New Beginnings #49 Set for December 2-4

Participants hear talks given by other teenagers, take part in discussions and games, and engage in common worship throughout the weekend. This experience is open to all youth in grades 7-9. The cost for the weekend is $115 and scholarships are available on an as needed basis.

To register, please follow this link.

If you have questions, please contact New Beginnings Coordinator Maggie Bloodworth at [email protected] or the Diocesan Missioner for Youth, the Rev. Joshua Varner, at [email protected] .

Open Enrollment 2017: October 24 to November 9!

  

Medical Plans

To find more information about the cost of plans, please visit the Diocesan website here: http://georgia.anglican.org/?page_id=1042

For participants enrolled in the High Deductible plans, you are currently enrolled in the plan entitled Anthem BCBS CDHP-20/HSA. It is the recommendation of the Diocesan House to remain enrolled in that plan, unless you'd like to elect in the CDHP-15 plan, which translates into a 15% cost share after the deductible is met.

  

What You Need to Know About Open Enrollment

During the Medical Trust's Open Enrollment period:

Current plan members may change their plan selections for the following year

Eligible non-participating employees have the option to join a plan

Eligible non-participating dependents may be added to a member's plan and participating dependents may be removed from a member's plan without the need to demonstrate a qualifying event

  

Currently Enrolled Employees

If you elect to make no changes, you do not have to log-in to make changes through the portal. You'll be automatically rolled over into the new year.

  

You should have received a letter from the Medical Trust approximately one week ago. This letter provides you with information on when and how to access the Open Enrollment website, and links to important benefits information and plan resources.

  

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Members will access the enrollment web page with the same credentials (user name and password) they created to access their benefits information on MyCPG Accounts. It is important for all participating employees to create an account on MyCPG Accounts prior to Open Enrollment, if they have not already done so. For assistance, employees may contact the Client Services Team at (800) 480-9967, Monday to Friday, 8:30AM - 8:00 PMET (excluding holidays), or email [email protected].

  

Non-participating Employees

Existing employees who qualify for health coverage but are not participating in one of the Medical Trust plans are eligible to enroll themselves and/or their dependents during Open Enrollment for the 2017 plan year. As we do not mail materials to these potential members, please send a communication to these employees informing them of this option as well as the plans and rates available to them and all applicable legal notices and Summaries of Benefits and Coverage. The Summaries of Benefits and Coverage are available at www.cpg.org/mtdocs.

  

You may use the attached enrollment form for new member enrollments and return them to me before 11/06/2016 at [email protected]

  

Plan Documents

2017 Summaries of Benefits and Coverage and 2016 Plan Document Handbooks containing more information about the available plans may be found on the Church Pension Group website at www.cpg.org/mtdocs. Please remember that you are responsible for providing newly eligible employees a copy of all applicable legal notices and Summaries of Benefits and Coverage.

  

2017 Plan Offering

New Plans

Please note that we are offering new plans from the Medical Trust for the 2017 plan year: See table above. Additional information about the plan designs is available for your review on www.cpg.org as well as on the Open Enrollment page. Two are Medicare eligible plans. Please visit here: https://www.cpg.org/active-lay-employees/insurance/health-and-wellness/open-enrollment/ (will be updated once open enrollment is live).

  

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with Cigna Behavioral Health

In addition to the health plans, we offer a stand-alone EAP that you and your related entities may elect to offer to their employees who opt out of medical benefits coverage. (The EAP is already included as part of each medical plan offering.)

  

Note: On a stand-alone basis, the employer must pay for the EAP-only coverage. Requiring employees to contribute to the EAP-only coverage would violate the Affordable Care Act and the employer could be subject to significant penalties. Eligibility for the stand-alone EAP program is limited to qualified non-members (e.g. an employee who opts out of medical coverage because they are on a spousal plan). Because these employees will not have the ability to select the EAP on a stand-alone basis during Open Enrollment, enrollments must be completed by the group administrator with MLPS access.

