Posts published in “Magnolia Minds”

MAGNOLIA MINDS: You can always choose your quality of life

MAGNOLIA MINDS: You can always choose your quality of life

August 8, 2023

By Tony MartinAssociate Editor A couple of weeks ago I had eye surgery. I won’t say a whole lot about the nature of the surgery…

MAGNOLIA MINDS: Finding harmony in a culture of outrage

MAGNOLIA MINDS: Finding harmony in a culture of outrage

July 14, 2023

MAGNOLIA MINDS: The nameless grave

MAGNOLIA MINDS: The nameless grave

July 10, 2023

MAGNOLIA MINDS: ‘When Disaster Strikes’ sounds like a PSA. It is, sort of…

SERVING OTHERS — Larry Ponder, a member of Temple Church, Hattiesburg, works to clear debris July 23 from a homestead damaged by a tornado that struck the Louin community in Jasper County. Ponder was serving in connection with the Mississippi Baptist Disaster Relief ministry. (Photo credit: MBDR)

MAGNOLIA MINDS: ‘When Disaster Strikes’ sounds like a PSA. It is, sort of…

June 30, 2023

Is it possible to forgive God?

Is it possible to forgive God?

June 28, 2023

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.