The Sustentation Fund by Arthur Grosvenor Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 22, 1910

The Sustentation Fund

By Arthur Grosvenor Daniells

A Plan for the Support of Sick and Aged Laborers, and the Widows and Orphans of Deceased Laborers

In this week’s report of the General Conference Committee Council, just held in Washington, will be found a plan adopted by the council for the care of sick and aged laborers, and the widows and orphans of deceased laborers. This arrangement deserves special mention in the REVIEW, and it should receive most careful study by all our people.

This is the first definite, complete plan ever outlined and adopted by us for the adequate support of our laborers who, for various reasons, are unable to continue active service in the cause. This provision should have been made long ago. The men who have served as presidents of the General Conference have felt the need of some such provision, and have endeavored to impress upon those occupying positions of responsibility the importance of rendering to sick and aged laborers and dependent widows and children, the prompt and adequate assistance they ought to have. At different times the matter has received attention in the sessions of the General Conference. Resolutions have been adopted expressing belief that the tithe is the inheritance of broken-down laborers who have been faithful and efficient in their work, and urging conference officers to give prompt, sympathetic attention to all cases of need.

But notwithstanding all this, it has been well known by our men in leading positions of responsibility that there has been serious neglect in many cases, which has caused deep sorrow, and in some instances much physical suffering.

As our work has grown and spread over the world, the number of our laborers has multiplied, and the number of permanently impaired laborers has greatly increased. The situation thus created has forced upon the minds of many the conviction that some definite, feasible arrangement ought to be made by which broken-down laborers could, without delay, anxiety, or humiliation, receive the support they need. It was this conviction that led to the adoption of the plan which is given in this week’s report of the council.

Every feature of this plan received a most searching investigation and the fullest discussion before its adoption. The council spent an entire day on the plan before passing upon it. The question of providing a definite fund received special attention, and the following action was finally taken:— “That each local and union conference and the General Conference pay monthly into this Sustentation Fund an amount equal to five per cent of their total tithe receipts, these remittances to be made through the regular channels.”

Before the council convened, we had secured from all the union and local conferences in North America the names of all the sick and dependent laborers who were receiving support, and the amount that was being allowed to each. This enabled us to form a very close estimate of the total amount that would be required to meet these needs each year. From this information, it was found that five per cent of the tithes received by the conferences would be sufficient for this fund; so in specifying this amount, the council was acting upon fairly good information.

Another question that received the most thorough discussion was the proposal to pay this per cent of the tithe into a general fund, to be kept at the General Conference treasury department. At first many of the brethren felt that it would be better to have this money held by each local or union conference, and disbursed by their regular committees; but after a careful study of our administrative plans, and of many experiences through which we have passed in our endeavors to provide prompt and sufficient help to those who have broken down in their labors, it was finally agreed that the most satisfactory arrangement that could be made would be to have a general fund to be disbursed by the General Conference Committee.

If our ministers were never transferred from one conference to another, it would no doubt be better to have each local conference keep its own funds, and take direct care of its sick and aged workers. But our system of work leads to the transfer of our laborers to all parts of the country. A minister located on the Atlantic Coast this year may be transferred to the Pacific Coast or to Canada or the South next year. And it is possible that within a few weeks or months after his transfer, he may break down. This often happens, and then there generally follows extended correspondence as to what conference is responsible for his support. The conference to which he has recently been transferred claims that inasmuch as he had given his life to the conference from which he was sent, that conference should support him. On the other hand, the conference from which he has been transferred claims that after the transfer he is no longer its minister, and that it is the duty of the conference to which he has gone to support him. In some instances this sort of discussion has continued so long that the laborer has not only suffered for the necessaries of life.

but has been so humiliated that he could not receive the help finally given without feeling that he was unwelcome to it.

In other instances disabled laborers have felt that they needed a more favorable climate than the one where they were being supported, but it has been almost impossible to transfer them without creating difficulty regarding the continuance of their support.

The laborers in our ranks hold themselves ready for service anywhere. They respond to the call of conferences very much as the soldiers of the government answer the call of the nation. But when soldiers become disabled, they receive prompt and necessary care. Our disabled workers should receive as thoughtful consideration.

Thus when all phases of the question of providing prompt and hearty support for all our laborers who are deserving had been carefully considered, it was decided by the council that it would be best to have one fund in each general field, and have its disbursements made by the general committee of the same.

If the plan agreed upon is adhered to by all parties concerned, every deserving laborer drawing support from the tithe while able to render useful service, should receive cheerful, adequate support when he becomes disabled. A standing committee of three members of the General Conference Committee has been appointed to conduct the necessary correspondence in gathering information of every kind which will be required to enable the general committee to do intelligent work in disbursing the funds. By this arrangement it is hoped that prompt action can be taken, and justice done in every case requiring attention.

In closing I wish to request every reader of the REVIEW to study with care this plan as it is given on another page in the report of the council.

A. G. DANIELLS.