Baptist Pension Scheme (the “Scheme”)
Wind up of the Closed Defined Benefit Plan (“DB Plan”) of the Scheme
Notice under section 27 of the Trustee Act 1925
Over the past two years, BUGB and the Trustee of the Baptist Pension Scheme have been working together on an orderly transfer of pension rights under the Scheme’s defined benefit section to an insurer. This will then allow that part of the Scheme to close altogether, known as a winding-up. The defined contribution section of the Scheme will continue to run as before, allowing ministers and staff of participating Baptist employers to continue to build up pension savings.
If you served as a Baptist minister before 2012 (or are a widow, widower or dependant of a minister who served before 2012), you may have built up benefits in the Baptist Pension Scheme (formerly known as the Baptist Ministers’ Pension Fund). You should have received letters updating you on progress over recent months. You do not need to take any action if you have received these letters as your benefits will be transferred automatically and you will be contacted with details of the insurer later this year.
However, if you have not received any letters this may be because we have not got your current address or there may be benefits you think you are entitled to that are not held on our database. You should get in touch with us immediately if that is the case so that we can double check.
If you think this applies to you, please provide full details (with as much supporting evidence as possible) to Steve Kaney at pensionshared@baptist.org.uk or by post to The Baptist Union of Great Britain, PO Box 44, Didcot, OX11 8RT on or before 24 July 2024.
After this date, the Trustee will complete the process of distributing the assets of the DB Plan and will have regard only to the claims of which they currently have notice. The Trustee shall then not be liable to any person whose claim has not been notified to them by the date stated in this notice.
Please note that the defined benefit scheme before 2012 was for ministers only. There was a separate Baptist Union Staff Pension Scheme which transferred to an insurance company in 2019.
Steve Kaney (Pensions Manager)
on behalf of the Trustee of the Scheme
Baptist Times, 14/05/2024