In our January newsletter, we outlined items that will remain unchanged in 2026. This month, we would like to highlight an important change taking effect in 2026.
The Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church maintains a group workers’ compensation policy available to all churches within the Conference. Historically, administration of this policy, including invoicing churches for annual premiums, collecting payments, processing policy changes, responding to inquiries, and assisting with claims, has been managed by the Treasury Office.
Beginning in 2026, the responsibility for administering the workers’ compensation policy transitioned to the Benefits Office.
Churches currently participating in the group policy should direct any questions to the Benefits Office. For many, this transition won’t cause much disruption, as many churches have already contacted the Benefits Office regarding workers’ compensation matters, assuming that it was a part of the Benefits Office’s ministry.
For churches enrolled in the policy, annual premiums will be listed on the Benefits Billing invoice under “Workers’ Comp Premium” around mid-year. Churches with automatic payments enabled for Benefits Billing will have the premium automatically withdrawn during the specified billing month.
This change also provides an opportunity to remind churches that participation in the Conference’s group workers’ compensation policy is available to any church. Since the policy is offered on a group basis, premiums are generally lower than those of individual policies. All churches, including those that are part of a multi-point charge, are required by law to maintain workers’ compensation coverage. While some churches may already carry coverage through a separate insurer, participation in the Conference group policy may offer a more cost-effective option.
Churches interested in enrolling or exploring this option are encouraged to contact the Benefits Office for additional information.
Last Updated on January 30, 2026