2008 Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly
A Synod at Table with the Hungry
2008 Synod Assembly >
Resolutions > 2008-03
This resolution was submitted
after the resolution deadline. It will be treated as specified by the
synod’s constitution, which says the following regarding late resolutions:
S7.34.C05 The Synod Assembly
may allow an exception to the submission deadline of S7.34.B05 [resolution
deadline] provided...the Synod Assembly, by motion passed by majority vote,
specifically orders that such late resolution be placed on the Synod
Assembly agenda. Resolution 2008-03:
Health
Insurance Cost
Assembly
voted not to consider this resolution
(this will be referred back to the author and the Synod Council)
1 WHEREAS, health insurance costs
2 have continued to escalate faster
3 than most other costs to
4 congregations; and
5 WHEREAS, ELCA congregations are
6 tied to the ELCA Board of
7 Pensions’ product offering, with
8 few exceptions; and
9 WHEREAS, cost of that insurance
10 coverage is often $5,000 to $9,000
11 greater than similar coverage often
12 available to congregations via the
13 few exceptions allowed; and
14 WHEREAS, the Board of Pensions’
15 current system of health insurance
16 is really a prepaid medical expense
17 system, without any incentive for
18 the insured to do a cost/benefit
19 analysis; and
20 WHEREAS, individuals have access
21 to health insurance products that
22 provide the insured with additional
23 methods to save for their future;
24 and
25 WHEREAS, the Board of Pensions
26 uses insurance premiums as a
27 means to assist congregations that
28 might need assistance by
29 classifying congregations and
30 having larger congregations pay a
31 higher premium to reduce the cost
32 of health insurance for smaller
33 congregations; and
34 WHEREAS, the ELCA Church
35 Council and synods have an
36 obligation to assist congregations
37 that have a financial need;
38 THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,
39 that the ELCA Church Council
40 request that the Board of Pensions
41 revise their product mix,
42 decoupling the pension
43 participation from the health
44 insurance coverage and add a
45 health savings account product,
46 becoming more competitive with
47 other health insurance packages
48 offered; and
49 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that
50 the Church Council develop a
51 means to assist congregations that
52 have financial needs, and fund that
53 program by some method other
54 than a health insurance premium
55 cost structure based solely upon
56 the size of congregations; and
57 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that
58 the Southeastern Minnesota Synod
59 communicate with all other ELCA
60 synods to get their input and ask
61 for their support on this issue; and
62 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that
63 the Southeastern Minnesota Synod
64 Assembly direct the Southeastern
65 Minnesota Synod Council to
66 forward this resolution to the
67 Church Council for consideration
68 and possible action.
69 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that
70 the Southeastern Minnesota Synod
71 communicate with all other ELCA
72 synods to get their input and ask
73 for their support on this issue; and
Passed and submitted by St. Ansgar’s
Lutheran Church, Cannon Falls
The Committee on Reference and Counsel
recommends this resolution be referred back to the authors and that they
work with the Synod Executive Committee to clarify issues.
- Rev. Mark Boorsma, Chair
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