  

Episcopal Diocese of Georgia Health Insurance Policy

In order to comply with the diocesan clergy minimum compensation standard, a congregation with a priest working at least 30 hours per week is required to assure insurance coverage. For those who do not otherwise have medical insurance provided through a spouse or an existing plan such as Tri-care, this means selecting at least the lowest cost option from the plans above.

  

For those in a High Deductible Plan with a Health Savings Account, the Diocese expects the employer will pay $200 per month or $2400 per year into the HSA for those electing the single HDHP and $400 or $4800 per for the plus one or family plan in the first year of coverage and to continue to pay $150 per month for Single HDHP and $300 per month for plus one, and $400 for family plans in subsequent years.

  

Katie Willoughby
Canon for Administration

Around the Diocese

The folks from All Saints Tybee sent this dispatch: "We lost seven trees and one church service, but Hurricane Matthew only grazed us, and we managed to splint our muddy sign back in place!"
McIntosh County's new elementary school opened this fall presenting a delay in kicking off the signature youth ministry of St. Andrew's and St. Cyprian's churches, Community Cares Cafe.  This postponement did not dampen spirits of this year's Fifth Grade group or the volunteers! 

Kanuga designed this annual event to provide opportunities for participants to hear from nationally-known speakers, attend a variety of workshops, learn from others and process within church leadership teams. This conference brings together vestries and other church leaders for learning, reflection and formation. It's a time and space to explore how churches can refocus their energies and deepen the faith of their congregations. 

This year we will explore the theme Finding Your Place, discovering and discerning what church leaders are called to do within their congregations and communities. Encounter well-versed speakers with innovative ideas on understanding your role as a guide within the Church. Workshops and presentations will address how to support others in finding where their talents are most fruitful. There will also be workshops on stewardship, leadership skills, and discipleship for leaders.

Join Rachel Held Evans, the Rev. Canon Frank Logue and a team of workshop leaders as they delve into avenues of "finding your place" as individuals and leaders within your congregations. They will discuss reasons people find their way to our congregations, how to make them feel appreciated, and effective courses for personal growth. 

Register before November 17 and save on the conference fee.

Deacon Karulynn Koelliker and parishioner greet the Bishop.
 

Our one-year prayer cycle combines prayers for every congregation in the Diocese of Georgia with prayers for our ecumenical partners and for our Companion Diocese of The Dominican Republic. The 52 weekly prayers are available in one document  found here. 

 

Prayers for October 23 to 29
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Thomson, Holy Cross, and for our ecumenical partners in Thomson, especially Zion Lutheran Church in Guyton and Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Lakeland. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Santo Domingo, especially La Catedral de la Epifanía (the Cathedral of the Epiphany).

Prayers for October 30 to November 5

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Tifton, St. Anne's. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Tifton, especially Our Divine Saviour Catholic Church and for Holy Family Catholic Church in Willacoochee. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Santo Domingo, especially Sagrada Familia (Holy Family Church).

 

Upcoming Events

 

Integrity: October 28-29
For more information, go here.

New Beginnings #48 Staff Lock-in: October 28-29
St. Anne's, Tifton
Staff application can be found here.

Ordination of the Rev. Deacon Luke Wetzel, October 29, 10 AM
Trinity Episcopal Church, 1130 First Avenue, Columbus, Georgia
The Rt. Rev. Scott Anson Benhase presiding.

Living Freedom and Wholeness Women's Retreat: November 4-6
Go here to register

Down to the River to Pray: POSTPONED
More information about events in the Spring will be forthcoming!

195th Convention of the Diocese of Georgia: November 9-12
For more information, go here. 

Thanksgiving at Honey Creek: noon, Thursday, November 24
Cost is $25 per person, $12 for children eight and under. Lodging available also.
For more information, go here. 

New Beginnings #49, December 2-4
Retreat led by youth for youth in grades seven to nine. Go here to register.