The Church Pension Fund
A secure plan for your financial future
Toll-free number for Pension Services:
(866) 802-6333
M-F 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET
| For further details | View |
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| Clergy Pensions: A Guide to Your Benefits |  |
Once you are ordained and employed in an Episcopal Church institution, and your employer is paying pension assessments to the Church Pension Fund (CPF), you share in a comprehensive plan for financial security throughout your ministry and into retirement.
As you plan for your future, your pension plan offers flexibility and the comfort of knowing that once you retire, you are assured your full benefits throughout retirement, whatever CPF's investment performance may be from year to year.
If you've been ordained to the diaconate or priesthood but don't yet have a job in the church, you may earn one year of credited service by paying personal assessments for a full year based on CPF's hypothetical minimum compensation. Doing so ensures that you will be eligible for the following for up to 18 months:
- a disability retirement benefit,
- a survivor's benefit,
- a lump sum death benefit, and
- life insurance.
Unless you plan to enter church work in the future and earn at least five full years of credited service, there may be little advantage in taking this option.
Two-clergy families
If you and your spouse are both ordained clergy, you each build your own record of credited service with the Church Pension Fund and will each receive a pension after retirement. You may also each qualify for the surviving spouse benefit. If you have questions about your status, contact us.
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