For Presbyteries & Congregations

A set of resources put together by the Presbytery of South Dakota.  Here you will find tips for getting started as a new clerk, guides and resources for the day to day work you do, how to preserve historic documents for your congregation, and more.  Links to the current Book of Order and Book of Confessions are also on this page.

Synod rate for 2023 and 2024 – $5.50

GA Per Capita

Information on reporting and Frequently Asked Questions

Book of Order available for download at https://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/oga/pdf/boo_2023-2023_publishedversion_cover_and_boo_complete.pdf

Book of Order available for order at https://www.pcusastore.com/Products/9798988550105/book-of-order-20232025.aspx

parliamentary_procedure

This multi-session resource is created for study by and training of those serving as ruling elders and deacons. Based on the theological principles of the constitutional questions asked and answered in ordination, questions for discussion and reflection are included. Leader Guides are provided; one using a monthly format of one question per lesson and the other using a three-lesson format.  https://equip.pcusa.org/course/view.php?id=379

This resource includes leader guides, Power Points, and PDFs of content that can be used for monthly or annual training.  The Leader Guides are formatted as monthly guides and a retreat guide with three lessons to be used prior to ordination/installation.

Materials are free and accessible through the link above.

A monthly series for serving faithfully.  Throughout 2023 and 2024, monthly Regarding Ruling Elders articles will alternate between a deep dive into the ways ruling elders discern and measure the life of a congregation through the ministry of members and stories about how ruling elders are using their call and gifts as they move within and beyond the walls of the congregation.  These articles could be used for conversation and reflection at Session meetings.

You can sign up to have the series emailed to you at https://pcusa.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=1721a6b9451a1567ee53b00fc&id=f20bb9ba29

Resources to help you include a list of resources for Ruling Elder Training, Ruling Elder Workshops, books that may be helpful, and a variety of creative resources.  In the additional resources link you will find games and songs to further learning, handouts on theology and polity, councils of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and Employment Guidance for Sessions and Session Personnel Committees.

Presiding at Baptism  https://oga.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/oga/pdf/mid_council_ministries/presiding_at_baptism.pdf

Presiding at the Lord’s Supper  https://oga.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/oga/pdf/mid_council_ministries/presiding_at_the_lord_s_supper.pdf

As Christians, we are in a continuous process of growth in relationship with God, each other, and self.  This is especially true of those who are called as ruling elders and deacons.  The Presbyterian Church (USA) invests in ruling elders and deacons by offering new resources on a regular basis in a variety of formats.

LEADER FORMATION WEBINARS

As ruling elders and deacons serving in local congregations across the denomination, webinars give us an opportunity to gather together virtually and in the presence of other leaders who walk alongside us on this formation journey.

Recent topics have included:

• Leading by Listening: Ruling Elders and Presbyterian Polity
• Reclaiming Our Calling: Deacons & Ruling Elders and the Care of Souls 
• Breaking the Myth of Presbyterian Fear of the “E” Word (Evangelism)
• Practicing Inclusion
• Good Stewards of God’s Grace 
• Parliamentary Procedure for Leaders

For upcoming webinars and to watch previous webinars, go to https://oga.pcusa.org/section/mid-council-ministries/leadership-formation-ruling-elders-deacons/year-leader-formation-webinars/

ALONG THE ROAD PODCAST

This multi-session resource is created for study by and training of those serving as ruling elders and deacons. It is a study that will explore Reformed Theology and why we do what we do.

Based on the theological principles of the constitutional questions asked and answered in ordination, questions for discussion and reflection are included. Leader Guides are provided; one using a monthly format of one question per lesson and the other using a three-lesson format.  https://equip.pcusa.org/course/view.php?id=379

This resource includes leader guides, Power Points, and PDFs of content that can be used for monthly or annual training.  The Leader Guides are formatted as monthly guides and a retreat guide with three lessons to be used prior to ordination/installation.

Materials are free and accessible through the link above.

Resources from the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys:

Becoming an Active Listener
Spiritual Conversation Starters
Prayer Guide

Heart of Christianity

This article, a part of the What We Believe series for the Presbyterian Church (USA), discusses tasks of being a Deacon.

As Christians, we are in a continuous process of growth in relationship with God, each other, and self.  This is especially true of those who are called as ruling elders and deacons.  The Presbyterian Church (USA) invests in ruling elders and deacons by offering new resources on a regular basis in a variety of formats.

LEADER FORMATION WEBINARS

As ruling elders and deacons serving in local congregations across the denomination, webinars give us an opportunity to gather together virtually and in the presence of other leaders who walk alongside us on this formation journey.

