Supreme Court to Hear Appeals in Church Plan Cases

On December 2, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear appeals in three ongoing lawsuits challenging the ?Ç£church plan?Ç¥ status of the pension plans of Advocate Healthcare Network, Dignity Health, and St. Peter?ÇÖs Healthcare System, which are religiously affiliated healthcare systems. In each of those cases, the lower courts held that the pension plans did not qualify as ?Ç£church plans?Ç¥ because they were not established and maintained by a church or a convention or association of churches, but rather by a non-profit organization merely affiliated with a religious organization. Church plans are generally exempt from ERISA, including its fiduciary and minimum funding requirements. If the Supreme Court agrees with the lower courts?ÇÖ rulings, the pension plans of the three healthcare systems, and potentially many other religiously affiliated employers, would have to comply with all of ERISA?ÇÖs requirements. The Court?ÇÖs order granting certiorari for the three cases is available?áhere.