Conference on Retirement Held
Diocesan Press Service. November 8, 1973 [73243]
ATLANTA, Ga. -- On October 31st, 40 clergy and wives of the Diocese of Atlanta -- the clergy being 50 years old or over -- held their first of expected periodic conferences to consider plans for retirement. The meeting was held at Atlanta's Cathedral of St. Philip and was sponsored by the Task Force for Retirement Ministries of the Diocesan Commission on the Ministry.
Chairman of the conference was the Rev. Warren Scott, a retired priest. Leaders were the Rev. Craig W. Casey, who is Assistant to the President of the Church Pension Fund, and Miss Dorothy Floyd from the Atlanta office of the Social Security Administration.
The program followed a quite simple format. An informal Eucharist, using the Green Book's Third Service, began the day. Next, questions and concerns about retirement were recorded on newsprint. Then, Fr. Casey spent two hours speaking and answering questions relevant to the Church Pension Fund. A similar procedure was followed in the afternoon in dealing with social security.
Inquiries about the Pension Fund covered a wide field of interest, mostly about benefits, but not just about benefits. Questions were asked and answers given concerning the condition of the Fund: about its financial position, funding, and investment performance. Social Security discussion centered on two main areas: the complex rules of eligibility for benefits and the intricacies of medicare.
Toward the close of the day, with chairman Warren Scott presiding, participants made suggestions for future conferences. Topics listed included: retirement housing, financing such housing; insurance and savings programs, with a banker and insurance man leading, and the need to consider persons retired because of disability rather than age.