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OHIO EPISCOPAL AREA TASK TEAM

Benefits Sub-Team Update – 10/05/26

We recognize how important it is for clergy and their families to understand the benefits they are eligible for and how those benefits may be impacted through the unification process. Since September 2025, staff and volunteer leaders from East Ohio and West Ohio have been working together to understand in detail the benefits offered by each conference, who is eligible, how benefits are funded, where programs differ and where they are already aligned. This is an important matter with many details that deserve careful attention and accuracy.

In the spirit of transparency, this is the first in a series of communications focused on clergy benefits. This update provides an overview of the work completed to date, who has been involved and several high-level observations. Look for the next communication, focused on pension and retirement plans, by the end of October. Future communications will address active health insurance, retiree healthcare and other benefit-related topics, including minimum compensation.

Since September 2025, the Benefits sub-team has been studying the similarities and differences among the healthcare, retirement, pension and benefit programs offered by East Ohio and West Ohio. Members include representatives from both Conferences, board leadership, benefits and finance staff and Wespath, including Armando Arellano (East Ohio), Robin Whitacre (East Ohio), Vera Milanovic (East Ohio), Mollie Brown (East Ohio), Matthew Merriman (East Ohio), Grace Welch (West Ohio), Bill Brownson (West Ohio), David Hoffman (West Ohio), Tony Prestipino (Wespath) and Lynn Hammell (Wespath).

To date, the Benefits sub-team has met six times and will continue meeting as key milestones and decision points approach. In addition, the full East Ohio Board of Benefits and West Ohio Board of Pensions & Health Benefits participated in a joint two-day retreat August 25-26 facilitated by Wespath. The retreat helped deepen relationships, strengthen understanding and establish a common foundation of facts to support future recommendations.

To further strengthen the review process, the Conferences also look forward to working with attorney Eli Baasden, a Texas-based nonprofit attorney with extensive experience in nonprofit mergers and United Methodist conference unifications. Her independent perspective and specialized expertise will serve as an additional resource as the Benefits sub-team evaluates options and develops future recommendations for the Ohio Episcopal Area.

There is encouraging news. Both Conferences already participate in Wespath's HealthFlex healthcare program, the Comprehensive Protection Plan (CPP), and the COMPASS retirement savings plan. While this alignment provides a strong starting point, important differences remain in eligibility requirements, funding methodologies, subsidy levels, cost-sharing approaches and long-term sustainability. These differences require thoughtful analysis before future recommendations can be made.

The Benefits sub-team's role is not to determine which Conference has the "better" benefit package, nor will future recommendations be driven by a "meet or match" philosophy. Every recommendation must be evaluated based on fiduciary responsibility, financial impact, stewardship, sustainability, and the long-term well-being of the future Ohio Episcopal Area.

One message can be shared with confidence today: retirement benefits earned through the Pre-82 Pension and Retirement Security (PSR) Plan, the Ministerial Pension Plan (MPP), and the Clergy Retirement Security Program (CRSP) remain secure. The MPP and CRSP are denominational retirement programs governed by provisions established by General Conference and are not subject to modification through the Conference unification process. Likewise, benefits already earned through the Pre-82 PSR Plan cannot be reduced. While the Pre-82 PSR contribution rate may be increased through future action, it cannot be decreased. Clergy and retirees can be confident that pension/retirement benefits already earned and currently being paid will not be reduced by this work. Additional information about both legacy and current pension and retirement programs will be provided in the next communication focused specifically on pension and retirement benefits.

The Benefits sub-team remains committed to transparency throughout this process and will continue providing updates as its work progresses.

Looking Ahead
Benefits are important to clergy and their families at every stage of ministry. That feedback has been clear since the earliest unification conversations. This communication, and those that follow, are intended to honor those interests and concerns through timely, accurate, and transparent information.

Look for the next communication on pension and retirement plans no later than the end of October. In the meantime, questions may be directed through your Conference's established benefits and pension resources.