Dear Friends:

These are challenging times. The disruptions to our Church, work, and family lives have been stressful, and stress can compromise our overall wellbeing. I want you to know that we have resources that can help.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Frank Armstrong, our Chief Operating Officer, has prepared a video summarizing some of the mental health programs we offer. Also, I encourage you to review all the wellness resources available to you and your loved ones. For example, we recently hosted a webinar on Psychological First Aid Strategies and Church Publishing Inc. has published a number of topical books.

We continue to focus on the safety and wellbeing of our CPG employees around the country. To this end, we have decided that our domestic offices will remain closed at least through Labor Day, September 7. All CPG employees continue to work remotely, so please do not hesitate to call or email us if you have any questions or issues that need resolution. As always, we are here eager to serve you.

We believe that it would be imprudent to host our usual client conferences in New York this fall and winter. Abbreviated versions of the Episcopal Business Administration Conference (EBAC) and the Bishops Conference will be hosted virtually in 2020. We have not made decisions about the Education & Wellness conferences that are scheduled elsewhere around the Church for fall and winter, but we will communicate any updates as soon as possible.

We have updated the COVID-19 Support Resources section of our website in response to feedback requesting further clarification about telehealth and virtual healthcare visits. I encourage you to visit our website or contact our Client Services team at Benefits@cpg.org or (866) 802-6333 if you continue to have questions.

Individuals in The Episcopal Church Lay Employees’ Defined Contribution Retirement Plan and The Episcopal Church Retirement Savings Plan (the RSVP plan) who have an interest in withdrawal and plan loan features available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act should contact Fidelity Investments at (800) 343-0860 or visit their COVID-19 Resource Center. If you are considering either of these options, you are encouraged to speak with your tax advisor to understand the impact of any withdrawal or loan.

Finally, I am pleased to announce that on June 25, we will host a virtual Insights & Ideas panel for the entire Church. Over the past several years, we have traveled around the country to share insights and expertise from industry leaders and academics on the topic of socially responsible investing. We are finalizing plans for our first virtual event, and we hope you or the investment-focused members of your teams will attend. Details will follow.

I continue to be so impressed and inspired by the resilience and innovation of our Church at this time, and it is incredibly gratifying to be able to serve you. I appreciate your ongoing confidence and support.

Please stay safe and well – and in touch!

Faithfully,

Mary Kate Wold
CEO and President