Appendix One of the Discipline of the Primitive Methodist Church in the U.S.A.

APPENDIX ONE OF THE DISCIPLINE Preacher's Pension Fund Constitution and By-Laws
Article I - Name and Purpose This association shall be called the “Primitive Methodist Preachers’ Pension Fund” and shall be for the purpose of providing supplemental retirement income for its member participants. Article II - Membership 1. All our Ordained Elders, Student Ministers in the itinerant system, and Missionaries become beneficiary members of this fund by a 3/4 vote of the membership present at the Annual Meeting. 2. Each candidate for our ministry and/or missionary service, must join this fund at the time of his/her being received as a Student Minister/Missionary. 3. Ministerial Supplies and church planters, after two years as a supply, may be admitted to the fund by a 3/4 vote of the membership present at the Annual Meeting. Article III - Status of Membership 1. Active - A member employed by Churches of our Denomination as Pastors, or employed by mission boards, or the Denomination. 2. Sabbatical - A member of the Preachers’ Pension Fund under leave of absence from the Primitive Methodist Ministry. Any Elder, Student Minister, or Missionary may apply for a Sabbatical relationship. Upon returning to the active ministry, he/she would receive the same status as prior to his/her application for Sabbatical status. 3. Special Ministries - A member of the Preachers’ Pension Fund entering another field of Christian Ministry other than our Conference, such as teaching or counseling in a Christian School, college, chaplaincy, or any church related work, which is in agreement with our doctrinal position. 4. Armed Services Chaplain - A member of the Preachers’ Pension Fund entering the Armed Services of our Nation as a Chaplain. 5. Evangelist - A member of the Preachers’ Pension Fund entering the evangelistic field as Conference Evangelist. 6. Retired or Disabled - No longer an active member participant. Article IV - Procedure of Status 1. Status changes must be renewed annually through the proper channels - Local Church, District, Conference and PPF. 2. The status of Sabbatical may be granted for: a. Ill Health - Ill health shall be considered when a member is physically incapacitated and therefore unable to perform his/her responsibilities. b. Education - When a member leaves the active ministry to pursue advanced education relating to the ministry. c. Personal Reasons - Consideration will have to be made according to each individual case base on stated reasons. Article V - Financial Obligations 1. This fund shall be open to volunteer subscriptions, donations, bequest from all of our churches and their friends, together with the Conference Apportionments as per Discipline. 2. Notes on hand for financial obligations shall not be accepted. 3. The contribution formula will be that which is required to keep the fund solvent and will be established by PPF Board (Trustees) and approved by Conference. 4. If a minister/missionary having been dismissed, properly credentialed, and later is re-admitted to the denomination and the PPF - his/her financial obligation shall be reckoned from the date of re-admission. 5. Churches and Boards - Assessments for Churches and Boards shall be based on 6% of the minimum salary scale plus car allowance, as set forth by Conference or the current salary plus car allowance, whichever is higher. The Churches and Boards will be billed semi-annually, 50% in January and 50% in July. Delinquent accounts shall be assessed a 5% penalty added to the required contribution at the next billing period. Churches not served by a plan participant are only obligated for 6%. Article VI - Policies 1. Any member leaving the denomination, or if he/she shall be convicted of immorality or dismissed for cause, shall receive vested funds only. Any person forfeiting rights under this rule shall have the right of appeal to the PPF Board for action. 2. When an active member is deceased and a death certificate is received by the plan administrator, their spouse shall receive the full value of the members pension account or settlement under the various options of the Pension Document. Other designated beneficiaries will receive a lump sum. 3. In case of death, a Death Certificate shall be sent to the Plan Administrator; action shall be taken by the PPF Board (Trustees) and the funeral benefits shall be paid to the proper person. When practical, arrangements for payment may be conducted by correspondence. One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) shall be allowed for the funeral of a member; Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00) for the funeral of a spouse. Only one spousal payment is available per member or retired member. 4. Any member previously retired for reason of ill health whose health is sufficiently restored to warrant a resumption of active service, shall make application to the Conference and PPF Board, and when employed will be accepted into the fund as a new member. 5. Distribution of the 6% Churches and Boards assessment will be divided as set forth by the Pension Document. 6. Should any member of the Fund be incapacitated from the active work in the ministry, they may apply for assistance from the General Fund of the PPF. 7. All pension payments shall be made according to the Pension Document. 8. All monies deposited in banks, or other institutions, shall be in the name of the “Primitive Methodist Preachers’ Pension Fund”. 