Urban Ministry Live And Unplugged: Unpaid Pension

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Unpaid Pension

I have been exercised a great deal, since the close of my Atlantic ministry, for a number of reasons. This and my next post (above) survey two of the reasons why. We have, therefore, two more serious posts today ...
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I began my ministry at Sea Point Evangelical Congregational Church with (among other things) a pension in my contract. But the Church defaulted on the pension. When I arrived, they could not afford it. However, there came the day when we had grown in strength, and they could afford it. The pension kicked in, and the Church pledged to pay me back 8+ years of pension which were lost. Then, when we parted ways in 2013, we made a note in two memorandums, that the pension was still owed. And in 2014, our old Church treasurer confirmed: "You will be reimbursed." But today, 2½ years after parting, the Church has not paid me the 8+ years of pension (among other things). I sought the advice of a respected city attorney. He recommended in writing: Due to the large sums involved, this needed to go to the High Court. His quote: R300 000. But this did not seem to me to be practical. He further sent a letter to the Church: I had "valid concerns, after a long and faithful ministry", and the Church should "conclude matters". The Church (or its officers) did not reply. OBSERVATION: The amounts are such that they could be the difference between a modest retirement and hardship.

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About This Blog

I have spent ten years in suburban ministry, twenty-two years (total) in urban ministry, and seven years in country ministry. My involvements in ministry continue, now reduced.

There are a few reasons for this blog: 1. To help people form a picture of what ministry is about -- in particular urban ministry -- not least seminary students who may be destined for urban ministry. I have found that the image and the reality may be far apart in academia. 2. My experience in ministry may be (and, in fact, often has been) an encouragement to other ministers -- alternatively, a cautionary tale, as the case may be! Many notes of thanks have been recorded on this blog. And 3. Friends have simply told me how interesting reports of ministry are.

This is not a "parochial" blog. Only a tenth or so of readers are local (in South Africa). Outside of my home country, this blog is most read in Europe and North America. Russia is no. 4 on the list, and there is some interest in Muslim nations. At one point, this was the most authoritative Religion blog in Southern Africa (I now do not know how it is ranked).

With all of the above in mind, the purpose of this blog is simply to record urban ministry "live and unplugged", in the form of accounts. This blog is not a "church blog", but a "ministry blog". For the most part, I don't intend to share my views. The emphasis is the experience of ministry and the various events that surround it.

A definition of “live” is “actually being performed at the time of viewing”. A definition of “unplugged” is “without amplification or modification”. However, see my Posting Policy below.

Posting Policy

This blog may be unique with regard to its degree of transparency about urban ministry. Many people have written to me to say how they cherish the help they have received through this. However, this means that special attention needs to be given to confidentiality in particular. I use the following guidelines for posting on this blog:

I apply the following questions to posts: Are they posted in good faith? Are they balanced? Are they compassionate? Are they informative about ministry? Do they help one better understand a problem or issue?

I consider a post to be unproblematic if a person's identity is unknowable in the post, if the facts are public knowledge, or if a change of particulars (name, place, date, and so on) will truly protect privacy. If I consider that anyone who was not involved in an incident would recognise those who were, then I do not post. If a post could compromise the safety of those I blog about, then I make a post safe, or I do not post.

I believe that these measures should enable me to continue to be "open" about urban ministry while not compromising privacy.

In 2013, ninety percent of the posts on this blog were removed. I then put the question of the freedom of the blog to the South African Human Rights Commission. The position is this: if a post is legal, it is legal. Essentially, all of my posts were OK. There is freedom of expression in South Africa.

Having said this, if any post should even cause discomfort, it will be removed from this blog immediately. This has always been the position. One does need to contact me for that, best through an e-mail or a blog comment, and I prefer to see a name on it. The post will be put back up only if there would seem to be compelling reason for it. It is hoped that there will be the assumption that I wish to address any discomfort satisfactorily, compassionately, and efficiently.