Purpose and Affirmation
This report affirms the intent, eligibility, or governance structure of the Rio Grande Legacy Fund, as set forth in the 2015 Contribution Agreement and the Unification Plan. The Board of Pensions of the Rio Texas Conference remains committed to maintaining the legal and ethical integrity of the fund, ensuring it is used exclusively for its original, restricted purpose: the support of clergy and churches historically connected to the former Rio Grande Conference.
The Annual Conference Session of 2025 affirmed the use of the Rio Grande Legacy Fund in 2026 and beyond to fund employer contributions for the new Compass Pension Plan, Comprehensive Protection Plan (CPP), and HealthFlex Plan for full-time clergy, and UMPIP for part-time clergy, appointed to Rio Grande Conference Legacy Churches, in accordance with the 2015 Contribution Agreement and Unification Plan.
Benefit Funding for 2026 and Beyond
Effective January 1, 2026, the Rio Texas Conference will transition from the Clergy Retirement Security Program (CRSP) to the Compass Pension Plan, as adopted by the 2024 General Conference. The Board of Pensions will apply the Rio Grande Legacy Fund to support the following employer benefits for eligible clergy appointed to Rio Grande Conference Legacy Churches:
Compass Pension Plan - (Full-time clergy 100% service appointment):
- $1,800 Flat Annual Amount ($150/month)
- 3% Base Contribution (Plan Compensation)
- 4% Employer Match (Plan Compensation)
Comprehensive Protection Plan (CPP) - (Full-time clergy 100% service appointment):
- 3% of Plan Compensation
- Applies to full-time clergy (100% appointment), with compensation cap set at two times the Denominational Average Compensation (DAC)
HealthFlex - (Full-time clergy 100% service appointment):
- The HealthFlex Premium Credit (PC) adopted by the Board of Pensions annually.
United Methodist Personal Investment Plan (UMPIP) - (Part-time clergy 25%, 50% and 75% service appointment):
- 9% contribution of Plan Compensation
Note: Plan Compensation = Base Salary + Housing. For clergy living in a parsonage, housing is calculated as 35% of base salary, per the Compass Plan design.
Use of Investment Income and Corpus
Investment earnings from the Rio Grande Legacy Fund may be used by the Board of Pensions to cover the required employer contributions listed above. If earnings are insufficient, the corpus of the fund may be used in accordance with the 2015 Contribution Agreement. A full description of these plans and billing arrangements appears in Reports V and VI of the Pre-Conference Journal. All plans are currently administered by Wespath Benefits and Investments.