District Resources

District Office Forms:

• Sample District Newsletter
• District Ministries Survey - District effectiveness Pastoral survey
• District Policies Manual
• Southwest Ohio District Resources Forms and Policies
• West Virginia North District Resources Forms and Policies

Pastoral/Local Church Forms

Laity and Church Board

• Agenda Local Board - Provides an example agenda for pastors to follow when holding monthly board meetings
• Release Member Request - Statement of lay member release for local church
• Abuse Prevention Policies and Forms
• Prevention of Sexual Misconduct

Pastoral Review

• Preparation for a Pastoral Review - A church board member self evaluation form (printable form)
• Church/Pastor Review Questionnaire - Specific questions for church boards and pastors
• Pastoral Review Process - A detailed pdf file regarding the review process
• Process Outline and Form - Review process outline and written understandings form for church boards and pastors
• Pastoral Review Survey - A detailed survey form in a pdf format
• Congregational Survey Form - Specific questions for the congregation at pastoral review time
• Special Pastoral Review - Guidelines for use when a continued pastoral relationship is in question

Relation with the District Superintendent

• Annual Visit, etc. - Provides expectations for pastors regarding annual D.S. visit, visit with church board, and special needs
• Approval to Borrow Money - Approval form for churches desiring a loan, especially to build a facility
• Approval to Build - Approval form for churches that are planning to build a structure, add to an existing structure, do major remodeling, or construct a site amenity such as a parking lot or recreational area
• Approval to Purchase Existing Property - Approval form for churches seeking to purchase a building
• Approval to Purchase Land - Approval form for churches seeking to purchase land
• Approval to Remodel - Approval form for "minor" remodeling
• Reversionary Clause - To be included in all deeds for any new properties purchased or old deeds changed in any way
• Approval to Hire Staff - Example letter from D.S. approvaing hiring of staff, as per 2001-2005 Manual paragraph 162.1
• District Policy for Hiring Staff - Outlines guidelines for hiring church staff, as per provision of the Manual
• Request to Renew an Assistant - Annual request form for renewal of tenure for paid/unpaid assistants
• Request to Retain an Assistant - Provisions for retaining an assistant (paid/unpaid) in the local church as outlined in the 2001-2005 Manual

​Goals, Expectations, and Awards for Pastors

• Pastoral Agreement - This is a specific assignment agreement between the pastor and the church board
• Basic Self Study - A form that states local church mission statement and assesses how well the church is doing in meeting their goals and expectations for ministry
• Pastoral Expectations for Excellence - Outlines several areas of expectations for pastors in the district
• Relationship of D.S. and Pastor - Describes expectations between the D.S. and the local pastor, in terms of what each can expect from the other while serving the district
• Relationship of D.S. and Associate
• Associate Renewal Process - A summary of the renewal process for staff
• The D.S. May Provide - List of items the D.S. will provide to the pastor

Ceremonies

• Adoption Ceremony - A Ritual for New Adoptive Parents

Inactive Church Members

• Inactive Member Sample Letter - Sample form letter for pastors to use in notification of "inactive" church member

Manual Statements Important to Membership, Pastoral Calling, and Ministry

• Local Church Membership (Manual 27, 107-112, 801)
• Calling a Pastor (Manual 115-119.1)
• Church-Pastor Relationship (Manual 116, 120-123.1)
• Laity and Staff Assitants (Manual 162)
• Ministry and Christian Service (Manual 412-419)
• Ministerial Confidentiality (Manual 433.14)

Resignation and Moving Minister Information

• Moving Arrangements for Pastors - Information on moving to a new pastoral assignment, as information on tenure and membership
• Pastoral Review - Church Board Appointment - Memo to local church board about church/pastor review
• Pastor's Resignation Check List Off District - Resignation check list
• Release Letter - Letter which releases pastor from local church membership upon resignation
• Resign Pastor - List of procedures to follow when resigning as pastor from a local church