9. Any case not coming under the above rules or scale, is to be submitted to the Annual Meeting of the Fund or be referred to the PPF Board (Trustees) for consideration. 10. It is a violation of the sabbatical status for a member to hold any formal relationship with another Church or Denomination. We require that he either return to the full time ministry of the Primitive Methodist Church or relinquish his relationship with us. 11. Should a member on Sabbatical not return to Active Status within a period of 3 consecutive years, his membership in the Pension Fund shall automatically cease. Article VII - Retirement 1. Each applicant, at the age of eligibility for retirement, shall submit in writing an application to the PPF Plan Administrator and Conference General Secretary who shall as soon as possible, present it to the Conference or General Committee for consideration. This request shall be forwarded to the PPF Board for action. a. When a member of the Fund reaches the age to receive Social Security benefits, he may have the privilege of retirement in accordance with the Pension Document. 2. Potential retiree must notify PPF of intent to retire by April 1. Benefits may be distributed a minimum of 60 days after receiving proper notification. 3. All pension payments shall be made according to the Pension Document. Article VIII - Annual Meeting 1. An annual meeting shall be held at the time and place of Conference for the transaction of the business of the Fund. This meeting shall elect the following officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Health Fund Treasurer-to be confirmed by Conference, annually. 2. This meeting shall elect a Pension Plan Administrator for a four year term. The election for this office shall be held one year before the scheduled term of office shall begin. The election to be confirmed by Conference. 3. The Annual Meeting of the Fund shall be composed of the Officers of the Fund and the participating members. This is an open meeting for anyone interested. 4. The Preachers’ Pension Fund may, at its Annual Meeting, or by its Board, make such laws (not contrary to the Constitution) as shall be necessary to carry on its business. 5. The Constitution may be altered or amended by proposing the changes to Conference. Article IX - Board & Officers 1. The Board of the Primitive Methodist Preachers’ Pension Fund shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, plus members at large to make a nine member board. Qualified lay persons may be elected to the Board by Conference. 2. The Preachers’ Pension Fund Board shall act as the Trustees and shall attend to all duties required for such officers in a chartered association. 3. The Preachers’ Pension Fund Board shall have the authority to fill all vacancies until the next Conference. 4. Officers (selected at Annual Meeting) shall be: President, Vice-President and Secretary, to be confirmed by Conference, annually. a. President 1. To preside at all PPF meetings. 2. Plan an agenda for each meeting. 3. Call special sessions of the Board and Executive Committee when necessary. b. Vice-President 1. Preside at meetings in the absence of the President. 2. Become President in case of vacancy. 3. Assists President in all areas of responsibility. c. Secretary 1. Record all minutes of meetings. 2. Maintain records of all Board transactions. 3. Shall submit reports of the proceedings of the Board concerning finances and investments to the Annual Meeting of the Fund. d. Pension Plan Administrator 1. Duties are described in the plan document. They generally include the management of the day-to-day operations. 2. Federal regulations require that the Plan Administrator provide reports to participants, including summary plan descriptions and benefit statements; file reports with the IRS, Department of Labor and the Pension Guaranty Corporation; and maintain records relating to the operation of the plan with sufficiently detailed information to verify the accuracy of the various reports. 3. May delegate the performance of the plan’s administrative functions to other persons or purchase (with PPF Board approval) administration services from companies which provide them. The plan administrator may rely on the information, data, or analyses provided by other persons who perform these functions provided that he has exercised prudence in their selection, and has no reason to doubt their competence or integrity. 4. Traveling expenses incurred by the Board to attend necessary meetings and business shall be paid from the General Fund.

Back to the Top
Return to the Index for the Appendix
Return to the Index for the Discipline

[ Home ] [ History ] [ Ministry ] [ Conference Forms ] [ Formas de Conferencia en Español ] [ Bible Readings ] [ Calendar of Meetings ] [ Organization ] [ Creed ] [ Insignia ] [ Discipline ] [ PM Conference News ] [ Yearbook ] [ Links to Primitive Methodism ]
[ MISSIONS ] :: [ International Mission Board ] [ National Mission Board ] [ The Gleanings ] [ La Gleanings en Español ]
[ DIRECTORY ] :: [ Eastern District ] [ Pittsburgh District ] [ Schuylkill District ] [ Southern District ] [ Western District ] [ Wyoming District ] [ Hispanic Ministries ] [ Chaplains ] [ Special Ministries ] [ Youth Ministries ] [ Retired Ministers ] [ Ministerial Widows ]
[ CAMP ] :: [ Camp Facilities ] [ Camp Program ] [ Camp Retreats ] [ Camp Directions ] [ Camp Schedules ]
[ School of Theology ] [ Investment Foundation ] [ Materials for Ministry ] [ Special Events ] [ General Information ] [ Contact Us ]