PARISH ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE ENEWS
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Church Pension Group
open enrollment for
medical coverage begins soon
For many, August signals the beginning of the end of summer - back to school is just around the corner and then fall isn't far behind.
Fall brings cooler nights, colorful trees, and the chance for Church Pension Group members (lay and clergy) to select or change medical coverage during open enrollment.
This is a member's annual chance to review their existing healthcare plan, and compare its benefits to any other plans their employers' offer. The ECCT's open enrollment period runs from October 23 through November 10.
The Church Pension Group estimates a 5.5% to 6% increase in premiums for 2018; they will communicate the actual premium increase August 31.
We know premium increases can have a heavy impact on a parish's budget, so the staff at The Commons would like to share how we are working to reduce our medical expenditures.
Starting in 2016, we paid 100% of an employee's premium if they chose Cigna's Consumer Directed Health Plan (aka a high-deductible health plan). That year, we also put the cost difference between the highest-cost plan and the CCDH Plan into those employees' Health Savings Accounts. We plan to decrease this subsidy each year by a modest amount, to encourage employees to take on some healthcare costs.
Employees who don't choose the CCDH Plan still have options: The Commons pays 95% of the premium for the mid-tier plan, the Anthem-Blue Cross 80/60, and 85% of the premium for the top-tier plan, Cigna Open Access Plus (the minimum employer contribution percent, as required by canon).
We have seen some success in our attempts to slow increases to our medical premium expenditures; a greater number of employees are opting for the CCDH and Anthem plans.
If you would like to discuss The Commons' experience any further, please feel free to email or call our Canon for Finance and Operations,
Louis Fuertes
, at 203-639-3501, x123, or our Operations Manager,
Matt Handi
, at 203-639-3501, x107.
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Pittsburgh company
will contact parishes
for property insurance appraisals
It has been some time since ECCT parish buildings were last appraised. Earlier this year, ECCT - working with our insurance broker, Willis - engaged Industrial Appraisals, Inc. of Pittsburgh to help us update the property insurance coverage amounts for ECCT parishes.
We gave Industrial Appraisal, Inc. contact information for ECCT parishes; company representatives will reach out to set up times when they can access parish properties.
Appraisers will inspect parish buildings and structures, along with the permanent fixtures inside, stained glass windows, pipe organs, bells, and carillons to assess their replacement costs. We have also asked Industrial Appraisals to appraise fine art, antiques, and movable equipment with replacement values greater than $500. These items might include silver, communion vessels, and vestments, as well as office equipment and other valuable items owned by the parish.
Thanks for supporting this effort to bring our property insurance coverages in line with parish asset values.
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HR Matters: Set clear expectations with an updated job description
by Kayla Tubolino,
Human Resources & Title IV manager
Employees get frustrated when they do not know what their supervisor expects, or find out - after months of doing a job - that their supervisor wants it done another way.
Regularly updating job descriptions (at least once a year) can help set up conversations between supervisors and employees, and avoid the frustrations associated with miscommunication.
The job description document reaches all levels of the employment life cycle - from training to performance evaluations to compensation - which makes up-to-date information vital.
It is everyone's responsibility to create and maintain job descriptions. It is important to get employees' input on the tasks; supervisors see the "big picture" but should never assume we know more about the day-to-day work than the person doing the job.
Working collaboratively with this document will result in a more informative and realistic job description.
Items to include in a job description:
- Job Title
- Classification of exempt or non-exempt
What does this mean? Salaried employees are exempt, meaning this employee is exempt from overtime regulations; they get the same paycheck no matter how many hours they work. Non-exempt workers are paid an hourly rate. This type of employee needs to fill out timesheets to track hours worked. Timesheets or time card records should be kept for at least three years, or more if this person works with children.
- Duties and Responsibilities
List job responsibilities in order of importance, or in order of the amount of time the tasks take to complete. It is important to list what needs to be accomplished, rather than how it should be done.
