The Pension Promise — How Sustainable Is the Adventist Retirement System?

Executive summary

The Adventist Retirement Plan (ARP) underwent a fundamental transformation in 2000, shifting from a defined benefit (pension) model established in 1911 to a defined contribution model designed to address growing sustainability concerns. Under the legacy pension system, church consultants warned that the denomination would be "required to shift resources from mission to retirement in order to fulfill promises made to employees and retirees." The new system — featuring employer contributions of at...