THE STATS ISSUE:

Year End Reports, Direct Billing, Pension & More

Statistics are only one part of what we share about God’s work among us. Your stories and the formation of disciples are witnesses to the stats. This issue is about the stats. 

Similarly, caring for clergy who are sent to serve our churches includes many aspects of care. Providing healthcare and retirement are an important part of that care. Our healthcare and pension plans allow us to access coverage and provision across the TWK connection. Updated costs for this part of our stewardship for care of clergy are included in this issue.

Before Christmas, all senior pastors and treasurers should have received an email from the Conference about end of year statistical reporting, direct costs, and payments.

We have recapped it below. If you have any questions or difficulties, please reach out to Chris at christie.grosson@twkumc.org or 931-363-8981.

Year End Statistical Reporting

The deadline for the 2023 Stat completion is Monday, February 5, 2024. The tables are now unlocked for entry.

We will use the same platform/website for 2023 Statistical Reporting that we used in 2022: https://umcdata.net/ChurchReporting

The username and password are the same as when you make an online payment or when you accessed the 2023 charge conference forms. There is only one username and password per church so please communicate with anyone in your church that helped with either of these tasks.

​Direct Billed Costs Will Be Changing in 2024

January 2024 statements will be mailed after January 15 and will reflect your 2024 direct bill costs and 2024 Connectional Commitments.

Conference Health Plan (HealthFlex):

The monthly direct bill premium for the health plan is $1,310.00. Only churches with clergy enrolled in the conference plan will be billed. If a pastor is serving a multi‐point charge, the lead church on the charge will be billed.

Depending on each clergy’s elections during open enrollment, there may be an additional premium cost (participant’s share). These premiums will be included on the monthly bill to the church and should be handled as a pre‐ tax payroll deduction from the clergy and remitted to the conference with other direct bill costs.

Conference Pension Plan:

Pension is based on the clergy’s 2024 Total Plan Compensation that includes housing or parsonage allowance (line F of the 2024 compensation form).

Full Time Appointments: The pension cost billed to the church will be 13% of total plan compensation. CRSP-DB: 7%; CRSP-DC: 3%; CPP: 3%.

Part Time Appointments: The pension cost billed to the church will be 9% of total plan compensation for UMPIP.

Payments

All payments for Connectional Commitment, Clergy Benefits, including participant share amounts, can be paid online by the local church in Ministry Financials. Payments are due by the 25th of the month for that month’s billing. Recurring payments that were set up in 2023 will end 12/31/2023. In January 2024, the church treasurer will need to set up recurring payments with the new amount due for 2024.