Overture 04-26. On Appointing a Task Force to Review the Pension and Medical Plans of the PC(USA)—From the Presbytery of Providence.

The Presbytery of Providence overtures the 216th General Assembly (2004) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to appoint a task force, which will report to the 217th General Assembly (2006), to

1. review the relationship between the pension and the medical plans to consider a recommendation that the two be separated;

2. review the feasibility of partnering for medical coverage with denominations with whom we are in correspondence and, if feasible, to recommend a plan;

3. review the feasibility of adopting a “cafeteria plan” of medical benefits and, if feasible, to recommend a process for this;

4. review the mandatory requirement that all ministers of Word and Sacraments and all lay employees of a certain classification be enrolled in the medical plan and to recommend exceptions for certain personnel who are adequately covered by other means;

5. review the vacancy dues policy and to recommend exceptions or exclusions from this policy for small churches and any churches in difficult situations as endorsed by the presbytery;

6. review the equalization of pay for determining dues for part-time staff with the end of recommending a more adequate policy.

Rationale

Almost 73 percent of the congregations in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have an average worship attendance of 100 or fewer people.

Many of these congregations are finding it difficult to afford an installed, ordained minister because of the rising cost of medical dues.

The long-term economic implications of the pension plan often discourage ministers of the Word and Sacrament from pursuing ministry in these congregations.