Board of Pensions

The work of the conference Board of Pensions is carried out through the conference benefits officer, David Stotts, who is also the conference treasurer/director of finance and administration, and the pensions liaison officer, Byrd Hillman. Jackie McGough is the administrative assistant to the conference benefits officer.  David Stotts is responsible for the billing and collection of phase 1 of Direct Bill.

Contact Information

Phone: 601.354.0515 or toll-free 866.647.7486
FAX: 601.948.5980

1. David Stotts, david@mississippi-umc.org
    Extension 26

2. Jackie McGough, jackie@mississippi-umc.org
    Extension 22

3. Byrd Hillman, byrdnsara@wildblue.net    Phone: 800-586-0113

 

Greetings All,

Clergy Pension Benefit Billing Computation for 2012

I know that you are in the middle of budgeting season for 2012. I trust you recall from 2011 Annual Conference that the base for Clergy Pension Benefit billing allocation was changed. Following is the formula that Annual Conference approved. This billing formula begins January 1, 2012 with the 2012 Clergy Budget Compensation Package. This formula determines the annual bill. Your monthly bill will be 1/12 of the total. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Line C: Total Budget Clergy Compensation: _____________________

Multiply line C above 25% if the Pastor lives in a parsonage: ___________

Determine Base for Clergy Compensation by adding the above: ________

Multiply the Base by 14.5% if part time and 17.5% if full time: _____________

 

Contact Us

David Stotts, CPA

Treasurer/Director of Finance and Administration
Conference Benefits Officer
The Mississippi Conference of
The United Methodist Church
P O Box 1201
Jackson, MS 39215
Voice 601-354-0515
or 866-647-7486 Ext. 26
Fax 601-948-5980
Email: david@mississippi-umc.org

Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.

Pension Benefits for Lay Employees

General Conference 2004 passed legislation that requires the Pastor-Parish (Staff-Parish) Relations Committee to recommend to the church council that a pension benefit of at least 3% of compensation be provided for lay employees who are:

  1. 21 years of age
  2. Have at least one year of permanent service
  3. Work at least 1,040 hours per year (20 hours a week)

     

Though not strictly mandatory, the recommendation of lay pension benefits is now a part of the official duties of the Pastor-Parish Committee as listed in The Book of Discipline. Church councils responding to Pastor-Parish recommendations are to begin providing benefits by January 1, 2006.

Based on this legislation, a local church employee earning $20,000 per year would receive from the church an annual contribution of $600 ($50 a month) into his or her retirement account. An employee earning $12,000 per year would receive a contribution of $360 or $30 a month. This legislation also applies to lay employees of the annual conference.

The General Board administers pension plans for lay employees of the church and affiliated agencies that local churches may sponsor, but local churches and annual conferences are free to contract with the provider of their choice.

Click here to compute your own pension plan projection.

Short cut to the General Board of Pensions