Continuing Education Plan:

Renewing Professional Leaders in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
 

Purpose & Guidelines

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) encourages high standards for its professional leaders. A fundamental requirement is a thorough grounding in the Christian faith and Holy Scriptures coupled with an understanding of the world and society in which ministry must take place. In addition, servant leaders need to grow continually in understanding and competence in order to be faithful in discipleship.

The Continuing Education Plan (CEP) of the ELCIC, under the direction of the Program Committee for Leadership for Ministry, offers the means by which pastors, diaconal ministers and lay professional leaders and other church lay workers may:

• develop present knowledge and skills;
• acquire new knowledge and skills; and
• experience growth for more effective ministry.

Continuing education can be done through credit courses, non-credit courses, workshops, church-wide events, self-study, retreats or guided groups.

Continuing education should be planned to further the individual’s goals for ministry and to serve the employer/congregation’s goals for mission.  Continuing education in the ELCIC, therefore, is seen as a joint effort between the employee and the employer/congregation. Although membership in Continuing Education Plan (CEP) is on a voluntary basis the Program Committee for Leadership for Ministry recommends that all ELCIC employees become a CEP member as a way of encouraging life-long learning.

Member Account

A separate account is maintained for each member, where the member contributions, employer/congregation contributions and education disbursements are recorded.   Financial administration is provided nationally by ELCIC Group Services Inc and therefore the account continues if the member transfers to another ELCIC employer/congregation. 

Interest, net of administrative costs, on accumulated funds is designated to the long-term fund, i.e. no interest is added to the member account. 

Contributions

For rostered leaders, contributions are based on the recommended salary guidelines of their synod. Normally, contributions are made on the basis of 1/3 being paid by the member and 2/3 being paid by the employer/congregation. For employees not covered by synod guidelines, the recommended minimum annual contribution of the member is $150 and the employer/congregation is $300. A larger amount may be contributed on the basis of 1/3 being paid by the member and 2/3 being paid by the employer/congregation.  Alternatively, a member may make contributions without the employer/congregation portion or in addition to the recommended ratio. Employers/congregations may also choose to pay the entire CEP contribution on behalf of an employee.

Employer/congregation contributions are not vested and will be transferred to the long term fund when a member closes their account. 

Study Leave Time

All study leaves must be related to the member’s job responsibilities or to a recognized degree program.

Retirement

Education Disbursements: Short Term (1 day to 6 weeks)

Travel costs incurred in order to participate in an approved individual study program with travel or sponsored study/travel tour programs are an allowable expense.

CEP funds are intended only for continuing education purposes.  Funds may not be used to purchase or lease computers or other equipment.

Termination / Account Closure

Members in the process of terminating service in the ELCIC may use their full account balance for the purposes of retraining.  Whenever possible, members are advised to consider the use of CEP funds as part of their transition strategy before service is complete.  Arrangements to use funds for re-training require the endorsement of the Synodical Bishop, and must be applied for within two months of terminating service.  If the member elects not to apply for the funds for retraining, the member portion will be paid out to the member and the employer/congregation’s portion will be transferred to the long-term fund.   

If a member transfers to another roster (e.g. the ELCA), the member account will be treated in the same manner as a termination; the member portion in the account will be paid out to the member and the employer/congregation portion will be transferred to the long-term fund.  

In the event of a member’s death, the member portion in the account will be paid out to the designated beneficiary.  The employer/congregation’s portion will be transferred to the long-term fund. 

Education Disbursements: Long Term (3 to 12 months)

Application Approval – The member must first have permission for an extended leave of absence (3 months or more) from their employer/congregation and their Synodical Bishop. Then the grant application form must be completed and submitted to the Program Committee for Leadership for Ministry (via National Office). Applications for long-term funds will be considered annually by the Program Committee for Leadership for Ministry and therefore applications must be received by January 15th each year for the upcoming academic year for which funds are required. 

Awards – The maximum grant awarded per member for any one year will be $5,000. The size of grants awarded in a given year will depend on availability of funds and number of applicants. Consideration will be given to need. The total amount awarded per member in any 10-year period shall not exceed $25,000.

Salary During Study Leave - The employer/congregation will be encouraged to contribute a portion of the member’s salary during this leave (e.g. employed 3 years–20%; 4 years–30%; 5 years–40%; 6 years–50%, etc.). This would include the understanding that the member returns to the employer/congregation for at least one year following the study leave if the employer/congregation desires that the member return.

Additional Requirements for long term study -

All study leaves must be related to the member’s job responsibilities or to a recognized degree program (academic or clinical) requiring full-time residency.

A member who is applying for long-term funds is expected to use funds from his or her CEP member account in support of his or her long term study goals. 

Members who are awarded a long-term grant will be asked to submit a report to the Program Committee for Leadership for Ministry that briefly describes the activities, insights and benefits of their studies.       

All extended study leave for pastors are to be planned with the Synodical Bishop for purposes of career counselling and so that adequate arrangements can be made for pastoral services during the absence.

Administration

Forms – All forms for enrollment, contribution remittance, approval for short term study payment authorization, and application for long term study grants can be found here or at elcic.ca.

For guidance on determining whether education costs paid by the employer are a taxable benefit please read the Income Tax information found here.