(UMNS) Pension leaders for The United Methodist Church are assuring
participants that their accounts are well-funded through a diverse
portfolio of investments, despite losses of $1.5 billion during 2008.
Shaky U.S. and world financial markets have hurt investments of the
United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits, the largest
faith-based investor in the United States. However, its leaders say the
losses are still less than the broad market averages, and they are
preaching a "stay-the-course" philosophy to the 74,000 clergy and lay
employees participating in their plans.
"We recognize and accept the cycles in the market, and right now the
markets are down," said David Zellner, chief investment officer for the
Evanston, Ill.-based agency.
"But we have a disciplined investment process that we’ve had in place
for many years, and we stick with that process. We don’t waver, and we
do not panic. We take a very calm approach."