New this year:
Beginning January 1, 2026, Minnesota will launch its statewide Paid Family and Medical Leave program, which provides eligible employees with paid time off for medical and family-related needs.
As a reminder to congregation leaders and staff, and to assist in preparing for this transition, Tammy Schacher is sharing important dates and resources. There are several aspects of the program that still may be unfamiliar, particularly for congregations and rostered leaders so click here for more.
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.
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.
ELCA Congregation Report Form A
Each year, every congregation, synod-authorized worshiping community (SAWC) and new start is asked to provide information about its people, finances, and resources through the Annual Congregation Report. This provides the churchwide organization and synods with a record of the congregations and worshiping communities that make up the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Form A provides crucial data that assist in assessing the success of existing programs and in preparation of new resources. This data is also 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 name
To fill out these forms you must have your congregation ID number and password. Your congregation should have received a packet in the mail mid-January 2025 from churchwide that includes the password. Passwords change from year to year.
FAQ: ELCA Annual Congregation Report
Starting Mid-Jan. 2025 congregations can file electronically by clicking here.
Resources
- Letter from Secretary Lucille "CeCee" Mills | Carta de Secretary Lucille "CeCee" Mills - PDF
- 2025 Form A | 2025 Formulario A - PDF
- General instructions | Instrucciones Generales - PDF
- Financial Stewardship Worksheet | Hoja de Trabajo de Administracion Financiera - PDF
- Financial Stewardship Worksheet | Hoja de Trabajo de Administracion Financiera - Excel
Additional Resources
Completing your congregation’s Ministry Site Profile is part of the call process. Go to Step 3 in the call process.
Mileage reimbursement shall be at the current IRS standard mileage rate.
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:
- SW MN Synod Policy Regarding Sexual Misconduct (PDF)
- Preventing and Responding to Abuse in Ministry (PDF)
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 is a bimonthly e-newsletter for ELCA congregational and rostered leaders. It addresses common, practical issues including finance, governance, risk management, tax, legal concerns and topics of interest about day to day operations and management in church settings. Click here to view the latest issue.