Prospective Pastor Information and Church Health Assessments

• Prospective Pastor Questionnaire - A questionnaire for prospective pastors seeking church appointments to fill out and send to the D.S.
• Questions for Pastoral Candidates - Series of questions, grouped by category, for pastoral candidates. Categories include family history, spirituality, leadership philosophy and style, preaching and worship style, etc.
• Rate Our Church - Questionnaire in Excel spreadsheet format that rates church health
• Core Values - An assessment form to determine core values
• Expectations - A church survey to access pastoral expectations
• Governing Board Assessment - An audit for boards to assess board health

District Superintendents/Personnel Forms

Credentials

• Credentials Board Questions for Interviews - Sample questions for prospective ministerial candidates
• Ordination Interview Questions - Questions for applicants seeking ordination
• Covenant Categories
• Tabulation Form
• Credentials Board Candidate Interview Form
• Ministerial Development - Process overview chart
• Ministerial Development - Guidelines and process

Ministerial Assessment

• Brochure - A sample Assessment Center Brochure
• Schedule - A sample Assessment Center Schedule
• Weekend Schedule
• Schedule with Groups - A sample schedule with groups
• Letters:  Sample Letter 1  -  Sample Letter 2
• Marriage Assessment Process - Details on what will be involved in this process
• Charge to the Candidates - Words to challenge new ministers
• Address to Candidates - District Superintendent addresses the candidates
• Conflict Resolution - An exercise to assess conflict resolution skills
• Conflict Resolution Assessors Evaluation Form
• Spiritual Formation - An assignment to aid in the assessment of spiritual formation
• Outreach Event - Evaluation Form

Conduct and Discipline Information

• Discipline of Layperson - Sample policy form that explains the objectives of church discipline
• District Center Conduct Code - Expectations of conduct, by Manual provision, for all guests, campers and cottage owners of any district center

District Assembly Information

• District Assembly Checklist - A list of items to do (mostly) before and after the assembly
• District SSM Chairperson Job Description - Outlines the basic responsibilities of the District Sunday School Chairperson
• Church Excellence Awards - An Excel spreadsheet which lists the categories of excellence and records the status of each local church
• District Award of Excellence Description Sheet - Describes for pastors the excellence in ministry award categories for the upcoming district assembly. Churches that achieve "excellence status" will be recognized and honored at the district assembly

Pastoral Transition

• Pastoral Transition Board Meeting - Questionnaire for local church board during pastoral transition. Asks several questions about what qualities are desired in a pastor
• Pastoral Transition Initial Agenda - Example agenda for initial church board meeting regarding pastoral transition
• Pastoral Transition - A pdf file for the entire process

New Church and ReFocus

• Church Planter Covenant - A NewStart covenant between the church and the district
• District Policies for NewStarts and ReFocus Churches

Clergy Reinstatement/Restoration

• Suggested Rehabilitation Program
• The Process of Response, Rehabilitation, Reconciliation, and the Restoration of the Clergy
• Request for Consideration of Return/Restoration of Credentials
• Restoration Process and Application
• Board Member Profile - Outlines the ministry qualification of the board member and their perception of the local church's ministry
• Church Board Registration - Lists church board officers and their assignments, and registers board attendance when the D.S. meets with the Church Board

Church Properties Board

• Church Properties Board Excerpt - Outlines the duties and responsibilities of the church properties board

Ceremonies

Installation & Bonding Services

• Bonding Ceremony
• Installation Service
• Installation Abbreviated
• Installation Service Slides
• Installation Service Sample Cover

Organizational Services for New Churches:

• Organizational Service - Sample Ceremony
• The Act of Organization of a New Church - Sample Ceremony

Letters

• Review Approve Letter to Church - Letter from D.S. affirming the continuation of the ministry of the senior pastor of the church
• Welcome NMI Letter District Move - Welcome letter from district NMI rep to local pastor
• Welcome Local Move
• Welcome SSM Letter District Move

Review

• Review Form - A form for the district advisory board to use for the District Superintendent's Review

Sabbatical

• Sabbatical - Policies concerning a sabbatical for the D.S. and Assistant D.S.