Adopted May 6, 2006

Lay Employee Benefits and Parity

Resolution 2006-8

Submitted by:
Compensation and Benefits Committee
Michael C. Warlow, Chair

RESOLVED, that the 222nd Convention of Diocese of Maryland, meeting May 5-6, 2006, affirms that all parishes, missions, and diocesan organizations or bodies in the Diocese of Maryland, including the Diocesan Center and the Claggett Center, shall provide to all lay employees who work a minimum of 1000 hours annually, retirement benefits through participation in the Episcopal Church Lay Employees Retirement Plan (ECLERP) or an equivalent plan, the provisions of which are at least equal to those of ECLERP. If the plan is a defined benefit plan, the employer contribution shall be not less than 9 percent of the employee’s salary; if the plan is a defined contribution plan, the employer shall contribute not less than 5 percent and agree to ‘match’ employee contributions of up to another 4 percent; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the employer may impose a minimum age of 21 years and a minimum employment period not to exceed one year of continuous employment before an employee would be eligible to participate; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Diocese of Maryland affirms that all parishes, missions, and diocesan organizations or bodies in the Diocese of Maryland, including the diocese itself and the Claggett Center, are encouraged to provide to all lay employees who work a minimum of 1000 hours annually, health and life insurance benefits that are comparable to those provided to active clergy in the diocese; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the diocese encourages parishes and other organizations and bodies to participate in diocesan health and life insurance benefit programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Diocese of Maryland affirms that all parishes, missions, and diocesan organizations or bodies in the Diocese of Maryland, including the diocese itself and the Claggett Center, shall provide parity for clergy and lay employees serving in equivalent positions, with regard to salary, pension, insurance, and benefits, including medical and professional development.

Explanation

This resolution will put the Diocese of Maryland in compliance with three Resolutions from the 1991 and 1997 General Conventions. Specifically:

• Resolution D165, 1991 on lay retirement benefits. General Convention and the Compensation and Benefits Committee see the provision of retirement benefits to lay employees who work a minimum of 1000 hours annually as a matter of social justice. We note particularly that this resolution will be a step toward parity between lay and clerical employees in the matter of retirement benefits.
• Resolution A137, 1991 concerning health and life insurance benefits. General Convention and the Compensation and Benefits Committee see the provision of health and life insurance benefits to lay employees who work a minimum of 1000 hours or more annually as a matter of social justice.
• Resolution B018, 1997 concerning equity for equivalent positions. General Convention and the Compensation and Benefits Committee see the provision of parity between clerical and lay employees in comparable jobs as a matter of social justice.
• The full text of D165, A137 and B018 are available from the Diocesan Human Resources Office.