UUA Church Staff Finances
Guided by Unitarian Universalist values,
we equip congregations for excellence as employers
and their staff for financial competence and well-being. |
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Aid Funds |
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Editor's Note: What's In This Issue?
Dear Readers,
We're aware of the property and casualty insurance issues plaguing many congregations. Responsibility for this area recently moved to our group. Our newest team member, Hugh Dennis, has an update for you. Also from our Insurance Team is information about their webinar series for health plan administrators and members. The first webinar is this Thursday!
In addition, you'll find a handy new-hire checklist and learn about what we're up to at General Assembly. I'm psyched to see some of you in Baltimore! |
Jan Gartner, Associate Director, Church Staff Finances |
How to Tell Us about Leader/Employee Changes
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Congregational Property and Casualty Insurance
Update from Hugh Dennis
Deputy Director, Church Staff Finances
Director, Insurance Plan Services
To Our Congregational Community:
During the past 6 weeks, I have heard from many of you via email exchanges and have held a handful of virtual meetings regarding the ongoing decaying state of our insurance coverage partnership plan with Church Mutual.
I have held several meetings with Church Mutual leadership to address your valid concerns around non-renewal of property coverage and partnership development. As such, I am in the process of engaging alternative carrier resources to ensure each congregation will have adequate insurance coverage respective of state requirement minimums and a direct pipeline to agency contact. More to come as this plan is taking shape.
Please know that we understand your concerns. We also recognize the importance of being responsive to your requests. We are committed to providing expert guidance for your immediate needs and inquires. This will take time, congregation by congregation, but we are on the path together. I encourage you to contact me (HDennis@uua.org) with any questions. In the interim, I will keep you updated. |
Insurance Team Informational Webinar Series
The UUA Insurance Team is hosting a series of webinars to help you better understand the plans we offer and everything that comes with being a member or an administrator. Starting in June and wrapping up in September, we'll have one webinar each month, giving you plenty of time to get familiar with our offerings prior to Open Enrollment in November. We're here to make sure you have all the info you need to advocate for yourself, your family, and/or your employees. Each session will include time for Q&A.
If you can't make it, just register and we'll send the recording. Our Insurance Team looks forward to seeing you. The first webinar is coming up on Thursday of this week!
Webinar 1: Health Insurance Basics & Enrollment Essentials
Co-pays, deductible, out-of-pocket maximums
Thursday, June 12, 2025 | 12:00–1:00 PM ET – that's this week!
Webinar 2: Comparing Health Plans, HSAs, & Online Tools
Highmark member portal, coverages, online premium calculator
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 | 12:00–1:00 PM ET
Webinar 3: Billing 101 – How to Pay, Stay Current, & Access Invoices Online
ACH enrollment, delinquency notices, CDS billing schedule
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | 12:00–1:00 PM ET
Webinar 4: Your Dental, Life, LTD, and Vision Benefits
Coverage details, how to submit life insurance claims, enrolling in member portals
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 | 12:00–1:00 PM ET
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Checklists for New Hires and New Employers
We've recently updated our Welcoming and Onboarding Checklist to help leaders feel confident that new staff are properly welcomed and that essential paperwork is handled.
Hiring staff for the first time? We have also prepared a New Employer checklist.
Both of these resources live on our Hiring Staff page. |
Church Staff Finances at General Assembly
Are you attending General Assembly, in person or virtually? Here's where you'll find us...
Meeting the Benefit Needs of Congregational/Organizational Staff
Live webinar, Friday, June 20, at 1:00 ET
In-person meet-up with CSF Team: Saturday, June 21, at 12:00 ET
Staffing: Faithful Discernment and Decision-Making
Pre-recorded video from Jan Gartner: available now in Whova
In-person meet-up with Jan: Friday, June 20, at 9:00 am ET
Meet the Moment Wave Cohort with Jan Gartner, Emily Cherry, and others
Growing Administrative Confidence, Competence, and Capacity Across Congregations
In-person, Thursday, Friday, & Saturday, 10:30 to noon ET
Cohort members will share an exploration of possibilities for leveraging existing expertise to strengthen personnel-related administrative practices in every congregation.
Booth Presence
Online in the Whova app (link to CSF booth for GA registrants)
Exhibit Hall booth #622 (with Empower, our Retirement Plan recordkeeper, at #624)
Service of the Living Tradition
At the Service of the Living Tradition on Thursday evening, the collection will go to the Living Tradition Fund, which provides scholarships to seminarians, debt reduction grants to ministers, and emergency assistance to congregational employees. This fund is administered by Rev. Richard Nugent, Director, Church Staff Finances. We see the needs every day and encourage you to give generously.
For GA registrants, find more information about all of the above on our Whova page. |
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UUA Church Staff Finances provides general information to
help equip and empower congregational leaders in their decision-making.
We are not legal or tax professionals and we do not track state law. Congregations are solely responsible for their legal obligations. We encourage you to consult your own legal and tax advisors for specific guidance. |
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