Eligible clergy will participate in a death and disability program that is known as the Comprehensive Protection Plan. The plan provides a death benefit for eligible active and retired clergy and a disability benefit for active clergy who meet the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits (GBOPHB) definition of disability. The plan also includes a death benefit for spouses of active and retired clergy and for minor dependent children of active or retired clergy. For more information about both plans, visit the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits website.
Death Benefit:
Active Participant $50,000 (choice of lump sum or 12 payments)
Retired Participant $17,468 (30% of the DAC)
Spouse of Participant $11,645 (20% of the DAC)
Surviving Spouse $ 8,734 (15% of the DAC)
Disability Benefit:
1. Disability benefit equals 70% of plan compensation, capped at 200% of the DAC.
2. Benefit reduced dollar-for-dollar by any disability benefit received from Social Security.
3. Minimum disability benefit is 40% of the DAC in effect at time of disability.
The disability benefit offered through CPP is designed with the expectation that clergy are participating in Social Security and are entitled to that program’s disability benefits. Benefit is reduced dollar-for-dollar by any disability benefits that could have been received if the participant were a participant in Social Security. Clergy who have chosen not to participate in the Social Security program made a conscious choice on their part. The
Plan Sponsor: The Conference is the plan sponsor for local pastors and full members under Episcopal appointment to a salary-paying unit and who satisfy the eligibility requirements to participate, with the exception of some extension ministry appointments (2008 The Book of Discipline paragraphs 344.1a(2) (3) (4) and 344.1d). Plan sponsorship includes Deacons in Full Connection appointed to a salaried position within a local congregation or charge or cooperative parish in the Conference in accordance with the applicable paragraphs of The Book of Discipline.
Contribution Base: Contribution base shall be a clergy’s plan compensation salary plus housing, not to exceed 200% the Denominational Average Compensation (DAC).
Church Contribution Rate: 3.0% of the Contribution Base for full time
3.4% of the Contribution Base for part-time
Remittance: The Conference Administrative Ministries Office will bill the clergy's salary-paying unit for the appropriate CPP contribution and the salary-paying unit shall remit such to the
Conference Office in a timely manner.
Required Contribution: There shall be no required contribution by the clergy.
Required Continued Participation: Full, Associate, and Probationary Members appointed to incapacity leave, but not approved for incapacity benefits payable under CPP, shall be continued
under coverage for one year. The Conference shall make the required contribution.
Appointed Less Than Full Time: Full, Associate and Probationary Members who are appointed 1/4-time or more shall be enrolled in CPP.
Optional Participation: Full Members appointed to Sabbatical Leave, Family Leave or
Disability Forms
Form A - Applicant Information for Long-Term Disability Benefits
Form B - Claim for Income Protecton Benefits (UNUM)
Form C - Clergy Diability Benefits Application
