Central Conference Pension Offering-Feb. 21
Special Offering for Central Conference Pension Initiative-February 21
Dear Brothers and Sisters of the California-Pacific Annual Conference:
Many of you might guess that the year 2012 is meaningful to me, because it is the year that I will retire. Since that is now becoming real to me in a way that it has not previously, I can honestly say how grateful I am that I can look forward to retirement with confidence—confident that I will continue to be active in ministry (on my own terms!) and confident that Jeff and I will receive the care and benefits of our pension system.
However, this is because we live here in the United States: in sharp contrast, most of the central conferences (conferences outside of the United States) provide little or no pension support for pastors or their families–even after 30, 35 or 40 years in ministry. This situation is all too common in our United Methodist central conferences, where our fellow clergy have made manifest the promise and hope of the Gospel and God’s transforming power for individuals and communities—yet those same clergy often face destitution at the end of their lives, because pensions are non-existent or woefully inadequate.
We now have a unique opportunity to change this reality by providing a measure of financial security in retirement to our brothers and sisters through the Central Conference Pension Initiative (CCPI).
General Conference 2004 approved legislation authorizing the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits to “create, administer, and encourage funding for programs of the CCPI.” The development of a central conference pension system is well underway—but today we are at a significant juncture: we have stated our intent and begun a system to provide for the retired clergy and surviving spouses, but we are without the necessary funding.
We are called to share our resources with our brothers and sisters in Christ. As clergy, it is our responsibility to lead by example. Therefore, I invite you to two things: please consider a pledge to the CCPI campaign that is representative of your leadership; take time to review the enclosed brochure and consider making a commitment in one of the many ways described.
Secondly, in partnership with our own Conference Council on Finance and Administration and the Conference Leadership Team, I call upon every congregation to make a special offering on Sunday, February 21st, 2010—the first Sunday in the season of Lent. As a conference, we have previously designated funds from our pre-1982 pension surplus, and that gift has made a significant difference. But the need is unfulfilled, and in the season of Lent, every disciple is called to learn the fruits of generosity and discipline. With this special offering, have an incredible opportunity to help change the lives of thousands of people: I am confident that you will be generous, and lead others in also being generous. Thank you for your witness.
With many blessings,
Bishop Mary Ann Swenson
Resident Bishop, Los Angeles Episcopal Area
Central Conference Pension Initiative Visits Define $25 Million Challenge Goal
Nashville, Tenn. – For the Rev. Charles Horace, a retired Liberian pastor, life without a pension was a daily struggle. He recalls weeks in which he would “just live on water” for two or three days.
But through the Liberia pension fund, Horace now receives a quarterly pension benefit made possible by gifts to the Central Conference Pension Initiative (CCPI). “If I were not a United Methodist pastor, who would have thought about me?” said Horace to an audience of the Grand Bassa District of The United Methodist Church. “Let nothing take you from this caring and loving church.”
To provide for the needs of Horace and other retired clergy outside the U.S., the CCPI initially sought to raise a minimum $20 million endowment—$19.2 million has already been pledged or donated. CCPI leadership recently established a challenge goal of $25 million, reflecting the needs discovered through on-site visits to each of the growing 19 Episcopal areas served by this initiative.
“We received almost $6 million in contributions in 2009,” said Dan O’Neill, managing director for Central Conference Pensions at the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits. “If we could raise the same amount this year, we will have the funds that will enable us to support current pension initiative activity.”
Emergency grants were authorized in 2004 for retired clergy and surviving spouses in all central conferences. When a country’s pension plan launches, emergency grant payments cease.
Liberia’s CCPI-funded pension program has been in place since 2007, Mozambique’s began in 2009 and a third pilot project was launched this year in Angola.
United Methodist members and friends who would like to support the CCPI may make a donation or pledge through their church or online at www.ccpi-umc.org. For further information, contact Colette Nies atcnies@gbophb.org.
For more on the Central Conference Pension Initiative, log on to www.ccpi-umc.org.