by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Northwest
Synod of Wisconsin has become the first of 65 ELCA synods
to earn a 2 percent discount on 2008 contributions it makes
to the church's health benefits plan for its employees. The
synod qualified for the discount when more than 75 percent
of its employees and their spouses receiving ELCA primary
health coverage completed the Mayo Clinic Health Risk
Assessment. The ELCA Board of Pensions, Minneapolis,
offered the assessment to ELCA plan members as a health
plan benefit through its EmbodyHealth Web portal. The
ELCA Northwest Synod of Wisconsin includes 105,139 Lutherans
in 211 congregations across 23 counties. The synod office
is in Rice Lake.
The Rev. Duane C. Pederson, bishop, ELCA Northwest Synod
of Wisconsin, said the synod promoted the assessment at
every synod gathering. A computer was available at the
2008 Synod Assembly for ELCA health plan members to complete
the assessment on the spot. Pederson wrote to congregation
presidents and sent a personal e-mail to every clergyperson
in the synod encouraging them, their spouses, and their
staffs to participate, according to a Board of Pensions
news release. "The wellness initiative of our church is
about living out healthy relationships between self,
others and God," Pederson said. "God has entrusted us
with the stewardship of our health."
ELCA Board of Pensions is a $7 billion nonprofit
corporation providing retirement, health and other
benefits and related services for ELCA pastors, lay
ministers, employees and their families. It has offered
the health risk assessment to its plan members for four
years. 2008 is the first year it is offering a financial
reward to plan members and their spouses who take the
assessment -- $100 into a personal wellness account to
help offset medical costs. It is offering the discount
to ELCA employers -- synods, institutions, churchwide
organization -- as an additional incentive for plan
members to complete the assessment. As of June, more
than $1 million in ELCA health care contribution savings
was still available for ELCA synods, seminaries and
organizations that reach 75 percent health risk assessment
participation. The 2008 health risk assessment closes
Sept. 30.
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
