Benefits reExamined

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Benefits are an investment in God’s ministry as carried out through the lives of rostered ministers and lay employees in the Traditional Benefits Program.

Now more than ever, as we navigate a changing world, the ELCA needs a benefit program that provides value and care for those who serve.

Through Benefits reExamined, Portico invites dialogue with the ELCA faith community to help discern and design potential benefit changes to continue to meet the evolving needs of this church.

Change brings both uncertainty and possibility. As this work unfolds, we strive to understand and examine all needs — faithfully, objectively, and collaboratively.

Guiding Principles

Today’s ELCA benefit program is rooted in principles expressed through the ELCA Philosophy of Benefits and Wholeness Wheel.

• Community — Pooled purchasing power achieves discounted group rates, access to better providers and programs, and administrative efficiency. Costs are shared through a community pricing structure that takes into account family size, geographic location, compensation, and age.
• Uniformity — A consistent benefits package across the church facilitates the call process by freeing rostered ministers to serve where called.
• Wholeness — Benefits strengthen whole-person well-being, provide a bundle of comprehensive protection, and offer choice to help care for a spectrum of needs over a member’s lifetime.

Why Benefits reExamined?

Your input over the years has helped Portico adapt ELCA benefits to serve plan members and organizations well. We are committed to preserving valued benefit features as we explore calls for greater affordability and flexibility, stemming from growing trends.

Shaping Future ELCA Benefits Together

Interim President and CEO, Stacy Kruse, explains the background and purpose of the Benefits reExamined initiative. Your input is important. Before discerning potential changes, we need to hear what you value. That’s why our recent survey asked you to rank some hypothetical options. These in no way represent actual changes being considered but will help us understand current preferences and priorities.

Timeline: What to Expect

Thank you to all the sponsored plan members and organization representatives who completed the Benefits reExamined survey in June – July. We are now conducting a thorough review of responses.

Benefits reExamined Project Team

A team of Portico and ELCA leaders has been formed to lead this initiative and help keep stakeholders informed of progress.