I want more information. Where can I go?
For more information, read the current Constitution, approved at a Clergy Executive Session of the North Carolina Annual Conference.
What happens to the money that we send in as members?
Funds submitted for “calls” are held in trust by the Board of Trustees to be used to pay out the death benefit to beneficiary members. A suitable surplus of funds is constantly maintained to ensure that PIC can respond to all valid calls. Some PIC holdings are faithfully invested with The United Methodist Foundation.
Who runs PIC?
Partners is not a program of the North Carolina Conference but is related to the Annual Conference by faith. Partners is financially self-sustaining and receives no Annual Conference or connectional-giving funds.
The Board of Trustees is:
Conference 2017 to Conference 2020: Donna Banks, Charles Michael Smith, David Beck
Conference 2018 to Conference 2021: Gayla Collins, Dennis Adams, Duke Lackey
Conference 2019 to Conference 2022: Bryan Faggart, Bill Braswell, Bill Haddock
Questions about PIC can be directed to the Secretary/Treasurer by using the form on the Join page. Submitting a question there does not enroll one in PIC.
Taylor Mills, President
Charles Michael Smith, Vice-President
Gary Allred, Secretary-Treasurer
What if I can’t answer a “call”?
After a call is made, beneficiary members have thirty days from the date of the notice (except in the case of our foreign missionary members, who are allowed ninety days) to send in their $20 (effective 7/1/2012) or $10 for churches. A member who at the time of his/her death has paid all calls due (except for calls issued during the last forty days of his/her life) is considered “paid up”. Beneficiaries of members not thus “paid up” are not eligible to receive benefits from PIC. Two emails sent to a member's conference email address constitute sufficient notification for an assessment. If the member does not respond, the Secretary/Treasurer will make every effort to contact the member or a family member, especially for our retired members. No member shall be dropped without personal contact or written notification from the Secretary/Treasurer.
How much does it cost to be a member?
The initial enrollment fee is $20 (effective 7/1/2012). Upon the death of clergy members of PIC, a notice is emailed to all members, both clergy and local churches. Member clergy are required to contribute $20 per call (effective 7/1/2012). There is a non-guaranteed average of 6-8 calls a year. When a beneficiary member dies, each surviving beneficiary member shall be assessed one call by email.
Who can be in PIC?
Beneficiary membership in PIC is voluntary but is limited to clergy members of The North Carolina Annual Conference, elder or deacon, probationary or full connection, or any local pastor serving a charge in the Conference. Any member moving to another Conference may remain a member of PIC. Any member leaving the Methodist ministry may remain a member of PIC as long as his/her ministerial credentials are maintained. PIC also receives voluntary financial support from some local churches.
What is Partners in Caring?
Partners in Caring (“Partners” or PIC) is a benevolent organization in The North Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. When a member of PIC dies, the organization sends to the family or estate of the deceased a love gift. This gift is possible because of the faithfulness of God through contributing local churches, the contributions of beneficiary members, and the careful stewardship of the PIC Board of Trustees and The United Methodist Foundation in The North Carolina Annual Conference.
Who is in Partners in Caring?
The membership of Partners in Caring as of 7/22/19 is: