His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”

Matthew 25:21

Focused on the deep call of God on their lives, clergy open their hearts to serve others, with little regard for themselves. Few know the true cost of Godly servanthood. But as a certified candidate makes his or her way to ordination, there is a real financial cost.

The typical story of a Methodist pastor often begins in undergraduate school. College tuition has increased at a rapid pace. So much so that it’s common practice for many students to finish their undergraduate work with an average of $30,000.00 in student loans.

Add to this the cost of divinity school and a pastor’s debt level can increase to $50,000.00 or more. And that’s just student loan debt. Life goes on with car loans, credit card debt, and more. At times, it can leave a pastor feeling crushed under the weight of monthly payments that barely move the debt needle.

To help remedy this difficult problem, UMF is excited to announce the launch of the Clergy Loan Program. The Clergy Loan Program was created out of the desire to help clergy and their families to escape paralyzing debt that can have a negative effect not only on the individual and family but also with relationships within the church family. Our hope is that through participation in this program clergy will find new and healthy opportunities to be stewards of the financial blessings God has provided.

And it’s not just a loan either. As a part of the process, clergy will participate in a sound financial stewardship program that will provide the knowledge and tools to manage their financial lives in the future. Ultimately, the goal of this program is to set each participant on the path to financial freedom.

“Ultimately, the goal of this program is to set each participant on the path to financial freedom.”

Rich Bowlin, CEO, United Methodis Foundation, Inc.

With a debt load reduced and ultimately gone, pastors will have newfound freedom to speak to and teach their congregations about the necessity of sound financial practices based on biblical principles.

We know that congregational generosity is much more likely to grow when a pastor’s financial house is in order. There are very few biblical instances where God asks to be tested. But Malachi 3:10 is one of them:

“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Our hope at UMF is that pastors will be able to demonstrate the faithfulness of God by living out Malachi 3:10 for all the congregation to see!

For those clergy in our Conference who need financial help, UMF’s Clergy Loan Program was designed with you in mind. Why carry this weight alone when you have an able partner willing to help?

This article is written by Rich Bowlin, CEO of the United Methodist Foundation, Inc. If you would like more information regarding UMF, you can contact Rich at [email protected].