Posts published in “In the Margins”

IN THE MARGINS: Sunday Best and the Good Lord’s Grace

IN THE MARGINS: Sunday Best and the Good Lord’s Grace

November 28, 2023

By Tony MartinEditor When I was a little guy, Sundays were as much about wardrobe as they were about God. My mama, bless her heart,…

IN THE MARGINS: Mississippi’s Thanksgiving: On Food and Football

IN THE MARGINS: Mississippi’s Thanksgiving: On Food and Football

November 21, 2023

IN THE MARGINS: Idiot

IN THE MARGINS: Idiot

November 14, 2023

IN THE MARGINS: I Voted Today

Citizens line up at St. Mark’s Methodist Church, Brandon, at 7:35 a.m. Nov. 7 to cast their votes. (Photo Credit: Tony Martin)

IN THE MARGINS: I Voted Today

November 7, 2023

IN THE MARGINS: Good News

Clergy Act advances from House
Ways and Means Committee
DALLAS – On Dec. 10 the House Ways and Means Committee advanced the Clergy Act, H.R. 227, in a bipartisan, unanimous vote. The Clergy Act would provide ministers who opted out of Social Security a one-time window to opt back in. The bipartisan legislation was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by California Congressmen Vince Fong and Mike Thompson, and has gained the support of several co-sponsors. The legislation is supported by GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention and other leaders from a wide variety of large and historic denominational benefit boards. In a news release issued by Rep. Fong’s office, GuideStone President Hance Dilbeck expressed gratitude to Fong for his leadership. The Clergy Act would create a two-year window beginning in 2029 that would allow eligible ministers who have opted out of Social Security to revoke their exemption and begin contributing. Ministers must still meet the standard 10-year contribution requirement to earn full retired-worker benefits, receiving benefits proportional to their contributions.