Session Forms and Documents
Sample Documents
Covenant Agreements
- See COM Commonly Used Documents on the main Forms & Documents page
Manuals and Policies
Pastor & Congregation Relationship Resources
- Guidelines for Shared Pastoral Leadership 1998 (PDF)
- Guidelines and Practices for Retired Ministers 2025 (PDF)
- Sabbatical Leave Policy 2025 (PDF)
Dissolving Pastoral Relationships
- Dissolving Pastoral Relationships: Severance Policy 2025 (PDF)
- Relation of Former Pastors to Congregations Guidelines with Covenant of Closure Form 2024 (Fillable PDF)
Listening Teams
Clerk Resources
Training Materials
- Training session video (recorded April 26, 2020)
- POJ Handbook for Clerks of Session 2026 (PDF)
Recordkeeping
- Clerks Index Sheet for 2025 Minute (PDF) (Word) due May 15, 2026 to your reader
- Who Is My Reader? (PDF)
- Guidance for Clerks of Session (PDF)
COM DEADLINE
The Commission on Ministry (COM) committees meet on or by the first Thursday of each month.
To allow time for review, all required forms, including examination materials, must be submitted to com@presbyteryofthejames.org by the third Thursday of the month for consideration at the following month’s meeting.
Forming a PC(USA) Congregation in Virginia
Congregational Rules (Word)
Incorporation of POJ Churches
Incorporation Procedures and Considerations, January 2021 (PDF)
Refer to this document to understand which below set to use for a particular organization structure.
Set 1: Churches with Session Members as Trustees
- Articles of Incorporation (Word)
- By-Laws (Word)
- Consent Form (PDF)
SET 2: Churches with Elected Trustees Separate from the Session
- Articles of Incorporation (Word)
- By-Laws (Word)
- Consent Form (PDF)
SET 3: Churches Granted Exception with Session Members as Trustees
- Articles of Incorporation (Word)
- By-Laws (Word)
- Consent Form (PDF)
SET 4: Churches Granted Exception with Elected Trustees Separate from the Session
- Articles of Incorporation (Word)
- By-Laws (Word)
- Consent Form (PDF)