North Indiana Conference (MC) Preachers' Aid Society records

In Indiana Methodism the pension program began at its organizational Conference in New Albany in 1832. Due to the death of two good Marion County laymen bequest in their wills in favor of old and needy Indiana ministers, retired or effective, became due. The new Conference appointed committees to act as trustees in receiving the bequest. Out of this came the organization of a Preachers' Aid Society at Centerville in 1834. The work of the early Society included both sustentation and pensions. Another source of income, the fifth Sunday collection, added to the revenues of the assessments, gifts and bequests which made up the total income. In 1861 the North Indiana Annual Conference organized the Mutual Aid Society. Later the name was changed to The Mutual Relief Society. In 1901 it merged with The Preachers Aid Society. The Ministers Reserve Pension Fund was launched in 1946. In 1969 the Preachers' Aid Society of the North Indiana Conference (NIC) of the Methodist Church and the Preachers' Aid Society of the Northwest Indiana Conference (NWIC) of the United Methodist Church consolidated to become the Ministers Pension Development Fund. The purpose for which the corporation was formed was to provide and maintain funds to be held in trust for the relief and support of retired, superannuated and disabled ministers of the North Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church, their widows, and the dependent children of such deceased ministers.