Parish Resources

Parish Life Guidelines and Norms

• Alcohol Use
• Background Checks
• Baptism Guidelines
• Bishop’s Visitation Guidelines
• 2023-2024 Bishop’s Visitation Schedule
• Discretionary Funds
• 2023 Parochial Report Filing Link
• 2023 Parochial Report Form
• 2024 Federal Reporting Requirements

Foundation Grant: description & application found on on The Foundation of East Carolina page.

2024 Parish Contact Form
Click here to submit the 2024 Parish Contact Form Online

Marriage Guidelines

• Guidelines for Divorced Persons
• Marriage Solemnized Form
• Declaration of Intentions
• Guidelines and Resources for Same-Sex Marriages

Parish Audit Information

• 2024 Audit Criteria Request Form

Contract Audit by Diocesan Contract Auditor

• List of Contract Auditors
• Contract Audit Report Form (PDF)
• Contract Audit Report Form (Word)
• Parish Audit Responsibilities Checklist

In House Audit

• In House Audit Appendix
• Parish Audit Responsibilities Checklist
• In House Audit Report

Clergy Transitions (for Vestries and Search Committees)

• Transition Handbook 2023

Clergy Compensation

• 2024 Compensation & Benefits Handbook
• Tax Guide for Clergy
• 2024 Federal Reporting Requirements
• Sabbatical Guidelines

Housing Allowance Worksheets

• Own: PDF
• Parsonage: PDF
• Rental: PDF

• Lilly Foundation Information

Lay Minister Licenses

• Guidelines for Lay Ministers and Lectors
• Catechist License Application
• Eucharistic Minister Application
• Eucharistic Visitor Application
• Pastoral Leader Application
• Worship Leader Application
• Preacher Application

Ordination Information

• Ordination for Military Chaplains
• Priesthood: Steps Toward Ordination
• Diaconate: Steps Toward Ordination

Safe Church, Safe Communities

• Policies for Safe Church, Safe Communities for the Protection of Children & Youth
• Policies for Safe Church, Safe Communities for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults

Small Parish Resources

• Sermons that Work– a sermon resource for small parishes without a full-time priest.
• Resource List from Tommy Drake, Small Church Ministry Coordinator

Standing Committee Guidelines for Parish Indebtedness

Guidelines for Transactions Requiring Standing Committee Approval

Resources for Administrator’s, Treasurers, and Wardens

• Administrator’s Day 2022 Workshops and Resources

Stewardship Resources

• TENS Information– this flyer explains the benefits of free membership with TENS (The Episcopal Network for Stewardship) for churches, such as complete stewardship campaign packages and other helpful resources you can access
• TENS: The Episcopal Network for Stewardship Website– resources, stewardship campaigns, webinars, and more can be found on this site.
• Project Resource is a program being used in dioceses around The Episcopal Church to encourage and empower churches to grow and be transformed through joyful giving. The project offers extensive resources for stewardship, including year-round stewardship and pledge campaigns, asking for major gifts and planned giving. Click here to learn more about the 5-week, free training we are partnering with Project Resource for in Spring 2024.

Transitions and Open Lay Positions

Please visit the Transitions page for Clergy positions

For Lay positions, please visit the Lay Positions page.

For an up-to-date Supply Clergy list, please contact Evelyn King.

Support for Military Families

Conversations about Gun Violence

Church Website Resources

Below are some resources that can aid in the discernment and creation process for your parish website, especially if you are starting from scratch. Keep in mind, these resources are merely suggestions and will often plug their own products, so take from them the information that is helpful. If you have questions, you can contact Sara Tavela, our Coordinator of Communications.

• 9 Best Church Website Builders for Beginners– an overview, with pros, cons, and pricing, of common website builders churches can use when creating a church website
• Website Builders for Churches– an overview with pricing for 5 common website builders, as well as several church-specific website builders
• How to Build a Church Website That Makes People Want to Come Back– a blog post via the website builder Ekklesia 360 that gives tips on creating an engaging church website
• Bluehost– a hosting site with varying plans that is among the most affordable platform for WordPress sites with builder options and reasonable monthly rates
• How to Create a Church Website Using WordPress– this blog post gives some tips on basics for building a WordPress website for your church
• YouTube can be a helpful resource to find video tutorials that walk you through the different steps of creating and maintaining a church website. From tutorials of the entire process of building a church website to quick tutorials on how to update pieces of your website (pages, posts, and other content), you’ll usually find something to help you in that process.
• Reminder: a Facebook page and/or your Episcopal Asset Map listing counts as a website and may be all your church needs! The main point of a website is to allow visitors and your congregants know when and where services are, what ministry and worship opportunities are available, and contact information, all of which can be accomplished with a Facebook page and your Episcopal Asset Map listing.