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General policy: Reliant desires to help employees grow in their knowledge, skills, and character. Employees are encouraged to pursue educational opportunities that will enhance their job performance and improve their ministry capabilities. This policy and the associated reimbursement category are specifically directed to college or university classes that are taken for credit. Conferences, learning retreats, and other non-credit based learning opportunities are covered under Reliant's regular reimbursement process under the Conferences category - see Conferences, Retreats, and Events for more information. Requests Requests for ministry expense approvals for continuing education can be made by an individual missionary, or from an entire church or ministry, if it is a requirement for a group of employees. If you have previously read the continuing education policies and want to begin the process of approval and reimbursement, go to Steps for Reimbursement. If you have not previously read these policies, please continue reading. |
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Reliant seeks to provide reasonable opportunities for eligible employees to participate in certain elective educational opportunities that are closely related to the employee’s ministry with Reliant. Some Reliant partner churches may also require participation in educational activities. Reliant will reimburse eligible employees for certain expenses of approved ministry related education, subject to certain limitations and conditions established by Reliant (see Accountable Reimbursement Plan for general guidelines and policies for reimbursements), up to a maximum of $5,250 per calendar year. (Employees should consult with their tax adviser regarding proper tax treatment and reporting of such reimbursement.)
Eligible employees include employees working full-time or part-time/salaried 30, 25 or 20 hours/week. Part time reimbursement maximum will be prorated based on number of hours worked.
Requests for ministry expense approvals for continuing education can be made by an individual missionary, or from an entire church or ministry, if it is a requirement for a group of employees.
Procedures for Continuing Education
Eligible employees include employees working 20 hours/week or more. Hourly employees working less than 20 hours may make a special request for education costs to be reimbursed by reaching out to their program team.
Procedures for Continuing Education
- Education
- This benefit is available only for those working 20 or more hours per week and at the following levels (based on the $5,250 benefit):
- Full-time at 100%
- 30 hours/week at 75% (therefore a maximum of $3,937.50 will be eligible to be reimbursed within a calendar year)
- 20-25 hours at 50% (therefore a maximum of $2,625.00 will be eligible to be reimbursed within a calendar year)
- Education expense reimbursements are subject to the approval of the local church or ministry.
- Education benefits are subject to the availability of funds in the ministry account for which the employee is responsible. Funds to cover educational expenses are intended to be generated through donor contributions and are above and beyond those required to fulfill regular compensation and benefit costs. The opportunity to receive reimbursements for education is in accordance with Reliant’s accountable reimbursement policies, and based on Reliant's order of pay.
- Education is limited to forms of instruction or training that improves or develops the ministry or job capabilities of an individual and requires prior approval from Reliant.
- Items that are eligible for non-taxable reimbursement include tuition, fees and similar payments, books, supplies, equipment (except supplies and equipment that the employee retains). Items eligible for taxable reimbursement include transportation, meals, and lodging.
- Education expense reimbursements are subject to the approval of the local church or ministry.
- Subject to the discretion and approval of their church or ministry's leadership, time spent in class or directly receiving education may be counted as work time. In addition:
Time spent studying: staff may count up to 15% of their approved employment status work hours (based on the current, approved Support Goal Calculator on file with MR) as paid work time.- Time spent traveling to the educational site, or other time related to the education is considered personal (non-work) time.
- In all cases, at a minimum, over the course of a year, an overall majority of an employee’s work time must be spent in ministry activities that are non-education related.
- A missionary should not get reimbursed twice for the same course work. Students receiving scholarships or federal aid may not also apply for plan benefits for the amount they receive from other institutions or sources.
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