At its July meeting, the Board of Directors of The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) encouraged management to carefully and thoroughly consider the recommendation of the 219th General Assembly (2010) that the Board provide domestic partner benefits and to bring proposals for discussion to its meeting in the summer of 2011 with the intention of making formal recommendations in the fall of 2011. The Board hopes to implement initial changes in 2012.

The Board of Directors was advised that this action will affect many Board constituencies and encompasses an array of complex policy, administrative, and funding issues that need to be resolved before any changes to current Benefits Plan eligibility are implemented.  

“The Board of Pensions is committed to responding affirmatively to the action of the General Assembly, with a focus on doing what is in the best interests of our members and being attentive to the concerns of our participating employing organizations,” said Thomas C. Paisley, Jr., Chair of the Board of Directors. “There are many complexities associated with this matter, and they must be considered in depth before the Board takes any action,” Paisley said. 

Robert W. Maggs, Jr., Board of Pensions chief executive, said, “We will actively seek the full spectrum of views from our various constituents as we work to balance the interests of all concerned.” 

The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is the organization responsible for the administration of the Benefits Plan and Assistance Program of the denomination, managing about $6 billion and serving more than 50,000 ministers of the Word and Sacrament, other church workers, and their dependents who participate in the Benefits Plan of the PC(USA).