Center for Clergy Excellence

What is the Center for Clergy Excellence?  

See Organizational Structure  

Upcoming Clergy Excellence Events  

Elder’s Retreat, March 6 – 8, 2012 at Lakeview

Retreat theme is Contemplation and Action – the relationship between prayer and action in the ministry.  Retreat leaders will be the Rev. Dr. Tom Ward and Bishop Janice Riggle Huie.  Register by February 21 at the link above. 

Clergy Family Retreat, April 20 – 22, 2012 at Camp Cho-Yeh in Livingston

A weekend of fun and inspiration for all clergy families with elementary and preschool age children!  Round table discussion on Dr. Gary Chapman’s book, The Five Love Languages of Children.  Hayride, smores, swimming, movie under the stars: Register above by March 26.

Update on the Clergy “No Limits Weight Loss Challenge!” January 1 – June 30, 2012

Want to see how the competition is coming thus far?  Check out your district’s progress at the link above.  For weight lost from Jan. – June, 2012, be sure and send in your incentive form to earn your cash incentive and be counted in the district competition.  The competition also counts prior weight loss for which incentives have been paid – so if you have not yet filed for an incentive for weight lost since the start of the Wellness Program, be sure and do so now!

Not yet attended a Day of Wellness to enroll in the Wellness Program?

It’s not too late – there will be 3 Day of Wellness events in 2012.  Register at the above link by Feb. 9 for Thursday, Feb. 16 Day of Wellness at FUMC Conroe, Wesley Room (west end of bdlg.)  Other 2012 dates are Thurs., April 19 at Longview, Greggton UMC and Thurs., August 30 at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.  Pre-registration is required and space is limited.  The $175 registration fee is refunded after participation for TAC employees/spouses enrolled in GHB. More information: GHB Wellness Program. 

Generic Drugs save you money!

Lipitor, the best-selling drug of all time and one of the most widely used drugs by the TAC, is now available in generic form (atorvstatin).  For active clergy on Script Care, the co-pay is $10 for generic vs. $55 for formulary name brand drugs.  You’ll see the greatest savings by asking your doctor to prescribe generic equivalents of name-brand drugs whenever possible, and secondly, to prescribe from the Script Care formulary, because non-formulary name-brand drugs are the most expensive.  For more info, go to www.scriptcare.com and register as a member. 

Clergy who are Medicare Primary can get drug cost info from their respective plans: United Healthcare Medicare RX for Groups at www.uhcmedicarerxforgroups.com or the Humana Medicare Advantage Plan at www.humana.com.

Methodist Hospital and East Texas Medical Center (ETMC) Special Privileges

For many years The Methodist Hospital System and the ETMC Hospital System have graciously agreed not to collect deductibles or coinsurance from eligible participants of the TAC Group Health Benefits Plan (this write-off is not available to clergy who are Medicare Primary or on the High Deductible Plan).  This non-collection provided a savings of $239,227 in 2011 to the clergy of the TAC, for which we are most appreciative!  Please be aware, however, that this unique benefit does not extend to the doctors or other healthcare practitioners who provide treatment at these facilities.  For further information, refer to the TAC website at the link above. 

If you anticipate relocating this year, save these 2012 ”You Say Goodbye…I Say Hello” Itinerancy and Relocation Event dates (these events are required for all relocating TAC clergy): 

Saturday, April 28, 2012 at FUMC Longview or

Saturday, May12, 2012 at FUMC Conroe

Deacon & Diaconal Ministers Retreat, March 5 – 6, 2012 at Holy Family Retreat Center in Beaumont

Rev. Dr. Elaine A. Heath, McCreless Associate Professor of Evangelism at Perkins School of Theology, is the featured speaker reflecting on the theme:  “Living Into God’s Future Church.”  Register by February 15; registration form at the link above. 

Save the Date:  Extension Ministers Annual Breakfast Meeting with the Bishop, Thursday, April 12, 2012.  Special Guest:  Dr. Tom Carter, GBHEM, Director of Endorsement and Division of Ordained Ministry