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Here you will find links to documents that Churches and Sessions will find helpful.  In addition, you will find training videos for Pastor Nominating Committees below.

 

2026 Compensation Packages for Called and Installed Pastors

• Congregational Pastors Package (Installed now and not in the old plan as of 12/31/2024? → CPP. Pensions+1

• Transitional Pastors Package (You were in Pastor’s Participation on 12/31/2024? → You may be in TPP for 2025–2027, then shift to CPP by 1/1/2028 (or earlier if your congregation opts in). Pensions+2

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COM Manual:

• COM Manual 2018
  
   

COM Forms:

• Guidelines for Forming Ordination/Installation Commission Reporting Form

• Minutes of Ordination/Installation Commission Form

• Commissioned Pastor Endorsement Form

• Validated Ministry 

For Teaching Elders:

• Annual Report of Ministers and Others in Trinity Presbytery

• Standards of Ethical Conduct

• Personal Information Form 

• Protection Policy Manual

• Executive Check Form

• Exit Interview with Teaching Elder or Commissioned Ruling Elder

• Sacred Conversations

For Pastor Nominating Committees:​

• Church Leadership Connection (CLC) Tutorial

• Manual for Calling a Pastor

• Ministry Discernment Profile

• Examination and Reception into Trinity Presbytery

• Checklist for Trinity Presbytery PNCs for calling a Pastor (an excerpt - 5 pages - from the "Examination and Reception into Trinity Presbytery" document)

• Reference Check Form for PNCs

• Background Check Consent Form (Hard Copy)

• Background Check Consent Form (Online Version) — you will be taken to the PDFFiller.com website to complete and submit the form

• Pastor Nominating Committee Videos (Handbooks for the videos below)

  • 1.  Introduction Video: On Calling A Pastor​

  • 2.  Presbyterian Polity and Call

  • 3.  The Call Process

  • 4.  Mission Studies

  • 5.  Call and Fit

  • 6.  Calling a First Call Pastor

  • 7.  Appropriate Questions for Interviews

  • 8.  Reference Checks

• A Complete Guide to Creating a Ministry Discernment Profile

• Mission Study Resources

  • Church Trends in Your Congregation

  • Conducting a Mission Study

  • Congregational Survey and Mission Study

  • Free Online Demographic Reports

  • How to Do a Congregational Mission Study

  • Mission Study Ideas

  • Research Strategies for Congregations: Tools for Understanding the People in Your Church and Community

For Sessions:

• 2025 Minimum Salary Standards

• Interim Search Process

• Policy for Pastoral Relations (When Pastors Leave or Retire)

• Protection Policy Manual

• Pulpit Supply List and Honoraria Guidelines for Pulpit Supply Ministers

• Sacred Conversations

• Session's Annual Evaluation of Commissioned Pastor

• Session Exit Interview

• Trinity Presbytery Sabbatical Leave Policy

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CALLED AND INSTALLED PASTORS, CO-PASTORS, AND ASSOCIATE PASTORS

• Congregational Pastors Package (Installed now and not in the old plan as of 12/31/2024? → CPP. Pensions+1

• Transitional Pastors Package (You were in Pastor’s Participation on 12/31/2024? → You may be in TPP for 2025–2027, then shift to CPP by 1/1/2028 (or earlier if your congregation opts in). Pensions+2

 

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TEACHING ELDERS COVENANT AGREEMENTS

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• Covenant Agreement for Bi-vocational Pastor

A bi-vocational pastor is an ordained teaching elder with another line of work that provides their primary source of income and benefits. The bi-vocational pastor serves a congregation that is not seeking a Called and Installed pastor. Therefore, the congregation has neither elected nor intends to elect a Pastor Nominating Committee. Congregations with a bi-vocational pastor ordinarily cannot provide the minimum terms of call for full-time pastoral service. This pastoral relationship may or may not offer Board of Pensions benefits.

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• Covenant Agreement for Designated Supply Pastor

A designated supply pastor is an ordained teaching elder without interim pastor training serving in a congregation seeking a called and installed pastor. Therefore, they either have a Pastor Nominating Committee in place or will be electing one. Congregations with a designated supply pastor may be able to provide the presbytery’s minimum terms of call for full-time pastoral service; however, the session may choose to have a designated supply pastor serve in a part-time role.

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• ​Covenant Agreement for Interim Associate Pastor

An interim associate pastor is an ordained teaching elder in a congregation seeking a called and installed associate pastor. Therefore, the congregation either has an Associate Pastor Nominating Committee in place or will be electing one. Congregations with an interim associate pastor usually can provide the minimum terms of call for full-time pastoral service; however, the session may choose to have an interim associate pastor serve in a part-time role.​

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• ​Covenant Agreement for Interim Pastor

An interim pastor is an ordained teaching elder with interim pastor training serving in a congregation seeking a called and installed pastor. Therefore, the congregation either has a Pastor Nominating Committee in place or will be electing one. An interim pastor has the training to help congregations end their relationships with previous pastors, conduct a self-study and discern new directions, identify and develop new lay leaders, rethink denominational relationships, and build commitment to a new future. Congregations with an interim pastor usually can provide the minimum terms of call for full-time pastoral service; however, the session may choose to have an interim pastor serve in a part-time role.

