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 Manager, Sharon Carper.
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
- 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.
Pulpit Supply
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
- Contact the N&R Committee Members – PDF
- COR Toolbox – PDF
- N&R uses this document as a guide
Annual Reporting
- Terms of Call Reports
- 2022 Terms of Call Report – online form that will generate a PDF form
- 2022 Terms of Call Report – PDF form
- 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
- Minimum Terms of Call
- 2022 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”
- Presbytery Endowment Brochure – PDF
- 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
- 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
- Nominating Committee Form – Fillable PDF
- Clergy Information Form – PDF
- Sexual Misconduct Policy – PDF
- Pages to sign that the person has received the policy
- 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 – PDF
- Clergy Information Form, Nominating Committee
- 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, Last updated in 2016 – PDF
- Conflict of Interest Policy & Disclosure Form – PDF
- Presbytery of Lake Michigan’s Dismissal Policy and Procedures – PDF
- Personnel Policy – May 2015 – PDF
- Sexual Misconduct Policy – PDF
- PLM Social Media – Facebook Group Guidelines – PDF
- Employee Handbook
- Employee Handbook – PDF
- Employee Handbook – Word Document
- COM manual B section documents
- Sample Policies
- Sample Church Employee Handbook – PDF
- Sample Volunteer Application Form – PDF
- Sample Abuse Prevention Policy – PDF
- Sample Sexual Misconduct Policy – PDF
- Sample Policy on Ensuring a Safe Environment for Youth – Word Document
- Sample Child Protection Policy – Word Document
Presbytery Operations
- 2023 MAPs Form – Fillable PDF
- 2022 Payment Voucher Request – PDF
- Mileage Log – Word Document
- IRS rate link
- Directory/Contact Update Form – Online Form
- Presbytery Organizational Structure – PDF
- Reserving Zoom Sessions on the Presbytery’s account – Blog Post Link
- Background Check Release Form – Fillable PDF
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?
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Be informed in all the things that are happening in our Presbytery.
Next Stated Meeting
A special meeting of the Presbytery will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 15, 2022, at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Portage for the purpose of installing the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence as Executive Presbyter/Stated Clerk.
The next regular Stated Meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in person at the First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo.
Watch the presbytery’s website and eDIGEST for updated information about both meetings.
The Presbytery of Lake Michigan, 1511 Helen Avenue, Portage, MI 49002 | Copyrighted © 2022