A major step in a significant package of proposals for clergy well-being has been announced today (22 May 2025), which if implemented 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.
If adopted in full (including the proposed uplift to the National Minimum Stipend), these improvements would provide a full clergy pension after 40 years in excess of £20,000 per annum in today’s money, which together with a full state pension would give an income in retirement in excess of £32,000 per annum. The proposals would mean that an additional £900 million would be paid out to clergy during their retirement.
Read the full story on the Church of Englad website