SBC Church Benefits

Southern Baptist Churches 403(b)(9) Retirement Plan

Prepare for your retirement years with our Southern Baptist retirement plan designed for ministers and any employee receiving taxable income.

Widespread Eligibility

If you are employed by a church or association affiliated with a Southern Baptist state convention, you may be eligible to participate in the Southern Baptist Churches 403(b)(9) Retirement Plan (Church Retirement Plan). Whether you’re a full-time, part-time, or bivocational minister, or a full-time or part-time non-ministerial employee, you may be eligible to participate in the Church Retirement Plan, depending on your employer’s eligibility provisions.

Potential Tax Benefits

All earnings on contributions and rollovers are tax-deferred. Below are additional tax benefits that may be available to you:

Retired ministers may be able to designate retirement distributions as a tax-free minister’s housing allowance within legal limits.
Employer contributions, which are not made as Employer Roth contributions, are not subject to Social Security or income tax at the time of contribution.
Tax-sheltered participant contributions are not subject to income tax until distributed.
Tax-sheltered participant contributions by ministers are not subject to self employment (SECA) tax.
Earnings on Roth elective deferral contributions can be withdrawn tax-free if conditions are met.

Exclusive State Convention Benefits

When you enroll, you may be eligible for additional benefits at no cost from your Baptist state convention and GuideStone:

Disability benefit (up to $500 per month)
Survivor protection benefit (up to $100,000)
Discretionary retirement contribution

Benefits may vary depending on the convention. Convention benefits are evaluated on an annual basis by your state convention. Please note that:

To receive credit for survivor or disability benefits, you or your church must make a minimum retirement contribution of at least $50 per month.
To receive a disability income benefit, you must be approved for disability before age 65, and payout periods are limited to 60 months.

State Convention Survivor Protection Benefits

YOUR AGE AT DEATH

35 and under

36–45

46–55

56–65

66–70

71 and over

MAXIMUM BENEFIT PAYABLE*

$100,000

$75,000

$50,000

$25,000

$16,000

$10,000

*Eligible participants earn 1/12 of the value of these benefits for each month of participation in the Church Retirement Plan in the 12 months immediately preceding your death or disability.

To see what you’re eligible for, please contact us by calling 1-888-98-GUIDE (1-888-984-8433) Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT.

Retirement Contribution Updates

After enrollment, if you wish to adjust your monthly contribution amount, complete a Retirement Contribution Agreement and return it to your church administrator to update your savings amount.