Statistical Reporting Season
Clerks of Session can access the reporting portal here:
Frequently Asked Questions
Guide for Statistical ReportingThe portal opens on Thursday, January 2 and the deadline for completing the reports is Friday, February 7, 2025.
News Alerts
Protect your Directories
Scammers are contacting local church offices and requesting a copy of their church directory. They will use a story that they have been recent visitor or have been visiting occasionally with a partner, and are wanting a copy of the church directory to see who else they might know in the church.
If they are able to get a copy of the church directory, they then begin sending out spoof emails and text messages from a local number pretending to be the pastor or a fellow church member and asking for emergency assistance. This is becoming far more disruptive of an event for affected churches and their pastors than previous scams. Please do NOT share church directories by email, unless you are absolutely certain about who’s asking.
Caution! The Danger of Borrowing from the Internet
PC(USA) General Counsel Mike Kirk has provided advice about posting images copied from the Internet in your own publications. (The bottom line: be very careful, or don’t!). Be sure to read to the end for a related warning against identifying minors in photos that you have taken yourself.
Artificial Intelligence Guidelines
We are all aware that artificial intelligence technology is rapidly infiltrating our lives. Some of it can be useful in our work. But there are serious risks as well, especially when hackers use AI to create “deep fakes” or send bogus emails and other communications. The corporate arm of the PCUSA (A Corporation) has developed a set of preliminary guidelines for this emerging technology which is available for churches to adapt.
Boundary Training Resources for Sessions
Safe Gatherings
Safe Gatherings offers a combination of background checks and on-line training similar
to Praesidium. Through their “Congregation U” program they offer a variety of courses
including this core course for abuse prevention: Safe Gatherings Abuse Prevention Training for CongregationU
- https://congregationu.com/course-list/
- https://safegatherings.com/app/get-started-clergy-course (suitable for sessions as well)
Faith Trust
I think they have their training resources available for congregational use though the session
would need to identify a leader who could use them. There is at least one training module on YouTube. You might find more.
Resource Documents and Publications
- Manual for Clerks of Session
- Guidelines for Holding Virtual Meetings
- Administrative Operations Manual
- Annual Review Checklist
- Rolls and Registers
- Statistical Reporting and Frequently Asked Questions
- Records of Congregations – Presbyterian Historical Society
- Congregation Retention
- Serving as Clerk of Session – Some tasks and tips for clerks of session
- Worship attendance with FaceBook livestream
- Rolls & Registers Presentation – Clerks’ 2021 Meeting
- Instructions for Virtual or Paired In-Person Minutes Review
- Guidelines for Housing Allowances and Manses
