- Journal of the Mississippi Baptist Convention since 1877 April 3, 2024

IN THE MARGINS: Being alone vs. being lonely

(Photo credit: Heidi Besen/shutterstock.com)

IN THE MARGINS: Being alone vs. being lonely

April 3, 2024

By Tony MartinEditor We were in Laurel last week, visiting with the grandkids, Katherine and Levi, and their expendable parents. (If you’re a grandparent, I…

MAGNOLIA MINDS: Beauty for ashes

MAGNOLIA MINDS: Beauty for ashes

April 2, 2024

2024 Ministry Assistants Conference makes spirits bright with a springtime Christmas

Seventy ministry assistants attended the Ministry Assistants Conference & Training from March 18-19 at Garaywa Camp and Conference Center in Clinton. (Photo credit: Tanner Cade)

2024 Ministry Assistants Conference makes spirits bright with a springtime Christmas

April 1, 2024

FIRST-PERSON: Intercessory plea for SBC

FIRST-PERSON: Intercessory plea for SBC

March 28, 2024

IN THE MARGINS: Bad news

IN THE MARGINS: Bad news

March 28, 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.