The following Guide to Clergy Benefits (Guide) is designed to help you understand the provisions of The Church Pension Fund Clergy Pension Plan (Clergy Pension Plan) and other benefit plans available as of January 1, 2019. Please keep in mind that this is intended to be a summary document only, and it should not be viewed as investment, tax, or other advice. To request a guide describing plan provisions in effect prior to January 1, 2019, please contact our Client Services group.

You will note that certain terms are capitalized throughout this Guide, which means they are proper names or are defined in our Glossary of Terms. Other more commonly used terms, such as eligible spouse or eligible child, also appear in our Glossary of Terms because they have a very specific definition under the Clergy Pension Plan and/or other benefit plans.

This Guide uses “you” and “your” when referencing an Episcopal cleric who is eligible to participate in the Clergy Pension Plan and the other benefit plans described throughout.

This Guide describes the benefits available to eligible Episcopal clergy who work their entire career in a domestic diocese of The Episcopal Church. Episcopal clergy who serve in both domestic and non-domestic dioceses should contact our Client Services group for information about their benefits as different rules apply. 

The official plan documents will govern the Clergy Pension Plan and all other benefits provided by The Church Pension Fund (CPF). In the event of a conflict between this Guide and the official plan documents, the terms of the official plan documents will apply.

Individual situations may differ from those described in this Guide. If you would like to discuss your specific circumstances, please contact our Client Services group.