Title: Board moves ahead with domestic partner
insurance, chooses president-elect
Date: May 18, 2001
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
01a-29
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) - The Board of Directors of the Pension Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), meeting here May 10- 11, voted to provide coverage under the Churchwide Health Care program for domestic partners of church employees covered by family insurance. Program administrators and attorneys are developing the precise definitions, plans and procedures necessary for implementation of the coverage, which could come as early as January 2002. The change applies only to health care coverage, not to the Pension Plan or other programs.
The board's Membership and Benefits Committee had been exploring domestic partner coverage for five years. During that time, the committee sought and heard advice from attorneys and the administrators of other institutional pension funds.
In early 2001, the Pension Fund board said it was willing to consider such coverage if the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) requested it to do so. In April, the church's General Board formally asked the Pension Fund board to make the decision regarding domestic partner coverage. The General Board did not recommend a particular decision. Rather, its action expressed the conviction that the decision should be made solely by the Pension Fund board.
In other business, the board elected James P. Hamlett as Vice President/President-elect. He will begin his work with the Pension Fund Aug. 1.
For the past 28 years Hamlett has served the church through the Board of Church Extension. Since 1995, he has been Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.
Hamlett earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Kansas and a master of business administration in finance from Indiana University. Currently he is pursuing certified financial planner and chartered financial consultant designations through American College, Bryn Mawr, Pa.
Arthur Hanna, president of the Pension Fund, and Hamlett will work closely in a transition process until Hanna's retirement in February 2004.
The Pension Fund board followed an executive search model endorsed last year by the General Board. Church Finance Council President Lois Artis Murray assisted the board as a consultant.
Hamlett is an active member of Geist Christian Church, Indianapolis. He and his wife, Linda S. Jonker Hamlett, are the parents of two children.
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