History of the Christmas Joy Offering

Presbyterians have long celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ by giving generously to an Advent offering. The Christmas Joy Offering dates back to the 1930s when the former Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS) began an offering to supplement inadequate retirement income and provide supplemental medical insurance for former ministers, missionaries, church workers, and their families. It was first officially called the Joy Gift in 1949.

In the former United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (UPCUSA), a Christmas offering was first taken in 1960. Called the White Gift, its funds were used for general mission and world relief. In 1964 the name was changed to the Christmas Offering, and receipts provided support for health and welfare concerns related to children. The emphasis on global work with children continued until 1973, when the offering was used to assist former servants of the church who were living on inadequate pensions. In 1974 racial ethnic education was added, and in 1979 nursing home care assistance was also included. Funds were distributed evenly between the Board of Pensions and racial ethnic education.

In 1988 the PCUS and the UPCUSA offerings were joined into one offering, the Christmas Offering Joy Gift. It was agreed that neither the Board of Pensions nor the racial ethnic schools schools would suffer in the merger of the Joy Gift and the Christmas Offering. In 1989 the offering was renamed the Christmas Joy Offering, and in 1991 the 203rd General Assembly changed the distribution of funds to 50 percent to the Board of Pensions and 50 percent to the Presbyterian racial ethnic schools and colleges.

Allocation of the Offering
The Board of Pensions Receives 50 percent of the Offering

Through the Board of Pensions’ Financial Assistance Programs, the Christmas Joy Offering recognizes the faithfulness of current and retired church workers by providing funds to help them through difficult times.

To help retired church workers and their surviving spouses, the board offers Income Supplements to raise incomes to a level where retirees can live modestly and continue to maintain their independence.

If these individuals’ incomes do not support their housing needs, the board provides them Housing Supplements. The Shared Grant Program is open to all current and retired church workers. Governing bodies, congregations, and employing organizations offer the grants to church workers who have financial need or an emergency. The board shares the funding with this partner organization.

Many times, Shared Grants and Emergency Assistance Grants meet needs that might be considered routine, such as additional medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance. Perhaps a retiree needs a little help paying for equipment or services not covered by traditional insurance. Other times, grants may help a church worker meet unexpected financial needs or recover from a natural disaster.

Each of these grants is an expression of Presbyterians’ faithful witness to and sharing of the love of Christ for all people. Shared and Emergency Assistance Grants help people with financial needs resulting from a variety of problems: an unemployed spouse, a flood or tornado, a seriously ill child, or unexpected family expenses. Again and again, recipients of grants large and small say that as important as the financial assistance was, what really sustained them was the knowledge that the church was standing with them in their time of need.

The Board of Pensions
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
2000 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-3298
(800) 773-7752
(215) 587-7200
Fax: (215) 587-6215

The Presbyterian Church has long promoted education through establishing and supporting racial ethnic schools. Christmas Joy Offering funds provide scholarships to deserving students as well as help with basic operating costs. These institutions develop leaders in the church and in society, and they enable students to discover and pursue their professional goals. All Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)-related schools and colleges are open to any qualified student regardless of race. The schools supported by the Christmas Joy Offering are:

Barber-Scotia College
145 Cabarrus Avenue, West
Concord, NC 28025
(704) 789-2900
Founded by the Presbyterian Church in 1867 as a preparatory school for black women, today Barber-Scotia’s goal is to prepare individuals called to Christian ministry to be effective and successful leaders in the church. It awards a diploma in religion.

Cook School for Christian Leadership
Cook School for Christian Leadership
708 South Lindon Lane
Tempe, AZ 85281-3321
(480) 968-9354
This ecumenical institution, founded in 1911 by Presbyterian missionary Charles Cook, educates and equips Native American students and others for leadership in church and society. It specializes in Christian and theological education.

Menaul School
301 Menaul Boulevard
Albuquerque, NM 87107
(505) 341-7220
Founded in 1881 by the Presbyterian Church as a secondary school for Native American and Hispanic students, Menaul now offers a college preparatory curriculum with additional courses in fine arts and religious studies.

Presbyterian Pan American School
Presbyterian Pan American School
P.O. Box 1578, Kingsville, TX 78364
(361) 592-4307
Presbyterian Pan American School is a coeducational college preparatory school preparing students from the Americas and beyond for lives of Christian leadership.

Sheldon Jackson College
Sheldon Jackson College
801 Lincoln Street, Sitka, AK 99835-7651
(800) 478-4556
Alaska’s oldest educational institution, Sheldon Jackson was founded by the Presbyterian Church in 1878. Like many historically racial ethnic schools, SJC has faced many challenges in recent years and is currently working to restructure is finances and restore its programs.

Stillman College
P.O. Box 1430, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403
(800) 841-5722
Founded by Dr. Charles A. Stillman in 1876 as an institution where students could “enter to learn and depart to serve,” this four-year liberal arts college prepares students for careers in medicine, business, law, education, and Christian ministry.