wfn.org | Board of Pensions beefs up educational efforts

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #7017 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

17-January-2002
02027

Board of Pensions beefs up educational efforts

Realignment frees up regional representatives to work more closely with middle governing bodies

by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE - With more people struggling to stay abreast of their increasingly complex medical and financial affairs, the Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has announced some organizational changes it hopes will enhance service to members of the denomination's Benefits Plan.

The plans include deployment of three highly-trained Educational Specialists to conduct the board's educational events, such as retirement planning, financial planning and health education.

That, in turn, will free up the board's regional representatives to work more closely with middle governing bodies in providing information about the board's benefits plans and assistance programs.

"We're trying to do things in a more focused way," the board's vice president for church relations and assistance the Rev. Paul Stavrakos told the Presbyterian News Service. "Our regional reps used to do it all, but tax laws and all make this a much more complex world, so we're beefing up our educational component."

The Educational Specialists are Linda K. Souder, currently the board's manager of member education, and two former regional representatives - the Rev. Steven R. Fleming and the Rev. James W. Graham.

The number of regional representatives will be reduced from nine to seven, with each regional representative responsible for a larger territory. Fleming will serve the Synods of the Northeast and the Trinity on an interim basis until a new representative is hired there. The others are:

* Patricia Gill Turner - Synod of Mid-Atlantic plus Kentucky and Tennessee of the Synod of Living Waters

* T. Clark Simmons - Synod of South Atlantic plus Mississippi and Alabama of the Synod of Living Waters

* The Rev. Mary "Minner" Serovy - Synods of the Covenant, Lakes and Prairies, Lincoln Trails and Mid-America

* The Rev. Janice H. Willette - Synods of Southern California and Hawaii, the Southwest and the Sun

* The Rev. Mark T. Frey - Synods of Alaska-Northwest, the Pacific and the Rocky Mountains

* The Rev. Paul G. Moon - non-geographic Korean presbyteries.

In addition, the Rev. Ernesto Badillo will serve the Synod of Boriquen
(Puerto Rico).

Individual inquiries will continue to be handled by the board's Regional Service Teams. "When people call the board's 800 number (800-773-7752), they will still be talking to the same people they've always talked to," Stavrakos said.

The board's regional managers continue to be John Latchum for the east, Doris McCray for the central region, and Todd Ingves for the west.

"What we're really trying to do," said Karen Babik, the board's communications director, "is increase our emphasis on educating members and working more closely with middle governing bodies so all of our plan members and employing organizations receive better service."
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