- Expected hours of work, or schedule
- Desired qualifications
- Desired education or experience
List any training, degrees, experience, or technical skills necessary for this position.
ECCT's sample includes the physical and work environment descriptions. We also list any travel expectations or supervisory responsibility.
Click
here
to view the ECCT sample job description template.
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Parish/worshiping community surveys
Thank you to everyone who has completed their "summer project" from ECCT - the parish/worshiping community surveys. (And a reminder and advance thank you to those still working on them!)
ECCT published a special eNewsletter (link
here to read) and mailed out print information packets about the survey last month. You can also read more
here.
We believe the information will help by documenting the ministries that are active at ECCT parishes, and identifying parish leaders. This will help you and all of us participate more fully and more collaboratively in God's mission.
We encourage other parishes to join this list so they, too, can gain access to the information from participating parishes!
If you have any questions about completing the survey, please email or call our Operations Manager, Matt Handi, at 203-639-3501, ext. 107, or
mhandi@episcopalct.org.
Thank you:
St. Luke's Parish
Darien |
Trinity Church
Brooklyn |
Christ & Holy Trinity Church
Westport |
St. Paul's Church
Southington |
St. Michael's Church
Naugatuck |
Grace Church
Windsor |
St. Luke's Church
South Glastonbury |
Emmanuel Church
Killingworth |
St. James' Church
Glastonbury |
St. John's Church
Waterbury |
Christ Church
Redding |
St. John's Church
Essex |
Episcopal Church of St. Paul and St. James
New Haven |
St. John's Church
North Haven |
Christ Episcopal Church
Sharon |
Church of the Good Shepherd
Orange |
St. Stephen's Church
Ridgefield |
St. Stephen's Church
East Haddam
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St. Mary's Church
Manchester |
St. John's Church
East Windsor |
Holy Trinity Church
Enfield
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St. James' Church
Farmington |
St. James' Church
Poquetanuck |
Grace Church
Yantic
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St. David's Church
Gales Ferry |
St. James' Church
West Hartford |
Christ Church
Ansonia |
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Reminder: Parish audits
are
due September 1
The ECCT Finance staff would like to thank all of our parish treasurers, bookkeepers, and administrators for helping us achieve 100% compliance for 2016 Parochial Report submissions. We are not sure if we have ever had this level of compliance before, and are very appreciative of everyone's efforts!
Another very important financial reporting deadline is rapidly approaching. Parishes are canonically required* to submit annual audits or financial reviews of their financial records, which are due on September 1 following the year being audited/reviewed.
This means audits/financial reviews of 2016 financial results are due in just over 3 weeks.
We need support from ECCT parishes to comply with this reporting requirement.
- We have received 2015 audits/financial reviews from only 48% of ECCT parishes
- We have received 2016 audits/financial reviews from only 9% of our parishes
These financial statements are useful tools for ECCT but they also provide your church leadership with suggestions for improving the accuracy of parish reporting and for reducing the risk of financial losses.
Parishes with total revenues (Line D on your Parochial Report) exceeding $500,000 are required to have an audit performed by a Certified Public Accountant; those with total revenues below $500,000 can submit a financial review from an Independent Public Accountant.
Please remember that we must receive your 2016 parish audit/financial for your parish to be reported in "good standing."
Please contact Karolyn Nicolaides (
knicolaides@episcopalct.org) if you would like to receive a list of Certified or Independent Public Accountants used by other ECCT parishes.
You may review all Parish Financial Reporting Requirements on our website
here.
* See Canon IV 2D - "Business Methods in Church Affairs"
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The Rev. Dr. Malloy |
Liturgy Symposium
at Christ Church Cathedral
Save the date of Saturday, September 30, for a Liturgy Symposium at Christ Church Cathedral.
The morning plenary session will be offered by the Rev. Dr. Patrick Malloy, noted scholar and liturgist, currently serving at the Cathedral of st. John the Divine in New York City.
