Congregational Pastors Package
The Congregational Pastors Package is a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the wholeness of PC(USA) congregational pastoral leaders.
For pastoral leaders enrolled in the Congregational Pastors Package, a new dues subsidy will help alleviate the cost of covering dependent children in the Medical Plan, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
Who’s eligible
The Congregational Pastors Package may be offered by PC(USA) congregations to congregational pastoral leaders and is required for installed PC(USA) pastors.
A congregational pastoral leader is a minister of the Word and Sacrament or commissioned pastor employed by a PC(USA) congregation, including PC(USA) installed ministers and ministers and commissioned pastors working 20 hours or more per week.
Non-PC(USA) ministers serving the PC(USA) and PC(USA) ministers serving other denominations are not eligible for this package. For further details, please review Administrative Rule 301.
What’s included
Employer-paid benefits
Congregational pastoral leaders enrolled in the Congregational Pastors Package receive the following benefits:
- PPO medical coverage for the congregational pastoral leader (Member-only)
- Defined Benefit Pension Plan, providing guaranteed monthly income throughout retirement
- Death and Disability Plan, offering peace of mind and income security
- Temporary Disability Plan, providing partial income to employees if they become unable to work because of a short-term sickness or injury
Dues for employers are 17.5% of effective salary for Member-only PPO medical coverage, plus 10% of effective salary for income protection benefits (subject to minimum and maximum dues for medical coverage), paid entirely by the employer.
2026 member-only medical dues | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Coverage level | Dues | Annual minimum dues | Annual maximum dues |
| Member-only | 17.5% | $6,500 | $18,500 |
Dependent medical coverage
Medical coverage for eligible family members is available to all ministers, and employers may share in the cost.
Dues for child(ren), spouse, and family (spouse and child[ren]) is established as national, community-rated, fixed pricing and is the same regardless of the number of children enrolled.
2026 dependent medical coverage dues | |
|---|---|
|
Coverage level | Dues per month |
| Child(ren) | $829.17 |
| Spouse | $1,020.83 |
| Family | $1,850 |
Total medical dues for covering family members include the 17.5% of effective salary for the member combined with the flat rate amount for the selected level of dependent coverage.
2026 member and family medical coverage dues | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Coverage level | Monthly dues |
Combined annual minimum dues |
Combined annual maximum dues |
| Member + Child(ren) | 17.5% + $829.17 | $16,450 | $28,450 |
| Member + Spouse | 17.5% + $1,020.83 | $18,750 | $30,750 |
| Member + Family | 17.5% + $1,850 | $28,700 | $40,700 |
Benefits eligible for cost-sharing
Employers must also offer the following benefits to congregational pastoral leaders enrolled in the Congregational Pastors Package and they may share in the cost:
- Retirement Savings Plan of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),* helping participants build savings and achieve long-term retirement goals
- Dental Plan, providing coverage for a wide range of preventive and restorative services and orthodontic treatment
- Vision Plan, providing an annual vision exam and coverage for eyeglasses or contacts
- supplemental death benefits, providing additional benefits to those offered through the Death and Disability Plan
*An employer matching contribution to the Retirement Savings Plan is not considered part of effective salary.
Flexible spending accounts
Employers may choose to offer two types of flexible spending accounts (FSAs) to congregational pastoral leaders in the Congregational Pastors Package:
Assistance and education programs
To nurture ministry, Benefits Plan members, including those enrolled in the Congregational Pastors Package, gain access to Board of Pensions programs that cultivate their wholeness:
- Lifelong Learning, including CREDO for eligible ministers, supporting members at specific stages of their life, career, or ministry
-
Assistance Program grants, providing financial assistance to eligible members
Creating new calls with the Shared Ministry Program
The Shared Ministry Program encourages two or more PC(USA) congregations to covenant to create sustainable pastoral positions. By providing benefits dues subsidies, the program helps ministry flourish and sustains it for the long term.