Salary and Financial Assistance

Limited funds are available to provide financial assistance to both lay and Order of Ministry personnel. Specialized funds have been developed over the years, as described below. Applications should be sent to the address below.

Funds Available

Compassionate Assistance Fund

Purpose: To provide financial assistance in the form of grants and/or loans to eligible applicants where the family income is insufficient to meet recognized basic living expenses due to extraordinary need. Active and retired lay and order of ministry personnel as well as their dependents, as defined by the pension and group insurance plans of the church, are eligible to apply for assistance.

To apply: Active lay members, contact your supervisor or Conference personnel minister. Active order of ministry personnel, contact your Conference personnel minister. Retired members of the pension plan, contact your pension convenor.

Minister’s Loan Fund

Purpose: To provide financial assistance in the case of emergency by lending a small sum at low interest to ministers who are in financial difficulty that is adversely affecting an otherwise promising ministry.

To apply: Active order of ministry personnel, contact your Conference personnel minister.

Personnel Emergency Fund

Purpose: Available to order of ministry personnel who qualify according to The Manual, section 363(d)(vi).

To apply: Contact your Conference personnel minister for assistance in making an application.

Support and Advocacy Fund

Purpose: To provide support and advocacy through financial assistance for gay and lesbian order of ministry personnel as defined by The Manual who are experiencing difficulties in maintaining employment in the church because of their known or perceived sexual orientation.

To apply: Contact your Conference personnel minister.

Survivors of Sexual Abuse Fund

Purpose: To enhance the healing of individuals who have experienced sexual abuse in The United Church of Canada context, as defined by the Sexual Abuse (Sexual Harassment, Pastoral Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Assault) and Child Abuse Policy and Procedures, by extending the ministry of The United Church of Canada to include financial contributions toward the cost of counselling or therapy. Applications can be from lay and non-United Church individuals.

To apply: The Conference personnel minister can assist in making an application.

Ministry Personnel/Survivors of Sexual Abuse Fund

Purpose: To help ordained ministers who are survivors of sexual abuse to stay in active ministry while participating in therapy to deal with sexual abuse issues that are part of their history.

To apply: The Conference personnel minister can assist in making an application.

Ministry and Life Assessment (Vocational Assessment) Fund

Purpose: Provides funding for vocational assessment undertaken at their own initiative by order of ministry personnel (as defined by The Manual).

To apply: The Conference personnel minister can assist in an application.

Torrance E. Bissell Bursary Fund

Purpose: Provides a bursary grant for post-high school education for the dependent children, as defined by the church’s pension and group insurance plans, of active order of ministry personnel and lay pastoral ministers.

To apply: Applications are made through the Conference personnel minister.

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History of Financial Assistance

In the 1920s, the General Council recognized a need to provide compassionate assistance for members of United Church communities, both lay and order of ministry. In the ensuing years, through the relationships developed by Conference personnel ministers and pension convenors, ministers and their families who found themselves in desperate circumstances as a result of financial need or emotional distress have been able to access limited assistance through a number of special funds. Human Resources has established a single, unified committee to review applications submitted. Now a single application allows one to be considered for assistance from all the funds available.

These funds are supported by local church givings, donations to the Mission and Service Fund, and endowments from the community at large. Financial resources available are limited and there are always more who seek help than it is possible to assist in any one year. However, like the loaves and the fishes, a little spread among many can make an enormous difference in the life of each individual who shares in that gift.

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Contact Information

More information about the funds, ways to contribute to them, and applications for assistance are available through your Conference personnel minister.
The Financial Assistance Committee is appointed by the Permanent Committee of Ministry and Employment Policies and Services. It reviews applications for financial assistance four times per year (usually in March, June, September, and December).

Applications should be sent to the committee’s staff resource:

A version of this article appeared in Connex Issue 1, 2004.