“I got shoes, you got shoes, all God’s children got shoes.”
African American Spiritual

Basic necessities such as shoes and decent clothing were rare among slaves, but expressions of protest and hope were not. The meaning of the spiritual I Got Shoes was hidden from the oppressors but clear to those who sang it as they worked the fields: outrage at the cruel treatment of those who had no right to declare ownership of human beings, and confidence that justice would ultimately prevail. The day would come when they would attain freedom and dignity; all of God’s children would get shoes.

Dear Friends,

I pray that you continue to be well and safe.

When the office closure began on March 16, none of us anticipated that we would still be working from home at this time. Now, the summer is in full swing, and we are coming up on the Fourth of July at the end of this week. Please note that the Pension Boards will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day, reopening on Monday, July 6.

Dear Friends,

Two weeks ago, we published A Pastoral Reflection on Racism, the Pension Boards’ statement in response to the killing of George Floyd and the many other African Americans who have died as a result of racist violence. Our statement was both a theological reflection and a commitment to action.

Dear Friends,

I hope that each of you and your loved ones continue to remain well.

Last year marked the first time the Pension Boards offered a Summer Internship Program. The 2019 experience was a resounding success, as shown in the reflections from the inaugural cohort. Two of the initial interns began their careers with the PBUCC staff team following graduation. When the pandemic made it necessary for us to work from home, the executive leadership team carefully considered whether the program could be offered this summer. Although circumstances were not what we had envisioned, and despite the unanticipated challenges, leadership remained committed to moving forward and our 2020 summer interns will begin their work with us starting June 22. Our goal as an organization is to provide a high-achieving group of college students and recent graduates the opportunity to work together with senior leaders and mentors toward specific, agreed-upon tasks while at the same time learning how their skills and capabilities contribute to advancing the Pension Boards’ mission and ministry of serving you from the intersection of Faith and Finance.

Last year marked the first time the Pension Boards offered a Summer Internship Program. Our experiences – and those of the five interns – in 2019 were a resounding success. Two of the interns in the initial cohort began their careers with the PBUCC staff team following graduation. Learnings from the first year of the program helped us to further develop and strengthen the plans for the 2020 program.