Recent topics have included:

• Deacon Ministries 
• Reclaiming Our Calling: Deacons & Ruling Elders and the Care of Souls 
• Practicing Inclusion
• Good Stewards of God’s Grace 
• Discovering our Gifts

For upcoming webinars and to watch previous webinars, go to https://oga.pcusa.org/section/mid-council-ministries/leadership-formation-ruling-elders-deacons/year-leader-formation-webinars/

2023 and 2024 Synod – $5.50

Per capita for General Assembly

Webinars, Workshops and Articles

Managing Your Church’s Balance Sheet:  Church leaders need an understanding of a church’s debts and assets – two major components of the balance sheet. If you don’t quite know what we’re talking about, or have questions, this is the webinar for you. You’ll hear from experts with the Presbyterian Foundation, Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program, and New Covenant Trust Company. We will spend time on three aspects of church finances: – Understanding your balance sheet – Appropriate levels of debt and the process for acquiring debt – Matching assets with time horizons for optimal investment returns This webinar was hosted on May 23, 2023. (Please note: We have no control over any ads placed on these videos by YouTube.)  Article:  https://www.presbyterianfoundation.org/managing-your-churchs-balance-sheet-is-crucial-to-financial-stability/ Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf1bhqlYPrQ

Building Transparency into Your Church Budget: Transparency keeps money from controlling the church, said Robert Hay, Senior Ministry Relations Officer with the Presbyterian Foundation.  Article:  https://www.presbyterianfoundation.org/building-transparency-into-your-church-budget/

Online Giving Program of the Presbyterian Foundation  https://www.presbyterianfoundation.org/onlinegiving/

How to do Stewardship:  The Stewardship Navigator is a tool developed by the Presbyterian Foundation.  https://stewardshipnavigator.com/

Project Regeneration:  This program offered through the Presbyterian Foundation guides congregational leaders through a time of learning, research and prayer about the future of the congregation.  How can we continue our ministries?  What kind of legacy will we leave? What about our building and property?  Many congregations are asking these questions in the face of all the changes we are facing. Brochure: https://www.presbyterianfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ProjectRegenerationProgramGuide-4.21-F.pdf  Short video: https://www.presbyterianfoundation.org/regeneration-stories/

Financial Requirements from the Book of Order:  This is a guide published by the Presbytery of New Hope that sets up both requirements and recommendations for doing church finances in a decent and orderly way.  https://nhpresbytery.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/LocalChurchFinanceGuide-Aug2015.pdf

Financial Boundaries:  In 2023 LeaderWise began offering a workshop on financial boundaries that is recommended for all congregations to make sure that you are protecting the resources you have for ministry.  For more information, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QU_tKT6pt7mpYm6Q2UfeIA91RuS1aOWj/view

Treasurers-Manual-PCUSA-Revised-Dec-2018 This Church Treasurer’s Manual was developed for all people in the local congregation who fit the category of Treasurer, whether you have the title or not. It is a resource guide that addresses a myriad of issues related specifically to Presbyterian churches. Written and edited by Edd Breeden, who also developed the book below.

Newly revised, reorganized, and updated, this manual was developed for church treasurers in the Presbyterian Church USA but is adaptable for any local church setting. You will find detailed information about the job of treasurer, setting up a financial team, processing contributions, sending statements to donors, record keeping, paying expenses, insurance, the complications of a minister’s salary, and so much more. the manual contains over one hundred pages of sample policies and template for you to adapt to your church. Do you have a Gift Acceptance Policy telling your congregation what kinds of gifts you will accept and what you will do with the money? Have you established a Reserve Fund or an Investment Policy? This is a treasure chest full of practical tools and ideas for the Church Treasurer with the small church in mind.

This book is available on most websites.  ISBN is 979-8616103109  Some presbyteries have purchased a copy for each congregation.

Resources

Information & Resources

12 Things Your Congregation can do

Resource Strategies for Congregations

Revitalization Initiative

Employment guidance for Sessions and Session Personnel Committees

Standards of Ethical Conduct

PCUSA Child/Youth/Vulnerable Adult Protection

Sexual Misconduct Policy and its procedures

On Calling a Pastor

About the Church Leadership Connection

The Presbytery of Milwaukee offers a series of resources that cover a transition time from the leaving of a pastoral leader to a variety of temporary contract forms, as well as rituals, guidelines and ethics of such transitions.

Academy

Events

Faith Formation

Resources & related ministries