SE MN SYNOD: Resources and Site Guide: Administration Resources: Legal and Personnel

Resources and Site Guide:
Administration Resources:
Legal and Personnel Resources

Legal information related to ELCA congregations, compensation guidelines, electronic communication policy, pulpit supply list, personnel manual, sabbatical information, and more.

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Clergy Coaches
Clergy Coaching is an emerging discipline in religious communities and responds to the need for cost-effective and focused support for pastors to strengthen personal growth and advance skills in professional leadership.

Compensation Guidelines for Rostered Leaders and Church Staff (2008-2009) ^PDFLists minimum compensation guidelines for pastors, associates in ministry, and lay church staff. Includes detailed information on parsonages, vacation, and more.

Dealing with Sexual Misconduct/148A Synod Manual ^PDF
Details the sexual misconduct policies and procedures of the synod, plus information on Minnesota Statute 148A that deals with clergy background checks.

ELCA Board of Pensions ^ELCAThe Board of Pensions works with retirement plans and administers benefits to rostered leaders and church staff.

Calculators (for contribution amounts, defined compensation, total compensation, savings, and annuity options)

ELCAforWellness.org
Comprehensive, reliable health information from the Mayo Clinic, provided by the ELCA and the Health Risk Assessment.

Electronic Communication Policy^PDF
The Synod Council encourages every congregation with computer resources to develop a policy for computer usage by its staff and its members. It is the council’s hope that the synod's policy will help.

I-9 Information
Under federal law, all employers - including the smallest of congregations - must have an I-9 form on file that verifies the employment eligibility and identity of each employee.

Legal FAQs ^ELCAFrom the ELCA legal department, this site gives detailed information on congregation-specific legal issues, including HIPAA.

National Church Library Association
The National Church Library Association is a non-profit support organization that provides inspiration and guidance to individuals and religious groups who are interested in developing and maintaining libraries or media centers in their churches.

Personnel Manual ^PDFThis synod staff personnel manual can serve as a guide for congregations developing personnel manuals.

Posters for Employees
State and federal law requires employers to display certain posters in a physical location where employees can easily see them. The posters provide safety, wage and age-discrimination information.

State requirements (Minnesota)

Federal requirements

Pulpit Supply List
The pulpit supply list is a list of pastors and others who can fill in on Sundays when the regular pastor is away.

Rostered Personnel Report to the Bishop Forms ^ELCAThis page allows rostered personnel to submit their reports to the bishop electronically, or to fill out the forms online and print them to send through postal mail.

Sabbatical Guidelines and Application
If funds are available for the calendar year, rostered leaders who apply may receive up to $2,000 from the sabbatical fund, (salary and benefits to continue) and the congregation or institution may receive up to $2,000 from the sabbatical funds for interim ministry up to three months.

Severance Guidelines ^PDFIt is the intention of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod to encourage congregations to be as fair and caring for its church workers as is possible within the available resources. Severance benefits are intended to be a substitute for unemployment compensation (clergy and church staff workers do not qualify for unemployment compensation).

Submit job descriptions for rostered laity ^ELCAPeople and Places Online connects congregations, institutions and agencies of the ELCA with associates in ministry, diaconal ministers and deaconesses.

Submit job descriptions for non-rostered laity ^ELCAIf you're looking for a new youth director, administrative assistant, or other lay staff member, you can submit the job description to the ELCA web site.

Suggestions for Chaplains and Congregations in Time of Military Involuntary Call-Up ^PDFEfforts should be made to insure that members of the clergy are not placed at a disadvantage by their involuntary call-up.