Pre-Conference Workbook - North Carolina Conference of The ...

INCAPACITY CLERGY MEDICAL LEAVE, JOINT COMMITTEE ON
The Joint Committee on Incapacity Clergy Medical Leave acts as the advocate for those pastors in the North Carolina
Conference who are forced by physical or emotional incapacity medical and disabling conditions to seek temporary or
permanent relief from their appointment. The committee is given the responsibility to study the problems of incapacity
clergy medical leave within the Conference, to provide a continuing personal ministry to those who are incapacitated
clergy on medical leave, and to make recommendations to the appropriate agencies of the Conference for each pastor
or deacon seeking Incapacity Clergy Medical Leave, including the source of their disability income. The Joint Committee
on Incapacity Clergy Medical Leave has begun a study of the utilization of incapacity medical leave benefits in our
annual conference and how our utilization compares to denominational and jurisdictional averages. The committee will
continue to monitor resource levels needed to fund incapacity medical leave benefits as one part of efforts to ensure the
long-term sustainability of our support for clergy on incapacity medical leave.
Persons interested in discovering more about the process of being granted Incapacity Clergy Medical Leave can
contact a district superintendent or the chair of the Joint Committee on Incapacity Clergy Medical Leave.
The following recommendations are presented to the 2013 session of the North Carolina Annual Conference:
I. General Policies
A. The Joint Committee on Incapacity Clergy Medical Leave, through the Conference Treasurer’s Office, will make
available upon request the necessary forms for any full time pastor or deacon to make application for Incapacity
Clergy Medical Leave. In all cases the applications must be completed by the pastor or deacon, the physician,
chair of the Joint Committee on Incapacity Clergy Medical Leave, Conference benefits officer, and the district
superintendent before the request for Incapacity Clergy Medical Leave can be acted upon. Whenever possible
incapacity medical leave requests are to be submitted ninety (90) days prior to Annual Conference except in lifethreatening
situations after that date, or when the disabling condition occurs after that date. Requests presented
before May 15 will be included in the Committee’s report to the Annual Conference.
B. Definition of Incapacity Disability: For the first 24 months, an active participant will be considered incapacitated
disabled for the purposes of the Comprehensive Protection Plan or the Basic Protection Plan as of the date the
Administrator determines, on the basis of medical evidence, that such active participant was unable to perform
the usual and customary duties of his/her employment by reason of bodily injury, disease, or mental or emotional
disease behavioral illness or disorder that will presumably last for at least six continuous months, exclusive of
any incapacity resulting from service in the armed forces of any country, warfare, intentionally self-inflicted injury,
or participation in any criminal or unlawful act.
C. Definition of Clergy: Clergy in The United Methodist Church are individuals who serve as commissioned
ministers, deacons, elders, and local pastors under appointment of a bishop (full- and part-time), who hold
membership in an annual conference, and who are commissioned, ordained, or licensed.
D. A pastor or deacon seeking to be on Incapacity Clergy Medical Leave secures a disability claim kit from the
Conference Treasurer’s Office. The applicant completes Form A, has his or her physician complete Form B,
completes the applicant’s portion of Form C, and submits all these forms to the Conference Treasurer’s Office for
completion. Unum reviews the claim and recommends a determination to the General Board of Pension and
Health Benefits (GBOPHB) who retains the authority to approve or deny a claim.
E. We recommend that pastors applying for Incapacity Clergy Medical Leave be approved only when the General
Board of Pension and Health Benefits grants their request for incapacity benefits through the Comprehensive
Protection Plan.
F. The Annual Conference and Conference Board of Pension (effective January 1, 2007), will fund pension
contributions for the Clergy Retirement Security Program-Defined Benefit Plan in the required annual payment for
normal cost as defined by the plan document and the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits for all
pastors receiving incapacity medical leave benefits from the Comprehensive Protection Plan.
G. The Comprehensive Protection Plan (effective January 1, 2007), will fund contributions for the Comprehensive
Protection Plan and the Clergy Retirement Security Program-Defined Contribution Plan which is 3% of plan
compensation as defined by the plan document and the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits for all
pastors receiving incapacity medical leave benefits from the Comprehensive Protection Plan.
H. Health Insurance and Life Insurance benefits are subject to the policies outlined in Section III below.
I. Pastors on Incapacity Clergy Medical Leave are required to file for Social Security benefits within 60 days of the
effective date of approved Incapacity Clergy Medical Leave. Failure to do so will result in decreased benefits.
Participation in Medicare Part A and B is required at the earliest possible date in order to receive the best health
insurance benefits. Participants who choose not to participate in Medicare Part B at that date will receive the
same contribution towards the health insurance premium as if they were retired. Refer to Section III regarding
benefits.
J. Effective July 1, 2008, we recommend that a lump sum grant of $4,300 be made at the beginning of Incapacity
Clergy Medical Leave. This grant will be available only one time in a pastor’s years of service.
K. The Joint Committee on Incapacity Clergy Medical Leave will review the progress of each pastor or deacon on
Incapacity Clergy Medical Leave at least annually. This review will include both recommendations from the
pastor’s physician and district superintendent as well as opportunities for continuing fellowship with the pastor to
develop further possibilities of assistance in his/her disabled circumstances.
L. We recommend the following pastors to be continued on Incapacity Clergy Medical Leave:
1. Vernon Brown, 107 Town Point Rd, Jacksonville, NC 28540 910/340-4537
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