Congregation Forms and Documents
Articles of Incorporation
Considerations and Procedures
(review this to understand which forms to use for a particular organization structure)
SET 1: Non-Electing Churches, Session as Trustees
SET 2: Non-Electing Churches, Congregation Elects Trustees
SET 3: Exception Churches, Session as Trustees
SET 4: Exception Churches, Congregation Elects Trustees
Session Forms and Documents
Session Manual of Administrative Operations
Session Records
- Clerks Index Sheet (DOC) due March 1 to your reader
- Guidance for Clerks of Session (DOC)
- Contact Franklin Reding to learn the name of the reader assigned to your church
Clerk of Session Training Materials
- Training session (recorded April 26, 2020)
- Handbook (PDF, 440 KB)
Sample Covenant Agreements
- Interim Pastor Covenant
- Covenant Pastor Agreement
- Covenant Postgraduate Intern Agreement
- Parish Associate Covenant
- Covenant Commissioned Ruling Elder
Sample Misconduct Policies
Presbytery Forms and Documents
Manual of Administrative Operations
Application to Form a New Ministry
Expense Reports
Small Church Grant Program
Committee on Preparation for Ministry
- Guide to the Preparation Process
- Inquiry Application
- Annual Consultation
- Candidacy Application
- Bible Content Exam
- Senior Ordination Exams
Committee on Nominations
Financial Reports (Audit)
- 2019 Financial Report (PDF, 451 KB)
- 2018 Financial Report
Misconduct/Harassment Policy
Position on Gun Violence
Congregational Meetings and Ordinations during Pandemic (Sept 2020)
Committee on Ministry
COM Guidelines for Calling a New Pastor
A - Co-Op Member Services
C - Guidelines for Shared Pastoral Leadership
D - Relation of Former Teaching Elders to Congregations
E - Intern Policy
F - Transferring PC(USA) Teaching Elders into POJ
G - Transferring Teaching Elders from Other
H - Procedures for Examination
I - Ordination and Installation Commission Guidelines
J - Expectations for Faithfulness
K - Pastoral Care Discretionary Fund Policy
L - 2021 Minimum Compensation Criteria
M - Minister Membership Policy
M-1 Member at Large Policy
N - Call to Ministry Beyond the Congregation
O - Task Sheet
P - Use of Study Leave
Q - Sabbatical Leave Guidelines
S - Evangelist
T - Parish Associate Policy
U - Full Communion Policy
W - Listening Teams for Conflicted Churches
X - Ordination to Temporary Pastoral Relationships
Y - Becoming a Commissioned Ruling Elder
Annual Report - Validated Outside Congregation
Annual Report - Certified Christian Educators
Annual Report - Members at Large
Annual Report - Terms of Call
General Assembly Forms and Documents
Book of Order 2019-2021 (external link)
Book of Confessions 2016 (external link)
Recommendations from 224th General Assembly (2020)
- 02-020, report from the Disparities Experienced by Black Women and Girls Task Force (PDF, 127 KB)
- 02-034-INFO, progress report from the Special Committee on Racism, Truth, and Reconciliation (PDF, 186 KB)
- 02-041, Lazarus is Walking in Baltimore (PDF, 225 KB) from the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy
- 02-084, Resolution Addressing the Lack of Installed Pastoral Leadership in People of Color Congregations in the PC(USA) (PDF, 185 KB) from the Racial Equity Advocacy Committee
- 02-100, 2021–2022 Mission Work Plan for the Presbyterian Mission Agency (Part 1) (PDF, 246 KB) from the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board
- 02-137, Amendment of G-3.0106 (Administration of Mission) (PDF, 123 KB) overture by Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley