A Special Convention on June 9, 2012 will continue the work started at the January Annual Convention, providing an opportunity to take a closer look at how our diocese and congregations are structured for mission. The health insurance mandate is among the items to be discussed.
Two new groups to report on mission issues
At the Annual Convention in January, Bishop Beckwith will introduce two new groups tasked with focusing on issues of mission strategy and stewardship.
One is the Mission Strategy team, whose members will be trained to work with churches as congregational coaches on mission strategy by the Rev. Thomas L. Brackett, Officer for Church Planting and Ministry Redevelopment at the Episcopal Church Center in Manhattan.
The second is a subcommittee of the Budget and Finance Committee, which will consider what resources are necessary and available to fund our common mission over the next three years.
Each of these groups will make an interim presentation at the June Special Convention.
March conversations planned to prepare for health insurance mandate
Among the mission-related stewardship issues to be discussed will be compliance with Resolution A177, known as the Denominational Health Plan. Adopted at General Convention 2009 with an implementation deadline of January 1, 2013, A177 requires parity of health insurance benefits provided to all clergy and lay employees who work 1500 hours per year in our congregations and Episcopal organizations.
Although Resolution A177 applies to all congregations and diocesan offices, each diocese has the flexibility to determine if associated entities such as preschools and CDCs must comply, as well as the minimum benefit to be provided by all eligible employers.
According to Linda Curtiss, chair of the Bishop’s Human Resources Advisory Committee, “Our dilemma is to develop a policy which is fair to all – clergy, lay employees, and congregations – and which is affordable and sustainable – a difficult goal in the area of health insurance today.”
In an effort to develop a recommendation for the diocese to consider at its June Convention, the committee is working on proposals to be discussed with clergy, lay employees, and congregational leaders during the month of March. Dates for these conversations will be announced shortly.
A related resolution, A138, requires all churches, dioceses, and other Episcopal organizations to provide retirement benefits to lay employees who work 1000 hours in a year, also by January 1, 2013. This simply codifies into canon law a provision that has been mandatory since 1993 and will be discussed at the January Convention.
