This notice sent to retired priests, deacons, and surviving spouses, canonically resident

or living in the Diocese of Maine, and diocesan staff

Enriching Your Retirement Gathering Was a Success

On June 11, the Church Pension Fund sponsored a gathering of retired clergy and spouses. The meeting was part of the Church Pension Group's (CPG) program, Enriching Your Retirement, which is held periodically throughout the church for those vested in the program. Maine has not hosted one for several years. Representing CPG were Laurie Kazillionis (senior vice president serving as Benefits Relationship Management) and Jeff Hamilton (relationship manager for Maine). Hosts for this event were Maine’s two chaplains to retired clergy, the Rev. Stephen J. White and the Rev. Mary Lee Wile.

Topics covered at the gathering included:

• Accessing MyCPG account 
• A benefits overview
• The Fund for Special Assistance
• The Episcopal Church Medical Trust and resources
• Understanding CPG subsidies
• Clergy taxes
• Fraud protection
• Legacy planning.

Any retired clergy or surviving spouse who would like more information on these and any other program or benefit from CPG can access them through your MyCPG account. For more information regarding your United Healthcare account and benefits you can go to the Virtual Education Center. Participants were also provided with a 51-page booklet that contains a review of all the benefits available through CPG. Email Chaplain Stephen White for more information.

It was a delight to spend time with fellow retired priests and spouses. We are especially grateful to the folks at St. Paul’s Church, Brunswick, for their warm hospitality and delicious luncheon.

Forty-five retired clergy and spouses gathered for the Enriching Your Retirement Gathering at St. Paul’s Brunswick.

From left: Laurie Kazillionis, Stephen White, Jeff Hamilton, Mary Lee Wile

Reflections on the 2025 National Chaplains Conference

May was CPG month for this chaplain to retired clergy and surviving spouses. It began with the National Chaplains Conference in Arlington, Va. Over three days, we met with fellow chaplains and with staff from CPG. Because of recent retirements, CPG has inaugurated a new system whereby each diocese is assigned a relationship manager who provides ongoing assistance with any issues for which CPG has responsibility, mainly our various benefits. Maine's manager, Jeff Hamilton, has already provided leadership at last month’s Enriching Your Retirement gathering. Given the fluid nature these days of retirement issues and benefits, I know that we will be well served by CPG who take very seriously their commitment to the health and wholeness of the retired clergy of The Episcopal Church.

Among the topics covered at the conference were key retirement trends among clergy. Clergy employment status today is very different from what it used to be. For instance, since 2019 there have been more retirements than ordinations, but both are currently declining. The median clergy retirement age has risen to 67, which is above the Social Security full retirement age for those born before 1960.

Of 17,777 total clergy in good standing in The Episcopal Church, 81 percent (14,414) are priests, 17 percent (3,072) are deacons, and 2 percent (291) are bishops. Some interesting facts:

• The number of active clergy decreased by 15 percent from 2014 to 2024.
• Almost the same number of active and retired priests are working part-time.
• Today, nearly a quarter of all retired priests are supporting parishes.

I was also invited to join CPG's Client Council, a group of 29 representing myriad professions and experiences. The council's purpose is to provide feedback on products and services and to offer input on new ideas, to work to improve communication between CPG and The Episcopal Church, and to help prepare for General Convention. The council meets annually in New York City as well as holding two membership-wide Zoom meetings.

Among the range of topics that the Client Council oversees are:

• Balancing affordability and value with sustainability for our benefits
• Managing risk
• Keeping core values in mind: to be professional, compassionate, trustworthy
• Maintaining our purpose which is to support clergy and lay employees in their calling to spread the Gospel
• Keeping an eye on the bottom line

My hope is that if there is ever the time when any retired clergy or surviving spouse has a question or concern that you will let me know. I will be faithful in trying to assist with the concern or, at the least, to put you in touch with those who can address it.

Stephen J. White

Interested in a Colleague Group?

At our recent gathering in Brunswick, the subject came up of establishing a 

colleague group for retired clergy and spouses. There were attempts at such a group during the pandemic, but there may be a continuing desire to gather. If you are interested, please contact Stephen White or Mary Lee Wile and we can begin to explore ways in which this might be accomplished.

While Zoom works well for a larger gathering, a small group of both active and retired deacons has been meeting in person for coffee once a month in the Brunswick area, which allows retired deacons to keep in touch with each other and to learn what ministries the active deacons are engaged in. As more retired priests remain active on a part time basis, such a mix might also be worth considering for an in-person colleague group as we explore various ways of being together.

The Fund for Special Assistance:  An Established Program Simplified

One of the roles that a chaplain to retired priests has is to be familiar with the Fund for Special Assistance (FSA) and to encourage retirees to use it. When major unexpected financial challenges occur, not having access to a source of support can be fatal. FSA was established by CPG for relief of specific, extraordinary financial needs of retired clergy who are members in good standing in The Episcopal Church and their surviving spouses and dependents who are receiving benefits from certain plans administered by the Church Pension Fund. 

Applicants can apply for an unlimited number of grants during their lifetime—from a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum of $50,000 in a single grant—as long as the total grant amount doesn’t exceed the lifetime limit of $50,000 (this is an increase from the previous limit of $20,000). Also the waiting period between grant requests has been removed. Note that grants may not be used to pay for educational expenses or for long-term care expenses that can be addressed by Medicaid or Medicare.

Visit this page on the CPG website to review application submission guidelines and to access the application form. Email the completed form with your supporting documentation to or mail it to the address on the application.

The Fund for the Diaconate: Assisting Deacons in Financial Need

"Most deacons in The Episcopal Church serve as non-stipendiary ministry leaders. For the most part, deacons lack church pensions, and may not have adequate savings from secular work to draw upon in times of crisis. The​ Fund​ for ​the Diaconate​ provides​ vital financial​ assistance​ to​ close​ that ​gap,​ for these servants of others and of the Church... "

—Fund for the Diaconate

All retired deacons should know that they, too, have funds available for times of need. Download this brochure to learn more.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to your Chaplains!

The Rev. Mary Lee Wile

email

207-756-0146

The Rev. Stephen J. White

email

207-252-9327

episcopalmaine.org