FOR CHURCHES2025-01-10T09:59:47-08:00

Resources for Churches

Annual Meetings

Annual meetings are a time for church members to gather, celebrate the congregation’s life, conduct the official business of the church, and make decisions that affect their common life together. One way to organize the meeting is to separate it into three segments:

  1. Stating our purpose together as a congregation
  2. Celebrating the life we have had together in the past year
  3. Looking ahead to how God is leading us into the future.

Annual Meeting Checklist

  • Annual reports to congregation
  • Mission support pledge to Oregon Synod
  • Parochial reports to ELCA
  • Elect Oregon Synod Assembly voting representatives
  • Updating your constitution (every three years – last update 2022)

The ELCA Constitution for Congregations states that the powers of the congregation are vested in the congregational meeting called and conducted as provided in this constitution and bylaws. (C5.02.) Congregations hold annual meetings at a time specified in their bylaws.

Letter from Bishop Laurie

2025 Congregational Meeting Letter from the Bishop

Annual Reports

Congregations may request written reports from committees, president, treasurer, and financial secretary.

ELCA Annual Report Covers

ELCA Churchwide provides an annual report cover that includes:

  • The cover
  • A Message from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
  • Litany & Hymn

Download on ELCA website

Misson Support Plan

As your congregation prepares a budget for 2023, please share with us your Mission Support Intent amount for the Oregon Synod.

Send in your pledges as soon as you complete your budget (or before the end of February). 

2025 Mission Support Statement of Intent fillable PDF

Congregation Report (Form A)

Submit your Form A here.

If you must complete your form on paper, please remember to first download a copy to use as a worksheet. Please mail the original, completed form to your synod office.

Whether you respond electronically or by paper, please submit the form by March 1.

Elect Your Assembly Voters!

Why send voting members to Synod Assembly?

The Oregon Synod is YOUR organization and the voting members at assembly comprise the highest decision-making body of the synod, made up of voting members from all the 110 churches in our synod that choose to attend. Voting members in attendance can help set the direction of the synod, comment and vote on resolutions and memorials that are brought forth, discuss the budget that will fund all the ministry of the synod in the coming year, and vote on new leaders for Synod Council and other roles and committees critical to the life of our synod.

How many voting members can your congregation elect?

The synod constitution provides for most Oregon Synod churches to send two “regular” voting members. We need a mix of people (men, women, and non-binary/gender expansive), so please elect people of two different genders. If your baptized membership is over 500, you are entitled to additional members.  (Check for your congregation’s number of regular voting members here: Voting Members per Congregation 2025.) According to the synod constitution each congregation can also send up to two additional voting members in each of these categories:

1) Adult members who are persons of color or whose primary language is other than English.
2) Youth members (not yet 18 years old) and Young Adult (18-30 years old).
3) Individuals that self-identify as LGBTQIA+

Who should you elect as voting members?

The most important qualification is that electees engage in and care about the life our church!  They should also be comfortable enough with email and computers to be able to join a Zoom meeting. Ideally, they might also be familiar with the horizon, values, and steppingstones of the synod.

2024 Assembly will be online after Type of Assembly Meetings was passed at our 2022 assembly.

Constitution Updates (Every three years)

Why is it important to keep your constitution updated?

  • All ELCA congregations must comply with the ELCA model constitution AND they must add the updates made at Churchwide.
  • Keeping the constitution up to date is a matter of good faith and good governance.
    • If, for example, a congregation were sued, an out-of-date constitution might be seen as a sign of general neglect.
    • For congregations in transition, an outdated constitution can indicate a lack of vitality or congregation functionality to potential new ministers
  • As 501c3 non-profits, it is important for congregations to operate in accordance with Oregon law to retain tax-exemption status.

2022 Constitution Updates

2022 Model Constitution for Congregations

2022 Amendments to the Model Constitution for Congregations

Updating congregational constitutions

More can be found on the ELCA constitutions webpage

2023 OR Synod Constitution

OR Constitution -May 2023

Other Resources

2025 Care & Compensation Guidelines

2025 OR Care and Compensation Guidelines

Minister Compensation Worksheet (fillable)

Minister Compensation Worksheet (excel version)

Related resources

Church Sustainability Assessment

Curious about the difference between pastors and deacons? Click here

Congregational Giving to Oregon Synod Funds

NEW remittance form 2022

Church Council

Council officers job descriptions

Treasurer’s handbook – ELCA

Pulpit Supply

Pulpit supply page

Internal Church Directory

For use by rostered leaders and church staff.  Login credentials are emailed individually by CRTN.  Login page.

Transition Manual

The Oregon Synod Transition Manual 2021 is designed to help congregations move into God’s future for them and provide the necessary steps and resources for the intentional transition work as well as the call process. The office of the bishop and the congregation will work closely together toward the goal of clarifying the missional direction and finding the right pastor, deacon, or synod authorized lay minister who can participate with you in the mission to which the Spirit is calling you. 

Virtual Meetings

Online Giving Resources

Separation Ethics

Separation Ethics in the Oregon Synod

Clergy retirement

Retiring in the Oregon Synod

Copyrights

Music copyright is something we have to think about more now that we are doing more online services and events. There is no permission needed and no fee needs to be paid in order to sing in church. But copyright issues can arise when churches reproduce song lyrics or record their services. Uses beyond the actual performance in worship require further licensing (including podcast, streaming, live viewing on YouTube or your website, etc). We have a created a guide to help your church think through music copyright issues.

Copyright Information 2022

Reporting Misconduct

The church should be a safe place where people can worship, learn, work, love and receive care in a manner that is free from sexual misconduct. Any sexual misconduct committed by a rostered church minister should be reported to the synod. Click here for more.

Boy Scouts of America Misconduct & Bankruptcy

On February 18, 2020, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection largely resulting from legal action representing approximately 70,000 individuals claiming abuse and sexual misconduct.  Your congregation’s decision to continue or end its relationship with the BSA should be made with the protection and well-being of children as the primary focus. As you make decisions about your congregation’s association with the BSA (if any), please be aware that the congregation could be sued for anything that happens in the troop. In addition, as a result of the bankruptcy, the congregation cannot confidently rely on the BSA, the local council, or their insurers to defend it. The congregation needs to make sure that it has sufficient insurance. Please read this statement from ELCA Legal Council Tom Cunniff for more important information about this relationship with the BSA.