GOSHEN, Indiana – Everence, through its affiliate Mennonite Foundation, has received a second grant of $1 million as part of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders.

This additional grant is part of the second phase of the Endowment’s national initiative. Everence was one of the first 37 organizations receiving grants as part of the initiative’s first phase in 2015 and 2016, using the funds to establish the Everence Pastoral Financial Assistance Program for pastors within Mennonite Church USA and Conservative Mennonite Conference.

Beginning in 2019, Everence intends to expand the program to credentialed and active pastors from other Anabaptist and like-minded denominations and church networks, in addition to Mennonite Church USA and Conservative Mennonite Conference. Similar to the pilot, the expanded program will include:

• Direct financial assistance grants to help alleviate debt burdens such as educational, medical and credit card debt. Grants are available to pastors who have not previously received direct financial assistance grants as part of the program. Please note: Pastors who benefitted from the debt reduction grant of $5,000 in Phase I are not eligible for a second grant in Phase II.
• Financial education events focused on topics such as retirement planning readiness, debt reduction, financial planning, clergy taxes, etc.
• Financial planning subsidies toward the cost of a first-year Everence comprehensive financial plan.

More information about the expanded Everence Pastoral Financial Assistance Program will be available in January 2019.  Please wait until 2019 to call Everence with any questions you may have about the program. To learn more, please see the Everence website: http://bit.ly/Everence2ndLillyGrant.