Comments on: Student Loan Debt Forgiveness | For Ministers & Non-Profit Workers http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/ Frugal, Simple, Debt-Free Living, and Generous Giving Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:06:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Heather Wallace http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/comment-page-1/#comment-16308 Heather Wallace Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:11:08 +0000 http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/#comment-16308 This is a little confusing to me. My husband and I have been in ministry (he is a pastor) for 14 years. We are currently pastoring two churches (each part time) but also raising funds to go to south sudan next year as missionaries through world harvest mission (whm.org) a non-profit organization. We still owe student loans, even though we have been out of college for 15 years because for the first 5 years we made so little in ministry we were living with his parents. So now we have been paying faithfully but it will be decades before they are paid off. If we qualify for this, that would be a great burden relieved. But since we are in the process of things between here and south sudan, how would that work? Thank you This is a little confusing to me. My husband and I have been in ministry (he is a pastor) for 14 years. We are currently pastoring two churches (each part time) but also raising funds to go to south sudan next year as missionaries through world harvest mission (whm.org) a non-profit organization. We still owe student loans, even though we have been out of college for 15 years because for the first 5 years we made so little in ministry we were living with his parents. So now we have been paying faithfully but it will be decades before they are paid off. If we qualify for this, that would be a great burden relieved. But since we are in the process of things between here and south sudan, how would that work? Thank you

]]> By: ryan http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/comment-page-1/#comment-16252 ryan Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:47:43 +0000 http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/#comment-16252 So now that 501c3 organizations focused on religious activities were ruled ineligible...will the church fight back? Is there a lawsuit on the way? So now that 501c3 organizations focused on religious activities were ruled ineligible…will the church fight back? Is there a lawsuit on the way?

]]> By: Craig Ford http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/comment-page-1/#comment-16150 Craig Ford Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:55:30 +0000 http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/#comment-16150 I honestly don't know! Sorry. I honestly don’t know! Sorry.

]]> By: anonymous http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/comment-page-1/#comment-16149 anonymous Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:51:32 +0000 http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/#comment-16149 What if you are working tull-time at a non-profit for no pay? For example, what if you are serving with OM USA (a registered non-profit)? What if you are working tull-time at a non-profit for no pay? For example, what if you are serving with OM USA (a registered non-profit)?

]]> By: Bart http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/comment-page-1/#comment-16080 Bart Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:23:00 +0000 http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/#comment-16080 ...seems better if everybody just paid their bills...including the long haired tree hugging hippies. I'd rather pay Wican taxes than peace cores. At least you know what a Wican stands for. …seems better if everybody just paid their bills…including the long haired tree hugging hippies. I’d rather pay Wican taxes than peace cores. At least you know what a Wican stands for.

]]> By: Nicholas Blonde http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/comment-page-1/#comment-16056 Nicholas Blonde Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:20:02 +0000 http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/#comment-16056 Sorry bart...I don't think it has anything to do with the length of one's hair, or whether or not they are a tree hugger. It's this pesky document called "The Constitution." Think this through--if a Christian preacher were able to use this, ANY preacher/cleric/prosetylizer would also be able to use it. Do you want your tax dollars paying off the education loans of a Wahabbi cleric? A scientologist? The leader of a wiccan colony? Separation of church and state has created a vibrant, diverse, and flourishing religious community in the US. Blogs like this might not even exist had the founding fathers restricted and funded one specific brand of religion over all others. Sorry bart…I don’t think it has anything to do with the length of one’s hair, or whether or not they are a tree hugger. It’s this pesky document called “The Constitution.”

Think this through–if a Christian preacher were able to use this, ANY preacher/cleric/prosetylizer would also be able to use it. Do you want your tax dollars paying off the education loans of a Wahabbi cleric? A scientologist? The leader of a wiccan colony?

Separation of church and state has created a vibrant, diverse, and flourishing religious community in the US. Blogs like this might not even exist had the founding fathers restricted and funded one specific brand of religion over all others.

