wfn.org | UMNS# 04431-American Baptists, United Methodists sign insurance

["NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

American Baptists, United Methodists sign insurance agreement 

Sep. 22, 2004	 News media contact:   Linda  Green * (615) 7425470* 
Nashville {04431}

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)-American Baptist college presidents will have an
opportunity to protect their institutions from lawsuits thanks to a new
cooperative venture with the United Methodist Church.

An agreement signed Sept. 3 by officials of both denominations offers group
buying power to the 26 colleges, universities, and seminaries affiliated with
American Baptist Churches USA through the insurance and risk management
services of Educational & Institutional Insurance Administrators Inc. The
president of each American Baptist institution will be offered the option of
joining the program.

The Rev. Jerome King Del Pino, top executive of the United Methodist Board of
Higher Education and Ministry, welcomed the American Baptist institutions.
The insurance and risk management agency is a board-related organization.

EIIA, headquartered in Chicago, was formed in the 1960s to provide group
purchasing and administration of insurance programs for United Methodist
schools. 

"The services of EIIA," Del Pino said, "ensure that each school has access to
protection, and relieve some of the burden of seeking individual coverage.
Its existence represents the ongoing core values of United Methodist higher
education" by maintaining each school's ability to continue its relationship
with the church and Christian higher education overall, he said.

The Rev. A. Roy Medley, top staff executive of the American Baptist
denomination, based in Valley Forge, Pa., praised the agreement. "This is the
church's expression of equal opportunity. It is a major factor in helping
schools in underserved areas, where access to such coverage has been
limited."

Del Pino and Medley agreed that the insurance administration agency offers
the schools better stewardship of resources through favorable group rates.  

In addition, Del Pino said, "The agreement expresses ecumenicity and the
community of Christ. The theological implication is this: Higher education is
not something that is an optional luxury. It is God's will that the human
predicament be enriched. Christian higher education is one way we accomplish
(and) carry out that enrichment."

 "The founding in the early 1960s was a response to the desperate need of
historically black colleges and universities that were refused coverage by
most insurance companies during the latter days of legal racial segregation,"
Del Pino said. "Its continuation attests to the fact that the denomination
has maintained a vital interest in providing such access."

Incorporated in 1976, EIAA has since expanded its services to provide
comprehensive coverage to schools affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America and the Presbyterian Church (USA).
 
Also attending the signing of the agreement were Siri S. Gadbois, president
of the insurance organization, and Wanda D. Bigham, staff executive of
schools, colleges and universities, representing the Division of Higher
Education of the United Methodist agency.

Through the partnership, schools affiliated with the four denominations
benefit from the combined insurance purchasing strength of more than 150
Christian liberal arts schools in 40 states. 

The United Methodist Church has 123 preparatory schools, colleges,
universities and theological schools, and one professional school. 

For more information, go online to http://www.eiia.org or call Marina von
Bergen of EIIA at (312) 648-0914, Ext. 201.

Information for this report was provided by Terri Hiers, executive director
of the Office of Interpretation at the United Methodist Board of Higher
Education and Ministry.

News media contact: Linda Green, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service