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Pension Fund of the Christian Church

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As a church plan, Pension Fund is able to offer flexible and worry-free retirement options for employers and their employees. Our team of Area Directors will meet with you to discuss your needs and help you get started.

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Ministerial Relief & Assistance

Our relief programs meet the evolving needs of new, active, and retired clergy and their families to ensure all ministers and lay workers can enjoy a strong, smart, secure retirement.

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Employer-Sponsored Retirement Products

Overview

As a church plan, Pension Fund is able to offer flexible and worry-free retirement options for employers and their employees. Our team of Area Directors will meet with you to discuss your needs and help you get started.

Individual Savings & Retirement Products

Overview

Whether you’re just starting out or closer to retirement, choose from a variety of products to help you reach your retirement and savings goals.

Program Applicants

Ministerial Relief & Assistance

Our relief programs meet the evolving needs of new, active, and retired clergy and their families to ensure all ministers and lay workers can enjoy a strong, smart, secure retirement.

Supporters & Donors

Make An Impact with a Donation

Your gifts and financial support helps ministry workers in need bridge the unexpected from now until retirement (and beyond).

Resources

Overview

Discover planning and educational tools & resources to help you navigate your financial wellness journey.

Your Money Line

Pension Fund has partnered with Pete the Planner® to provide members with access to financial guides who will help answer your tough financial questions & online tools such as calculators and eLearning courses.

2018 Good Experience Credits and Special Apportionments; Significant Increase to Ministerial Relief & Assistance​

INDIANAPOLIS (February 23, 2018) Pension Fund’s Board of Directors approved motions from its Investment Committee to award over $145MM in Special Apportionments and Good Experience Credits. Additionally, the Board recognized and celebrated the generous Saints of the church who made it possible for Pension Fund to distribute a historically generous $1.8MM in Ministerial Relief and Assistance.

Ministerial Relief and Assistance (MRA) began in 1895 with the Chase Fund and an offering of $2,700. Today, Ministerial Relief and Assistance is funded by annual gifts from donors and Pension Fund’s endowment, representing legacy estate gifts from generous benefactors. The $1.8MM was distributed to the most vulnerable servants of the church to provide:

  • Emergency Aid of more than a half-million dollars to distressed ministers and their families following the devastating hurricane season that affecting those in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico, including a single distribution of $376,000 and desperately needed generators to Puerto Rico, providing life sustaining support;
  • Supplemental Gifts of $480,000 to approximately 100 low pensioners, helping them live with dignity;
  • Monthly relief pensions to 60 retired ministers, lifting them out of poverty.
  • A full 13th check to the 160 pensioners receiving relief and supplement pensions.

According to Rev. Matt Rosine, who directs the MRA programs, “Pension Fund partnered with Week of Compassion in new and innovative ways to respond to our pastors in the United States and Puerto Rico following an active Hurricane season.” As part of its strategic planning process, Pension Fund is examining ways to increase the program’s reach in support of our pastors. To learn more about Ministerial Relief and Assistance or to make a gift visit www.pensionfund.org/give/MRA.

On July 1, 2018, Pension Fund will award more than $96MM in Special Apportionments, which are fully funded increases in pension credits. Current retirees will see their monthly pension income increase by 5.5%. Members who are still contributing to their pensions will have their base credits increased by 5.5%.

Rev. Dr. Todd A. Adams, Pension Fund’s 9th Chief Executive, addressed the board stating, “we are fortunate to have the investment discipline that provides these kind of returns, while carefully balancing our fiduciary responsibilities. It is easy for us to be generous and euphoric with these kinds of returns, but we must also remain cautious, maintaining a long-term perspective for our members’ benefit.”

On March 31, 2018, Pension Fund will distribute more than $48MM in Good Experience Credits on Tax-Deferred Retirement Accounts (TDRA), IRAs, and the Benefit Accumulation Accounts (BAA). Good Experience Credits are one-time interest payments based on funding levels and the average daily balance in a member’s account as of Dec. 31, 2017. Good Experience Credits for each product are:

  • Tax-Deferred Retirement Account 10.5%
  • Benefit Accumulation Account 9.0%
  • IRAs 5.5%

Future Good Experience Credits will be determined based on Sept. 30 funding levels and approved at the November board meeting for payment on or before Dec. 31. The calculation will continue to use a member’s 12-month average daily balance.

Pension Fund staff will be hosting two member conference calls on Feb. 27, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. EST. To join, please use the following call-in information:

11:00 a.m. EST Dial: 800.260.0712 Access Code: 430172

7:00 p.m. EST Dial: 800.260.0718 Access Code: 430173

Pension Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Inc. provides pension and retirement savings accounts for clergy and lay employees of congregations, regions, general ministries and church-related colleges and seminaries of the Stone-Campbell/Restoration Movement. Pension Fund manages over $3 billion in net assets on behalf of those serving in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and related international ministries.