C011 The Widows Corporation Anniversary
Resolved, That the House of Deputies of this 79th General Convention extend its warmest congratulations to The Corporation for the Relief of the Widows and Children of Clergy in the Communion of the Church of England in Americal and its successors, now commonly known as The Widows Corporations of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, upon the 250th Anniversary of its founding in 1769, as well as to those similar Corporations that were established subsequently; and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention recognize the extraordinary ministry not only to the widows, but also to the families of clergy carried out by The Widows Corporations for these two and one-half centuries of service; and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention declare the months from October, 2018 through October, 2019 as a period of special focus on the needs of families throughout The Episcopal Church; and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention encourage every diocese of The Episcopal Church to seek to define the particular needs of the families of their clergy and to develop ways to address those needs, looking to the models developed by the various iterations of The Widows Corporation where they already exist for ideas and assistance in implementing such programs as may be helpful in addressing those needs.
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.