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Date: July 22, 2005
Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
V: 847/742-5100 F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL: _CoBNews@AOL.Com_ (mailto:CoBNews@AOL.Com) 
 

CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN NEWSLINE
July 22, 2005
 
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN STARTS STUDY OF BRETHREN MEDICAL PLAN
 
July 22, 2005 (Elgin, IL) -- The Church of the Brethren Annual Conference  
adopted a resolution on the Brethren Medical Plan in its meetings in Peoria, 

Ill., in early July. The resolution was brought by Brethren Benefit Trust
(BBT). 
 The Brethren Medical Plan is a health insurance plan for Church of the 
Brethren  pastors and church employees, district employees, employees of
Annual 
Conference  agencies and affiliated agencies and institutions, and their
families.
 
BBT has announced that the plan is in a "death spiral" caused by decreased  
membership, the erosion of a good spread of risk, increased health care
costs,	
and increased premiums. BBT brought the resolution for three reasons, 
reported  chair C. Richard Pogue: "One, the Brethren Medical Plan is
important to the 
 church. Two, the Brethren Medical Plan's future is in peril. And three, the 
plan  belongs to the church, it belongs to all of us." 
 
The Conference elected a committee to study the issue, including James C.  
Gibbel, an insurance agent and former member of the BBT board, of Lititz
(Pa.)  
Church of the Brethren; Brian Markle, a licensed minister, of Bermudian
Church 
 of the Brethren, East Berlin, Pa.; Willie Hisey Pierson, an insurance 
marketing  manager, of Neighborhood (Boulder Hill) Church of the Brethren, 
Montgomery,  Ill.; and Donna Shumate, a lawyer and retiring General Board
chair, of 
Peak  Creek Church of the Brethren in Laurel Spring, N.C.
 
The resolution gives biblical and historical background, lists the status  of

medical insurance in the denomination, and asks for a study committee to  
evaluate the plan and "assess the continuing need for and feasibility of a  
denominational medical insurance plan for employees of congregations,
districts,  
and church-related agencies." The resolution also calls on every eligible  
congregation, district, and church-related agency to participate in the plan 
from 
2006 through at least the conclusion of the study.
 
During a short discussion, delegates expressed concern for those who are  
uninsurable elsewhere, asked for consideration of working with other  
denominations on the issue, and added a question to a list that will be 
presented to the 
committee, asking for assessment of the possibility of a  denominational plan

for church members as well as employees.
 
For more information about the Brethren Insurance Plans, call BBT at  
800-746-1505.
 
The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to  
continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its
faith  in 
community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith  
traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrates its
 300th 
anniversary in 2008. It counts about 130,000 members across the United	
States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Brazil, the  
Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Nigeria.
 
# # #
 
For more information contact:
 
Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
Director of News Services
Church of the  Brethren General Board
1451 Dundee Ave.
Elgin, IL 60120
847-742-5100  ext. 260
_cbrumbaugh-cayford_gb@brethren.org_ 
(mailto:cbrumbaugh-cayford_gb@brethren.org) 
 
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The  Church of the Brethren Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford,

 director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board. 
Newsline  stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the
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