The new Benefits Plan features two new dues packages that provide flexibility and choice for congregations and their pastoral leadership. These packages support the wholeness of plan members through benefits not available on the commercial market.
- The Covenant Package is an entry point into the Benefits Plan for any eligible employees.
- The Congregational Pastors Package is required for installed pastors and may be offered to any eligible congregational pastoral leader.
Covenant Package
The Covenant Package offers income protection at an exceptional value that cannot be found elsewhere.
Eligibility
Any employee working 20 hours or more per week may be eligible for this package, regardless of ordination, including:
- employees who are not ministers
- ministers of the Word and Sacrament serving in congregational settings
- ministers of the Word and Sacrament serving outside of congregational settings
Benefits
This package offers holistic benefits that help enrolled members thrive in all areas of life:
- Defined Benefit Pension Plan
- Death and Disability Plan
- Temporary Disability Plan
- Employee Assistance Plan
- access to assistance and education programs
Dues
- 10% of effective salary, paid entirely by the congregation or employer
Congregational Pastors Package
The Congregational Pastors Package provides congregations with the flexibility and choice to offer congregational pastoral leaders the benefits they need without paying for benefits they don’t need.
Eligibility
The Congregational Pastors Package replaces the Pastor’s Participation benefits package. This package:
- is required for installed pastors
- may be offered to congregational pastoral leaders scheduled to work 20 hours or more weekly, including:
- PC(USA) ministers
- commissioned pastors
Benefits
This package provides:
- Member-only PPO medical coverage for the congregational pastoral leader
- all the income protection benefits included in the Covenant Package
Eligible family member coverage is optional.
Dues*
- Dues are 16% of effective salary for Member-only PPO medical coverage, plus 10% of effective salary for income protection benefits (subject to minimum and maximum dues for medical coverage), paid entirely by the congregation.
| Coverage level | Dues | Minimum dues | Maximum dues |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member-only | 16% | $6,000 | $17,000 |
*Medical Plan pricing for employees who will not be enrolled in the Congregational Pastors Package or Transitional Pastor’s Participation will be available in the summer through Employer Agreement.
Dependent coverage
Medical coverage for spouses and children may be offered, and congregations may choose to pay all, some, or none of the cost. Many spouses and eligible children have access to other medical coverage, such as through a spouse’s employer, that better meets their needs. In 2023, fewer than half of the ministers enrolled in Pastor’s Participation enrolled both a spouse and children; however, employers still had to pay dues for full family coverage. The cost of coverage for child(ren), spouse, and eligible family is established as national, community-rated, fixed pricing and is the same regardless of the number of children enrolled:
| Dues | |
|---|---|
| Child(ren) | $8,950 |
| Spouse | $11,000 |
| Family | $20,600 |
Annual dues
Total dues for covering family members include the 16% of effective salary for the member combined with the flat rate amount for the selected level of dependent coverage.
| Coverage level | Dues | Combined minimum dues | Combined maximum dues |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member + Child(ren) | 16% + $8,950 | $14,950 | $25,950 |
| Member + Spouse | 16% + $11,000 | $17,000 | $28,000 |
| Member + Family | 16% + $20,600 | $26,600 | $37,600 |
2025 medical pricingMedical Plan pricing for 2025 for employees who will be enrolled in the Congregational Pastors Package or Transitional Pastor’s Participation is available. 2025 medical pricing for employees not enrolled in those packages will be available in the summer through Employer Agreement. |
Congregational pastoral leader
A congregational pastoral leader is a minister of the Word and Sacrament or a commissioned pastor employed by a congregation:
- installed PC(USA) ministers
- any PC(USA) minister working 20 hours or more per week
- commissioned pastors working 20 hours or more per week
Transitional Pastor’s Participation
Transitional Pastor’s Participation is available to employers who have a minister in Pastor’s Participation as of Dec. 31, 2024, to transition from the current dues structure to the new one.
Transitional Pastor’s Participation continues the noncontributory dues structure of Pastor’s Participation as a percentage of effective salary through Dec. 31, 2027, subject to cost increases.
Dues
Dues for Transitional Pastors Participation are paid entirely by the congregation or employer. Dues are the percentage of effective salary for medical coverage, detailed in the chart, plus 10% of effective salary for other benefits.
| Year | Dues | Minimum dues | Maximum dues |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33% | $15,000 | $43,000 |
| 2026* | No less than 37% | $18,000 | $50,000 |
| 2027* | No less than 41% | $21,600 | $57,000 |
*2026 and 2027 rates are minimums (subject to future Board of Directors approval).
Transitional Pastor’s Participation will end for 2028 and installed pastors will be enrolled in the Congregational Pastors Package.
Minister’s Bridge Coverage
Minister’s Bridge Coverage is available for ministers of the Word and Sacrament enrolled in the Congregational Pastors Package, Transitional Pastor’s Participation, or the Covenant Package who leave active service and are seeking a new call.
Through this coverage, a minister may:
- continue enrollment in all or some of their benefits at their own cost
- only maintain enrollment in the benefits coverage they had immediately prior to their change in employment status
- participate for up to 24 months
Participation in Minister’s Bridge is dependent on presbytery validation that the minister is actively seeking a call.