Building Healthy Multiplying Congregations (The Synod's Mission Spelled out in a handbook to download)
Criteria for Viable Congregations What are the purposes of a congregation and what are the criteria for fulfulling those purposes? This document, adopted by the Synod Assembly, provides guidance and a process for working with congregations whose viability is at risk.
Synod Discipling Teams and Other Resources
Word and Sacrament, Ann Watkins, chair
Our purpose: To assist congregations in equipping believers for baptismal living by offering fresh ideas about the ministry of Word and Sacrament; by considering requests for the support and implementation of ideas that relate to our ministry while maintaining a supportive and collaborative working relationship with the Office of the Bishop, Synod Council and the congregations of this synod. web site: www.wordandsacrament.org/Welcome.html
Witness and Service, Richard Stahlke chair
With a focus on the work of discipleship, evangelism and witness, the team uses a variety of tools from gatherings to energize and teach tools of transformation, to working with congregations srtiving to build a mission congregation. Social ministrywork in our comunities is also part of this Team's ministry.
Leadership, Pr Nancy Nelson, chair
The mission of the team is to support, strengthen, and recruit leaders for the professional rosters of our synod. We are specifically responsible for the care of professional church leaders: diaconal ministers, associates in ministry, and ordained pastors.
Read the Summary of the Leadership Listening Posts
Feel free to add to the conversation!
Find lots of quality tools and educational items at the Resource Center.
Working within the religious community to create healthy power relationships within congregations, prevent misuse of power, and protect those at risk of abuse.
Reformation Documents:
Documents from the Lutheran Reformation, including:
- Luther’s Larger Catechism
- Augsburg Confession
- Luther’s Smaller Catechism
- Luther’s 95 Theses
- Of the Power and Primacy of the Pope
Governing Documents of the Sierra Pacific Synod:
- Constitution, Bylaws and Continuing Resolutions
- Synod Policies
- Standing Rules of Order for Synod Assemblies
Model
Constitution for Congregations
This current edition of the Model Constitution for Congregations of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America contains changes adopted by the
1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2007
Churchwide Assemblies. The model is consistent with the requirements of
the constitutional governing documents of the ELCA’s churchwide
organization and synods.
Guide
for using the Model Constitution
An aid to working with the ELCA Model Consitution.
Synod
Compensation Guidelines
Compensation guidelines for pastors and other rostered
leaders serving congregations of the Synod.
Call Process
Manual
The Call Proccess Manual provides guidance to congregations, councils
and call committees as they prayerfully consider calling pastors,
associates in ministry, deaconesses and diaconal ministers.
Audit
Guidelines for Congregations
Guidelines for Audit (Compliance Review) Committees of
congregations.
Brief
Guide for Archives of Congregations
An introduction to archives for congregational archivists and archives
committees.
Maintaining
the Parish Register
These guidelines are prepared to assist pastors and other
congregational leaders in their task of keeping a parish register.
Financial Guidelines for
Congregations
A guide for treasurers and financial comittees provided
by the Office of the Treasurer of the ELCA.
Retention
of Active Records
Advice for congregations on maintaining and retaining
congregational records. This is a link to the ELCA retention
guidelines.
Other Resources
Links to ELCA resources, Ecumenical Partners, and others can be found here.