Dear Corinthian Plan Congregations and Participants,
For the last 12 years I have served as Director of The Corinthian Plan. It has been my privilege to do so. Serving in this position has been both fulfilling and challenging. It is time for someone to serve as Director with new energy and ideas. My tenure as Director ended in March.
I have also been privileged to work with dedicated colleagues at MC USA and Everence (Third-Party Administrator). I could not have done this without these colleagues who want the best for you and your health coverage.
In particular, I want to thank Joe Christophel and Teresa Pickens (Area Advocates), Ingrid Friesen Moser (Wellness Coordinator), and Anne Blackwood and Ruth Johnston (Wellbeing Specialists). Ingrid, Teresa, and Joe have all served very part-time work passionately for your interest, seeing that you get the best customer service and the benefits of wellness that helped keep me energized. Ruth and Anne bring a care for your whole being to their work that is inspiring.
Finally, thank you. Without congregations participating with their staff, obviously, there is no TCP. I have enjoyed interacting and troubleshooting with many of you, especially when we met your needs.
By sponsoring The Corinthian Plan, MC USA has provided opportunity for congregations to access comprehensive health coverage. The intent of The Corinthian Plan has always been to find ways to provide the best comprehensive health plan and other benefits at the best cost. In many ways TCP has succeeded. As you well know there are current challenges.
You will hear from the new Director, Susan Burkholder next. Welcome her. Susan will bring new energy and ideas at a critical time in the life of The Corinthian Plan.
May you know the blessing of health and community.
Duncan Smith
Healthcare access and affordability are such pain points for many people. I’ve experienced this personally, navigating the individual insurance marketplace the last few years. I also understand the conversations many of you congregational leaders have about health insurance costs, waiver and access fees, and how these fit into your congregation’s budget and mission. I’ve been in those exact conversations at my home church of First Mennonite Church of Denver.
I bring over 20 years of nonprofit program administration, and also come with a deep connection to Mennonite Church USA. I’ve served on the Mennonite Mission Network board, chaired my congregation’s Leadership Council, served with Mennonite Central Committee in Guatemala, and on several other boards and committees.
I feel so fortunate to have in place a very skilled and caring team that supports The Corinthian Plan. MCUSA sponsors the plan and promotes it as a key component of Church Vitality. Our third-party administrators at Everence bring a wealth of experience in operations and administration. We have visionary leadership for our wellness program. What other health insurance plans have such a holistic lens on wellbeing, as to provide an incentive for a wellbeing retreat day—time set aside from your usual tasks and responsibilities in order to be fully present with God, self and the moment? And I learned so much from Duncan, especially about the balancing act that is often required to steward the plan with genuine care.
I’m eager to learn from your experiences with the plan and to hear your perspectives on how we can continue to improve. I look forward to meeting many of you at denominational gatherings, and please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Susan H. Burkholder
Director of The Corinthian Plan
SusanB@MennoniteUSA.org
work: 316-281-4255
1 Corinthians 3:16–17
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
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I have always lived a busy life, and as I got older, the busier it became. I failed to slow down, take some deep breaths, and listen to my body. I forgot, in all the busyness of ministry, one especially important truth: that our bodies are God’s temple. This is a verse I often spiritualized, without connecting how I was physically destroying God’s temple.
Three years ago, I was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver due to fatty liver disease, and my prognosis was poor. I was overweight and had unhealthy eating habits.
As of today, I have lost 132 lbs., drastically changed my eating habits, taking time each week to do yoga and strength building, but my biggest change has been to slow down and listen to my body as a way of connecting and listening to God. I know we do not often like the word ‘sin,’ but for me it was important to reflect where I had failed both God and myself and decide to turn my life around.
If you do not already have a practice of being still—listening to your body, listening to what God is trying to reveal to you—I would like to encourage you to start now. Love your body; it is a gift from the Creator and God’s temple.
Suggestions for Listening:
- Find a quiet place, and if possible, surrounded by nature.
- Empty your thoughts by envisioning putting them into a basket or another metaphor for safe keeping.
- Ask yourself: What is my body saying to me? (Tired, nervous, full of energy, etc.)
- Ask: What might God be trying to say to me?
- Consider: What is one thing I can do for myself today to restore my body and mind?
Contributed by: Iris de Leon-Hartshorn
Iris lives in Portland, Oregon, and has been married 53 years to the love of her life, Leo. They have three grown children and two beautiful grandsons. Iris works for Mennonite Church USA as Associate Executive Director of Operations, and loves working for the church.
Webinar Recording: Engaging Our Grief and Finding Resilience
Hosts Ann Blackwood and Ruth Johnston explore how grief shows up in our lives and in the world, and how we can move through it with honesty, care and spiritual resilience.
Susan and Ingrid plan to attend “Lead Well, a Virtual Gathering” with Common Table Network on April 10, 1:30pm ET, on the topic, “Leading Well Under Pressure: A Holistic Model of Pastoral and Congregational Support”. Please join us!
(external link, not sponsored by TCP)