by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service
T. Van Matthews, a franchise owner and senior financial adviser,
Ameriprise Financial, Greenville, S.C., took the long way of
getting to his final meeting as a trustee of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Board of Pensions. Van and
Melinda Matthews, Simpsonville, S.C., cycled July 20-Aug. 1 more
than 700 miles from St. Charles, Mo., to Minneapolis on a route
along the Mississippi River. They raised $35,000 for the ELCA
Special Needs Retirement Fund and drew attention to the Board's
wellness campaign, "Live well -- Healthy leaders enhance lives."
"This ride is one of the best things I've ever done," Matthews
said, according to a Board news release. "My wife Melinda and I
met many wonderful people along the way -- pastors, members of
congregations and others who joined us for part of the ride. My
sincere thanks go out to all who helped make my ride possible."
The Special Needs Retirement Fund supplements the incomes of
retired pastors, lay leaders and surviving spouses whose salaries
during working years were so low that they have inadequate income
to pay for even basic retirement expenses, such as food and
housing. The ELCA Board of Pensions is based in Minneapolis. It
provides retirement, health and related benefits and services to
50,000 pastors and lay employees and their families. It serves
nearly 11,000 congregations and other sponsoring ELCA
organizations.
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
