Church Pension Group | Resources and Church Trends

Resources and Church Trends

As you prepare to attend General Convention, we encourage you to review these many resources to help you better understand the work of The Church Pension Fund (CPF) and its three lines of business as we seek to meet the evolving needs of The Episcopal Church.

Navigate to sections of interest:

CPF Overview
Investments

Church Trends
Additional Resources

CPF Overview

Our History

When CPF began operations in 1917, Bishop William Lawrence set out to create a pension fund that would enable clergy to retire with dignity. Since then our charter has expanded to include other products and services, and to cover lay employees who are critical to the Church’s ability to fulfill its mission. View our first 100 years.

Our Relationship with General Convention

In 1913, the General Convention voted to provide retirement and disability benefits to eligible clergy. The following year, CPF was incorporated by a special act of the New York State Legislature. View our Charter, Constitution, and By-laws.

Recorder of Ordinations

In 1943, CPF was elected by General Convention to serve as the Recorder of Ordinations for the Church. Over the years our role and how the data we collect has evolved along with the Church.

Corporate Factsheet

Learn more about our three lines of business, our investment performance, and the products and services we offer.

Fast Facts

Ever wonder how much we collect in assessments; what we paid out in pension, medical supplement, and life insurance benefits? Find out—and much more.

Client Stories

CPF serves clergy and lay employees of the Church in many different ways. Hear stories from our clients about how we serve them so they can focus on their ministries and spreading the Gospel.

A Commitment to Equality

Learn about our stance against racism and our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as told through members of our Affinity Groups.

CPG Newsroom

View press releases and news clips that highlight our work and service to the Church.

Choose Well

Our Choose Well podcast series offers conversations with Church Publishing authors and leading experts in health and finance to discuss topics relevant to those who serve the Church.

Investments

Socially Responsible Investing

For more than 20 years, CPF has been active in seeking investments that offer opportunities to realize competitive risk-adjusted returns, consistent with our investment objectives, while also achieving important social goals. Learn more about our commitment and view videos of our investments in action.

Insights & Ideas

We periodically organize and host Insights & Ideas, a series of conversations on socially responsible investing that examine the trends in positive impact investing and shareholder engagement. These events have convened thought leaders from the Church, the private sector, and CPG to share information, insights, and ideas.

Investment Team Overview

Leaders of our Investment Group discuss their roles and the work of the team to ensure the benefits promised to current and future members are available when needed.

Church Trends

Understanding the Church

Whether through research, in-person or virtual conferences and meetings, CPG acts intentionally to ensure that it understands the emerging trends and needs of the Church so that it can remain proactive in its service to those who serve the Church.

2020 Clergy Compensation Report

Several resolutions: Resolution 2018-C029, Resolution 2018-D005, and Resolution 2018-D037 asked CPG, as the Recorder of Ordinations, to develop and implement a strategy to show ordination, deployment, and compensation trends related to race, gender, and ethnicity by providing additional demographic data in the annual clergy compensation report. View our interactive 2020 Clergy Compensation Report and past reports.

Episcopal Clergy Financial Capability Assessment Study

The Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center at the George Washington University School of Business conducted a survey of Episcopal clergy that evaluated their financial capability and knowledge regarding retirement planning, debt management, and financial literacy. The results were discussed in a webinar hosted by CPG.

Retirement Readiness of Lay Employees

CPG’s Research & Date team hosted a webinar, Understanding Lay Retirement Readiness, to discuss insights from its research on Episcopal Church lay employee retirement readiness on the 10th anniversary of the creation of the Lay Employee Pension System.

Parochial Report

The Parochial Report is the oldest, continuous gathering of data by The Episcopal Church. Together with other data, including that of the Recorder of Ordinations and the Registrar of General Convention, the Parochial Report provides an insight to the state of the church.