The Annual Compensation Report (ACR) helps to determine disability, death and retirement benefits for your workers and supports accurate contribution calculations. Here’s what you need to know for 2026 submissions:
Ministries with four or fewer workers should receive paper ACR forms by mail in early November.
Most ministries with five or more workers should receive an email in mid–November with instructions to register for ACR Online.
If you would prefer to complete a paper form or you haven’t received your paper form by mid–November, please contact your Account Manager or Customer Care at 888-927-7526 or [email protected]. ACRs are due Jan. 31.
Learn more about ACRs and ACR Online Webinar: Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. CT Register →
Personal spending accounts (PSA) maximum annual contribution limits
The IRS sets annual contribution limits for health savings accounts (HSA), dependent care flexible spending accounts (DCFSA) and medical flexible spending accounts (FSA).
Knowing these limits helps your ministry stay compliant and guide workers in maximizing their benefits.
HSA:
2025: $4,300 individual/$8,550 family
2026: $4,440 individual/$8,750 family
Add $1,000 catch-up for those age 55 and older
No minimum contribution required
DCFSA:
2025: $5,000 per household ($2,500 if married, filing separately)
2026: $7,500 per household ($3,750 if married, filing separately)*
*If your ministry would prefer not to use the updated maximum, please reach out to HealthEquity.
Medical FSA:
2025: $3,300 per account
2026: $3,400 per account
Employer contributions don’t count toward this limit
Workers must re-enroll each year because elections don’t carry over
CRP rate increase reminder for 2026
As you prepare your ministry’s 2026 budget, remember that the Concordia Retirement Plan (CRP) pension contribution rate for the Traditional Option will increase by 1% (to 10.7% of compensation) next year. This rate adjustment helps keep the CRP pension on track toward full funding and long–term sustainability.
For ministries offering the Account Option, the 2026 rate increase will be 0.2% of salary.
Coming January 2026: New way to resolve health plan disputes
Starting Jan. 1, the Concordia Health Plan (CHP) will use a new process to handle benefit disagreements — like what’s already in place for our retirement and disability plans.
If a member disagrees with how a benefit is handled, he/she can start by submitting an internal appeal. If it’s not resolved, the issue can now go to an independent third party for arbitration or mediation rather than to court.
This method, called Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR), offers a clearer, more efficient way to settle unresolved claims and helps avoid a long, expensive legal process. The ADR process does not apply to final, binding claim decisions made by an independent reviewer under the Affordable Care Act. Learn more here.
Thank you to the Ministry Advisory Council
This fall marks nearly two years of service for the current Ministry Advisory Council (MAC). Composed of ministry leaders from across the LCMS, MAC has offered honest feedback and thoughtful guidance that directly shape how we serve ministries and workers.
With this group’s insight, we’ve strengthened benefits, improved resources and kept the voice of ministries at the heart of our mission. We’re grateful for their time, wisdom and faithful partnership.
Upcoming Holiday Hours & Closures
As we celebrate the season, please note our upcoming office schedule:
Wed., Nov. 26: Office closed at 2 p.m. CT
Thurs.–Fri., Nov. 27–28: Office closed for Thanksgiving
Thurs., Dec. 5: Office closed at 11:30 a.m. CT for our Christmas party
Dec. 22-23: Limited staff
Dec. 24–25: Office closed for Christmas holidays
Dec. 26 and 29–31: Limited staff
Wed., Dec. 31: Office closed at 2 p.m. CT
Thurs., Jan. 1, 2026: Office closed for New Year’s Day
MEMBER PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Solutions for pre–diabetes and diabetes
Workers enrolled in the Concordia Health Plan (CHP) have access to proven solutions that can help them properly manage — or even reverse — pre-diabetes and diabetes.
Pre-diabetes: Wondr and Omada
Diabetes: Diabetes Management Plus from Teladoc Health and Virta
These solutions give your workers the control they need to bring life–changing results.
CHP member Pastor Phillip Baerwolf, of Zion Lutheran Church and School in Bay City, Mich., committed to Virta and is living a life renewed!
Member Benefits Open Enrollment is not just about health insurance; it’s also a great time to remind your workers about the valuable Concordia Plans retirement benefits you provide! As you share Open Enrollment information with workers, consider communicating the following:
“Remember that [INSERT YOUR MINISTRY HERE] fully funds eligible workers’ participation in the Concordia Retirement Plan pension, so there’s nothing you need to do. Personal savings are meant to work with the pension to prepare you for retirement, so if you haven’t set up or increased your Concordia Retirement Savings Plan 403(b) contributions lately, Open Enrollment is a great time to do that!"
Encourage your workers to join Gratitude Bingo+ — a fun way to practice thankfulness while earning 100 Vitality Points!
When: Nov. 15–Dec. 14
How: Complete two rows (10 total activities) on the Gratitude Bingo card. Rows can be vertical, horizontal or diagonal.
Track progress: Use the form or the “Wellness Challenge” tile in the Vitality Points Planner starting Nov. 15.
Submit by Dec. 19: Upload the completed card or a snapshot through the “Gratitude Bingo+” tile in the Points Planner (one submission only).
To keep the gratitude going, a holiday playlist featuring 50 contemporary Christian songs and Lutheran hymns will be available to all participants.
Care for the caregivers
Many of your workers may also be caring for others. Encourage your team to take time for themselves and use support available through Evernorth Confide, their Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Share this message with your staff:
Caring for others is rewarding — but it can also be draining.
Taking time to relax helps prevent burnout and promotes overall well–being.
Helpful tips to make your soul-care a priority:
Watch for signs of unhealthy stress.
Rest and recharge.
Laugh often.
Focus on what you can control.
Set realistic expectations.
Reach out for help — Evernorth Behavioral Health Navigators are available 24/7 to connect with licensed professionals.
Here’s a snapshot of the communications we’ll send your workers this month (they may also receive additional communications from our vendors):
Member Benefits Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment runs now through Nov. 14. Resources are available here.
Mental Health
Reminder to workers enrolled in the CHP about the mental health support available to them and their household through Evernorth Confide.
HSAs + Medicare for workers approaching age 65
For workers age 64+ who are contributing to an HSA and plan to enroll in Medicare at age 65, we will remind them that there are special contribution limits for HSAs that apply to individuals who enroll in Medicare.
