Reformátusok Lapja, 1969 (69. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1969-04-01 / 4. szám
14 REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA MINISTERS OFFERED INSURANCE PROGRAM The Family Protection Plan for UCC ministers is now a reality. Available to all full-time ministers who are active members of the UCC pension funds, the new plan includes both group life insurance on minister and spouse and disability benefits to provide income in case of a minister’s total disability. A special feature of the plan provides for continuing payment of annuity dues to the account of the member who is disabled. Should the disability continue, such payments would continue to retirement, at which time the insured would enter upon his annuity. The plan becomes effective in each conference when 75 percent of eligible members are enrolled. (Ministers in conferences which now have disability plans are not eligible at this time.) The new coverage assures the holder a monthly income when coupled with Social Security equal to one half of his salary basis from six months after the disability begins until it ends or he reaches the age of 65. The salary basis is the cash salary plus 20 percent if a parsonage is provided. Cost of the new insurance, which is written by the Travelers Insurance Company, is one percent of salary basis. “We strongly recommend that all our churches secure the benefits of the Family Protection Plan for their ministers,” said Dr. Wm. Kincaid Newman, executive vice president of the Pension Boards. “The cost is extremely small and the benefits will give substantial security to the professional minister and his family.” The national plan is especially important because coverage can continue without interruption no matter where the minister is called to serve. The Travelers is also the carrier for the UCC health insurance program. To show how the benefits under the Family Protection Plan works, take a minister 43 years old with a salary basis of $12,000 (cash, plus 20 percent for parsonage). At 43 his life insurance benefit would be $24,000. The life formula runs from a high of 200 percent of salary basis down to 20 percent at 65. The group life insurance on the spouse is always $1,000. If the 43-year-old minister with a salary basis of $12,000 were to become totally and permanently disabled, his monthly benefit would be $500 when coupled with other income benefits such as Social Security. The maximum monthly disability benefit is $800 and the minimum $50. In addition, the full recommended annuity dues of 11 percent of salary basis would be paid at the rate of $110 per month to his account, to assure him an annuity at age 65. Descriptive booklets and enrollment forms were sent to eligible ministers early in January. Additional materials and information may be obtained from the Pension Boards in New York City. A WORD OF THANKS Local congregations gave over $19 million last year for the work of the conferences and national instrumentalities of the United Church of Christ. This was an increase of more than $175,000 over 1967 giving. Basic Support, however, the amount given for basic budgets, was down $95,000 from 1967 — $17,000 in national and $78,000 in conference receipts. NEWS IN BRIEF CHURCH UNION IN FRANCE? Paris — Representatives from the French Reformed Church, the Reformed Church of Alsace and Lorraine, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of France and the Church of the Augsburg Confession of Alsace and Lorraine, are to meet on May 1 to scrutinize the proposed union scheme in the light of comments received from regional synods. A revised version of the proposals will then be presented in June to the authorities of the churches concerned. The Rev. Jacques Maury, president of the National Council of the Reformed Church of France, was optimistic about the outcome of the meeting. He said that the differences between Lutheran and Reformed Christians nowadays are more psychological and sociological than doctrinal. RPPS ★ YOUTH CLAIM VOICE AT SYNOD The Hague — Christian students in Holland have asked the Netherlands Reformed Church to admit three youth observers to its future Synod meetings. These young people, who should be a young worker, a university student, and a secondary school pupil, should be granted the right to speak during sessions, says the letter sent to the church on behalf of the principal students’ organizations. At a recent conference of Christian students severe criticism was voiced at the way in which the Netherlands Reformed Autumn Synod dealt with the recommendations arising out of Section III, of the Uppsala assembly. The students expressed regret that only one of the recommendations was adopted, and they have stated their opinion that “it is necessary for the voice of youth to be heard in the Synod”. RPPS ★ CHURCH MARKS BICENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY Christ Church in Trumbauersville, Pa., is 200 years old this year. When the cornerstone of the church was laid in 1868, the following agreement was recorded: “We, the members of the German Reformed and Evangelical Lutheran Congregations of Christ’s Church at Trumbauersville, agree to hold the old church ground as heretofore with the new church now to be erected, under the following terms: 1. that it is to be used only for the worship of God, the instruction of youth and the burying of our dead; 2. that both congregations shall have equal rights; 3. that the time be equally divided; 4. that each member of both congregations bear his share of repair cost; 5. that no minister expelled from synod be allowed to preach. Christ Church is a member of the Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ. The two congregations hold separate services but share many activities, including a Sunday school. United Church Herald ★ CALIFORNIA CHURCH INSTALLS TEAM MINISTRY The Congregational Church (UCC) of San Mateo, Calif., installed three ministers as the ministerial team of the church. The Rev. David M. Held, a native of Illinois who has held pastorates in Illinois and California, was installed as the senior minister. The Rev. Karl E. Lindbloom, a recent graduate of the Pacific School of Religion with special skills in the field of youth activities, was installed as the minister of Christian education and youth. The Rev. Hugh M. Reiner, who has served as a Presbyterian and United Church of Christ pastor, became the new minister of business and visitation. The ceremony at which these three ministers were installed simultaneously as a team was a historic event for the -San Mateo church. Said Mr. Held, “Our approach is not to have three ministers with general assignments, but rather three specialists with areas of professional responsibility. This brings skills to the leadership of the church and enables each minister to make the unique contribution that he is best qualified to give.” United Church Herald ★ LUTHERAN-REFORMED CONVERSATIONS TO BE CONTINUED — The Executive Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) has expressed regret at the negative impression created by the correspondence between Bishop Hanns Lilje and the Chairman of the Arnoldshain Conference, Dr. Joachim Beckmann, on the issues of communion of pulpit and the Lord’s table between Lutheran, Reformed and Union churches. Meanwhile, the misunderstandings which had arisen, have been completely cleared up, and the Council has confirmed that the scheduled continuation of Lutheran- Reformed dialogue will take place. RPPS
