What's New

Future Synod Assembly Dates


 

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Synod offers Opportunity Grants for mission and ministries that benefit more than one entity. In 2014 $13,000 was awarded, leaving funds available for 2015 applicants. >>Application

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In 2015, four renewing Hilda Thompson Medical Ministries  Grants were awarded totalling $19,153.00.  >> Application 

Synod of the Pacific also offers Emerging Needs Grants.  Over $15,000 in Grant requests were approved in 2015. >>Application


Welcome to Synod of the Pacific


Synod of the Pacific 2022 Open Enrollment Announcement!

IMPORTANT MESSAGE

Open Enrollment is quickly approaching, and we are pleased to announce that we will continue to offer a comprehensive health benefits package that includes the Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and AD&D Benefit Plans. 

Open Enrollment starts November 4th for the plan year beginning January 1, 2022.  Please note that this plan year will end December 31, 2022.  All Churches and Organizations (Churches/Orgs) within the bounds of the Synod of the Pacific are eligible to offer our Benefit Plans to their Benefit-Eligible Employees working at least twenty hours per week.  This year, the Synod of the Pacific continues to offer two Sutter Health HMO Medical Plans to California Churches/Orgs, two Kaiser HMO plans in California, and one Kaiser NW plan in the Oregon/Washington regions.  To see if the Sutter HMO medical plans service your California region, please enter your zip code at: http://www.sutterhealthplus.org/providersearch (Note: Sutter implements the “live/work rule” where employees living or working within 30 miles of a service area are eligible for these plans).  For those Churches/Orgs in areas not served by our medical plans, we suggest looking at the Board of Pensions (BOP) Affiliated Benefits Program Medical Plan at www.pensions.org.  Since our Section 125 Flexible Spending Account Plan also runs on a calendar year, open enrollment for this plan has begun as well.  For detailed information on all of our benefit plans, please review this entire Benefit Guide and the “Benefits” tab on www.synodpacific.org.

In addition to offering five medical plans through Sutter, Kaiser and Kaiser NW, the Synod of the Pacific continues to offer the same two Anthem Dental Plans that are bundled with up to $15,000 Life/ADD coverage and Anthem’s Resource Advisor, which is comparable to an Employee Assistance Plan with free counseling, legal advice and financial planning.  Synod of the Pacific continues to offer two VSP Vision Plans (all available country-wide).  Voluntary Life Insurance through Reliance Standard is also available and a guaranteed issue for New Hires interested in procuring this optional coverage.  We continue to offer our Section 125 FSA Plan through Vantage Flex.

Premium rates for our Anthem Dental Plans and VSP Vision plans are the same as last year; however, there is a slight increase in the Kaiser and Sutter Medical Plans.  The Vantage Flex FSA fee has remained the same at $4/month per employee. 

All employees wishing to receive Synod benefits for the 2022 year need to enter their selections via Paycom by Saturday, December 4, 2021 (even if they do not wish to make changes to their current/2021 benefits). Current/2021 benefits will end on 12/31/2021, and if you do not enter your 2022 selections by December 4th, you will not have benefits starting on 01/01/2022. You can find further information under the "Benefits" tab above.

Separately, Section 125 FSA changes are also due by Saturday, December 4, 2021.  Please note that all FSA participants must also re-elect coverage; there are no exceptions.

NOTE:

  • Open Enrollment is from November 4th-December 4th, 2021.
  • Plans are effective 1/1/2022-12/31/2022
  • For more information, including the 2022 benefits options and rates, please select the "Benefits" tab at the top this page.
  • For additional benefits and Open Enrollment inquiries, please email Lindsay McLaughlin at Lindsay@synodpacific.org





Mission Treasury Department

Synod of the Pacific offers Mission/Ministry grants through it Mission Partnership. Your project may be eligible for one.

Emerging Need Grant

Emerging Need Grants were established in 2006, to provide funding assistance to Presbyterian Entities that have an emerging (suddenly arising) ministry or mission project which had not been included in their member Presbytery's or Synod's current year's fiscal budget. 

<<get application>>


Hilda V. Thompson Medical Ministry Fund

Hilda V. Thompson, a former member of First Presbyterian Church, Soda Springs, left a gift of her working ranch and investment portfolio to five recipients including the Synod of the Pacific.

Through this bequest a Medical Ministry Fund was established offering grants for "medical services for people in need in the United States".

Applicants may seek a one to three year reducing grant, not to exceed an initial grant of $5,000.00. 

Preference is given to Parish Nursing Programs, however, applications that focus on health screening, preventive education, or caregivers support are given favorable consideration.

<< get application>>

 

Opportunity Fund Grants

In 2008, the Opportunity Fund was established by the Synod's Mission Partnership in order for separate entities to come together for a specific project/mission within the Synod of the Pacific. Entities could be two churches, a church and a presbytery, a presbytery and Synod, or any combination as long as one entity is Presbyterian.

Restrictions for the type of project are few because opportunities come in a variety of shapes and sizes. 

<< get application>>

 

March 31st: Deadline for grant application review at May Stated Synod Assembly. 

August 31st: Deadline for grant application review at October Stated Synod Assembly.