Young Clergy Debt Assistance Program

Grace and peace to you in the name of the risen Christ.

One of the many legacies our conference has received from the powerful ministry of Bishop Martin D. McLee is the Young Clergy Debt Assistance Program.

The idea for this fund was the creation of Bishop Martin D. McLee who had a profound desire to provide financial support to clergy aged 40 years or younger serving in the New York Annual Conference. This fund, to which many have already generously contributed, is intended to relieve in a small way the burden of educational debt which many have accumulated.

Our first offering at the New York Annual Conference opening celebration service on June 10, 2015 will be an offering to that fund. I hope you will come prepared to give generously with church funds and personal funds.

I am pleased to announce that applications to the Young Clergy Debt Assistance Program are now being received.

To be eligible for a grant, the following three requirements must be met by clergy: 1) be a licensed local pastor or be ordained or be in the process of becoming an ordained deacon or elder in the United Methodist Church; 2) serving in an appointive or assigned ministry as a superintendent’s supply in the NYAC for the past three years, and 3) have academic debt.

Grants will be awarded on a one-time basis. However, clergy with excessive academic debt may reapply in succeeding years.

The expectation is that clergy participating in this program will develop his or her own long-term financial plan, using resources such as: UMPIP program, IRA or college savings programs for dependent children, and websites such as, www.creditkarma.com.

The application and guidelines are on the New York Annual Conference website:

Word document   or    PDF file

All applications will be reviewed by the committee. Applications received after July 2, 2015 will not be considered.  Applicants who qualify according to the guidelines will be contacted within 30-45 days after the application deadline.

I am grateful to Bishop McLee and to those persons who have generously donated to this fund, making this financial relief possible to our young clergy.

In Christ’s service,

Bishop Jane Allen Middleton