AME Church Pension Lawsuit Says Jacksonville Minister’s Benefits Frozen

A lawsuit alleges that a Jacksonville minister who spent years serving a church and paying into its pension fund has recently retired and found that he cannot get to the money. Attorneys filed the suit on behalf of Rev. Pearce Ewing, who retired from Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in September, and other pastors nationwide.

Ewing now drives a truck on the night shift to get by after his pension was frozen, according to the report. He had worked for AME churches for more than three decades.

According to the AME Church’s website, the denomination has existed since the 1700s and has expanded across the country and the world, with members in 39 countries on five continents. Attorney Fred Tromberg has filed the suit as a class action. He believes more than $100 million has been lost from the fund and that thousands of ministers are affected. These figures are Tromberg’s assertions and have not been independently confirmed in the source.

“We filed a class action lawsuit to get that money and find out, A: where the money is gone. B: How much is missing? C: Where did it go? And D: Who took the money?” Tromberg said.

Ewing said he is not opposing the church itself. “I’m not going against the church. I would like to see the leadership held accountable,” he said. He said he received statements twice a year showing what he believed was in his pension fund. The lawsuit names other defendants, including two financial services companies and the now-former executive director of the church’s Department of Retirement Services. Ewing, a retired minister left without access to his pension, is asking that the losses be addressed, as Proverbs 31:8-9 speaks to defending those who cannot defend themselves.

Tromberg said his preliminary investigation shows that the AME Church has admitted financial irregularities. “They admitted to somewhere between $45 million and $90 million that was missing. We think it’s north of $100 million. And that’s not including the return on investment that should be there,” he said. Tromberg said he intends to track down the money, and Ewing said he wants to be made whole and wants those responsible held accountable.

The I-TEAM requested comment from the AME Church. A spokesperson said the church’s ability to comment is limited because of the ongoing lawsuit. The spokesperson said that last year a new retirement plan administrator uncovered possible financial irregularities. The church has launched an independent investigation and is working with law enforcement.

Source: Read the original report