#1. Transferring Between Employers and Maintaining Eligibility
ELCIC Pension Plan
There is no minimum salary or other criteria to maintain membership in the pension plan once an employee is enrolled in the plan. Pension contributions should be made from any and all participating employers.
ELCIC Group Benefits Plan
Eligibility must be met and maintained to continue on the benefits in any ongoing position and for each new employer.
When moving between ELCIC employers, the health module that the member is enrolled in will continue with the new employer as long as eligibility is maintained.
#2. Updated Salary Forms
Please check with your congregation if they have provided a salary form to GSI for your new salary for 2026. Benefits and pension are based on your salary.
#3. Sick Time
Full-time employees are entitled to have 18 sick days each year, pro-rated for employees joining part way through the year. Part-time employees earn sick days on a pro-rated basis related to their regular hours of work.
Unused sick days may be carried over for a maximum accumulation of 28 days.
If you will be off more than 10 sick days (the maximum paid), a claim must be made to the short-term disability plan.
If you are not a member of the short-term disability plan, sick days continue to be paid to the maximum accrued subject to medical verification as determined by your employer.
If you have used fewer than ten sick days in the previous fiscal year, you are entitled to two personal days in the current fiscal year; these will count as sick days in the current year.
New Year, New Continuing Education Experiences!
by Deacon Gretchen Peterson Assistant to the Bishop, Youth & Leadership
It’s a new year! Time to think about what types of continuing education you might want to engage in for 2026!
Did you know that as rostered and lay leaders in the ELCIC, we are encouraged to engage in at least 90 hours of continuing education over each three-year period? Perhaps it feels overwhelming to contemplate fitting in one more thing, but there are great benefits of participating in regular continuing education experiences.
The Policy for our plan states the following:
The Continuing Education Plan (CEP) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) is a national program intended to encourage and support life-long learning among rostered and non-rostered/lay employees. CEP assists employers in achieving their goals for mission by providing resources for employee education and training. CEP also supports synods and the National Church in encouraging lifelong learning across the ELCIC.
So…what can you dream up today for your Con Ed experience for 2026?
Send me an email at gpeterson@elcic.ca so I know! I would love to highlight new and different Con Ed learning experiences here in this space, so let me know what you are up to!
And l’Il let you know what I’m planning for this year!
Taco Casserole
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6
Yield: 1 9×13-inch casserole
Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef
2 cups salsa
1 (16 ounce) can chili beans, drained
3 cups tortilla chips, crushed
2 cups sour cream
1 (2 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained
½ cup chopped green onions
½ cup chopped fresh tomato
2 cups shredded cheese of your choice
Directions
- Gather all your ingredients.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9 x 13-baking dish with cooking spray.
- Heat a bit of olive or other cooking oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add ground beef, stirring occasionally, until browned and crumbly, 8–10 minutes.
- Stir in salsa, reduce heat, and simmer until liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Stir in beans: cook until heated through.
- Spread crushed tortilla chips over the bottom of the baking dish; spoon beef mixture on the top. Spread sour cream over beef, then sprinkle olives, green onion, and tomatoes on top. Cover with the shredded cheese.
- Bake in the oven until hot and bubbly, about 30 minutes.
International Women's Day
Sunday, March 8th marked International Women’s Day, a global day dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and girls.
The day has its roots in New York City on March 8th, 1857, when female textile workers organized a protest against unfair working conditions and unequal rights. This then became a powerful moment in the fight for women’s rights.
The official colours of International Women’s Day are purple, green and white. Purple represents justice, dignity, and loyalty to the cause; green symbolizes hope; and white stands for purity.
International Women’s Day highlights a different theme annually to focus on key issues affecting women and girls (such as gender equality, empowerment, and inclusion.) The theme for 2026 is “Give to Gain,” highlighting how generosity, support, and collaboration help build greater equality for women’s rights. Giving time, resources and opportunities doesn’t take away from others but multiplies progress and benefits everyone.
Sleep and Stress
Expert: Dr. Leorra Newman, Ph.D, C.Psych
Ask an Expert Question / Concern:
“I feel like I’m stuck when it comes to sleep. I’m busy and stressed, so I end up staying up late either to get some time to myself or because my brain won’t shut off. Then, because I don’t get a good enough sleep, I wake up tired and I’m even more stressed during the day. How can I get out of this cycle?”
Description:
Good sleep is an essential stress management tool, but what happens when stress has your sleep out of whack and lack of sleep is making stress even harder to manage?
Join Kii Health this month to explore the relationship between sleep and stress, including how to manage daytime stress, what to do when you’re tired but wired, and other practical strategies for escaping this cycle to get the rest you need.
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Time: 12:00 – 12:30 pm ET
You can also watch the recording later using the same link.
We welcome your questions & feedback!
please write to us: admin@elcicgsi.ca
or call toll free: 1-877-352-4247 (in Winnipeg 204-984-9181)
information and resources can also be found on the GSI website