Documents
Documents
Documents of the Presbytery
Documents are here to help elders, clerk, pastors, treasurers and other members of the Presbytery. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, please contact the office.
Clerk of Session
- Manual for Clerks of Session -2018 – PDF
- All Clerk Information & Files
- All Clerk of Sessions files are hosted in the Presbytery Records on Google Drive. If you are a clerk of session, contact the tech manager at tech@lakemichiganpresbytery.org to gain access to that or contact your church’s teaching elder or administrative assistant for more information.
- Congregational Minutes Review Checklist
- Manual of Administrative Operations (G-3.0106)
- Each congregation is required to compile certain information into a Manual of Administrative of Operations. Session members are to review the information annually and update as appropriate.
- Developing an Administrative Operations Manual (PDF) – A description of what should be included to comply with Book of Order requirements.
- Clerks of Session Training Request Form
- Request time with the Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Lake Michigan to be trained on how to be a clerk for your church’s session by filling out this form.
- I can’t find a document, where are they?
- If you need access to more documents, as a Clerk of Session, you should have access to the Presbytery Records to be able to find them. If you’re still having issues finding them, contact the Presbytery Office.
Nominations & Representation
- An Overview of Our Structure – PDF
- A summary document of the presbytery’s organizational structure. It contains the definitions being used for teams, commissions, committee and groups along with a description of the four core teams.
- Includes an organizational graphic of the Presbytery
- Interested in serving in the presbytery or nominating someone?
- Opportunities to Serve – PDF
- This document describes the opportunities available for presbytery members to serve in leadership. The first page contains an overview summary of information while the rest of the document provides details about key teams, commissions and committees.
- The detailed entries indicate when the group meets, what the group does, what positions are available and how those positions are filled, and ideal gifts needed by group members
- Nominations & Representation Nominee Application/Form – Fillable PDF (then email or mail) or Google Form that will also generate a PDF and email you a copy
- Opportunities to Serve – PDF
- Interested in representing PLM at the 226th PC(USA) General Assembly?
Applications now are being accepted from individuals interested in serving during the hybrid assembly which will include on-line committee meetings June 25-27, 2024 and in-person plenary meetings June 30-July 4, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The presbytery plans to elect (2) teaching elder commissioners, (2) ruling elder commissioners and (1) YAAD — plus alternates — during its September 16, 2023 Stated Meeting. Completed applications and supporting documents — including appropriate endorsements by the Session and your pastor — must be submitted via email by Friday, April 14, 2023.- Application for Teaching and Ruling Elder Commissioners — Fillable PDF
- Application for Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD) — Fillable PDF
- Contact the N&R Committee Members – PDF
- COR Toolbox – PDF
- N&R uses this document as a guide
- Interested in using pronouns within a group or congregation?
- Find an information sheet about why this practice is important and points to consider in implementing the practice. — Available as a full-sheet in PDF format and a half-sheet insert in PDF format.
- Find a blog post about how the Presbytery of Lake Michigan began offering Stated Meeting participants an opportunity to identify preferred pronouns on name tags.
- Find some general information about Why Pronouns Matter.
Annual Reporting
- Terms of Call Reports
- Please send in completed Terms of Call to office@lakemichiganpresbytery.org
- 2025 Minimum Terms of Call – COM Policy B-1
- Board of Pensions link about effective salary
- Statistical Report link
- Update your Session Members Records Form by Adding/Removing them.
- Help the Presbytery have an updated list of who is on your session for communications purposes
- Annual Reports to the COM – Fillable PDF
- Member-at-Large report Form– Fillable PDF
- Parish Associate Report Form – Fillable PDF
- Interim/Stated Pastor Report– Fillable PDF
- Designated Pastor Report – Fillable PDF
- Validated Ministry Report – Online Form
- Commissioned Ruling Elder Report – Fillable PDF
- COM Liaison Report Form – fillable PDF
- COM Liaison Online Report – Online Form
- Declaration of Intent to Support the Mission of the PC(USA) – PDF Form
- Congregational Minutes Review Check List
- Celebration of Saints
- 2021 – 2022 Celebration of Saints Form– Online Form
- 2021 – 2022 Celebration of Saints Form – PDF Form
Finance and Stewardship
- Declaration of Intent to Support the Mission of the PC(USA) – PDF Form
- Mission Giving and Per Capita Remittance Form – PDF Form
- Terms of Call
- Please send in completed Terms of Call to office@lakemichiganpresbytery.org
- 2025 Minimum Terms of Call – COM Policy B-1
- Per Capita
- Presbytery of Lake Michigan – Current Per Capita Rates
- How is Per Capita used? – Video by PC(USA) Office of the General Assembly
- Information about Per Capita Video Explanations – PDF
- ARTICLE from PC(USA) Stated Clerk – PDF
- What per capita pays for, why it matters
- Resources of Per Capita Sunday 2022 link
- ARTICLE from Presbyterians Today – December 2021 “Understanding per capita: The money contributed helps build up the Body of Christ”
- Information resources for treasurers
Find a variety of information about the duties of a treasurer, audit and financial review requirements, insurance coverage questions and other topics in these documents.
