Berry, Long-Higgins Among Speakers at Annuitant Visitor Program Conference

By Rev. Krista Betz, interim director United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance (UCBMA)

The annual Annuitant Visitor Program of the Pension Boards-UCC held its annual conference Sept. 10-12, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo., and among the featured presenters were CHHSM’s the Rev. Dr. Elyse Berry and United Church Homes’ the Rev. Beth Long-Higgins.

The gathering was a time of learning, storytelling, and community building. The theme, “Because of Ministry: Weaving Our Tapestry,” reminded attendees that when we choose to weave our lives together, we participate in God’s ongoing work of creation. Together, we are stronger and more resilient than any one of us could be alone. The Annuitant Visitor Program embodies this holy interdependence. Through visits, conversations, advocacy, and compassion, Annuitant Visitors help weave a tapestry that supports and honors retirees across the United Church of Christ. 

The Annuitant Visitor Program is a ministry of compassion, connection, and advocacy that stretches from Maine to Hawaii, from Alaska to Florida, and everywhere in between. Through the faithful service of 130 Annuitant Visitors, more than 6,000 retired clergy and their spouses receive care, companionship, and support each year. Annuitant Visitors build meaningful relationships that remind retired clergy and their families that they are valued, remembered, and remain an important part of the United Church of Christ community. They also serve as trusted advocates, helping connect individuals facing financial challenges with assistance that supports their well-being and dignity. For more than forty years, this outreach has been organized by the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance (UCBMA), the philanthropic arm of the Pension Boards. 

The 2026 gathering began with a morning devotion led by the Rev. Marc Stewart, dean of the Western Region, who reflected on the connections created through visitations and the ways those relationships weave us together as a community. 

“I’ve learned that hospitality is a shared endeavor,” Stewart said. “It reveals a connection where care and love, dignity and agency present-ness and heritage, are woven together.” 

The Rev. Phil Hodson, interim conference minister, Missouri Mid-South Conference, welcomed attendees to Kansas City and expressed gratitude for the ways Annuitant Visitors help weave relationships in the conferences, strengthening the fabric of the church as a whole. 

The Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, vice president of engagement and director of the Center for Abundant Aging at United Church Homes, led a keynote titled “Loneliness and Isolation: The Challenges and Opportunities for Older Adults.” 

In describing ageism, Long-Higgins said, “Ageism is the negative way we think, feel, and act about how we’re aging … for example, when a someone says, ‘A church is a dying church because everyone there has gray hair,’ that’s ageist. … Aging can be viewed as a gift from God, a season rich with purpose, wisdom, and possibility. It is not something we should be denying, let’s reframe it as abundant aging.” 

In the afternoon, Annuitant Visitors selected from a variety of workshops, all connected by a common thread: how to strengthen the fabric of community through relationships, resilience, and mutual care. 

The Rev. Ben Keckler, dean of the Great Lakes Region, and the Rev. Tom Zoelzer, Annuitant Visitor, led an interactive workshop exploring how Annuitant Visitors can balance a growing visitation list while remaining fully present with each person they call on. The number one quality of an Annuitant Visitor, said Keckler,  is “the ability to listen and process what was said … so that the visitees’ needs are being met.” 

Pension Boards’ staff led workshops on a variety of topics. Anna Blandino, associate, pension counselor, updated attendees on the Pension Boards’ benefit offerings. Davon Thomas, associate, UCBMA, educated attendees on what grants were available and how to access them. I led a workshop on how to create meaningful group visits. 

The Rev. Dr. Elyse Berry, associate for advocacy and leadership development for the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHHSM) led a workshop on self-care and boundaries. “Self-care is so important [for clergy],” Berry said, “because we cannot continue to care for others without replenishing ourselves. There are a lot of elders in this room, and no matter how old you are, we’re all trying to live into a deeper and more mature faith experience. Part of that journey involves asking ourselves, ‘What do I need?’ and we’re the only ones who actually have access to that inner knowledge.” 

Throughout the gathering, participants were invited to weave on personal looms. As the individual threads crossed and connected, and as Annuitant Visitors worked together to create these woven works of art, the looms became a visible expression of the Annuitant Visitor Program itself. Each thread contributed to something stronger and more beautiful than it could become alone, reflecting a ministry that brings people together to create God’s beloved community.

The second day began with centering practices led by Berry. As she played the flute, participants were invited to shake musical egg shakers to the rhythm of their own heartbeats, a reminder that each person brings unique gifts and experiences that enrich the tapestry of ministry. 

David Klassen, president and CEO of the Pension Boards, joined the Rev. Dr. Paul Ramsey, director of church relations and philanthropy and me for a conversation about the Pension Boards’ commitment to investing in those who serve. Together, we answered questions about sustainable investing, retirement planning, and the wide range of programs and resources offered by the Pension Boards. The discussion highlighted a shared commitment to supporting retired clergy, honoring their years of service, and ensuring they remain connected to the wider church community. 

The gathering ended with worship on Sunday morning, during which the Rev. Beth Long-Higgins preached a powerful sermon. Hymns were sung with so much spirit that many of us were moved by the depth and faithfulness of our collective voice. The service included communion, and the offering totaled $2,840, which will be divided equally between the Pension Boards’ Christmas Fund and Shannondale Ministries of the Missouri Mid-South Conference. 

The service concluded with a commissioning of the Annuitant Visitors, reminding them that because of ministry, they are deeply rooted and daily watered, and that God’s abundant love continues to weave us all together now and forever. 

As the Annuitant Visitors returned home to their communities, they carried with them new ideas, renewed purpose, and a deeper appreciation for the ministry they share. Because of ministry, thousands of retired clergy and spouses remain connected, supported, and remembered. And because of ministry, the tapestry of advocacy and belonging continues to grow, one thread at a time.