Workshops on a variety of subjects will be offered. More info and registration
here.
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Bishops' 2017 visitation schedule
September 10 - Ahrens, Christ Church, Roxbury
Septemb
er
10 - Douglas, Trinity/St. Michael's, Fairfield
October 8 - Ahrens, Christ Church, Easton
October 8 - Douglas, St. James', New London
October 15 - Ahrens, Christ & the Epiphany, East Haven
October 15 - Douglas, Christ Church, Redding
October 22 - Ahrens, St. Timothy's, Fairfield
October 22 - Douglas, St. Paul's on the Green, Norwalk
October 29 - Ahrens, St. Paul's, Fairfield
Oct
ober 29 - Douglas, Trinity, Torrington
November 5 - Douglas - 275th Anniversary, St. John's, Stamford
November 12 - Ahrens, Grace, Hartford
November 12 - Douglas, St. Mary's, Manchester
November 19 - Douglas, 125th Anniversary, St. Paul's, Southington
December 3 - Ahrens, Trinity, Lime Rock
December 3 - Douglas, Grace, Newington
December 10 - Ahrens, St. Andrew's, Marble Dale
December
10 - Douglas, St. John's, Vernon
December 17 - Ahrens, St. Michael's, Litchfield
December 17 - Douglas, St. Saviour's, Old Greenwich
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Region-Based Discernment Groups beginning soon
Do you know anyone asking what God might be calling them to do next?
Another round of Region-Based Discernment Groups will begin in the fall. ECCT started the groups, which are open to anyone, in January.
If you know someone who is interested in the ordination process, wondering about making a life or career change, or just feeling called by God, please let them know about the groups. T
he groups focus on discernment in the broadest sense, drawing on resources from around The Episcopal Church. Those who might be discerning a call to Holy Orders are welcome to participate.
Click
here for more information, or to contact Molly James, the Dean of Formation, or one of the group leaders.
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Episcopal News Service launches press release service
The Episcopal News Service last week launched a press release service for dioceses, congregations, church organizations, groups, and institutions.
The groups can submit press releases to the ENS at no cost, or use paid options to reach broader audiences through publication on the ENS' website and daily eNewsletter. The ENS also accepts new story submissions.
Click
here for the press release service.
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Save the dates for these 2017-2018 ECCT Clergy events
September 5, Clergy Day, Camp Washington, Lakeside
October 10-12, Clergy Retreat, Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, West Hartford
October 24, Retired Clergy, Spouses, & Partners Gathering, Saint Andrew the Apostle,
Rocky Hill
November 5, Deacons Renewal of Vows, Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford
November 17-18, Annual Convention, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Greenwich
2018
February 6, Clergy Day, St. Mark's, New Britain
February 15-16, Women's Clergy Retreat, Camp Washington, Lakeside
February 27, Confirmands & Bishops Dinner, The Commons, Meriden
March 27, Renewal of Vows, Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford
April 7, Spring Training, Lincoln Middle School, Meriden
April 26, Confirmands & Bishops Dinner, The Commons, Meriden
May 1, Retired Clergy, Spouses, & Partners Gathering, TBD
May 14-16, Clergy Conference, TBD
June 7, Clergy Day, St. Mark's, New Canaan (Location tentative)
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Parish admins invited to join a listserve
 Want to chat with colleagues about ACS vs PowerChurch? Offer tips on more successful mail merges? Get suggestions on names for a new campaign?
Alison Hollo, Senior Administrator for the Office of the Episcopate, invites parish administrators to forward her their names and email addresses to be added to an ECCT listserve for parish admins.
As a member of Bishops' Executive Secretaries Together (B+E+S+T), Alison has participated in their listserve and wants to make the same opportunity available for parish admins in ECCT.
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Links
2017 Treasurers' Newsletter can be found
here.
2016 Treasurers' Newsletter can be found
here.
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The next issue of the Parish Admin & Finance eNewsletter will be published mid-October.
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