News Details
News from Board of Pensions: Retirement Savings Plan Adoption Agreements due by December 31
Churches and employing organizations that have employees who participate in the Retirement Savings Plan of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ("the RSP") must submit an Adoption Agreement by December 31, 2008, to continue their participation in the RSP. The agreements will support the Board of Pensions' compliance with the new IRS regulations for Section 403(b) plans, which take effect January 1, 2009.
An Adoption Agreement was mailed to each participating employer at the end of September. Plan sponsors and employers must complete this agreement to ensure compliance with the written plan document requirement of the new regulations. Compliance is required to maintain the tax-qualified status of their 403(b) plans.
If churches or employing organizations have questions about their responsibilities under the new 403(b) plan regulations, they can refer to the Board's Employer Frequently Asked Questions.
2009 Dues Schedule available
The 2009 dues schedule is now available. It includes the:
- Medical Plan dues
- Pension Plan dues
- Death and Disability Plan dues
- Seminary student medical dues
- Continuing coverage at termination of eligible service for members with traditional coverage dues
- Affiliated Benefits Program dues
- Options for continuing coverage at termination of eligible service for members with Affiliated Benefits Program coverage dues
- Dental benefits subscription costs
- Supplemental Death Benefits rates
Please see the fall 2009 issue of The Board Bulletin for the highlights of the healthcare dues changes.
New features added to BenefitsConnect and Pensions.org
The Board is continually upgrading its Web site to better serve our members. We are pleased to announce some of the latest enhancements to BenefitsConnect and Pensions.org.
One of the most exciting developments is the availability of BenefitsConnect to retirees and surviving spouses. In addition to listing all of the benefits in which they are currently enrolled, BenefitsConnect provides additional information, including the payment history to these members. Increased functionality includes allowing them to request online a change in their direct deposit information.
The latest addition to the calculators is the Taxation of Death Benefit Dues Calculator, which enables church treasurers and business administrators to determine imputed income, if any, that must be reported on members' W-2 forms for death benefits coverage through the Benefits Plan.
Finally, the Board has added a Frequently Asked Questions section to Pensions.org. This section answers the most common questions the Board receives about medical claims, salary changes, dues invoices, service changes, and dependent changes.
And don't forget to visit Pensions.org regularly for the latest News, Events, and Announcements. Staying informed is the best way to make the most of the plans, programs, and services the Board offers its members, which is an act of Stewardship of Self.
2008 Welcome Aboard Officer Training (Jan 12 & 31)
This file contains the brochure and travel directions to the 4 locations hosting the training.
2008 Officer Training Brochure and Directions
Alternative Giving Brochure and Alternative Gift Market Cards
Each year Presbyterian Disaster Assistance receives requests for alternative Christmas giving ideas and as we have done in years past, PDA has identified areas where additional funds are needed and has provided a realistic estimate of the cost to respond to disaster survivors' needs. This information is available online http://www.pcusa.org/pda/tools/alternativegiving.htm or brochures can be ordered by calling PDS (800-524-2612) and requesting item#25412-07-020.
In response to congregations that hold Alternative Gift Markets and also in response to specific requests received at the recent Mission Celebration '07, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is making available pre-printed Alternative Gift cards in varying amounts.
Four different cards with a value of $12.00, $20.00, $50.00, and $250.00 are available. The subjects for the cards were chosen based on the magnitude of the disaster or ongoing recovery needs. Proceeds from each of the four cards will be put into an account designated for the particular disaster response.
Photos and text of these cards can be found at http://www.pcusa.org/pda/tools/alternativegiftmarketcards.htm.
The initial focus of the cards is for alternative Christmas giving, however, cards are available with wording for gifts in honor of special occasions or gifts in memory of loved ones.
Please consider one of these projects as an opportunity where you can share the gift of God's love. Cards can be ordered by contacting PDA at pda@pcusa.org
Ireland Church looking for a partner church
Friends,
A few weeks ago I received an email from Doug Baker, who is the PCUSA regional liaison for Ireland and the UK, who has been approached by a congregation in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland that is looking for a partner congregation in the US with whom to share experiences as they engage in similar ministries.
Doug describes the Irish congregation below. If you have one or more congregations in your presbytery that may match as a partner, please pass along the information to them, including Doug's email information <doug.baker@dnet.co.uk> for their contact.
Thanks.
Clint
********************************************
Doug's description of the church looking for a partner:
Strand Presbyterian Church in not a city center church but an urban congregation, located in a low-income to modestly priced residential district of East Belfast. Strand has become a pilot project in urban mission through the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. It is planned to replace its traditional building with a multi-purpose community facility, more likely to connect with the local community. The congregation intends to make the building available to various community organizations in the course of each week, as well as organizing their own programs in it. For example, the elementary school across the street is short of space for large group activities - and could use their new multi-purpose building. Government organized programs for senior citizens will be another example. In addition to developing their own youth work, the congregation will partner with a statutory youth club nearby.
In terms of the new building, it is intended to be a suitable for sports activities, keep-fit sessions, and as a point for socializing by the growing young adult (20-40s)population moving back into the district, as it is for worship. Hence, everything will be moveable.
Almost all of the congregation live within walking distance of their building and they have taken the bold step of deciding not to put money into a parking lot because they want to remain a neighborhood church - not one where many worshipers drive in from elsewhere and are not really part of the local community.
They want me to help them find a PCUSA congregation with a similar vision and experience in order to share experiences of their journeys with each other. They are not looking for money - but want to be enriched by relationships, shared wisdom, a sense of partnership and support as each continue with the challenge of connecting with the community where they are located in new ways - particularly transforming their buildings into facilities suitable for the community as well as for themselves.
The area it is located in remains mostly caucasian, but they would be very open to linking with a multi-racial congregation in the US.
I hope you might be able to suggest such a congregation in your presbytery or in another setting with which you might be familiar. If so, please share your suggestion(s) with me. (You may also have suggestions about other Presbytery Execs with whom you think it might be good for me to share this request.)
Thank you in advance for giving thought to this. I look forward to hearing from you.
Grace and peace,
Doug Baker
Rev Doug Baker
Regional Liaison for Ireland and UK Presbyterian Church (USA)
5 Ormiston Park
Belfast BT4 3JT
