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Wespath Benefits and Investments

Mission and Ministry
Ancient redwood trees tower above Redwood National and State Parks near Orick, Calif., in 2017. The United Methodist Church’s efforts to address climate concerns extends to its pension and benefits programs. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Wespath using financial clout for climate change
The United Methodist Church’s efforts to address climate concerns extends to the church agency that supervises and administers its pension and benefits programs, plans and funds.
General Conference
Delegates Jorge Lockward and the Rev. Beth Ann Cook embrace during the closing moments of the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. The two had previously spoken on opposite sides in a debate over possible church exit plans. U.S. conferences are calculating how much a church must pay if it leaves under legislation General Conference approved. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Exiting congregations face hefty price tag
U.S. conferences are calculating how much a church must pay if it leaves under legislation approved by General Conference 2019. The big cost will be pensions.
General Church
United Methodist missionary Tawanda Chandiwana (left foreground) is embraced by Thomas Kemper, head of the denomination’s Board of Global Ministries, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines, after Chandiwana was released from a detention center and allowed to leave the country in July, 2018. The 13 agencies of The United Methodist Church are pursuing further accomplishments in 2019. File photo courtesy of Thomas Kemper, GBGM.

United Methodist agencies: 2018 was productive year
The denomination’s agencies also share priorities for 2019.
General Conference
Wespath Benefits and Investments, the United Methodist pension agency, is working to prepare for whatever happens at the 2019 special General Conference. Photo by Nattanan Kanchanaprat, courtesy of Pixabay; adapted by United Methodist News Service.

Pension staff plans for possible ways forward
Accrued benefits are safe. But whatever happens in 2019, Wespath wants exiting churches to pay their fair share of pension liabilities.

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