Documents

Vestries, Bishop’s Committees and other lay leaders undertake important administrative responsibilities in West Missouri’s churches. Look here for the latest Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church and The Diocese of West Missouri. Find the business manual and diocesan policies and procedures for a variety of topics along with required forms and instructions. Resources on this page support the work of pastoral leaders with updated directives concerning worship and pastoral care.

Other Resources

• Best Practices for Parochial Archives
• Opportunities for Serving the Church in Diocesan Leadership
• Emergency Planning Resources for Congregations
• Diocesan Calendar
• Program/Ministry Development Resources and Help for Churches and Deaneries
• Communication Resources
• Find a Church
• Bishop’s Visitation and Area Confirmation Schedule through August 2021

Diocesan

• Church Safety and Insurance Handbook
• Disciplinary Board – Intake Officer Poster
• Emergency Response Plan – Version 2.
• Pastoral Letter from Bishop Field Introducing Our Diocesan Priorities & A Covenant for Mission

Bishop’s Visitation

• “Customary” for Episcopal Visitations & Area Confirmations
• Weekday Visitation Planning – Online Form
• Sunday Visitation Planning – Online Form
• Bishop’s Visitation and Area Confirmation Schedule through August 2021

Clergy Available for Supply

• Clergy Available for Supply

Confirmation

• Area Confirmation Candidate Roster – Online Form
• Post-Confirmation Form – Online Form

Constitution and Canons

• Constitution & Canons

Pastoral Directions

• Pastoral Direction for West Missouri During the Current Pandemic — 4-13-2020
• Phase Two Pastoral Direction for Clergy and Parishes of The Episcopal Church in West Missouri — 5-04-2020
• Clarification Statement — For the Phase Two Pastoral Direction
• Addendum to the Phase Two Pastoral Direction for Clergy and Parishes of The Episcopal Church in West Missouri — 5-13-2020

Diocesan Annual Convention

• Bishop’s Committee Roster and Slate of Delegates – Online Form
• Vestry Roster and Slate of Delegates – Online Form
• Youth Slate of Delegates – Online Form

Bishop’s Committee

• Bishop’s Committee Appointment Request (Congregations only) – Online Form

Diocesan Policies

• 2021 Expense Reimbursement Request Form
• Accountable Business Expense Policy – Oct. 2015
• Alcoholic Beverage Policy
• Carrying Firearms On Church Properties Policy
• Confirmation Reception and Reaffirmation Policy
• Expenditure Authorization Policy
• Laying on of Hands and/or Anointing of the Sick
• Media Policy and Guidelines
• Minimum Insurance Requirements 2015
• Parochial Financial Audits
• Solemnization Of Marriages Policy

Guidelines

• Diocesan Style Guide
• Diocesan Word Document Template

Diocesan Prayer Cycle (current)

• Diocesan Prayer Cycle (current)

Human Resources

• 2021 Health Plan Coverage Comparison
• 2021 Member Education Video
• 2021 Health Plan Premiums
• 2021 Minimum Clergy Compensation
• Mutual Ministry Review Preparation
• Mutual Ministry Review

Hiring & Staff

• Diocese Recommended Hiring Process—provides step by step process and templates for congregations to use in selecting employees and volunteers.
• W-2 or 1099
• Church Employment Application
• Conducting a Reference Check for a Child/Youth Worker
• Written Offer Letter
• Background and Prevention Requirements
• Background Request Form
• CPG New Hire Checklist – Lay Employee
• Diocesan Staff Handbook — Designed for Diocesan Staff and can be used as “template” for congregations. Contact Elaine Gilligan hr-finasst@diowestmo.org for a word document template.

Safeguarding and Misconduct Prevention

“Updates Coming Soon” … in the interim, contact Elaine Gilligan hr-finasst@diowestmo.org for online enrollment.

• Policy and Procedures Regarding Prevention of Sexual Misconduct
• Covenant for Sexual Responsibility
• National Sex Offender Registry
• Confidential Notice of Concern

Lay Licensed Ministries

Background

• Of Licensed Ministries
• Policy on Licensed Preachers
• Eucharistic Visitor, Your Ministry

Guidelines and Requirements

• Eucharistic Minister Guidelines and Requirements – 2019
• Eucharistic Visitor Guidelines and Requirements – 2019
• Evangelist Guidelines and Requirements – 2019
• Pastoral Leader Guidelines and Requirements as of Feb 2017
• Worship Leader Guidelines and Requirements as of Feb 2017
• Preacher Guidelines and Requirements as of Sep 2020
• Catechist Guidelines and Requirements as of Sep 2020

Application Forms

• Eucharistic Minister and Eucharistic Visitor License Application 2019
• Worship Leader and Pastoral Leader License Application 2020
• Preacher License Application 2021-2023
• Catechist License Application 2021-2023

Background Request Forms can be found in the HR section

Certificates are only available from the password-protected clergy area of this website.

Other Documents

• Manual of Business Methods in Church Affairs
  A comprehensive, user-friendly manual which supports the increasingly complex work of all treasurers and parish administrators. Includes forms, such as the Parochial Report Form, with instructions.
• Church Check-list for completing the Episcopal Asset map

Misconduct Prevention

• See Human Resources

Sample Letters of Agreement

• Assistant Clergy LOA Sample
• Deacon LOA Sample 1
• Deacon LOA Sample 2
• Interim LOA Sample
• Rector LOA Sample – Revised 2019

Samples for Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation

• Bylaws
• Articles of Incorporation

Provincial

• Province VII

General Church

• Church Pension Group
• Church Publishing
• Church Safety and Insurance Handbook
• Constitution and Canons (English & Spanish)
• Episcopal Church, USA
• Parish QuickFind (previously known as “The Red Book”)
• Episocpal Clerical Directory
• Episcopal Dictionary
• Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD)
• Episcopal Cursillo Ministry
• Online “Book of Common Prayer”
• Parochial Report – Forms
• Parochial Reports – Online Filing

International

• Anglican Communion
• Anglican Cycle of Prayer
• Anglicans Online News

Updates