The Preachers’ Aid Society exists, in the words of our Articles of Incorporation, ”to assist in the support of aged, ill or needy ministers who serve or who have served under appointment in the New England Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (including its predecessor conferences), their families, surviving spouses, and dependent children, and in furtherance of such purpose, to receive, hold, administer and distribute funds, in its own name or as a trustee, and to issue annuities."

To achieve this service, the Society maintains a vigorous program of service to our clergy families. From its inception, the PAS has had a major commitment to retirees and their welfare. This continues to this day to be the major focus of our ministry and mission. Here is a small outline of our work:

All of us know too well the dramatically escalating rise in health care costs. As of this writing (2006), annual health care insurance premiums for clergy families in the New England Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church are well over one-third of the minimum salary for full time pastoral appointments.

Retired clergy depend on Medicare and the Conference currently provides a Medicare supplement to help contain medical costs. The benefit is based on a formula proportionate to years of ministerial service within the Conference. The Preachers’ Aid Society, over the past five years, has made a major commitment to ensuring that this benefit continues. We have given over $2,500,000 toward this end. In addition, we have made a $1,000,000 challenge commitment to the “Together For Tomorrow” capital funds campaign for the Annual Conference. We will match, dollar for dollar, up to one million dollars of funds received from that Campaign that are allocated to retiree health care programs.

In addition to this, we provide financial assistance to individuals and families in cases of health care emergency costs.

Retirement is always a struggle for our United Methodist pastors and their families. After a lifetime of work in which we move into and out of “instant” and often intense community immersion, we are left to our own devices with no strong roots, housing arrangements or support systems. It is quite an adjustment.

Staff from the Preachers’ Aid Society tries to make at least one visit each year in the homes of retirees living in the New England area. These visits allow us to help retirees keep “connected” with the Church and with their lifelong friends.

The Preachers’ Aid Society of New England, in cooperation with Deaconess Abundant Life Communities, has homes available in Gilford New Hampshire (Wesley Woods) and is developing additional residences in Wells, Maine. The Wells properties will be available in 2009 or 2010.

These homes are single family cottages of about 1200 square feet each with one bedroom and a den and a single car garage. They are rental homes and the costs are subsidized by the Society. For information, please contact Rev. Catherine Anderson on the PAS staff.