Eder Financial reports on transition of services to Everence

By Frances Townsend

Eder Financial had big news for the delegates this year as they described the background of the decision and the process for moving employee retirement and organizational investing services to Everence Financial.

The move will take some time, over the course of the next months. It will leave Eder with only some ancillary insurance services and benevolence programs. Most of the Eder staff will lose their jobs. But because Everence is much larger, pensions and investments will be well cared for.

Eder Financial staff and board members who are at the Annual Conference were invited to the stage for recognition, as Eder presented a report on the transition of services to Everence Financial. Photo by Glenn Riegel

When the Eder board and leadership realized that the demographics of the church made long-term operations more precarious, they began looking for new partners to work with and Everence was a good fit.

Everence, previously named Mennonite Mutual Aid, was started after World War II to help conscientious objectors returning home from alternative service. It has grown to serve more than 84,000 clients from many historic peace church denominations and others, and is no longer an agency of the Mennonite Church. The Church of the Brethren Pastor’s Housing Fund has been administered by Praxis, a part of Everence, for years. Consistent with shared Anabaptist roots, Everence follows similar investing values as Eder.

Documents related to the transition of services were acted on by the Standing Committee of district delegates to Annual Conference on April 13, 2026. The transition should be completed by April 2027. The Eder board has stated its intention to bring a plan for Eder to continue as an Annual Conference agency, and Standing Committee has named a committee to help work on a new agency covenant.

Appreciation was expressed to Eder staff and board, with those present coming onstage to receive recognition. Eder president Nevin Dulabaum and board chair Donna Rhodes, who gave the Eder report, noted that the employees will lose their positions and yet are serving faithfully through the transition. A handful may end up being hired by Everence. Employees losing their positions will receive generous severance packages and professional help with job placement.

One of the difficult questions for Eder has been how to handle the ancillary insurance products it administers for pastors and church workers—life insurance, short- and longterm disability insurance, dental and vision policies. The Eder leadership announced to the delegate body that the Eder board has decided to continue with all of those plans, although they will keep looking for other solutions.

*Eder Financial leaders Nevin Dulabaum, president (at right), and Donna Rhodes, board chair, report to the delegate body. Photo by Glenn Riegel*

Even as Eder plans to continue its ministry with ancillary insurance products, continuing to manage the Church Workers Assistance Plan, and creating another benevolence fund, it was acknowledged that “this marks the end of an era” for Eder and its predecessor organizations that served the Church of the Brethren for 83 years. The Brethren Pension Board, which became Brethren Benefit Trust and eventually Eder Financial, was started when Annual Conference started the Brethren Retirement Plan for pastors.

*Ken Hochstetler of Everence assures the Annual Conference of his organization’s intentions to continue Eder’s mission of service. Photo by Glenn Riegel*

Ken Hochstetler and Chad Horning from Everence described the transition from the Everence side, and told the delegates more about Everence’s history and the financial services they offer. Eder could only serve pastors and church workers and church institutions, but Everence offers financial services to individuals as well, such as personal financial planning and investing.

Questions from the delegates included whether Everence practices similar socially responsible investing as Eder. They were assured that it does. People were also concerned about whether the 1 percent of salary contribution by church employees in the pension plan will continue to fund the Retired Church Worker Fund. Everence leaders said that will continue as a transfer from Everence to Eder to administer this benevolence.

With these big changes, Eder’s leadership will be looking at a plan for how to continue as an agency of Annual Conference and will bring a plan for consideration in 2027.

— Frances Townsend is a member of the Annual Conference Press Team.

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