Administrative Resources | Southwestern Minnesota Synod ELCA

Congregation Leadership Data

Please update your congregation leadership data annually. The synod office uses this information for the call process, giving statements, and getting helpful resources to the correct person.

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Worship Supply

The Worship Supply list include Ministers of the Word and Ministers on Word & Sacrament who are interested in doing supply preaching in the SW MN Synod.

Guidelines for Worship Supply

For Sunday mornings and midweek services, the congregation or parish shall compensate the supply pastor or worship leader $175 for the first worship service, plus $50 for each additional worship service on the same day. Auto reimbursement shall be at the current IRS standard mileage rate.

View Worship Supply

ELCA Congregation Report Form A

Each year, every congregation and synod-authorized worshiping community (SAWC) is asked to provide information about its people, finances, and resources through the Annual Congregation Report (Form A). This provides the churchwide organization and synods with a picture of the congregations and worshiping communities that make up the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). This summary report also provides the congregation with important information about its ministries and programs and perspectives in planning for the future.

Please ensure that this form is given to the people in your congregation who, together, will provide the information needed to complete the report. This likely will include a pastor, administrative person, treasurer, or president. The report can also be used as a helpful conversation / planning resource for a Church Council.

The data from the Annual Congregation Report is shared on your congregation’s full trend report on the ELCA’s website. (To view a congregation’s trend report on the ELCA website, click Find a Congregation and type in the zip code, click on the congregation’s name.)

Click here to access your congregation's Form A online.

A brief note from the ELCA Office of the Secretary
9/5/2024
The Annual Congregation Report online system has re-opened for 2023 Form A submissions. The system will remain open until late December. Churchwide will send an email reminder several weeks before the shutdown date.

As we look ahead to the 2024 Annual Congregation Report, churchwide wanted to let us know that they will launch a new system for congregations to report their Form A data. We’re excited by the opportunities this new system will offer all of us! Look for more details in the coming months.

The annual reporting timeframe is January through March. The reporting window closes for churchwide to process and complete synod/congregation data reports. Normally your data will not make the trend report if it is not submitted before the reporting window closes, but congregations are encouraged to submit these whenever they are completed. If your congregation did not submit their 2023 Form A yet, click here to access the online Congregation Report.

Many thanks for your congregation support in submitting Annual Congregation Reports

Additional Resources

Ministry Site Profile

Mileage Reimbursement

Personnel Resources

Churches are commonly thought of only as places of worship, but it is important to remember that they are also employers with many volunteers. Best practices for all organizations require a number of policies adopted by the organization. The synod office does not provide sample job descriptions, board descriptions, or employee handbooks. We strongly suggest that all organizations take time to create their own personnel guidelines with the help of a legal professional.

The ELCA does offer a variety of resources including sample policies for employees and volunteers. The ELCA Office of the Secretary / Legal Issues section covers copyright laws, employees and volunteers, sample policies, property matters, sexual misconduct prevention, and taxes.

The SW MN Synod enforces the following:

Personnel Committees and Job Descriptions: Why?

We’ve all been in situations where people have different expectations of each other; unclear and crossed-up expectations can lead to frustration. This is especially true in the church where relationships and expectations can take us into murky waters. Bishop Dee and Synod Staff provide some best practices and principles for Rostered Ministers, Staff, and Congregation Councils & Committees working together in mutual ministry.

Zoom Gathering PowerPoints:

Zoom Gathering Recordings:

Administration Matters