Bible Studies (Downloadable PDFs)

• Colossians Bible Study
• Crossing Thresholds Bible Study
• Fully Human Bible Study
• Incarnate Community Bible Study
• SHINE! Bible Study

Calling Commissioned / Ordained Workers:

• Calling Congregations Assessment Survey
• Calling Committee Member Covenant
• Call Process Ordained Ministers in NID (PDF)
• Pre-Call Interviews – Format and questions (updated 2/4/2024)
• Call documents – contact NID for ordained workers; for commissioned workers
• Sample Call Document Ordained (PDF) (Updated 10/28/2021)
• Call Instructions Document for Ordained Ministers (PDF) (Updated 10/28/2021)
• Quick Reference Guide for the Call Document for Ordained Ministers (PDF)
• Flowchart for Dealing with a Call (PDF)
• Call Process Commissioned Ministers in NID (PDF)
• Call Process Commissioned Minister in NID Appendices (PDF)
• Purchase of part-time pastoral services (PDF) (updated 11/19/2025)
• Salary Guide for NID (PDF) Rev. 4/10/2025

Church Administrator Resources:

• AED Administrative Procedure / Automatic External Defibrillator (PDF) Rev. 2/22/2018
• Alliance Defending Freedom
  • ADF Resource page
• Church Administration (website) LCMS
• Concordia Plan Services (website)
• Congregation’s End of Year Statistics
  • LCMS Congregation Statistics – Field Definitions
  • LCMS Congregational Statistics – Report FAQ
• Constitutions and Bylaws of Lutheran Congregations (PDF handbook middle of linked webpage)
• Federal Labor Law required posters (website)
• Financial Aid Form Church Work Students (PDF) deadlines June 30, December 31
• Grants
  • Endowment (PDF) deadline May 15
  • Kingdom Expansion Together Grant (01/2025 version)
  • Partnership Grants –  Submit request (updated 11/15/2023)
• Group Purchasing Agreement for LCMS churches, schools (website)
• Illinois training concerning sexual harassment (PDF on dhr.illinois.gov) (updated 8/1/2025)
• LCMS National Youth Gathering information
• Marriage Policy Sample for LCMS Member Congregations (link to lcms.org document)
• Mileage Rates (irs.gov)
• Protecting Your Ministry Legal Guidelines (link to download from Alliance Defending Freedom)
• RSO organizations in NID (page link)
• Salary evaluation tools – A tool has been released by Concordia Plans to assist congregations and schools in evaluation of salary information based on their particular location. This is very useful. Here is the link below:
  • To access the LCMS School tool
  • To access the LCMS Church tool
• Social Media Guidelines for Writing Policies (PDF) NID sample
• Treasurers’ Manual (website) LCMS

Church / School Employees

• Illinois State Police Criminal History – View Agency Link: Criminal History
  • Criminal History Background Check Guide
  • Criminal History Fee Schedule
• Concordia Plan Services (website)
• Employee Morals Policy (PDF)
• Illinois Child Bereavement Leave Act (website)
• Illinois on-line training concerning sexual harassment (Due December 31, 2024)
• Fair Labor Wage and Overtime Rules for Day Care and Preschools (website)
• Personnel Resources (website) LCMS job descriptions, performance appraisal, legal, financial, etc.
• Pastoral Evaluation Tools
  • Sample 1
  • Sample 2 (used with permission: Doxology, SEELSORGER, Vol. 3)
• Reduction in Force (PDF) LCMS School Ministry 2017

Church Worker Resources:

• Concordia Plan Services (website)
• Conferences: NID Educators (page link)
• Conferences: NID Pastors (page link)
• Illinois Mandated Reporting of Child Abuse (DCFS website)
• LCMS Congregational Treasurer’s Guide – Taxes and Ministers, 2024 edition (PDF)
• Online Contact Information update for NID
• Vacancy list for NID schools and commissioned positions (page link)

Congregational Offerings:

• Congregational Offering/Payment Online Webpage
• Congregational Offering Designation Form 2025 (PDF)
• Congregational Offering Commitment Form FY2026 (fillable PDF)
• Congregation Commitment Form FY2026 (link to upload)
• Congregational Offering Commitment Form FY2026 (PDF to print)
• Congregational Offering/Payment Designation Form FY2026

Crisis Prevention / Management:

• Active Shooter, How to Respond
  • U.S. Homeland Security
  • FBI
• Illinois on-line training concerning sexual harassment (PDF on dhr.illinois.gov) (updated 8/1/2025)
• LERT (Lutheran Early Response Teams) (website) Lutheran Church Charities training and deployment
• Natural Disaster Response – email: Lutheran Church Charities,  866-455-6466
• Pandemics Congregational Planning for Pandemics – LCMS World Relief and Human Care
• Risk Management and Insurance – see LCMS Congregation Treasurer’s Manual

Immigration Resources:

• Amigos Center-LCMS Recognized Service Organization. Their immigration staff provides low-cost family-based immigration services. They help families unite and stay united, moving them along the pathway toward permanent residency and citizenship.
• Immigrants Among Us – A Lutheran Framework for Addressing Immigration Issues (A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod November 2012)

These documents (shared from the Synod’s resource page) provide guidance for schools and congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in the event of a visit from a law enforcement agent regarding immigration-related matters. They are not intended to be legal advice.

• Law Enforcement Visit Guidelines for Churches
• Law Enforcement Visit Guidelines for Schools

Salary Evaluation Tools:

A tool has been released by Concordia Plans to assist congregations and schools in evaluation of salary information based on their particular location. This is very useful. Here is the link below:

• To access the LCMS Church tool
• To access the LCMS School tool

School Administrator Resources:

• Governing Manual for Lutheran Schools (LuthED.org)
• Group Purchasing Agreement (website) LCMS
• Illinois on-line training concerning sexual harassment (Due December 31, 2024)
• Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)
• Planning Checklist for Administrators (reviewed June 2025)