Change in Rules of Church Pension Fund
Diocesan Press Service. March 9, 1972 [72030]
NEW YORK, N.Y. (DPS) -- The Church Pension Fund of the Episcopal Church has announced a recent change in its rules affecting deceased clergymen's widows who have remarried.
Under the rules of the Fund, according to Robert A. Robinson, president of the Fund, the retirement benefit of a clergyman's widow who remarries is suspended, but is restored should she subsequently become widowed again.
The change in the Fund's rules provides that should the widow's remarriage be to an Episcopal clergyman, her retirement benefit, in the case of his death, will be the higher of her original widow's benefit or the amount that would be payable had she not been a former beneficiary.
The change in the benefit payments began January 1, 1972.
"On the Fund's rolls," Mr. Robinson said, "there are 211 widows who remarried, and whose pensions are currently suspended. It is the Fund's responsibility to contact these women, if possible, and inform them of their right to pension benefits in the event that they become widowed again."
"Our problem is locating them," he said. "The Fund's records contain only their remarriage date, their first husband's name and last diocesan affiliation, and their widow's benefit amount before their remarriage. Unfortunately, we do not have their present married names or addresses."
Mr. Robinson said that some of these women may have already become widows again, in which case they are entitled to a resumption of their pensions. "And it is possible," he said, "that some of the women themselves have died."
The Fund has asked for the help of anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of these women who may be eligible for pension benefits under the new rules.
(NOTE: Diocesan Bishops have received a list of the names of the 211 widows who remarried. )