Exploring health care options

With each month that passes since discontinuation of the Brotherhood Health Plan, growing numbers of BIC churches in the U.S. report that providing health insurance coverage for their ministry teams is one of the most significant financial challenges facing them. Both Leadership Council and the General Conference Board share the concern of local leaders over the issue and so have asked Don McNiven, General Secretary, and Gene Blessing, CFO to the General Church, to explore what it will take to implement a new health plan by early in 2008.

Even as Gene and his team consult with industry professionals regarding possible plans, other equally important conversations must occur across the U.S. church. Specifically— and this is the sticking point that doomed the previous plan—if there is any hope of success for a church-wide health plan, it will need to be mandatory (with the two exclusions being amount of time employed and outside spousal coverage).

It is generally agreed that the number of pastoral families struggling to attain health insurance at a cost that is anywhere near affordable has reached an unacceptable level. To correct the situation requires that we seek a creative balance of two values that have significance to us:

Stewardship—our desire that all possible resources are available for ministry and mission; and,
Community—our willingness to care for others even if it costs us something.

Leadership Council welcomes input and suggestions throughout the study process. Achieving a successful outcome in the face of escalating rates will require the best thinking of many people from across the church.

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