Posts published in “Magnolia Minds”

MAGNOLIA MINDS: Four reasons why a Call to Worship would benefit the church

MAGNOLIA MINDS: Four reasons why a Call to Worship would benefit the church

June 24, 2025

By Clayton Todd The word “liturgy” can often land archaic on the ears, as something that was once considered long ago. However, the truth is…

MAGNOLIA MINDS: Time to abandon heartless prayer requests

MAGNOLIA MINDS: Time to abandon heartless prayer requests

June 3, 2025

MAGNOLIA MINDS: Confessions of a first-year pastor

MAGNOLIA MINDS: Confessions of a first-year pastor

May 9, 2025

MAGNOLIA MINDS: Persian New Year and Gospel opportunities

Mt. Zion members celebrate Nowruz with Persian neighbors. (Photo credit: Zach Kilpatrick)

MAGNOLIA MINDS: Persian New Year and Gospel opportunities

March 26, 2025

MAGNOLIA MINDS: Seven benefits of daily Bible reading

MAGNOLIA MINDS: Seven benefits of daily Bible reading

October 4, 2024

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.