Clergy Benefits Academy 2008:
Course Descriptions
- A Retirement Plan for You and Your Staff
- Investment Plan (UMPIP) is your key to enhanced retirement security. Saving and investing have never been so easy. Learn how this plan can maximize your retirement savings and meet your goals and how your staff members can also save for their future.
- Instructors: David Foster, Senior Research Analyst, and Peter Hang, Benefits Educator, Education and Plan Sponsor Relations, General Board of Pension and Health Benefits
- Financial Goals, Spending Plans and Debt Management
- What are your financial goals and objectives? How do you prioritize them? How can you create a spending plan that yields savings for your personal priorities? Learn how debt is a two-edged sword. This class provides tools to help track your spending habits and map out a plan for a more secure retirement. You also will explore saving and paying for college (before, during and after). Prior to this class, you will receive two financial planning templates (net worth and cash flow statements) that you will be asked to complete in order to enhance your class learning. Instructions will be provided along with a list of documents to bring with you.
- Instructor: Bruce Galvin, CFP, Assistant Conference Treasurer and Conference Benefits Officer, Pacific Northwest Conference
- Healthy You…Healthy Church
- Get excited about creating a healthier you—and a healthier church to serve. Nutrition and physical activity will be the focal point of this class—from an individual perspective to the congregational perspective. Ever thought about creating an outreach ministry around food or organizing your refrigerator for healthier eating? Come prepared to think about food and physical activity in a new way, experiment with exercise bands and walk away with tools you can use!
- Instructor: Judy Johnston, MS, RD, LD, Research Instructor, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine
- Help! Clergy Tax Laws!
- The laws regarding taxation of clergy compensation can be confusing. Learn the basics on how your employment status affects your tax liability, the clergy housing allowance, accountable reimbursement plans and other topics.
- Instructor: Dan Gary, Associate General Counsel, General Council on Finance and Administration
- Life’s Transitions: Service and Supports
- Life happens. When it does, are you prepared? Do you know what to do? This opening class sets the context for the Academy by addressing life’s expected and unexpected events. How do employee benefits provide security during these times? Get the basics of benefit plans, such as compensation and eligibility, and an overview of services and supports provided by the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits.
- Instructor: Dale Jones, Managing Director, Education and Plan Sponsor Relations, and Josie Martinez, Conference Liaison, General Board of Pension and Health Benefits
- Navigating Financial Roadblocks
- Once you have set your financial goals and directed your streams of income accordingly, how can you avoid, prepare for and manage the unforeseen situations (household changes, moving, etc.) that detour you along the way? This course looks at different accounts, insurance, investments and other ways to help prepare for these roadblocks. It also addresses how to plan for longer-term goals when the specifics seem fuzzy (e.g., assessing your retirement comfort zone, anticipating post-parsonage living, etc.)
- Instructor: Mark Conner, CFP, CEBS, General Board of Pension and Health Benefits
- Securing Your Family’s Future: Financial and Estate Matters
- In the event of your disability or death, what are the basic documents your family should have in its possession? How do you plan for your family’s financial affairs? This course will cover the essentials of estate planning and your financial legacy. Learn more about durable powers of attorney, advanced directives and how to move your charitable giving to a new level. As time permits, we also will discuss trusts, estate tax laws and any “loose ends.”
- Instructor: David Stotts, CPA and Treasurer/Director of Financial Administration and Conference Benefits Officer, Mississippi Conference
- Social Security for Clergy
- Social Security provides both retirement and disability benefits, yet many clergy do not participate in this important government program. Learn how Social Security can benefit you, how you qualify (if eligible) for benefits and what you may expect upon your retirement.
- Instructor: State of New York Social Security Representative
- United Methodist Benefits Review
- The United Methodist Church offers many benefits to its clergy. Learn what benefits you and your family can expect from the Church when you retire, become disabled or die. The class will focus on the Clergy Retirement Security Program (CRSP), as well as the Ministerial Pension Plan (MPP) and the Comprehensive Protection Plan (CPP).
- Instructor: Ron Coleman, Conference Liaison, General Board of Pension and Health Benefits
- You Can Do It: Living a Healthy and Balanced Life
- What “benefits” can clergy and church leaders derive from contemporary models of health promotion, pastoral care and holistic wellness? This class identifies trends in clergy and family self-care, strategies for discovering and overcoming obstacles and best practices for achieving balanced physical, psychological, relational and spiritual health. As advocates for health in all its meanings, clergy know their own lives speak the loudest message.
- Instructor: The Reverend Ron Johnson, Ph.D., Pastoral Psychotherapist, Bartlett United Methodist Church Counseling Center, Memphis Conference
Special Opportunities
- Consultation with a General Board Representative
- During on-site registration, schedule a consultation with a General Board staff member. This private session is your opportunity to discuss your own account balance and pension projection. A knowledgeable representative will explain your specific benefit situation.
- Financial Planning Forum
- Do you want to talk with our three financial planning instructors? This additional class is based on your specific needs and questions. It will look more closely at several issues, including multigenerational planning and integrating your benefits with those of your spouse.
- Instructors: Mark Conner, CFP, CEBS, Benefits Educator, General Board of Pension and Health Benefits; Bruce Galvin, CFP, Assistant Conference Treasurer, Pacific Northwest Conference; David Stotts, CPA, Treasurer/Director of Financial Administration and Conference Benefits Officer, Mississippi Conference
- Bonus Tax Class
- If you had fun attending the “Help! Clergy Tax Laws!” class and you want to learn more…then this bonus class is for you. If you have additional questions or would like to gain additional knowledge from our experienced instructor, plan to attend this evening opportunity.
- Instructor: Dan Gary, Associate General Counsel, General Council on Finance and Administration
- More…Living a Balanced Life in the Congregation and Connection
- What is balanced pastoral living in your local church and connection? How do you understand and handle your difficult situation? Others have dealt with similar circumstances. Join this intimate, smaller group to share, gain support and take home a new perspective on how to balance your life.
- Leader: The Rev. Ron Johnson, Ph.D., Pastoral Psychotherapist, Bartlett United Methodist Church Counseling Center, Memphis Conference
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