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Pension Fund of the Christian Church

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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.

Adams Called as Senior VP/President-Elect

INDIANAPOLIS-- The Board of Directors of Pension Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has called the Rev. Dr. Todd A. Adams to serve as Senior Vice President / President-Elect beginning March 1, 2016. Adams will become the Pension Fund's 9th Chief Executive on September 1, 2016, following James P. Hamlett in that role. Adams currently serves as the denomination's Associate General Minister and Vice President.

The Rev. Dr. James P. Johnson, search committee chair, stated, "After a comprehensive, nationwide search, and following the Executive Search protocols of the church, Todd Adams rose to the top of our list. Over the past 8 years, he has demonstrated the key executive leadership skills the Board was seeking in our next President to continue the legacy of leadership of William Martin Smith, Lester Palmer, Art Hanna, and Jim Hamlett."

During his tenure in the Office of the General Minister and President, Adams has overseen the merger of Church Finance Council into the General Assembly, the creation of Treasury Services and the consolidation of Christian Church Services. These efforts have reallocated over $500,000 from administration to programmatic ministries. Currently, nineteen regional and general ministries of the church utilize treasury services with two more considering participation in 2016.

The Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins, General Minister and President, shared with the search committee, "Todd is a faithful minister, skilled executive and devoted husband and father. He understands the Disciples context and is able to get things done within that context. Our church will be well served with him in this role."

Since July, 2014, Adams has served concurrently as the Interim President of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society, Nashville, TN. Over the past 17 months, Adams has eliminated a $400,000 operating deficit, sold the building, and begun construction on a new archive in Bethany, West Virginia, working closely with a newly-constituted board of directors.

In his remarks to the Pension Fund Board, Adams shared his excitement about collaborating with the Pension Fund's staff to continue the legacy of a strong, smart and secure retirement for the church's employees. "We have a legacy of providing one of the best-managed and financially-sound defined benefit programs in the country. I am humbled by the Board's confidence and call to step into a long line of faithful leaders, caring for our church's servants."

Hamlett echoed the Board's decision, stating, "I am delighted by the calling of Todd Adams as Senior Vice President / President Elect. He brings considerable management and financial skills coupled with a strong commitment to ministry that will benefit Pension Fund and those it serves. I look forward to working with him in the coming months."

The Indianapolis-based Pension Fund has nearly $3B in assets under management, including the defined benefit program and alternative retirement and savings vehicles, in addition to managing the church's Healthcare Benefit Trust. The Pension Fund offers separate programs in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Anne F. Keating, President of Fraser Keating Associates, LLC, served as the search consultant.

The Rev. Dr. Adams is a 1994 graduate of Chapman University. In 1997, he completed his Master of Divinity at Phillips Theological Seminary. He earned a Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary in 2007. He was awarded the honorary Doctor of Divinity from Bethany College in recognition of his service to the church.

Todd has been married to Kimberly Hall Adams for over 21 years. Todd and Kim met at the Pacific Southwest Regional Assembly, hosted by Chapman University. They have two children, Claire and Jackson. Claire, a high school senior, is a world junior record holder and a member of USA Swimming's National Team. She has committed to swim for the University of Texas. Jackson, a freshman, plays baseball for the Indiana Prospects and Carmel High School.

Members of the search committee included:
Rev. Dr. James P. Johnson, Chair; Peggy Brittan; Laura Reed Gelarden; Rev. Sandra Gourdet; Rev. Dr. Timothy James; Rev. Dr. William Lee; Rev. Dr. Janet Long, and Antonio Rodriguez.

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Hamlett to step down as Pension Fund President

INDIANAPOLIS-- James P. Hamlett, 8th President of the Pension Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) announced that he will retire effective August 31, 2016. Hamlett has served as President since January 1, 2004. He will be succeeded as president by the Rev. Dr. Todd A. Adams, who was called to be Senior Vice President / President-elect by Pension Fund's Board of Directors following an exhaustive nationwide search directed by Anne F. Keating, President of Fraser Keating Associates, LLC, and consultant to the search committee, chaired by the Rev. Dr. James P. Johnson. Adams will join Pension Fund on March 1, 2016 and will become President on September 1, 2016.

In making the announcement, Hamlett stated "It has been my great honor to serve with extraordinary colleagues in this ministry to those who accepted the call to Christian ministry. Together we have sought to enhance the financial wellbeing of pastors, lay employees and retirees, holding firm to Pension Fund's core values of "Trust, Security and Compassion. During my years at Pension Fund, I have been blessed beyond measure by the support and encouragement of so many. I know Pension Fund will be in good hands as the mantle of leadership passes to Dr. Adams."

During his tenure as President, Hamlet has overseen the growth of Pension Fund from $2.07 Billion to more than $3 Billion in assets under management. He led the move to restructure the various financial programs into separate trusts, directed the development of reserves for each program to protect them from market volatility, launched IRA and Roth IRA programs, and directed the process to reestablish the Benefit Accumulation Account program. Under his leadership, Pension Fund weathered the market crash of 2008 -2009 with no reduction in pension benefits and no investment loss to any participant. Pension Fund's endowment, which provides resources for Ministerial Relief and Assistance programs, has grown from $25.2 million to more than $41.7 million during his tenure as President.

Hamlett is married to Linda Jonker Hamlett, his wife of more than 44 years. They have two adult children, Ryan Hamlett and Elizabeth Hamlett Slagle, both of Indianapolis, and two grand children, Dolores Slagle and Augustus Slagle.

Prior to joining the Pension Fund staff in August, 2001, Hamlett served more than 28 years with Board of Church Extension (Disciples Church Extension Fund) rising to the position of Vice President, Treasurer and CFO. He also served for two years at United Christian Missionary Society. His service to the Church spans more than 45 years.