Séries 8 - Pension Files

• Textual record
• Graphic material

15.09 m of textual records
1 photograph

The Board of Pensions was constituted in 1929 upon recommendation of the Commission on Benevolent Funds set up in 1925. It was to administer various benevolent funds of the Presbyterian, Congregational and Methodist Churches in addition to the funds for new ministers of the United Church of Canada. Initially its object was to make provision for aged or disabled ministers and missionaries, and widows and children of those deceased. The Department of Pensions, established in 1942 with the creation of the new Board of Finance, took over management of the Pension Fund. Other plans were gradually instituted; for example: in 1952 a Group Insurance Plan, in 1956 a Lay Employees Retirement Fund. With the creation of the United Church Women in 1962, employees of the former Women’s Missionary Society and its Retirement Fund were integrated into the Church’s Pension Fund and lay Employees Retirement Fund. In 1985, the Department of Pensions became the Department of Pensions and Group Insurance and held three major areas of responsibility:  administration of the Lay Employees Pension Plan and Pension Plan for Order of ministry (now integrated and entitled The Pension Plan); administration of the Church’s national Group Insurance Plan; administration of three special funds for relief (Compassionate Grant Fund, Lay Employees Emergency Fund, and the Special Emergency Fund).   

During the reorganization of the General Council Office in 2001, the duties of the Division of Finance were separated into two parts: Financial Services (investments, revenue, expenditure, budget & reporting, facility services) and Financial Stewardship (annual/future revenue generation, bulletin cover production).  The Pension Fund was overseen by the Pension Fund Investment Manager.  The Pension Board was established by the General Council Executive in April, 2004.  In 2009, Financial Services became the Finance Department and Stewardship Services work was transferred to the newly created Philanthropy Unit.  Work relating to Pensions and Benefits was transferred to the newly created Ministry and Employment Unit.   

Series consists of three subseries of pension files: 1) Deceased Pensioners, 1881-2012; 2) Refunded Pension Files, 1918-2000; 3) Methodist Superannuated Pension Files, 1825-1996.