Connecting Across Continents: A Global Link

FALL 2024

Leveraging a combination of technology and face-to-face interactions, CPG continually fortifies and expands our global connection. We design and deliver our products, programs, and services with a deep understanding of the evolving needs of our clients around the world. And thanks to the recent addition of an on-demand translation feature, our website (cpg.org)—where you can find everything CPG—is now more accessible to everyone.

Building Relationships

Our team of benefits relationship managers is dedicated to serving the needs of both US and non-US clients, building relationships with Episcopal leadership and administrators, as well as clergy and lay employees across the Church. The newest team member, the Rev. Samuel Borbon, International and Voluntary Relationship Manager, is responsible for the day-to-day relationship and account management of international dioceses and provinces and domestic clients whose preferred language is Spanish. Originally from Mexico, Samuel brings valuable experience from his previous work training others to engage with Latino congregations.

At El Nuevo Amanecer (a conference sponsored by the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society), Samuel met with clergy and lay participants from Province IX, as well as participants from US Latino communities. “We worked to improve our international clients’ knowledge of their available benefits as well as their ability to access those benefits,” he explained. “In return, they educated us on who they are, what roadblocks they face, and what resources they need.”

Help with Healthcare Expenses

Our Fund for Medical Assistance (FMA) helps eligible employees in eligible non-domestic dioceses¹ and their eligible family members with medically necessary healthcare expenses. Bishop Quezada, Episcopal Diocese of the Dominican Republic, is grateful for the grants his clergy in need have received: “Without this fund, it would be impossible to cover these costs, as healthcare is very expensive in our country.”

In 2025, we will simplify the application process and increase grant limits, making the program accessible to more people in need. In addition, we will extend eligibility to clergy in The Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe. For details about the FMA, as well as all forms, contact our Client Services team at 1-855-215-5990 (dial #2 for Spanish) or aassist@cpg.org, or visit our website (English; Spanish).

Meeting Face-to-Face

This November, CPG’s international work will include our Planning for Wellness conference in the Dominican Republic, where we will welcome clergy from Cuba to their first in-person CPG conference, along with those from other Latin American dioceses.

Engaging regularly with our international clients provides opportunities to better understand and satisfy their needs and to bring valuable insights back to CPG leadership, as we enhance our global connection.

¹ The non-domestic dioceses that are eligible to participate in the FMA are the Dioceses of Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador Central, Ecuador Litoral, Haiti, Honduras, Micronesia, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Venezuela, the Virgin Islands (British Virgin Islands only), and Cuba. Eligible Participants in the Diocese of Cuba will be eligible effective on the date that CPF obtains the necessary license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to pay the grants.