wfn.org | Plan to equalize clergy pensions de

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July 17, 1997
Episcopal News Service
Jim Solheim, Director
212-922-5385
ens@ecunet.org

ENSGC-02-04

Plan to equalize clergy pensions derailed

By David Skidmore

PHILADELPHIA (July 17, 1997) - Efforts to put clergy pensions on an equal track were derailed today when the House of Bishops agreed with a recommendation to reject a proposed study for equalizing pensions of clergy who have served an equal number of years -  regardless of where a priest has served.

The resolution from the Diocese of Massachusetts (C-012) ran up against the unyielding rules of the Church Pension Fund (CPF) and regulations of the state of New York.

Bishop Douglas Theuner of New Hampshire, who serves on the bishops committee of the CPF, said the committee recommended rejection because the General Convention cannot change rules for a body like the CPF, which must answer to regulatory bodies of the state in which it operates. 

His point was echoed by the committee's chair, Bishop James Krotz of Nebraska, who said the laws of New York, where the CPF is incorporated, "dictate what we can or cannot do."

This has been a perennial concern of the CPF, added Bishop Maurice Benitez, retired bishop of the Diocese of Texas and a pension fund trustee.
"We understand the concern behind this, the concern for those clergy whose pensions are lower than those of the rest of us," he said. 

Clergy who serve their entire careers in small congregations and who have lower compensation end up having lower pensions because the pension formula is based on earned income. Clergy serving in large or wealthy parishes generally receive larger pensions. 

The disparity remains a top priority for the CPF's benefits committee, which has partly addressed the issue by establishing a minimum pension level, Benitez said. "We will continue to address it in every way we can."  

The only bishop speaking for the resolution was Bishop Leopolde Frade of Honduras, who argued the reality is that many clergy are suffering from inequity in pension benefits. Though acknowledging the legal issues, Frade said he is convinced the formula "can be changed if we really dig and deal more with this."

Other actions

The bishops deferred discussion on a resolution requiring all church leaders - both lay and clerical -  to uphold the canons of the church. This resolution was adopted yesterday by the deputies.

The bishops concurred with the House of Deputies on resolutions:

* continuing the funding of the Leadership Project for Musicians Serving Small Congregations (A099);

* funding the budget of the Board of Archives (A001);

* continuing the funding of the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Committee of the Executive Council (A036);

* encouraging dioceses with metropolitan areas to prepare congregational development strategies (A085);

* continuing the Commission on HIV/AIDS (A045); and 

* supporting  stewardship education for Latino members, including the dissemination of a video and training manuals and appropriating $40,000 for regional training events (A143).

Concurrence by both the bishops and makes these resolutions final convention actions.

The bishops adopted resolutions:

* changing Canon I.2.1 (e) directing the voting tally on the election of the presiding bishop be made known to the House of Deputies (B003);

* authorizing the Study on Theology of Work (C004); and 

* (with minor amendments) affirming the 1 percent giving to seminaries (A139), while discharging a similar resolution because of duplicate language (A199).

Resolutions adopted by the bishops now go to the deputies for consideration.

- David Skidmore is communications director of the Diocese of Chicago.