ELCA NEWS SERVICE August 8, 2003 Lutheran Retirement Fund Continues to Benefit Needy 03-157-JAC* CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Ten years after its inception, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Special Needs Retirement Fund (SNRF) is still working to support retired clergy, professional church workers and surviving spouses with financial need. The SNRF supplements the income of retired pastors and others who are living below the poverty level. This occurred primarily because salaries given during working years were low with consequently low pension investment, and because of late participation in predecessor church pension plans. Currently, there are 48 people receiving the pension supplement, with an average aid of $208 per month. Those receiving supplements from the SNRF also have their medical insurance premiums with the ELCA Medicare supplement plan paid. This fiscal year, running July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004, the SNRF will give $122,063 in pension increases and medical insurance premium costs, said Polly Bergerson, program coordinator, ELCA board of Pensions, Minneapolis, Minn. Bergerson said there is an application process for those who are interested in receiving help from the SNRF. The basic criteria are limited assets, limited house value and a total monthly income under $1000 for a single person and under $1250 for a couple, she said. The fund is still in the growing process, Bergerson said. The fund, established in 1993 by the ELCA Church Council, began to solicit contributions and was able to begin making pension- supplement payments when the fund reached $450,000 in 1997. People contribute to the SNRF in a variety of ways, including responding to mail solicitation, direct contributions by pension recipients, and through non-specified giving. "We have congregations and individuals who give one-time donations, or on a yearly basis," Bergerson said. She said the growth of the fund would allow for more individuals to receive supplemental pension income. She said that as the fund continues to grow, the monthly minimum income levels can rise so that the fund can provide pension increases to additional pensioners. "The need is still out there," Bergerson said. * Jessica A. Crane is completing her bachelor of arts degree at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. This summer she is an intern with ELCA News and Media Production. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news