nineteen hundred and forty-six - Amazon Web Services

446 SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
hold of us is magnificent." We are here merely trying to prove our thesis that
the Relief and Annuity Board was always intended to have the quality of amplitude;
i.e, it was to be made sufficient to cope worthily with its God-given task.
The Board was based on a concept that was big enough to be honoring to Almighty
God and to be worthy of the great denomination which begat it. But,
coming back to Isaiah 54:2, our first point concerns the matter of making the
work of the Relief and Annuity Board to answer to the tremendous need for
which it was created in 1918.
I. LENGTHENING OUR CORDS
In 1918, when the Board was organized, two lines of work were specificall
committed to it. Almost immediately the relief department was set agoing.
The other was the annuity department, which was authorized to be set agoing
when a sufficient number of participating members had been secured. These
are the two general lines under which the Board has operated for these 28
years. The relief department holds a brief for the aged preachers and widows
of preachers of our Southern Baptist Zion. It has pleaded their cause and
claims, without ceasing. This it will continue to do so long as there are the
needy aged to be served. The relief department has brought cheer and comfort
to many thousands of aged preachers and their widows, and not until the
Board has been able to make really substantial contributions to the support of
all who stand in need of this aid from the denomination should we fail to seek
the lengthening of our cords to accomplish such end. Our effort should be to
make our service reach the last preacher and the last widow who needs this
ministry.
The Annuity Fund, referred to as the (Old) Annuity Fund, began in 1919
and was closed to new members in 1930.
Thus far we have referred to two plans only, the relief plan and the (Old)
Annuity Plan, while there have been to this date twelve annuity plans inaugurated
by our Board. Two of these plans, although closed to new members,
are still active as benefit paying funds. We refer to the (Old) Annuity Fund
and the Service Annuity Plan. Since 1918, the (Old) Annuity Fund has paid
in benefits over $3,000,000. During the next 75 years, according to the Actuary
s computation, from this fund will be paid approximately $10,000,000 more
to ministers and widows and orphans. Under another heading we shall have
something to say about the financial provision which is being made for the
meeting of this great monetary outlay. Now, during the same number of years.
the Relief and Annuity Board will probably pay to the members of the other
ten annuity plans now actively operating as much as $250,000,000. On the
assumption that most or all of our preachers and other workers are coming
into one or another of these plans and participate therein until they retire on
account of age or disability, the amount that will be paid may be even larger
than $250 000,000. If this figure should seem fantastic, I would remind you
that Southern baptists have increased in church membership during the last
26 years from 2,961,348 m 1919 to 5,667,926 in 1944. We are a growing de-
SoSel
num *> er of churches and preachers have increased propor-
The Widows Supplemental Annuity Plan was inaugurated in 1945 in South
Carolina, and a like plan has been approved by all the other conventions, save
one. It is expected to be inaugurated in practically all the states as of July 1
1946. This plan provides protection for widows of members of the Ministers
Retirement Plan whose husbands die before retiring under the Ministers Plan
Upon retirement, these members may, by exercising an option, provide for a
substantial annuity for surviving wives. Certificates issued, 283 (South Caro­
lina). See Exhibit F.
The number of members participating in our several active plans including
the (Old) Annuity Plan, is nearly 13,000 as of March 31, 1946 There wer!
approximately 1700 annuitants, making a grand total membership of over 14 -
000. The dues paid m 1945 by the active members of all annuity plans together
with contractual contributions from the over 12,000 churches boards,
and agencies, state and southern, aggregate $2,044,131.35. The benefits naid in
1945 aggregate nearly $700,000. This, with 1200 relief beneficiaries increases
the total of benefits paid in 1945 to $862,272.41. lencianes, increases
Have tion means our cords whether been or sufficiently not we have plans lengthened? enough The at present answer to'embrace is yes if all
the auc
v