- The Church Treasurer’s Manual – Published in December 2018 by Edd Breeden from the Presbytery of San Jose.
- Legal Resource Manual for Councils and Churches – Published in 2020 by the PC(USA) Administrative Services Group.
- Presbytery Endowment Brochure – PDFInformation resources for treasurers
- Stewardship Resources by Stewardship Kaleidoscope
- Usually has an annual conference about Stewardship
- PCUSA Special Offerings link
- Property Issues Brochure – PDF
- Loans
- How to get a loan from PC(USA) – from the PC (USA) Investment and Loan Program Inc
- Church Indebtedness Report – Online Form
- All churches within the Presbytery of Lake Michigan must fill out the form even if your church has no indebtedness
- Church Finances Audit Guidelines – PDF
Scholarship and Grant Information
- Scholarship and Grants from Presbytery of Lake Michigan
- Presbytery of Lake Michigan Grant Application – Online Form
- One-Time Health Benefits Grant – Online Form
- Scholarship and Grants from Other Organizations
- PCUSA 2021 Mission Program Grants – PDF
- PCUSA 2021 Mission Program Grant Dates – PDF
- Self Development of People – Word File
- Synod of the Covenant Grants – Website
- 1001 Worshiping Communities – Website
- Mission Program Grants – Website
- Lily Endowment (for Sabbaticals) – Website
Pastoral Transitions
- When a Pastor is leaving:
- Transition Checklist
- Exit Interview Information– Word Document
- Covenant of Closure – Word Document
- New Pastor coming into the Presbytery:
- CLC Calling a Pastor Manual – PDF
- Pastor Nominating Committee Helpful Hints – PDF
- Sample Ballot for Election of a Pastor – Word Document
- Background Check Release Form – Fillable PDF
- Opportunities to Serve – Interest Form
- Clergy Information Form
- Preventing & Responding to Sexual Misconduct
- COM Policy B-03 – PDF document
- Receipt & Certification Forms for COM Policy B-03 — Fillable PDF document
- Interim Pastor
- Interim Pastor Contract Sample – Word Document
- Hiring a Pastor
- Equal Opportunity in Ministry – PDF
- Background Check Release Form – Fillable PDF
- Pastoral Call Form C408.7 – Fillable PDF
- Guidelines for Ordination Installation – PDF
- Administrative Commission to Ordain/Install Report Form – Online Form
- Recommended Clergy Motions for Sessions Related to Clergy Benefits – PDF
- PC(USA) Job Seeker or Job Posting site for PC(USA) Teaching Elders (Pastors)
- Ministry Information Form (MIF) – PDF
- Or go to Church Leadership Connection (CLC) – Website
- Want to work for the Presbytery?
- Application for Employment by Presbytery – Online Form
Policies and Policy Models
- PC(USA)
- Presbytery Policies
- Bylaws of Presbytery of Lake Michigan – PDF
- Presbytery Operations Manual – PDF
- Conflict of Interest Policy & Disclosure Form – PDF
- Presbytery of Lake Michigan’s Dismissal Policy and Procedures – PDF
- Personnel Policy – December 2024 – PDF
- Sexual Misconduct Policy – PDF
- Electronic Meeting Policy – PDF
- PLM Social Media – Facebook Group Guidelines – PDF
- Employee Handbook
- Employee Handbook – PDF
- Employee Handbook – Word Document
- COM manual B section documents
Presbytery Operations
Seeking reimbursement for an expense?
- 2025 Payment Voucher Request Form – Fillable PDF
- Mileage Log – Fillable PDF
- Mileage Log Excel Sheet – Excel
- IRS Mileage Rate link – Link to Website
Seeking information about the Presbytery’s structure and programs?
- Presbytery Organizational Structure – PDF
- Mediation Committee Informational Brochure – PDF
- Boundary & Ethics Training informational post – Link to Blog (Pending)
Seeking to provide input to the Presbytery?
- 2023 MAPs Form – Fillable PDF
- Directory/Contact Update Form – Online Form
Seeking help from Presbytery staff?
- Background Check Release Form – Fillable PDF with instructions
- Reserving Zoom Sessions on the Presbytery’s account – Blog Post Link
Church Emergency Preparedness
- Template to create your own Emergency Preparedness Plan (PDF)
- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Powerpoint (PPT)
- This is a Powerpoint that you can show in your church regarding Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
- It was showed in March 2018 Presbytery Stated Meeting
Want to stay in the Loop?
Subscribe to Presbytery of Lake Michigan Emails
Be informed in all the things that are happening in our Presbytery.
Next Stated Meetings
The next regular Stated Meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 8, 2025 and will be hosted by Eastminster Presbyterian Church, East Lansing.
Visit the Presbytery Meetings page of this website and watch the eDIGEST for updated information about how to register for the meeting and where to find the Presbytery packet.
The Presbytery of Lake Michigan, 1511 Helen Avenue, Portage, MI 49002 | Copyrighted © 2022