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 $150 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 Forms A & C

Forms A and C are annual forms that are to be filled out by each congregation. This information is submitted to the ELCA to help provide 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 will receive a packet in the mail during the second week of January 2024 from churchwide that includes the password. Passwords change from year to year.

Starting Jan. 2024 congregations can file electronically. Click here for more information.

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:

Administration Matters