]]> By: christiancounselor http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/comment-page-1/#comment-15680 christiancounselor Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:00:13 +0000 http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/#comment-15680 I disagree. I think you are misquoting it. Hate to keep the ball bouncing around on this, so I'll quote from the latest (Feb 3, 2010) federal handout (which I checked against the .gov sources as well, but this is more concise). Please read your information carefully. These are two different questions posed, and it reads that if you meet the first criteria (501c3 status for your employer) you meet criteria. The second question asks if anyone working for a company that is NOT 501c3 can qualify, and is where you have the clause that many are quoting here. If you go to the sources and read it as it is presented, the information is clear. Q23 What private non-profit employers qualify as eligible employers for the PSLF Program? A23 Eligible non-profit employers include those that have received a 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS. These include most private schools, colleges, and universities, as well as thousands of other organizations, agencies, and charities. Your employer will easily be able to tell you if it has the required IRS designation. The IRS has a searchable database of 501(c)(3) organizations at http://www.irs.gov/app/pub-78/. (February 3, 2010) Q24 Can a private employer that has not received a 501(c)(3) designation qualify as a public service organization for the PSLF Program? A24 Yes, if the employer is a non-profit organization that meets certain requirements (see below) and provides one or more of the following public services: •Emergency management, •Military service, •Public safety, •Law enforcement, •Public interest law services, •Early childhood education (including licensed or regulated childcare, Head Start, and state-funded pre-kindergarten), •Public service for individuals with disabilities and the elderly, •Public health (including nurses, nurse practitioners, nurses in a clinical setting, and full-time professionals engaged in health care practitioner occupations and health care support occupations), •Public education, •Public library services, and •School library or other school-based services. In addition, the employer must not be a labor union, a partisan political organization, or an organization that is engaged in religious activities (unless the qualifying public services it provides are unrelated to religious instruction, worship services, or proselytizing). (February 3, 2010) I disagree. I think you are misquoting it.

Hate to keep the ball bouncing around on this, so I’ll quote from the latest (Feb 3, 2010) federal handout (which I checked against the .gov sources as well, but this is more concise). Please read your information carefully. These are two different questions posed, and it reads that if you meet the first criteria (501c3 status for your employer) you meet criteria. The second question asks if anyone working for a company that is NOT 501c3 can qualify, and is where you have the clause that many are quoting here. If you go to the sources and read it as it is presented, the information is clear.

Q23 What private non-profit employers qualify as eligible employers for the PSLF Program?
A23 Eligible non-profit employers include those that have received a 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS. These include most private schools, colleges, and universities, as well as thousands of other organizations, agencies, and charities. Your employer will easily be able to tell you if it has the required IRS designation. The IRS has a searchable database of 501(c)(3) organizations at http://www.irs.gov/app/pub-78/. (February 3, 2010)

Q24 Can a private employer that has not received a 501(c)(3) designation qualify as a public service organization for the PSLF Program?
A24 Yes, if the employer is a non-profit organization that meets certain requirements (see below) and provides one or more of the following public services:
•Emergency management,
•Military service,
•Public safety,
•Law enforcement,
•Public interest law services,
•Early childhood education (including licensed or regulated childcare, Head Start, and state-funded pre-kindergarten),
•Public service for individuals with disabilities and the elderly,
•Public health (including nurses, nurse practitioners, nurses in a clinical setting, and full-time professionals engaged in health care practitioner occupations and health care support occupations),
•Public education,
•Public library services, and
•School library or other school-based services.
In addition, the employer must not be a labor union, a partisan political organization, or an organization that is engaged in religious activities (unless the qualifying public services it provides are unrelated to religious instruction, worship services, or proselytizing). (February 3, 2010)

]]> By: bart http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/comment-page-1/#comment-15677 bart Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:17:20 +0000 http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/#comment-15677 So...Craig, are you going to update your blog? Seems like debt forgiveness is only for long haired peace loving tree hugging hippies, and not pastors. Obviously these peace core employees provide a greater service to humanity. So…Craig, are you going to update your blog? Seems like debt forgiveness is only for long haired peace loving tree hugging hippies, and not pastors. Obviously these peace core employees provide a greater service to humanity.

]]> By: Craig http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/comment-page-1/#comment-15556 Craig Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:35:48 +0000 http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/#comment-15556 Kristin, Thanks for helping us muddle through the technical jargon. Kristin,
Thanks for helping us muddle through the technical jargon.

]]> By: Kristin http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/comment-page-1/#comment-15549 Kristin Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:18:06 +0000 http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/get-student-loan-debt-forgiven-a-guide-for-ministers-pastors-non-profit-workers/#comment-15549 I am in the process of consolidating my loans for IBR and looking into the public service forgiveness information. What I understand from the federal government is that even while many churches are 501 (c) 3 organizations - it clearly states, "In addition, the employer must not be a labor union, a partisan political organization, or an organization that is engaged in religious activities (unless the qualifying public services it provides are unrelated to religious instruction, worship services, or proselytizing)." That would mean that ministers do not qualify for the public service forgiveness although we do qualify for IBR and ICR programs. I am in the process of consolidating my loans for IBR and looking into the public service forgiveness information. What I understand from the federal government is that even while many churches are 501 (c) 3 organizations – it clearly states, “In addition, the employer must not be a labor union, a partisan political organization, or an organization that is engaged in religious activities (unless the qualifying public services it provides are unrelated to religious instruction, worship services, or proselytizing).” That would mean that ministers do not qualify for the public service forgiveness although we do qualify for IBR and ICR programs.

]]>