Plans for Clergy

Below, see Retirement Plans or Health Plans & Other Coverages offered specifically to the clergy of the Global Methodist Church.

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Clergy Benefits Eligibility

See which products you are eligible for based on your appointment percentage through GM Church.*
Full-Time
Mandatory for GM Church to provide:
  • Retirement
  • Health Plans
  • Life
  • Accident
  • Disability
Employee can select personal plans for:
  • Dental
  • Vision
3/4 Time
Mandatory for GM Church to provide:
  • Retirement
  • Life
  • Accident
  • Disability
Employee can select personal plans for:
  • Health Plans
1/2 Time
Mandatory for GM Church to provide:
  • Retirement
Employee can select personal plans for:
  • Health Plans
  • Life
  • Accident
  • Disability
1/4 Time
Ineligible for the clergy plan. However, the church may establish a lay-employee plan for these clergy and other employees.
*The Global Methodist Church has not established expected work hours as a determiner for the percentage of an appointment. The work hours schedule listed is a generally accepted principle in the benefits environment. Only the GM Church Bishop can determine the percentage of an appointment, upon recommendation from Conference officials.

Retirement Plans

Alongside Global Methodist Church, GuideStone® is excited to offer a unique retirement plan for church staff members. The plan is offered as part of GM Church’s commitment to a secure retirement investment platform for churches, pastors, staff and missionaries and is now available to all churches in the GM Church network.

GuideStone is one of the nation’s largest providers of employee benefits and financial services, working with 20,000 ministry partners and offering retirement plans customized to help employees reach their individual financial goals.

GuideStone Offers:

  • Faith-based Investments: GuideStone Funds® offers a comprehensive lineup of diversified mutual funds that integrate Christian values with fundamental investment analysis.
  • Ministers’ Tax Benefits: GuideStone offers a 403(b)(9) church retirement plan, allowing distributions as housing allowance in retirement for employees who qualify as Ministers for Tax Purposes.
  • Advisory Services: We offer a range of financial planning services, tailored investment strategies and ongoing investment management for those looking for a higher level of service.
  • Targeted Educational Resources: Access informative and timely employee resources. Employees can find personalized tools in their MyGuideStone® accounts.
GuideStone Retirement Overview

Guides and Tutorials for Clergy

FAQs

Who is eligible?
All Global Methodist Church clergy members serving at 1/2-time appointment or more are eligible to participate in the clergy retirement plan.
What types of costs are associated with the retirement plan?

There is no cost to the church to establish the retirement plan.

The Investor Share Class of each GuideStone Select Fund pays shareholder servicing and recordkeeping fees of 0.25% of average daily assets to GuideStone as an entity that provides services for and maintains records for shareholder accounts. This fee is included as part of the Net Annual Operating Expenses of each fund.
What kind of contributions can be made?
  • Clergy may make tax-sheltered, Roth, or after-tax contributions to the plan.
  • Churches are required to contribute 5% of the clergy’s compensation to the plan. In addition, if the clergy contributes to the plan, the church must make a dollar-for-dollar matching contribution of up to 5% of the clergy’s compensation.
What do standard plan provisions include?
  • 100% vesting on all contributions
  • Unlimited hardship withdrawal per plan year for participants less than age 59½ (must meet IRS requirements as a hardship)
  • Unlimited in-service withdrawals per plan year for participants who are at least age 59½
  • Distribution options of a single sum or systematic withdrawal payments after termination from service
  • One outstanding plan loan
How do I get started?
  • Complete the plan documents by contacting Kent Gayle. (Please include the church name-GM Church in the email.)
  • After plan document completion, you will receive information in order to enroll eligible participants to begin employee contributions via the GuideStone Employee Access® Program (EAP)

Health Plans and Other Coverages

GuideStone® believes when the body of Christ is healthy, it’s free to transform the world — and we want to help guide and equip your ministry to do just that. With GuideStone, your Global Methodist Church has access to a variety of Christian health plans, life coverage options and other benefit solutions designed for ministries like yours.

Global Methodist Church is offering the following benefits for clergy:

Health Plans

  • Health Choice 1000
  • Health Choice 5000
  • Health Saver 2000
  • Health Saver 4000

Dental Plans

  • Premier Dental Care Plan
  • Choice Dental Care Plan
  • Cigna Dental Care DHMO Plan

Vision Plans

  • Advanced Vision Plan
  • Standard Plus Vision Plan
  • Standard Vision Plan

icon graphic of a family
Term Life Plans

  • Employee Term Life Plan Coverage Amount: $50,000
  • Spouse Term Life Plan Coverage Amount: $15,000
  • Child Term Life Plan Coverage Amount: $10,000 per child

Accident (AD&D) Plans

  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Coverage Amount: $50,000
  • Optional Term Life and Supplemental AD&D are also available for additional coverage amounts.

Disability Plans

  • Premier Disability Plan

Health Plan Resources

CHURCH RESOURCES MEMBER RESOURCES
Who is eligible?

All Global Methodist Church clergy members who work at least 30 hours per week are eligible to participate in GuideStone coverage.

How do I get started?

Are you new to GuideStone? You will need to complete the Online Employer Information form via DocuSign. To request this form, please email us. This form allows GuideStone to set up the church in the system and identifies the person handling the plan administration.

Provider Contact Info

 
MINISTRY PARTNERS CAN CONTACT:
As a church admin, you can contact GMChurch@GuideStone.org or call (214) 720-2640.
 
MEMBERS CAN CONTACT:
As an individual member, if you have questions about doctors, scheduling appointments, making claims, etc., use the contact information below.
Health Plan: Highmark Clarity

Highmark Clarity Telemedicine: Teladoc®

Dental Plan: Cigna

Customer Service:

Life, AD&D, and Disability: Unum

  • For the claim submission process, contact your benefits administrator.
  • For questions about claims already submitted, contact Unum Life Claim Service: 1-800-445-0402

See more of what GuideStone offers.

Plans for Lay EmployeesGuideStone Overview

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We would be happy to discuss the specific needs of your church and staff. Complete the below, and we'll be in touch with you soon!

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