Bingo 2007 July

Buzzword Bingo

What is the fate of the One Board? Its destiny awaits in Cleveland at Annual Conference. Don't forget to take along Buzzword Bingo.

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Brethren Death Spiral Plan

From its beginning, the Church of the Brethren has modeled the concept of mutuality, emulating the teachings of the Apostle Paul. In I Corinthians 12:24-27 (NIV), Paul states, “But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is part of it.”

Whereas:

• Insurance consultants have warned that the Brethren Medical Plan needs to be stabilized or terminated as it is in the early stages of a “death spiral,” a downward cyclical phenomenon resulting from increased medical costs, increased risk, and declining membership,
  
  
• The Brethren Benefit Trust Board, in an attempt to stabilize the Brethren Medical Plan, announced in August 2004 that each district would need to have 75 percent of its eligible congregations in the Brethren Medical Plan by Jan. 1, 2007; as of this date, districts will not be able to participate in the Plan until this requirement is met,
  
  
• The Brethren Benefit Trust Board will delay implementing its 75 percent participation requirement, subject to the creation of an Annual Conference Study Committee as called for below, through Dec. 31, 2008, or until the completion of the study, whichever is latest.

Resolution:
Assess the continuing need for a denominational medical insurance plan for employees of congregations, districts, and church-related agencies. Be it further resolved that the 2005 Annual Conference delegates call on every eligible congregation, district, and church-related agency to participate in the Brethren Medical Plan from 2006 through at least the conclusion of the study. The delegates also call on district and Brethren Benefit Trust staff and other stakeholders in the Plan to work together to promote the Plan to all eligible employers, including colleges, retirement home communities, and other agencies that relate to districts.

One Board to Bind Them

The Review and Evaluation Committee is recommending the merger of the General Board and the Association of Brethren Caregivers into one incorporated legal entity entitled “The
Church of the Brethren, U.S.A.” The board of directors (trustees) of the corporation would have responsibility to oversee the domestic and international ministries as the administrative and programmatic agency for the denomination. We also strongly encourage On Earth Peace to consider joining together with these two agencies through prayerful discussions with their board, executives, and the wider church as the agencies work toward unity.

Background:
The One Board was created by the Dark Lord Sauron during the Second Age in order to gain dominion over the free peoples of Middle-earth. In disguise as Annatar, or "Lord of Gifts", he aided the Brethren smiths of Eregion and their leader Celebrimbor, in the making of the Boards of Power. He then forged the One Board himself in the fires of Mount Doom. He intended it to be the most powerful of all Boards, able to rule and control the others. Since the other Boards were extremely powerful, Sauron was obliged to place most of his native power, life force and will into it to effect his purpose. A side effect of his doing this was that as long as the Board existed, it was impossible to remove him from the mortal plane. The risk to Sauron was that if he were to lose the Board, he would also lose a great deal of his own power, and if the Board were to be destroyed, perhaps even his life.

One Board to rule them all,
One Board to find them,
One Board to bring them all
and in the darkness bind them.

Health Care Legacy

Health Care Legacy

Andrew Speaker, Director of Hygiene for the Association of Brethren Caregivers, reminds church members that the Church of the Brethren has a long history in the field of health care.

Jesus Is My Health Insurance

NCPNS - Vol 5