2026 Ministers’ Pension Plan Assessments

The Christian Reformed Church offers a defined benefit pension plan for CRC ordained ministers of the Word serving in the United States and Canada. The primary purpose of the plans is to provide retirement benefits for pastors.  Each church has a communal commitment as approved by Synod to contribute to the Ministers' Pension Fund through assessments and minimum direct cost amounts.

• Organized churches are required to pay assessments determined at an amount per active professing member age 18 and older, or, if greater, the direct cost of their “first or only” pastor’s participation in the Plan. The number of members is the net member count submitted on the annual Yearbook Questionnaire.
• Pension costs associated with any additional ordained ministers employed by organized churches and for all ordained ministers in the employ of emerging churches are annually determined direct cost amounts.
• The annual direct cost amounts in 2026 are $7,704 (or $642 per month) in the United States and $7,704 (or $642 per month) in Canada.
• The annual per-member assessment amounts in 2026 are $37.20 (or $3.10 per month) in the United States and $37.20 (or $3.10 per month) in Canada.
• All pension related amounts are billed the 1st day of the month with payment due by the 20th of each month.
• Organized churches that are vacant or without a CRC ordained minister of the Word are expected to continue to support the pension fund with the per-member assessment amount as this is a communal commitment that assists in funding the pension benefits for retired pastors.

The Assessments Memo PDF is also attached to this post.