Reverend Paul Dirdak to Assist with CCPI Pension Support Activities

For Immediate Release
January 7, 2008

Contact: M. Colette Nies, Managing Director, Communications
(847) 866-4296 or cnies@gbophb.org

Evanston, IL—The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits and the office of the Central Conference Pension Initiative (CCPI) today announced a consulting agreement with the Reverend Paul Dirdak of the California-Nevada annual conference.

In this new role, Rev. Dirdak will assist the CCPI office with the development of pension plan support and related activities for many of the Central Conferences. Rev. Dirdak’s years of denominational service as head of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) brings valuable global experience to the CCPI at this stage in the establishment of pilot pension programs in countries where programs are weak or non-existent.

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About the Central Conference Pension Initiative

The Central Conference Pension Initiative is designed to become a long-term solution and a foundation for retirement security for dedicated church leaders who would otherwise have little or nothing to support them when their careers in ministry end.

There are 66 annual and provisional annual conferences in 38 countries outside the United States. The complexities of local laws, cultures, history and traditions in these diverse areas present a variety of challenges in establishing pension programs. A pilot project is under way in Liberia and one is set to begin in Mozambique. CCPI is exploring ways to expand pension assistance to more conferences in 2008.