Foundation supports retired clergy, loved ones

Each year around Good Friday, the Foundation expresses gratitude to retired clergy and their spouses with a distribution from The Superannuate Endowment Fund.

This fund was created to provide supplemental retirement income to WNC Conference retirees and loved ones. This year’s distribution will be made via direct deposit on Good Friday, April 7, 2023.

Here are some important details:

• The UMF Superannuate Endowment Fund provides an annual gift to WNCC retired clergy and widows(ers).
• The amount of the gift is based on the fund’s annual spending policy calculation and the retirement/service rate schedule that the WNCC office provides to us.
• This distribution is separate from the Advent/Christmas distribution from The Duke Endowment/WNCC.

In the 1600s, the word “superannuated” was generally understood to mean “Disqualified or incapacitated by age;” or “antiquated; made out of date or obsolete.” In this case, we prefer to focus on the prefix “super,” which means “over and above,” “extra,” or “surpassing all or most others of its kind.”

“Since the Foundation’s mission is to build the Church for generations to come, it is fitting to give thanks for those who helped us to fulfill this mission,” said CEO David Snipes. “It is an honor and privilege for us to share a small token of appreciation to those who have contributed to our success through the Superannuate Fund.”

Jim Allred retired 16 years ago from Mount Pleasant UMC in Greensboro and now runs a transitional housing program for people overcoming addiction. Jim followed his father, James G. Allred, Sr., into ministry.

“My dad was a Methodist preacher in very small churches, on a meager salary,” Jim said. “Those funds were always appreciated by our family — probably as far back as the fund goes. And (now) I am a beneficiary.”

For some, the distribution comes as a pleasant surprise.

“Quite frankly, I did not realize there was a fund like this,” one retired clergy person wrote to us. “What a blessing and means of grace!”

If you have any questions, please contact Senior Accountant Donna Johnson at 888-450-1956, Ext. 1505 or djohnson@umfwnc.org or Amanda Goedert, Financial Services Support Specialist, Ext. 1501 or agoedert@umfwnc.org.