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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Protection section benefits changing, effective January 1

By Roy Hayhurt, GuideStone Financial Resources DALLAS, Texas - GuideStone Financial Resources has announced changes to the Protection Section Benefits offered to qualified participants in the Church Retirement Plan, the 403(b)(9) retirement plan offered exclusively to Southern Baptist churches and their staffs. The change in benefits will offer cost savings to state conventions, which can use the money in other avenues of missions and ministry. The Protection Section Benefits, a unique benefit not found in most other denominational pension plans, nor in most secular retirement plans, currently offers qualified participants a disability benefit of up to $500 per month, along with a survivor protection benefit of up to $100,000, so long as there have been at least contributions in each of the last 12 months. The changes to the benefit will increase the minimum monthly contribution for those eligible for the benefits to $50 monthly, and disability benefits must begin before age 65 and will be limited to a payout of 60 months. There are no changes to the survivor protection benefit. Participants currently receiving benefits will not be affected. “These benefits have proven to be financial life-savers for many of the … [Read more...]

Johnson legislation to protect tax dollars from terrorist organizations moves to Senate

By Ainsley Holyfield, Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, Oct. 25 passed H.R. 469, the Sunshine for Regulations and Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act. Included in this bill is the Judgment Fund Transparency Act which was amended by U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Benton) to further increase transparency for taxpayers and to ensure terrorist organizations are prohibited from receiving taxpayer funds. The Sunshine for Regulations and Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act, with language from Johnson, increases accountability in the regulatory process by providing greater scrutiny of sue-and-settle cases, requires the Department of Justice to release details of payments made through the Judgment Fund and strengthens Congress’ ability to intervene ​i​n litigation regarding the constitutionality of federal ​statutes. Johnson, who is a member of First Baptist Church in Bossier City, spoke on the House floor in favor of this legislation Wednesday evening. “The United States should be combating terrorism, not funding it with our own ​taxpayer dollars,” Johnson said in a statement. “Yet previous administrations have used loopholes in the law to conceal payments to … [Read more...]