“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

By action of the General Assembly in 1971, a Churchwide Health Care program was created for clergy (active and retired), missionaries, and church workers in congregations, regions and general ministries with Pension Fund acting as trustee. Today more than 2,900 church servants and their families rely on the Churchwide Health Care program for their primary medical, dental, and vision insurance. The insurance program has been, and must remain self-funded. Pension Fund does not allow retirement investments to be used to support the operations of the health care program. The health care program must be self-sustaining.   

In May of 2005, the Pension Fund confronted the ongoing issues of managing the Churchwide Health Care program including: increasing costs, declining participating membership, and a substantial debt. If no resolution could be found for these issues, the Pension Fund, with reluctance, would have to resign as trustee. The General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) gathered in Portland, Oregon, in July 2005, was asked to make a challenging decision:  the church must renew its strong commitment to churchwide health care and take steps to support it, or must face the probable demise of this program. 

The General Assembly overwhelmingly affirmed its full support by instructing the Pension Fund to (1) redevelop the program with fees comparable to other local health care programs, (2) encourage the church to provide a supportive workplace for the health and well being of clergy and church workers, and (3) establish a Health Care Reserve Fund by conducting a capital campaign.

The Pension Fund began its work immediately following the General Assembly. A new management company was hired, and a competitive fee-structure for health care premiums was put in place in early October 2005. Lower premium costs and a new program administrator are attracting great interest throughout the denomination. The cost savings for congregations, regions and general ministries increases the availability of financial resources for other ministries of the church.

The Heartbeats of Faith Campaign is a church-wide effort to raise at least $5,000,000 for the purpose of assuring viability of the Churchwide Health Care program.

The Health Care Benefit Reserve Fund principal is available to:

Income earned from the Health Care Benefit Reserve Fund is available to:

The Heartbeats of Faith Campaign will be completed and celebrated at the General Assembly in Fort Worth , Texas in 2007. Pension Fund will act as the trustee of the Fund. The Heartbeats of Faith Campaign is all about health, health of the Churchwide Health Care program, health of our clergy and church workers, health of our congregations, and the health of the whole church. Experience teaches that a healthy church gives vigorous witness to the good news of Jesus Christ. Heartbeats of Faith is your invitation to add your treasures and heart to this vital work of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

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Q: What is the Heartbeats of Faith Campaign?
A: The Heartbeats of Faith is a capital campaign designed to raise $5 million to assure the sustainability of the Churchwide Healthcare Program.

Q: What is the Churchwide Healthcare Program?
A: The Churchwide Healthcare Program is the health insurance program available to clergy (active and retired), missionaries, and church workers in congregations, regions and general ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). By action of the General Assembly in 1971, the Churchwide Health Care program was created with the Pension Fund acting as trustee.

Q: Who is part of the churchwide Healthcare program?
A: More than 2,900 church servants and their families rely on the Churchwide Health Care program for their primary medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance.

Q: Why is the Heartbeats of Faith Campaign needed?
A: The campaign will assure the sustainability of the Churchwide Healthcare Program – a self-funded program. The trustees of the Churchwide Healthcare program were confronted with the ongoing management issues including: increasing costs and declining participating membership causing a substantial debt. The viability of the program was challenged. The General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) gathered in Portland , Oregon , in July 2005, was asked to make a critical decision: the church needed to renew its strong commitment to churchwide health care and take steps to support it, or face the probable demise of this program.

Q: How will the $5million be used?
A: Gifts to the Heartbeats of Faith Campaign will be invested in the new Health Care Benefit Reserve Fund.

The Health Care Benefit Reserve Fund principal is available to:
•  Manage program costs,
•  Sustain program viability,
•  Offset claims in excess of premiums.

Income earned from the Health Care Benefit Reserve Fund is available to:
•  Subsidize health care premiums for:
•  Older (60+years) health plan participants,
•  Pensioners who have great financial need,
•  New church pastors.
•  Support wellness programs for clergy and other church workers.

Q: How can I contribute?
A: Gifts from individuals, congregations, church organizations, corporations and foundations will all be needed to achieve the goal of $5 million. One time gifts or gifts that will be received over a period of time are equally welcomed. All commitments should be fulfilled by December 31, 2007.

Gifts can be made by check, by secured transaction at www.heartbeatsoffaith.org, or by gift of securities.

Q: When will the Campaign conclude?
A: The Heartbeats of Faith Campaign will be celebrated by the 2007 General Assembly in Fort Worth , Texas . Most gifts will be fulfilled by December 31, 2007.

Q: How can I get updates on the Campaign?
A: Regular updates can be automatically emailed directly or can be viewed at www.heartbeatsoffaith.org.

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