Wespath Benefits and Investments

Frederick Hyland, Wespath’s managing director of actuarial services, and Kim Olson, director of retirement plans, discuss Wespath’s Compass proposal, a retirement plan for U.S. active clergy that is going before General Conference voters. If passed, the plan would replace the current Clergy Retirement Security Program with a defined-contribution retirement plan. Hyland and Olson were very clear that the new plan will not affect currently retired clergy. Screengrab courtesy of Live from Wespath.

Big changes proposed for clergy retirement

Wespath, The United Methodist Church’s pension and benefits agency, is asking General Conference to authorize a new retirement program for U.S. clergy.

General Church

Dale Jones of Wespath, The United Methodist Church’s pension and benefits agency, discusses the denomination’s pension program during the pre-General Conference news briefing at the Tampa Convention Center in Florida in 2012. Jones and other Wespath staff had a hand in crafting the regionalization legislation going before the 2024 General Conference. Agency staff see the proposed changes as crucial to the work of supporting church workers in retirement. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Why Wespath supports regionalization

The United Methodist Church’s pension and benefits agency has had a hand in crafting the regionalization legislation going before General Conference. Agency staff see the proposed changes as crucial to the work of supporting church workers in retirement.

Social Concerns

Barbara Boigegrain answers questions during a 2016 General Conference debate about divestment of fossil fuel company stocks. Boigegrain was top executive of Wespath, the denomination’s pension and benefits agency. She has since retired. Wespath continues to oppose efforts to require United Methodist institutions to divest from fossil fuel stocks, saying engagement with such companies is a more effective strategy for combating climate change. File photo by Maile Bradfield, UM News.

Fossil fuels divestment debate returns

Wespath and Fossil Free UMC will again be on opposite sides as General Conference takes up whether to divest from stocks of companies that contribute significantly to global warming.

Church Leadership

Dave Zellner. Photo courtesy of Wespath.

Sustainable investing is smart, not political

Achieving a healthy economy and supporting investors are Wespath goals.

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