Homepage
 > Becoming An Organizational Employer

Becoming an Organizational / Conditional Employer

An Organizational Employer must be directly associated with or related to The United Church of Canada. The Employer must agree to participate in the Plans for all employees or a defined class of employees (e.g. management, hourly paid).
A Conditional Employer may or may not be directly associated with or related to the United Church. The Employer must agree to participate in the Plan(s) regarding a named United Church Ministry Personnel.
The United Church offers membership in its pension and benefit plans as part of our mission to offer coverage to people working in ecumenical, not-for-profit organizations. An Organizational Employer’s values and objectives should be compatible with those of The United Church of Canada. The Organizational Employer must agree to participate in the Plans for all employees, except those in exempt classes (i.e. have a union group with alternative coverage, etc.).
Current employees working 14 or more hours a week must be offered the opportunity to join; employees hired after the date the employer’s participation begins must participate if working at least 14 hours a week.

To make an application as an Organizational Employer the following is required:

  • The Organizational Employer Participation Agreement completed and signed by a representative of the organization.
  • General information about the organization.
  • A financial statement and current budget.
  • The name, address and telephone number of the organization’s Treasurer or Financial representative.
A Conditional Employer may or may not be directly associated with or related to the United Church. The Employer must agree to participate in the Plan(s) regarding United Church Ministry Personnel whose ministry has been recognized by the Church or who have been appointed by the Region to that ministry. Other employees, if there are any, are not eligible to participate in The United Church of Canada Plans. The employer may apply for Organizational Employer status if participation by other employees is desired.

To make an application as a Conditional Employer the following is required:

  • The Conditional Employer Participation Agreement completed and signed by a representative of the organization.
  • General information about the organization.
  • Written confirmation from Regional Council that the employee’s ministry at the organization is recognized by Regional Council.
  • The name, address and telephone number of the organization’s Treasurer or Financial representative.

Information about the Group Insurance Plans and Employee and Family Assistance Program is available here.

We advise new group insurance rates annually, before the new year. To calculate current employer and employee costs, please go to Budgeting Tools for Treasurers. “Pensionable Earnings” are equal to base salary.

Eligible employees of the new Organizational Employer are initially enrolled in the single core group insurance plan as of the employer’s participation date. Employees have 60 days from the effective date of the enrollment to elect any optional benefits. Life insurance over Non-Evidence Maximum (NEM), or late entrants are subject to the insurer’s approval (currently Canada Life).

If you become an Organizational Employer, you must participate in the United Church of Canada’s Pastoral Charge Payroll Service, administered by ADP. Please contact payroll@united-church.ca for further information regarding the payroll service.
For additional information please contact pensionboard@united-church.ca.

To apply for participation in the United Church plans, please contact pensionboard@united-church.ca to receive a Participation Agreement.

The full application will be reviewed for completeness and eligibility. If the documentation provided meets the criteria for participation in the church plans, the employer participation will be effective once the application is approved.

Quick Links

Group Benefits →
Information about Group Insurance Plans and the Employee and Family Assistance Program
Budgeting Tools for Treasurers →
Enable you to calculate the employer and employee costs.

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Here are some other Employer resources.

ADP Payroll Support

Get information about how the ADP Service provider processes your payroll.
Payroll Support →

Pension & Benefits Deductions

Get assistance with budgeting and to learn more about the deductions from your pension income, core and optional benefits.
Deductions →

We’re here if you need us

Get answers to your pension or benefits questions and find out how to get in touch with us.

Learn More →
Copyright © 2021 - All Rights Reserved - The United Church of Canada
Privacy Policy
cross