| Resolution Number: | 2018-D045 |
|---|---|
| Title: | Study Equity in Clergy and Lay Pension Plans |
| Legislative Action Taken: | Concurred as Amended |
| Final Text: | |
Resolved, That the 79th General Convention affirms that in the interests of justice the pension plans for clergy and lay employees should be as equitable as possible; and be it further
Resolved, That the Church Pension Fund be asked to study the steps necessary to provide equity in the pension plans for lay and ordained church workers, when equity is defined as equal projected financial benefits for lay and ordained church workers given equivalent compensation, and compare the resulting possible plans with the pension benefits offered in comparable, non-church organizations and report the results of that study to Executive Council by July 1, 2020, for communication to the wider church, including but not limited to the 80th General Convention.
| Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Austin, 2018 (New York: General Convention, 2018), p. 676. |
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Legislative History
| Author: | Ms. Diane Butler |
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| Originating House: | House of Deputies |
| Originating Committee: | Church Pension Fund |
House of Deputies
The House of Deputies Committee on Church Pension Fund presented its Report #1 on Resolution D045 (Pension Equity for Lay Employees) and moved adoption with Amendment
Original Text of Resolution:
(D045)
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 79th General Convention recognizes that the pension plans for lay employees provided for by the 76th General Convention in Resolution 2009-A138 do not provide equity in retirement benefits when compared to the pension plan for clergy provided by the Church Pension Fund pursuant to Canon I.8.1; and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention affirms that in the interests of justice the pension plans for clergy and lay employees should be as equitable as possible; and be it further
Resolved, That to move towards equity between the pension plans for lay employees and clergy the following changes shall be made to the principles for providing pensions to lay employees as set forth in Resolution 2009-A138 such that principle 1 of that Resolution will now read:
1. The lay employee pension system shall provide benefits that shall include defined benefit plan(s) and defined contribution plan(s). Every eligible lay employee shall be offered a choice between participation in either a defined benefit plan or a defined contribution plan.
Principle 2 of Resolution 2009-A138 will now read:
2. If a defined benefit plan is selected by the employee, the employer assessment and/or contribution shall be not less than nine (9) percent of the employee’s compensation through 2019. The employer assessment and/or contribution shall increase by one (1) percent of the employee’s compensation in 2020 and for each year thereafter until the employer assessment and/or contribution reaches eighteen (18) percent. If a defined contribution plan is selected by the employee, the employer shall contribute not less than five (5) percent of the employee’s compensation through 2019. The employer’s contribution shall increase by one (1) percent of the employee’s compensation in 2020 and for each year thereafter until the employer assessment reaches eighteen (18) percent. The employer shall match at least four (4) percent of the employee’s contribution in 2019 and the employer’s match of the employee’s contribution shall increase by one (1) percent per year until the total contribution of the employer, both by contribution and match, totals eighteen (18) percent.
Committee Amendment:
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 79th
General Convention recognizes that the pension plans for lay employees provided
for by the 76th General Convention in Resolution 2009-A138 do not provide
equity in retirement benefits when compared to the pension plan for clergy
provided by the Church Pension Fund pursuant to Canon I.8.1; and be it
further
Resolved, That this the 79th
General Convention affirms that in the interests of justice the pension
plans for clergy and lay employees should be as equitable as possible; and be
it further
Resolved, That to move towards equity between the pension
plans for lay employees and clergy the following changes shall be made to the
principles for providing pensions to lay employees as set forth in Resolution
2009-A138 such that principle 1 of that Resolution will now read:
1. The lay employee pension system shall provide benefits that shall include defined benefit plan(s) and defined contribution plan(s). Every eligible lay employee shall be offered a choice between participation in either a defined benefit plan or a defined contribution plan.
Principle 2 of Resolution 2009-A138 will now read:
2. If a defined benefit plan is selected by the employee, the employer assessment and/or contribution shall be not less than nine (9) percent of the employee’s compensation through 2019. The employer assessment and/or contribution shall increase by one (1) percent of the employee’s compensation in 2020 and for each year thereafter until the employer assessment and/or contribution reaches eighteen (18) percent. If a defined contribution plan is selected by the employee, the employer shall contribute not less than five (5) percent of the employee’s compensation through 2019. The employer’s contribution shall increase by one (1) percent of the employee’s compensation in 2020 and for each year thereafter until the employer assessment reaches eighteen (18) percent. The employer shall match at least four (4) percent of the employee’s contribution in 2019 and the employer’s match of the employee’s contribution shall increase by one (1) percent per year until the total contribution of the employer, both by contribution and match, totals eighteen (18) percent.
