First Partial Report Re: Report to the 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church, Northern Province Appendix C of the Report of the Provincial Elder s Conference Report the Committee on the has reviewed Appendix C of the Provincial Elder s Conference Report to the 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church, Northern Province, be it therefore (1) The 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church, Northern Province accepts with gratitude Appendix C of the Provincial Elder s Report to the 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church, Northern Province, and be it further, (2) The 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church Northern Province commends the work of Mary Ann Hanas, Director of Human Resources and Benefits, and Marie Cestone, Administrative Assistant, and the Human Resources and Benefits Commission. June 20, 2014
Second Partial Report Re: Report to the 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church, Northern Province - from the Bishops Residing in the Moravian Church, Northern Province the Committee on the has reviewed the report from the Bishops residing in the Moravian Church, Northern Province, and, the Committee appreciates the ministry and spiritual presence of the Bishops who reside in the Moravian Church, Northern Province, and, the Committee notes that the work of the Bishops is not confined to any one geographical area; that they serve the entire Unity of the worldwide Moravian Church, be it therefore (3) The 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church, Northern Province accepts with gratitude the report from the Bishops residing in the Moravian Church, Northern Province, and be it further, (4) The 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church Northern Province recognizes and expresses its deep appreciation for the many years of faithful service to the Unity and the Province by the Rt. Rev. Milo Loppnow, the Rt. Rev. Warren Sautebin, and the Rt. Rev. Arthur Freeman, who are now in the more immediate presence of our Savior. June 20, 2014
Fourth Partial Report Re: Report to the 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church, Northern Province from Moravian Theological Seminary the Committee on the has reviewed the report from Moravian Theological Seminary, therefore be it (8) The 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church, Northern Province accepts with gratitude the report from Moravian Theological Seminary and endorses the future direction of the Seminary as outlined in the report. June 20, 2014
Fifth Partial Report Re: Recommendation on the Election of a Bishop THEREFORE the Committee on the (the CNC) has considered the election of a bishop(s) by the 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church, Northern Province, and the CNC values the work of our bishops and notes that there are two bishops residing in the Western District and five bishops residing in the Eastern District, and the bishops of the Moravian Church, Northern Province have met during the intersynodal period and do not see a need to elect another bishop at this time, the Committee on the recommends that the 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church, Northern Province not elect a bishop(s) at this time. June 21, 2014
Sixth Partial Report RE: Clergy Transitions and Retirement pastoral ministry is a journey with a beginning, middle, and end, each with its own transitions and challenges; and there are challenges, joys, concerns, and a need for growth along the way; and there are limited District and Provincial financial and staffing resources available to help address clergy needs and growth; and collegial relationships are beneficial in sustaining clergy on their journey; and district clergy retreats or clergy staff meetings already fulfill some of these relational needs; therefore be it (9) The 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church Northern Province requests the districts, which already provide for annual clergy retreats (Eastern and Canadian Districts) or staff meetings (Western District), to include in those events specific time and programs to address such areas as: financial planning/goals; intentional orientation for newer pastors; discussion on problem areas within ministry; strategies for establishing collegial support; part-time and bi-vocational ministries, and, planning for successful transitions, beginning, mid-journey and nearing retirement; and be it further (10) The 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church Northern Province recommends that the districts address transitional, financial, and retirement strategies with their clergy, on a triennial basis. June 21, 2014
Seventh Partial Report Re: Support and Expectation for Pastors Serving Part-time and Their Congregations many congregations in the North American Moravian Church and in other denominations are no longer able to pay the benefits and salaries required to call a full-time pastor; and, congregations may wish to benefit from the leadership of a theologically trained, ordained pastor on a part-time basis; and, pastors who serve in part-time settings may need other vocational skills and opportunities for part-time employment in order to supplement their income; and, the demands of and opportunities for ministry for both full and part-time pastors are great, challenging both pastors and church boards to agree on priorities and to set just and equitable expectations of their pastors; and, the Book of Order of the Northern Province does not set