At a March 5 meeting of the directors of the Presbyterian Board of Pensions (BOP), Frank James, chair of the special committee on domestic partner benefits reported the committee has met three times, will hold listening sessions at regional benefits consultations and plans to make a progress report to the board at its October 2011 meeting.
The committee is grappling with the General Assembly’s approval last July of overture 18-06, which urges the BOP to extend retirement and health benefits to the same-sex partners of PC(USA) employees. These new benefits will be funded through increased dues paid out of offerings by PC(USA) congregations.
The General Assembly also “highly urged” the BOP to consider a “relief of conscience” provision that would exempt churches and other member organizations that oppose same-sex relationships from a requirement to pay medical bills for church employees’ same-sex partners.
“The committee’s discussions have convinced us that diligent consideration of the many issues presented will take more time than initially planned,” James said.
The committee expects no formal board action on the overture before March 2012. The board will report to the 220th General Assembly, set for June 30-July 7 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
If the board acts to extend coverage in response to the overture, any dues increase arising from that decision would take effect no sooner than Jan. 1, 2013.
