Tools for Congregational Life
Clearance Sale on Resource Books!
The Regional Office has a number of titles available for purchase on topics such as the Search and Call process, healthy congregations and pastors and many others. There are also compilations of stories edited by the Region's own Dorothy Sallee.
Closing Doors and Continuing Legacies
The Christian Church Foundation has provided materials to help congregations that are considering their legacy as a ministry beyond their lifespan.
Read about the "Sacred Stories" of congregations who closed their doors but opened their minds to continuing their ministries in different ways.
Visit the Christian Church Foundation's website to download the booklet.
"Sacred Stories": Closing Doors and Continuing Legacies
The Christian Church Foundation has provided materials to help congregations that are considering their legacy as a ministry beyond their lifespan.
Read about the "Sacred Stories" of congregations who closed their doors but opened their minds to continuing their ministries in different ways.
Visit the Christian Church Foundation's website to download the booklet.
Search and Call Documents
Ethical Guidelines for Congregational Conduct340.53 KB- Letter of Call & Agreement - Initial Agreement192.66 KB
- Letter of Call & Agreement - Annual Update117.63 KB
Resources for Pastoral Support Groups28.5 KB- Sabbatical/Renewal Leave for Pastors192.7 KB
More information can be found on the General Church Office of Search & Call website.
Regional Workshops
On this page, you will find the links to print and study the workshop materials and handbooks that were provided for you at all of the CCIW Regional Congregational Workshops. Feel free to use them and call us (309-828-6293) with any questions.
EEOC Liability
In the last 10 years, the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) has obtained $1.6 billion against employers in connection with cases alleging discrimination.
Federal laws prohibit job discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The Equal Pay Act prohibits sex-based wage discrimination; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects those who are 40 years of age or older; and the Americans with Disabilities Act protects qualified individuals with disabilities. State statutes may also apply in these areas.
Are congregations immune from this activity? Often they are not. Employment disputes are a major source of litigation for churches - accounting for 19% of lawsuits.
Risk of Theft
One of the most difficult risks to access and address in a church is theft by the very people the church depends on to achieve its mission. No organization is exempt from this risk, regardless of size. Keeping your covenant requires that you take reasonable measures to protect the assets needed to serve. The first step in preventing employee dishonesty is to acknowledge that it can happen in your church. The second step is understanding why people steal and how they do it.
Sexual Misconduct
Serving the United Church of Christ & The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN CLERGY AND CHURCH MEMBERS ARE WRONGLY ACCUSED.
IS YOUR CHURCH PROTECTED?
Recent news has focused a lot of attention on clergy sexual misconduct. It is important to recognize that the "ministerial" relationship can include both ordained ministers and laypersons in leadership roles, whether church and school employees or volunteers, counselors, teachers, assistants and aides.
Small Church Resources
Small Church Resources - from Virginia Theological Seminary
Several articles of interest for the small church are included in this Bulletin from Virginia Theological Seminary. Click to view the Bulletin.
Volunteers as Employees
The question regarding Volunteers often arises:
Which volunteers qualify as an "employee" for purposes of Worker's Compensation?
