In the spirit of welcome and reconciliation with the
Episcopal Church of Cuba (ECC), The Episcopal Church today announced the
launch of Together Again/Juntos de Nuevo: Cuba Pensions Campaign, which
aims to raise funds to provide future retirement benefits for current
and retired clergy in the ECC. The campaign follows a vote last summer
at the 79th General Convention to readmit the Episcopal Church of Cuba
as a diocese of The Episcopal Church after 52 years of separation. The
Diocese of Cuba will join TEC's Province II, which includes two other
Caribbean dioceses - Haiti and the Virgin Islands.
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry encourages all Episcopalians to
participate in the campaign as a common moment of mission. "This is part
of the work of reconciliation, bringing us together across historic
divides. This is not just fundraising; it's following Jesus and finding
our way back to each other," he said.
When the Episcopal Church of Cuba was
separated from The Episcopal Church in 1966, benefits, including
pension contributions for the clergy, were no longer available. With
readmission, The Episcopal Church believes justice requires that Cuban
clergy be treated in the same manner as clergy throughout The Episcopal
Church.
Led by the Rt. Rev. Griselda Delgado Del Carpio, the ECC is a church that is growing and increasingly having an impact on communities throughout Cuba. With 46 congregations and missions led by 23 priests, along with an active lay leadership, it serves 10,000 Cuban Episcopalians and their neighbors. Its operating budget in 2017, which also includes all clergy compensation, was $155,000.
Led by the Rt. Rev. Griselda Delgado Del Carpio, the ECC is a church that is growing and increasingly having an impact on communities throughout Cuba. With 46 congregations and missions led by 23 priests, along with an active lay leadership, it serves 10,000 Cuban Episcopalians and their neighbors. Its operating budget in 2017, which also includes all clergy compensation, was $155,000.
Currently, the
average salary for the current 23 Cuban clergy is $55 a month. When
they retire, clergy members will not be eligible for any state pension
or social security because the Cuban government does not recognize their
service as employment.
The campaign seeks to raise a one-time amount of $800,000 by June 9, 2019. This will provide funding for past contributions that will yield future retirement benefits for 23 active clergy, three retired clergy, and one surviving spouse. The funds will be placed in the Church Pension Fund and eventually make pension benefits available to eligible clergy.
The campaign seeks to raise a one-time amount of $800,000 by June 9, 2019. This will provide funding for past contributions that will yield future retirement benefits for 23 active clergy, three retired clergy, and one surviving spouse. The funds will be placed in the Church Pension Fund and eventually make pension benefits available to eligible clergy.
Donations to the campaign can be made in the form of
cash, pledges, or securities. For more information on supporting the
campaign or to make a gift, please contact T.J. Houlihan, Development
Officer, at 212-716-6271 or thoulihan@episocpalchurch.org, or visit www.episcopalchurch.org/development/pensions-campaign.
