The Bishop of Chester, Mark Tanner has written to all clergy across the Diocese welcoming a major step in a significant package of proposals for clergy well-being announced today. If implemented the changes will increase future pension benefits for existing and future pensioners.
The improvements are being proposed by the Archbishops’ Council, based on analysis by the Church of England Pensions Board. They include restoring the target pension level to two-thirds of pensionable stipend, coupled with an increase to pensions that have come into payment since 2011. General Synod will be asked to consider these proposals, which will require changes to the scheme rules, this July, with potential implementation after April 2026.
Further work is also underway to increase support and choice for clergy retirement housing, including measures to help clergy get on the housing ladder during stipendiary ministry. There is also ongoing work on proposals to increase stipends and significantly improve the maintenance support for ordinands. The detail of these additional measures will be announced in the coming weeks.
The full statement is available here.
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