Insurance, Pension, Salary Reports
June 11th, 2009On Thursday, Rev. Jim Mentzer presented the good news to the Conference that the Insurance Committee recommends no increase in upcoming health insurance premiums. Rates have remained unchanged for the last six years for active clergy and the last four years for retirees.
The Task Force on Retiree Health Benefits recognizes an unfunded liability of $35 million when it comes to funding the health benefits for our retired pastors. The Task Force suggests that the Conference will need something like the Past Service Liability Fund, currently covering our unfunded liability for pastors with pre-1982 pensions, to fund future retiree health benefits.
The Conference approved an amendment to the Report from the Committee on Equitable Compensation effectively setting next year’s minimum salary for full-time pastors at the 2009 level of $40,319 and for student pastors at $26,207. Minimum utility allowances should be $2,400 and churches should budget at least $4,000 for clergy travel expenses.