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Health care plan begins for pastors, employees
By Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Weekly Review staffNEWTON, Kan. — The Corinthian Plan, the new health insurance plan of Mennonite Church USA, went into effect Jan. 1.
A total of 453 congregations and conferences, including 503 credentialed employees and 75 non-credentialed employees, are participating. Also included are employees of Mennonite Mutual Aid, MC USA Executive Leadership and Mennonite Mission Network.
“The dream of delegates at the Mennonite Church USA Delegate Assembly in San Jose [2007 convention] has become reality,” Keith Harder said.
Harder has given leadership to creating, on behalf of the denomination’s Executive Board, a health plan that makes coverage available to all pastors and church workers. Congregations that cannot afford the full cost of providing coverage are assisted through a mutual aid component that all participating congregations support. It’s called the Fair Balance Fund.
Congregations have pledged about $480,000 for the Fair Balance Fund. The fund is made up of the $10 per attendee each church gave when they signed up for the plan, as well as contributions from congregations who decided not to participate in the plan. Corinthian Plan leaders continue to welcome donations.
“We are grateful to the participating Mennonite Church USA congregations and for the way they care for their employees,” Harder said. “We are grateful that they also care for those in congregations that cannot afford the full cost of providing health coverage for their pastors.”
Out of the total pledged amount, $414,203 has been committed to assist 57 congregations with the cost of providing health coverage for their pastors. The additional funds will cover new congregations and future needs, as well as providing a cushion.
“We keep learning what the need is and what it will take to respond to that need,” Harder said.
The new Benefits Board, which will oversee The Corinthian Plan, will meet in Goshen in mid-February. The group will also take on the work of Mennonite Retirement Trust, a denomination-led board that administers retirement services for church workers.
Board members are chair Hal Loewen of Phoenix, Steve Garboden of Goshen, Ind., Marlin Groff of Kinzers, Pa., Marco Guete of Tampa, Fla., Larry Miller of Goshen, Ind., Ron Piper of Harrisonburg, Va., Yvonne Sieber of Hesston and Dave Weaver of Goshen, Ind.
Harder will continue to serve as the plan’s director.
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