C011 The Widows Corporation Anniversary
The Widows Corporation was founded in 1769 to respond to the needs of widows and children of Anglican clergy who sometimes found themselves destitute in an age before the Church Pension Fund, Social Security, Medicare, and social service agencies. The agency took various forms in the colonies. In Pennsylvania an extensive life insurance program evolved, with wide participation now in all dioceses of the Commonwealth. A grant program for widows followed, and in recent years a Wellness program of grants to the dioceses to meet health-related needs. In New York and New Jersey, the focus has been on annuities paid to all widows of enrolled clergy. Although the Church Pension Fund and social welfare agencies now provide the fundamental support, clergy families today do experience difficulties not addressed by such agencies. The several Widows Corporations now serve nearly 2,000 Episcopal clergy and their families and widows in the states of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Similar organizations are found in a few other parts of the Church as well. This resolution seeks to recognize the good work that has been done so far, and, building on this base, to encourage a Church-wide effort to explore the particular needs of clergy families, and to respond with effective help in new ways.
Explanation
The Widows Corporation was founded in 1769 to respond to the needs of widows and children of Anglican clergy who sometimes found themselves destitute in an age before the Church Pension Fund, Social Security, Medicare, and social service agencies. The agency took various forms in the colonies. In Pennsylvania an extensive life insurance program evolved, with wide participation now in all dioceses of the Commonwealth. A grant program for widows followed, and in recent years a Wellness program of grants to the dioceses to meet health-related needs. In New York and New Jersey, the focus has been on annuities paid to all widows of enrolled clergy. Although the Church Pension Fund and social welfare agencies now provide the fundamental support, clergy families today do experience difficulties not addressed by such agencies. The several Widows Corporations now serve nearly 2,000 Episcopal clergy and their families and widows in the states of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Similar organizations are found in a few other parts of the Church as well. This resolution seeks to recognize the good work that has been done so far, and, building on this base, to encourage a Church-wide effort to explore the particular needs of clergy families, and to respond with effective help in new ways.