
- Advice on ministerial calls
- Diaconal assistance for retired ministers and their widows
- Resources and ideas to support and encourage your minister and his family
[/accordion_item][/accordion][accordion title=”” open1st=”0″ openAll=”0″ style=””][accordion_item title=”Regional Presbyteries”]
CMC works with presbyteries to provide ideas, information and resources which may not be available in the regional church:
- Assist Candidates and Credentials Committees in evaluating ministerial calls
- Identify resources for ministers who seek financial planning assistance
- Develop other means of caring for ministers, such as retreats, counseling, mentoring and sabbaticals
- Work with Diaconal Committees to care for retired ministers and their widows using the Obadiah Fund
[/accordion_item][/accordion]
Ways You Can Support the Committee of Ministerial Care:
Pray
- For retired ministers with limited means
- For the financial challenges young ministers face
- For widows of ministers
- For wisdomfor the Committee
Utilize
- The resources which CMC provides and is continuing to develop
- Expertise which may benefit ministers in your local congregation or presbytery
Encourage
- Think creatively about how you can support your minister, his wife, and his family in ways beyond his salary and benefits package
- Let your minister and his wife know they are appreciated
Give
- Support your church generously so it can afford to compensate your minister, including saving for retirement
- Consider supporting the Committee on Ministerial Care directly. DONATE HERE >>