forth expectations for either full-time or part-time pastors and there are current inconsistencies between calls for part-time pastors; and pastors, local church boards, and denominational leaders need greater clarity in setting reasonable expectations particularly for pastors serving in full and part-time positions; and, clarity about these expectations would be particularly helpful during the call process but also for boards and their pastors as their congregations face shifts and changes in their needs and in their ability to compensate staff; be it therefore (11) The 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church Northern Province directs the Provincial Elders Conference of the Northern Province to appoint a task force or working group which will develop guidelines for pastors in part-time service including average expectations for hours worked per week and average number of Sundays or worship days required each year; and develop equitable guidelines for benefits develop standard procedures to be used during the call process to help congregations and part-time pastors begin their relationships with reasonable boundaries and expectations and to assess their relationship on a regular basis in the years that follow;
explore the realities pastors and their congregations will face when pastors need other employment and are bi-vocational; and investigate ways for the Provincial Elders Conference to provide career counseling and training opportunities for pastors who need to convert their pastoral and life skills into other part-time work; and investigate and draw upon resources that our full-communion partners have developed for their part-time and bi-vocational pastors. (12) The 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church Northern Province directs the Provincial Elders Conference to report these findings back to the next Northern Province Synod. June 21, 2014
Ninth Partial Report Re: Active Health Care Benefits The Affordable Care Act is changing the landscape regarding health care insurance in the United States, and The cost of our current Active Health Care Benefits is a source of significant financial stress for our congregations, and Pastors currently continue to receive Active Health Care Benefits even when a congregation fails to fully contribute, and Those covered do not contribute to the premium cost of the Active Benefits, and The Committee acknowledge this is a difficult subject to address, and Those covered have been blessed to have Active Health Care Benefits, and We also acknowledge that the current method appears not to be sustainable for our congregations, therefore be it (15) The 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church, Northern Province entrusts the Provincial Elders Conference to instruct the Human Resources and Benefits Commission to explore all options to reduce the cost of the Active Health Care Benefits package. June 22, 2014
Eleventh Partial Report Re: The Need for On-going Education Regarding Active Benefits and Pension The 2014 Provincial Synod Committee on the wish to express our deep appreciation to the Human Resources and Benefits Commission and the Provincial Elders Conference for providing the Breakdown of the 2014 Active Benefits Assessment (Pie Chart), and Continuing education of each congregation concerning the Active Benefits and Pension Plans is necessary and desirable, therefore be it (18) The 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church, Northern Province encourages the Provincial Elders Conference to develop and implement a process to educate the congregations on the Active Benefits and Pension Plans of the Northern Province. June 22, 2014
Twelfth Partial Report RE: Valuing Equality of Pastoral Service When Calculating Pension The current pension plan (Defined Benefit) reflects an equal valuing of all our pastors service, i.e. everyone currently receives $37 per month of vested and credited service, and Any change made to our pension plan should continue to honor an equal valuing of our pastors service regardless of their ministry setting, therefore be it (19) The 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church, Northern Province encourages the Provincial Elders Conference, advised by the Human Resources and Benefit Commission (HRBC), to explore all potential pension plan designs that honor our core value of equally valuing all pastors service. June 22, 2014
Thirteenth Partial and Final Report Re: Unpaid Benefits and Unpaid Pension The 2014 Provincial Synod Committee on the wish to express our deep appreciation to the Human Resources and Benefits Commission and the Provincial Elders Conference for providing the Breakdown of the 2014 Active Benefits Assessment (Pie Chart), and the current funding for pastoral and employee health benefits are currently underfunded by an amount in excess of $825,000, and the current funding for pastoral pensions are currently unpaid from congregations by an amount in excess of $76,000, and the size of the unfunded balances stated herein above will continue to increase unless action is taken during the inter-synodal period, and the current delinquencies cannot continue without threatening the viability of the benefits and pension plans in their current form for all pastors and for all congregations of the Northern Province at all levels, therefore be it (20) The 2014 Synod of the Moravian Church, Northern Province encourages the Provincial Elders Conference to establish a process to seek payment of assessments in arrears for the Benefits and Pension plans. June 22, 2014