Dear Friends,

What great inspiration it was to gather with you at General Synod 35 in Kansas City! Whether we shared a conversation, a meal, or simply a greeting, it was a fabulous to connect face-to-face with so many faithful leaders and servants of the Church.

At the Pension Boards, we know ministry is sacred—and sustaining it is our calling. We were honored to participate in workshops, share stories, and listen deeply to your hopes and needs. Every moment reminded us why we exist: to walk alongside you in ministry. Our mission is to support and sustain those who serve, through:

• Ministerial Resources – grants, leadership programs, and financial wellness initiatives
• Retirement and Health Benefits – holistic support for your wellbeing, now and in the future
• Stewardship and Legacy Programs – tools to help you plan, give, and build lasting impact

During the plenary session on Monday evening, with many of my PBUCC colleagues on stage alongside me, I did my best to communicate that the Pension Boards is your partner in ministry. We are listening. We are learning. And we are committed to walking with you—every step of the way. You can read a summary of my address here.

We also launched our General Synod 35 edition of Evercall, a magazine dedicated to building resilient foundations for ministry. Subscribe here for new articles, videos, webinars, and other resources to support your ministry.

If you missed General Synod 35, we hope you enjoy the recap below as it captures some of the moments that inspired and connected us.  

Your partner in ministry, 

David A. Klassen
President and CEO

Synod 35 Highlights: Ministry in Action

Encouraging Stories  

Rev. Philomena Hare, Senior Pastor, First Congregational Church of Wareham in Massachusetts, improved her financial wellbeing through the Pension Boards' Ministers' Financial Vitality Initiative (MFVI) and increased her credit score.  
Watch the Video 

Rev. Eleanor McCormick, a graduate of the Next Generation Leadership Initiative (NGLI), expressed her gratitude for the NGLI leadership tools that deepened her call to serve. The Rev. McCormick is pastor of Evangelische Landeskirche in Karlsruhe-Grotzingen Baden, Germany.

Watch the Video

Revs. John Tyler and Jeanne Tyler (center-right), Wisconsin Conference, stopped by the PBUCC booth to thank Joaquin Labour-Acosta (left), Director of the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance (UCBMA), for grant support that helped Jeanne secure much-needed hearing aids—her first new pair in seven years. Jeanne, a 20-year veteran serving the UCC Disabilities Ministry, is now connected to Bluetooth and can hear her television clearly.

Honoring Leadership

The Avery D. Post Ecumenical Award was awarded posthumously to Brian R. Bodager, honoring his legacy of ecumenical partnership.

The Rev. Dr. Georgia A. Thompson, UCC's General Minister, President and CEO, presented the Avery D. Post Ecumenical Award to the Rev. Dr. Rodney Franklin, Chair, Board of Trustees, who accepted the award on Brian’s behalf.

The Rev. Caela Simmons Wood (right), NGLI*6 member and pastor of First Congregational UCC, Manhattan, Kansas, received the Antoinette Brown Society Trailblazing Innovator Award.

"It was a joy to celebrate Rev. Caela Simmons Wood as a Trailblazing Innovator. She is a creative, enthusiastic, and skillful pastor who deserves all the recognition she received.  It’s also delightful that she is the first NGLI pastor to receive one of the Antoinette Brown Society awards."  

—Rev. Krista Betz, Director of Leadership Initiatives, PBUCC (left).

PBUCC booth visitors went into the deep – reflecting on what gives them hope, joy, peace, and love, and to honor those who have inspired them in their life and ministry.

Building Community

Creating sustainable social justice ecosystems and developing trauma-informed care approaches were the topics of conversation at the “Building Community & Nurturing Justice” luncheon hosted by the Pension Boards and MESA (Ministerial Excellence, Support & Authorization).  This was a special event to encourage clergy and members in discernment in their 20s and 30s— and over 120 of them were in attendance.

Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson, General Minister, President and CEO of the UCC, and Pensions Boards’ President and CEO David A. Klassen greeted the room full of younger clergy and members in discernment.  Teaching and conversation starters were led by Rev. Tara Barber, Minister for Minister Support and Accountability in the national setting and Rev. Krista Betz, Director, Leadership Initiatives at the Pension Boards.

Jamar Doyle, President and CEO of the Council for Health and Human Services Ministries (CHSSM), shared about the Pension Boards' partnership in supporting CHSSM agencies and its employees’ self-care needs.

Watch the Video

Learning & Leading

The Environmental Stewardship through Responsible Investing workshop underscored faith-driven sustainability and featured perspectives from (L-R) Jim Antal, Special Advisor on Climate Justice to the General Minister and President of the UCC; Matthew Illian, Director of Responsible Investing, United Church Funds; Lan Cai, PBUCC’s Chief Investment Officer; and PBUCC’s President and CEO David A. Klassen.

View the Replay

The Engaging People of Call to Service workshop explored recruitment, retention, and ministerial compensation. The Rev. Dr. Sarah Drummond, founder of Andover Newton Seminary and Professor at Yale Divinity School, was part of the discussion on how institutions need to rethink how we structure compensation, endowments, and revenue streams.

View the Replay

Resources for Ministry

To learn more about resources to support wellbeing in ministry, email the PBUCC team at contactus@pbucc.org.

Evan Rathjen, Philanthropy Coordinator for the Pension Boards, encouraged participants to start their legacy planning for free through FreeWill, which creates your legal will in minutes. Give to the people and causes you care about.

Joaquin Labour-Acosta, Director of United Church Board of Ministerial Assistance, encourages you to learn about the ministerial resources and grants available to UCC clergy, lay workers, and caregivers.

Stephanie Serratelli, Benefits Program Manager, wants to make sure you know about the essential and comprehensive retirement and health benefits available to employees of UCC organizations.

Travis Marks, CFP®, CFA® introduced the Financial Wellness for Ministry & Life pilot to help you assess your current financial situation and provide one-on-one guidance. Start your journey today and get a $25 Amazon gift card for taking the initial steps.