# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S100 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 100 SYNOD REPORTS more frequent. We knew that we were facing a significant chal- lenge in communicating the benefits of The Church’s Plan. CONCORDIA PLAN SERVICES Your LCMS Benefits Partner With the assistance of a communication consultant, we re- viewed all of our methods of communicating with our employers and members and the messages we were delivering. This resulted in the Mission, Vision, and Values enumerated previously. We also concluded the name “Concordia Plan Services” was more inclusive and descriptive, and we developed our new brand identity and logo. We reorganized the communication department and broadened their responsibilities to include education and outreach. We ex- panded the resources dedicated to these responsibilities and signif- icantly increased the scope and breath of our interactions with the LCMS employers and our members. We anchored our communication around three themes: (1) the importance of Walking Together for the good of the LCMS, (2) The Church’s Plan to emphasize that the Plans were specifically designed by the LCMS for the LCMS church worker, and (3) Be Well ... Serve Well to remind us that we have to take care of our health to be effective in serving our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. ¢+¢¢¢4¢ 4 ¢4¢ 4 « Since specific changes regarding benefits are communicated to all participating members and employers, and all the financial ac- tivities are shared annually, the following are brief summaries about each program. Concordia Health Plan The Concordia Health Plan (CHP) is a comprehensive major medical and dental plan. Included are medical benefits (a Preferred Provider Organization program administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield); dental benefits (administered by CIGNA Dental); mental health and substance abuse benefits, along with an Em- ployee Assistance Program (administered by CIGNA Behavioral Health); prescription drug benefits (administered by Express Scripts); a vision program for eye exams, lenses, and frames (ad- ministered by Vision Service Plan); and a hearing program (ad- ministered by HearUSA). As of December 2006, 22,300 members and their 24,400 de- pendents for a total of 47,700 individuals, were enrolled in CHP. Of the members, 82 percent are full-time workers, and the remain- ing members are retired, disabled, or on leave of absence. The benefits paid by the Plan for the past three years are shown below: 2006 $181,359,000 2005 2004 Benefits $168,666,000 $162,421,000 Concordia Retirement Plan The Concordia Retirement Plan (CRP) is a defined benefit re- tirement plan benefiting 32,800 active members enrolled through congregations, schools, and agencies of the Synod and benefiting 20,400 retirees, terminated vested workers, and survivors. Every CRP dollar purchases retirement income, survivor income, and lump-sum death benefits. The purpose of the CRP is to provide a pension benefit upon retirement at age 65. However, there are pro- visions for a benefit to begin as early as age 55. Members become vested and earn a right to a benefit after five years of participation. During the last three years, benefits provided by the Plan were as follows: 2007 Convention Workbook Benefits Paid 2006 2005 2004 Primary Retirement Benefits $104,562,000 $97,338,000 $85,650,000 Supplemental Retirement Account $9,936,000 $9,225,000 $9,067,000 Survivor Benefits $12,324,000 $11,528,000 $9,467,000 Retiree Medical Supplement $11,780,000 The number of retired individuals currently receiving benefits is 13,300. Concordia Disability and Survivor Plan The Concordia Disability and Survivor Plan (CDSP) has been designed to meet three important needs: (1) to pay a monthly in- come benefit when a member becomes totally disabled, (2) to pay survivor benefits (lump sum) upon the death of a member before retirement, and (3) to fund CHP coverage for disabled workers and for surviving dependents of deceased members who died before Jan. 1, 1985. In addition, the Plan pays a lump-sum benefit upon the death of an enrolled dependent. As of Dec. 31, 2006, there are 32,800 members enrolled in the CDSP. The benefits paid by the Plan during the past three years are shown below: Benefits Paid 2006 2005 2004 Survivor Benefits $5,098,000 $5,277,000 $7,250,000 Disability Benefits $11,362,000 $9,776,000 $8,887,000 Health Benefits for Survivor & Disabled $3,227,000 $3,339,000 $3,346,000 Concordia Retirement Savings Plan The Concordia Retirement Savings Plan (CRSP) is a 403(b) tax-deferred savings program available through the employer’s par- ticipation in The Church’s Plan package of benefits. Workers par- ticipating receive a basic match of 50 percent of the first 2 percent of compensation contributed by the worker. Retirement savings accumulated in 2006: Employee Contributions $11,486,000 CRSP Basic Match 2,452,000 Optional Employer Match 163,000 Employee Rollover Contributions 2,499,000 TOTAL $16,600,000 Pension Plan for Pastors and Teachers Prior to the Concordia Retirement Plan, the Pension Plan for Pas- tors and Teachers (PPPT) was the only pension program for pastors and teachers of the Synod. This program provides retirement benefits for its members, as well as benefits for surviving dependents of a de- ceased member. The PPPT also provides additional benefits to eligi- ble retired members and dependents of deceased members, if their total monthly benefit is below the established “minimum benefit.” When the Concordia Retirement Plan was established in 1965, new enrollments in the PPPT ceased. In December 2005, the fund balance of $3,380,000, representing accounts of each active member of the Pension Reserve Account, was transferred to the CRSP for credit to the accounts for the benefit of each member. As of Dec. 31, 2006, there are 3,966 individuals currently re- ceiving benefits as retired members, disabled members, or surviv- ing dependents of deceased members. 2006 2005 2004 Benefits Paid $11,899,000 $13,510,000 $14,133,000 Transfer to CRSP $0 $ 3,380,000 $0