Church Workers’ Assistance Plan

Are you a church worker in need?

The Church Workers' Assistance Plan stems from the Church of the Brethren’s commitment to mutuality within the church, and is funded by local churches and districts that participate in the Retirement Plan. It provides financial support to current and former Church of the Brethren church workers with specific financial needs.

If you are in need of assistance, or know of someone in need, contact Diane Parrott with questions or to request an application or apply below. 847-622-3361 / dparrott@eder.org

We will provide an application for the grant program. It will ask for information such as:

Your Church of the Brethren employment history and tenure.
Your current annual living expenses
Documentation of income and assets

Please fill out the application and send it in, even if you aren’t sure you qualify. This benevolent program is designed to fairly represent church, district, and camp employees with a variety of financial backgrounds and means.

Welcome to your Church Workers' Assistance Plan
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If you are a current or former employee of a Church of the Brethren congregation, district or camp and are struggling financially, you may qualify for assistance.

Apply Now

In addition to the grant programs, Eder Financial provides financial expertise as a service to the church. Eder Financial staff members conduct educational seminars, presentations, and insight sessions on issues related to stewardship, investing, and finance, covering such diverse topics as socially responsible consuming, estate planning, and credit card debt.

Who is eligible?

The Church Workers’ Assistance Plan is intended to provide financial assistance to current and former clergy and lay employees of Church of the Brethren congregations, districts, or campus who have worked at least half-time (1,000 hours/year) and have no other means of financial assistance.

Eligibility is based, in part, on employment history. Current employees of a Church of the Brethren congregation, district, or camp must have served a minimum of five years, at least half-time (1,000 hours/years), while former employees must have served a minimum of 10 years, at least half-time. Those who have served for 20 years or more may be eligible for additional benefits.

How is it funded?

Churches and districts that participate in the Eder Retirement Plan support this ministry by contributing an amount equal to 1% of the total compensation paid to all their employees who work at least half-time.

A similar payment is strongly encouraged from churches that do not participate in the Retirement Plan.

Donations may be sent to:

Eder Financial
Attn: Church Workers' Assistance Plan
1505 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120

The Church Workers' Assistance Plan ministry helps provide support
for retired clergy, active clergy, and lay employees with financial needs.

This plan is an Annual Conference directive financed by church, district, and camp employers who designate 1 percent of their
salary expenditures to this fund, as well as additional
congregational donations.

Church Workers’ Assistance Plan grants represent taxable income. Eder Financial sends 1099-MISC statements to recipients to be included in their taxes.

In 2020, more than $290,000 in grants was given by the Church Workers’ Assistance Plan, including 42 grant recipients.

Also in 2020 50 members of the ministers' group received COVID-19 Emergency Grants, totaling more than 218,000.

Bold

Balanced

Trusted

Eder Financial serves individuals, organizations, and congregations affiliated with the Church of the Brethren as well as those of like mind within the broader faith-based and non-profit community.

The Denomination

Annual Conference
Bethany Seminary
On Earth Peace
Church of the Brethren

Headquarters

1505 Dundee Avenue,
Elgin, IL 60120

800-746-1505 (toll-free)
847-695-0200 (local)
847-742-0135 (fax)

As of May 2022, Eder Financial, Inc. became the new name for the former Brethren Benefit Trust, Inc. As part of this rebranding, other names within the organization were changed as well. The former Brethren Foundation Funds, Inc. became Eder Organizational Investing, Inc.; and Brethren Foundation, Inc. became Eder Deferred Gifts, Inc. For a short period, visitors to the Eder Financial website may still find links, forms, and other references with the former names on them.