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• ​Covenant Agreement for Parish Associate

A parish associate is an ordained teaching elder who participates in a congregation but does not serve in an installed Pastoral role. The parish associate serves at the pleasure of the congregation’s pastor and exercises their gifts in congregational ministry through an official relationship with the session, in which they serve the congregation through education, preaching, pastoral visitations, administration of the sacraments, and other invitations extended to them upon the pastor's recommendation.

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• Covenant Agreement for Stated Supply Pastor

A stated supply pastor is an ordained teaching elder serving in a congregation, not seeking a Called and Installed pastor. Therefore, the congregation has neither elected nor intends to elect a Pastor Nominating Committee. Congregations with a stated supply pastor ordinarily cannot provide the minimum terms of call for full-time pastoral service. However, they may or may not pay the Board of Pensions.

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• Covenant Agreement for Temporary Supply Pastor

​A temporary supply pastor is usually a candidate for ministry, a seminary graduate certified and ready to receive a call, or may be a pastor. A temporary supply pastor cannot moderate the session or administer the sacraments unless they are an ordained presbytery clergy. Congregations with a temporary supply pastor ordinarily cannot provide the minimum terms of call for full-time pastoral service.

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RULING ELDERS COVENANT AGREEMENTS

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• Covenant Agreement for Commissioned Bi-vocational Pastor

A commissioned bi-vocational pastor is an ordained ruling elder with another line of work that provides their primary source of income and benefits. The commissioned bi-vocational pastor serves a congregation that is not seeking a Called and Installed pastor. Therefore, the congregation has neither elected nor intends to elect a Pastor Nominating Committee. Congregations with a commissioned bi-vocational pastor ordinarily cannot provide the minimum terms of call for full-time pastoral service. This pastoral relationship may or may not offer Board of Pensions benefits.

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• ​Covenant Agreement for Commissioned Designated Supply Pastor

A commissioned designated supply pastor is an ordained or ruling elder without interim pastor training serving in a congregation seeking a called and installed pastor. Therefore, they neither have a Pastor Nominating Committee in place nor will they be electing one. Congregations with a commissioned designated supply pastor may be able to provide the presbytery’s minimum terms of call for full-time pastoral service; however, the session may choose to have a designated supply pastor serve in a part-time role.​

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• Covenant Agreement for Commissioned Interim Associate Pastor

A commissioned interim associate pastor is an ordained ruling elder in a congregation seeking a called and installed associate pastor. Therefore, the congregation either has an Associate Pastor Nominating Committee in place or will be electing one. Congregations with a commissioned interim associate pastor usually can provide the minimum terms of call for full-time pastoral service; however, the session may choose to have an interim associate pastor serve in a part-time role.

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• Covenant Agreement for Commissioned Interim Pastor

A commissioned interim pastor is an ordained ruling elder with interim pastor training serving in a congregation seeking a called and installed pastor. Therefore, the congregation either has a Pastor Nominating Committee in place or will be electing one. A commissioned interim pastor has the training to help congregations end their relationships with previous pastors, conduct a self-study and discern new directions, identify and develop new lay leaders, rethink denominational relationships, and build commitment to a new future. Congregations with a commissioned interim pastor usually can provide the minimum terms of call for full-time pastoral service; however, the session may choose to have an interim pastor serve in a part-time role.

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• Covenant Agreement for Commissioned Parish Associate

A commissioned parish associate is an ordained ruling elder who participates in a congregation but does not serve in a Commissioned Pastoral role. The commissioned parish associate serves at the pleasure of the congregation’s pastor and exercises their gifts in congregational ministry through an official relationship with the session, in which they serve the congregation through education, preaching, pastoral visitations, administration of the sacraments, and other invitations extended to them upon the pastor’s recommendation.​

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• Covenant Agreement for Commissioned Pastor

A commissioned pastor is an ordained ruling elder serving in a congregation seeking a Called and Installed pastor. Therefore, the congregation either has a Pastor Nominating Committee in place or will be electing one. Congregations with a commissioned pastor usually can provide the minimum terms of call for full-time pastoral service; however, the session may choose to have an interim pastor serve in a part-time role.​

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• ​Covenant Agreement for Commissioned Stated Supply Pastor

A commissioned stated supply pastor is an ordained ruling elder serving in a congregation, not seeking a Called and Installed pastor. Therefore, the congregation has neither elected nor intends to elect a Pastor Nominating Committee. Congregations with a commissioned stated supply pastor ordinarily cannot provide the minimum terms of call for full-time pastoral service. However, they may or may not pay the Board of Pensions.

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• Covenant Agreement for Commissioned Temporary Supply Pastor

​A commissioned temporary supply pastor is an ordained ruling elder candidate for Commissioned Ruling Elder (CRE) ministry, attending the SC5 School of Theology or a certified seminary, enrolled in the CRE Track.  A commissioned temporary supply pastor may moderate the session or administer the sacraments if authorized by the Commission on Ministry to do so. Congregations with a commissioned temporary supply pastor ordinarily cannot provide the minimum terms of call for full-time pastoral service.​

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