Programs/Opportunities for you!
- Financial literacy programs and counselors for rostered ministers
- Financial Peace University & Good $ense courses
- Certified Personal Finance Counselors
- financial planners from Portico and LSS-MN
- Financial resources for congregations
- Pre-assembly workshops for church treasurers, committees, and councils
- First Call Theological Education and Candidacy Retreat presentations/information
- Stewardship Education (Stewardship for All Seasons) in congregations
- Financial/stewardship resources added to our synod’s library, the Heilig Resource Center
Faith+Finances+Freedom basics
“Faith +Finances + Freedom” is inspired by the Lilly Endowment 2016 National Initiative Addressing Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders. We conducted four different surveys within the NC Synod with 593 responses from rostered ministers and their spouses, congregation financial secretaries/treasurers and our retirement services provider, Portico. Our research revealed high debt loads, low savings, and poor financial literacy, complicated by the decreased capacity of some congregations to provide adequate compensation for rostered leaders. (more…)
The Lifeline Fund 
Near-term relief, long-term solutions, sound financial literacy, and stewardship programs are necessary components of the Lifeline Fund which addresses economic challenges of rostered ministers in the NC Synod. Grants from this fund are awarded for a variety of needs such as: unmet medical expenses, lingering seminary debt, funds for unexpected emergencies, and compensation support for pastors in partnering congregations.
We are required to match a portion of the seed money give by Lilly Endowment. Our goal is to raise $125,000 each year for the next three years.
Rostered ministers may apply for funds using the button below.
“What impacts the quality of ministry? Financial insecurity and lack of financial literacy. This program is about relieving economic stress and offering a path to financial freedom for our rostered ministers. We call it ‘3 Ways to Win!’ Supporting healthy leaders who will build vital congregations leading to flourishing communities.”
The Rev. John Mocko, Director of Faith, Finances, FreedomWhy give to the Lifeline Fund?
A pastor serves in ministry for 55 years, yet in retirement, finds himself broke and in a nursing home. As his health fails, at age 82, he and his wife are unable to pay his medical bills. They have to declare bankruptcy. They lose their home. He is now in a nursing home on Medicaid and his wife lives in low-income housing. A truly heart breaking story! The Lifeline Fund and Bishop Smith got together and presented this pastor and his wife with $3,000 to pay off his outstanding medical bills!
A young clergy couple graduated from seminary, bringing with them over $40,000 in debt. As a clergy couple, they received their first call and now are serving in a congregation they love and which loves them. Their call is part time, so together they make what a single pastor would make and yet they still have their seminary debt to repay. The Lifeline Fund has awarded each of them $1,200, paid to their lender. This is our effort to help pay down their seminary debt, take them on a path to financial well-being through financial education and counseling, and keep them stress free as they journey in ministry.