Resolved, That this General Convention urge parishes, dioceses, and other institutions that participate in the Church Pension Fund to take specific steps to reach parity in the pension contributions for lay and ordained church workers while taking into consideration contributions toward other potential sources for retirement income (e.g. Social Security or other retirement plans); and be it further
Resolved, That the Church Pension Fund be asked to study the steps necessary to provide equity in the pension plans for lay and ordained church workers, when equity is defined as equal projected financial benefits for lay and ordained church workers given equivalent compensation, and compare the resulting possible plans with the pension benefits offered in comparable, non-church organizations and report the results of that study to Executive Council by July 1, 2020, for communication to the wider church, including but not limited to the 80th General Convention.
Deputy Patterson of Central New York moved to amend the resolution.
Proposed Amendment:
In the third resolve clause, delete "(e.g. Social Security or other retirement plans)".
Motion defeated
Amendment defeated
A vote was taken on Resolution D045.
Motion carried
Resolution adopted with amendment
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #167)
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops Committee on Church Pension Fund presented its Report #6 on HD message #167 on Resolution D045 (Pension Equity for Lay Employees) and moved adoption with amendment.
Text of Resolution as amended by the House of Deputies
(D045)
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 79th
General Convention recognizes that the pension plans for lay employees provided
for by the 76th General Convention in Resolution 2009-A138 do not provide
equity in retirement benefits when compared to the pension plan for clergy
provided by the Church Pension Fund pursuant to Canon I.8.1; and be it
further
Resolved, That this the 79th
General Convention affirms that in the interests of justice the pension
plans for clergy and lay employees should be as equitable as possible; and be
it further
Resolved, That to move towards equity between the pension
plans for lay employees and clergy the following changes shall be made to the
principles for providing pensions to lay employees as set forth in Resolution
2009-A138 such that principle 1 of that Resolution will now read:
1. The lay employee pension system shall provide benefits that shall
include defined benefit plan(s) and defined contribution plan(s). Every
eligible lay employee shall be offered a choice between participation in either
a defined benefit plan or a defined contribution plan.
Principle 2 of Resolution 2009-A138 will now read:
2. If a defined benefit plan is selected by the employee, the
employer assessment and/or contribution shall be not less than nine (9) percent
of the employee’s compensation through 2019. The employer assessment and/or
contribution shall increase by one (1) percent of the employee’s compensation
in 2020 and for each year thereafter until the employer assessment and/or
contribution reaches eighteen (18) percent. If a defined contribution plan is
selected by the employee, the employer shall contribute not less than five (5)
percent of the employee’s compensation through 2019. The employer’s
contribution shall increase by one (1) percent of the employee’s compensation
in 2020 and for each year thereafter until the employer assessment reaches
eighteen (18) percent. The employer shall match at least four (4) percent of
the employee’s contribution in 2019 and the employer’s match of the employee’s
contribution shall increase by one (1) percent per year until the total
contribution of the employer, both by contribution and match, totals eighteen
(18) percent.
Resolved, that this General Convention urge parishes, dioceses, and other institutions that participate in the Church Pension Fund to take specific steps to reach parity in the pension contributions for lay and ordained church workers while taking into consideration contributions toward other potential sources for retirement income (e.g. Social Security or other retirement plans); and be it further
Resolved, that the Church Pension Fund be asked to study the steps necessary to provide equity in the pension plans for lay and ordained church workers, when equity is defined as equal projected financial benefits for lay and ordained church workers given equivalent compensation, and compare the resulting possible plans with the pension benefits offered in comparable, non-church organizations and report the results of that study to Executive Council by July 1, 2020, for communication to the wider church, including but not limited to the 80th General Convention.
Committee Amendment:
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 79th General Convention affirms that in the interests of justice the pension plans for clergy and lay employees should be as equitable as possible; and be it further
Resolved, that this General Convention urge parishes, dioceses, and
other institutions that participate in the Church Pension Fund to take specific
steps to reach parity in the pension contributions for lay and ordained church
workers while taking into consideration contributions toward other potential
sources for retirement income (e.g. Social Security or other retirement plans);
and be it further
Resolved, That the Church Pension Fund be asked to study the steps necessary to provide equity in the pension plans for lay and ordained church workers, when equity is defined as equal projected financial benefits for lay and ordained church workers given equivalent compensation, and compare the resulting possible plans with the pension benefits offered in comparable, non-church organizations and report the results of that study to Executive Council by July 1, 2020, for communication to the wider church, including but not limited to the 80th General Convention.
Motion carried
Resolution adopted with amendment
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #277)
House of Deputies
The House of Deputies Committee on Church Pension Fund presented its Report #10 on HB Message #277 on Resolution D045 (Pension Equity for Lay Employees) and moved concurrence.
Motion carried
The House concurred
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #393)
Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 13.
| Abstract: | The 79th General Convention affirms that justice compels equity in lay and clergy pension and commitment to equitable pension plans defined as equal financial benefits for equivalent compensation, and directs the Church Pension Fund to study and report on the issue. |
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