Treasurers Together

The ELCIC Pension Plan is a defined contribution pension plan (DC), which means that the Plan requires a specific contribution amount to be saved for retirement each month. Those savings accumulate in the individual account. The employer portion is immediately vested, that is, immediately available to the employee.

In DC pension plans, a member is required to transfer their accumulated pension funds to a financial institution. GSI provides the member with available options to directly transfer their funds out of the plan to a financial institution.

Pension plans do not amalgamate. GSI has engaged consultants to look at various other pension plans including Anglican Church of Canada and it was determined the ELCIC Pension Plan is well managed and provides a good pension for all its members.

Scenario
Year 1 No sick days taken, carry-over of 18 sick days approved.
Year 2: Does employee have 18+18 = 36 sick days PLUS 2 personal days?
Up to 10 sick days may be carried over from year to year, allowing for up to 28 days of sick time. If you use less than 10 sick days in year 1, you may use up to 2 days of sick time as personal time in year 2. These personal days reduce your sick time entitlement.

No, there is a maximum of 10 days of sick time carried over from year 1 to year 2, so the maximum sick days in a year is 28.

The harmonized National Guidelines can be found on our website.

Section 2.6a of the CEP policy states: “Members are expected to engage in at least 90 hours of continuing education over each three-year period.”

GSI does reporting to the bishops on usage of the CEP program.

There are no consequences if not completed; this is for PCLM to determine.

Section 2.5 of the CEP policy states:
“The time required to undertake an educational event should be provided with pay on a reasonable basis. The following serves as guidance:

• two weeks annually (including two Sundays for rostered employees)
• accumulated to a maximum of six weeks over three years (including a maximum of six Sundays for rostered employees).”

Note: Accumulated study leave cannot be used at the end of employment.

No, we do not include utilities in the salary calculation for pension and benefits.

Taxable benefits are a good, service or allowance provided by an employer that offers a personal advantage or measurable monetary value to an employee. The benefits provided by GSI that are taxable are: employee life insurance premiums, accidental death and dismemberment premiums, and dependent life insurance premiums.

The Clergy Residence Deduction allows eligible clergy to deduct housing costs from taxable income if they meet the requirements set out by CRA.

The employer should contact GSI so we may work together to determine why there is a discrepancy.

If all the following conditions are met, a T4A is required:

• The payment was not made to one of your employees
• The individual provides a service for a fee
• The fee amount is actually paid
• You deducted tax from the payment

Generally, if you pay a fee to a person to provide a service outside of an employment relationship, you need to fill out a T4A slip.

You may use the CRA payroll deductions online calculator for statutory deduction calculations.

Eligibility for pension and benefits is not determined by full- or part-time status. Eligibility is based on meeting 25% yearly maximum pensionable earnings (YMPE), which changes each year. If you have questions about whether or not a part-time employee is eligible for benefits, please reach out to our office.

Contractors are not entitled to ELCIC pension and benefit plans. CRA guidelines should be looked at to determine whether your hired person is an employee or a contractor.

Supply pastors are not generally considered a contractor.

Is there a time tracking app or software method that GSI would recommend?

We are in the process of creating a tracking sheet.

The budget worksheet can be found here.