Clergy and Lay Employees Benefits
Below are several links to documents describing benefits of the various medical, dental, disability, life insurance, and retirement savings plans available to clergy and lay employees of the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware. To the right is a link to a separate page with health recommendations for lay employees.
Contact us!
If you have any question about employee benefits not answered by the documents listed below, please contact:
Judi Gregory, Business Manager, Episcopal Diocese of Delaware
2020 N. Tatnall St., Wilmington, DE 19802-4821
(302) 656-5441 ext. 108
Click here to send her an email.
Active Lay Employee Handbook
This document will be available again soon, perhaps early May, 2009. It states current policies and procedures for all active lay employees of the Diocese of Delaware. The appendix includes forms for extended benefits and personnel evaluation, as well as a harassment incident investigation form.
MEDICAL and Hospitalization Benefits
Our medical benefit plans are through the Medical Trust, a subsidiary of the Church Pension Group. These plans are the same for clergy and for lay employees.
Health Plans: The Diocese of Delaware currently offers two plans for Medical and Hospitalization coverage: a standard Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO 90) plan and a premium Preferred Provider Organization (PPO 90/70) plan. The PPO plan is an employee contribution plan. Both plans are offered through The Medical Trust and administered by Empire BlueCross/BlueShield (BCBS). For premium costs, please see Appendix B of the 2009 Active Clergy Guide or Appendix B of the 2009 Lay Personnel Manual.
- Standard Plan: Empire BlueCross BlueShield EPO 90
- Premium Plan: Empire BlueCross BlueShield PPO 90/70
- Enrollment Guide of the Episcopal Church Medical Trust
- Enrollment Form (Medical only; do not use for dental.)
- Mental Health Benefits - If you need help with a family matter, stress at work, or a personal problem of any kind.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - Assistance for employees and their households by calling 866 395-7794.
- Prescription Drugs - The Diocese of Delaware’s prescription drug plan is through Medco.
- Vision Benefits - As a participant in one of our medical plans, you have vision benefits through EyeMed Vision Care.
- Travel Insurance - MEDEX Access Services offers 24/7 emergency medical assistance when you are 100 or more miles away from home, either in the U.S. or abroad.
- Back to Top
Dental Benefits
Our dental benefit plan is with Renaissance Dental. The plan is the same for both clergy and lay employees.
- Benefits Description
- Enrollment Form (You can fill out this form on your computer, but then you need to print it. It cannot be saved. Or print out the form and fill it out by hand.)
- Back to Top
Disability Benefits
- Short-Term Disability for Clergy - As an active clergy person, you are automatically enrolled in Short Term Disability Insurance to help maintain your income should you become disabled for less than a year.
- Long-Term Disability for Active Clergy - Full time, active participants in the clergy pension plan also receive a disability retirement benefit for total, continuing disability that renders them unable to work through the Church Pension Group.
- Long-Term Disability for Lay Employees - Lay employees, who become ill or disabled due to non-job related circumstances, either temporarily or permanently, while employed by the Diocese for 20 or more hours per week, receive 100% of their gross salary for the first three months of disability, then 70% of their gross wages for the next three months. If disability continues after 180 days, a long-term disability insurance plan through Prudential Life Insurance Company of America provides 60% of their gross monthly wages reduced by any pension benefits or Social Security benefits. The maximum benefit is $3,000.00 per month.
- Back to Top
Life Insurance for clergy and lay employees
Clergy Life Insurance - Church Pension Group. If you are an active member of the Church Pension Fund, you have a Group Term Life Insurance benefit equal to four times your total compensation to a maximum of $100,000. You also have an additional $25,000 of Group Term Life Insurance paid for by the congregation you serve.
- Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation Form (Clergy only)
- New Assignment Notice (Clergy only)
- Health Statement Form for Group Life (Clergy only)
- Life Insurance Authorization Form (Clergy only)
Life Insurance for Laity is through Prudential Life Insurance Company of America.
- Basic Term Life Insurance and Optional Term (Supplemental) Life Insurance description (Laity only)
- Enrollment Kit: Group Insurance, Employee Application for Membership (Laity only)
- Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation Form (Laity only) (You can fill out this form on your computer, but then you need to print it. It cannot be saved. Or print out the form and fill it out by hand.)
- Back to Top
Pension for clergy and lay employees
Clergy: Canon law requires your church employer to pay pension assessments to the Church Pension Fund. The Fund's Board of Trustees has set the assessment rate at 18% of your annual compensation package. Thus, as an active participant in the Church Pension Fund, you share in a comprehensive plan for financial security throughout your ministry and into retirement. As you plan for your future, your pension plan offers flexibility and the comfort of knowing that once you retire, you are assured of your full benefits throughout retirement.
- New Assignment Notice (Clergy only)
Lay Employees: Our Defined Benefit Plan assures participating employees a base pension benefit throughout retirement. The amount of the benefit is determined at the time of retirement and will not decrease. Your employer makes contributions based on 9% of your salary.
- Plan details. You may add to your retirement savings with the Retirement Savings Plan, a 403(b) investment vehicle.
Retirement Savings Plan (RSVP)
Our retirement savings plan is through the Church Pension Group. The RSVP lets you save for retirement in a tax-effective way. This flexible savings plan allows both pre-tax and after tax contributions. In 2009, you may contribute up to $16,500 before taxes if you are under age 50, and an additional $5,500 if you are 50 or older. The total that you contribute may not exceed 100% of your salary or $49,000, whichever is less. Your investment grows tax-deferred until the money is withdrawn, usually after age 59-1/2.
Flexible Spending Account
The Diocese offers a Flexible Spending Account through Paychex, Inc. An FSA is a pretax benefit allowable under Internal Revenue Code Section 125. The plan allows eligible employees to set aside a specific pretax dollar amount for unreimbursed medical, dental, vision, over-the-counter items, and dependent care expenses. Since FSA deductions come out of your paycheck as a pre-tax benefit, less wages are taxed, resulting in more take-home pay for you. Regular payroll deductions help you budget medical, dental, vision, over-the-counter, and dependent care expenses.
- Summary Plan Description
- Common Questions Regarding FSA Direct Deposit
- Flex Benefits Election Form
- FlexDirect Deposit Registration Form
- Flexible Spending Account Deduction Worksheet
Please contact Judi Gregroy if you would like to take advantage of this product.
Blood Bank of Delmarva
The Diocese of Delaware pays for all clergy and lay employee memberships to the Blood Bank of Delmarva.
- Plan description on the Delmarva Blood Bank website
- Enrollment form (Please print, fill out, and mail to Judi Gregory's attention at the Bishop’s office: 2020 N. Tatnall St., Wilmington, DE 19802-4821.)
Free Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader Software
Many of the documents here are in PDF format. If your computer doesn't have the free Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader, click here to download and install Adobe Reader.