A guide to help parishes throught the stressful process of transitioning from a previous clergy person to a new one.

Attachment	Size
A guide for parishes in transition Useful information for getting through the clergy search process	475.66 KB

This document explains vestry policies, procedures and guidelines for new vestry members. It is also a useful refresher for experienced vestry members.

Attachment	Size
Guide for Vestry Members	175.83 KB

This document contains five sections:

• General information about the program
• Questions for reflection by clergy and congregations
• Application part I - Vestry Letter of Support
• Application part II - Clergy Application
• Working benefits payment agreement

Attachment	Size
Clergy Sabbatical Application for 2008-9	43.19 KB

Guidelines provided by the committee on compensating clergy.

Attachment	Size
Compensation & Benefits Guide for 2008	432.05 KB
Model Personnel Handbook for Parishes	96 KB

These documents have been created by the Congregational Business Consultants of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts to assist parishes with their financial management.

Attachment	Size
Congregational Business Consultants Resource Guide for 2007	81.13 KB
Congregational Business Consultants Assessment Deferral Policy & Application	110.47 KB

These are agreements binding a parish and it's clergy persons.

Attachment	Size
Covenant of ministry for rectors Updated for 2007	57.5 KB
Covenant of ministry for priests-in-residence Updated for 2007	46.5 KB
Covenant of ministry for priests-in-charge Updated for 2007	64.5 KB
Covenant of ministry for vicars Updated for 2007	47 KB
Covenant of ministry for interim priests Updated for 2007	55.18 KB
Covenant of ministry for interim vicars Updated for 2007	54.5 KB
Covenant of ministry for assisting clergy Updated for 2007	56.5 KB

This is the guideline for discernment and application to the ordination process. It includes the following addenda:

• The commitment form
• The discernment committee report form
• The financial disclosure form
• A timeline for the ordination process
• The application for holy orders

Attachment	Size
Discernment for Ministry Handbook for 2008 (includes forms)	304.55 KB

Why should a church enter into a partnership with another local church? This four session series is designed to help parish members answer this vital question.

Attachment	Size
Epiphany Series on Local Church Partnerships	328.19 KB

FYI is a monthly newsletter mailed to the clergy and lay leadership of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts.

Attachment	Size
October 2008	54.63 KB
September 2008	65 KB
August 2008	53.03 KB
July 2008	52.09 KB
June 2008	54.74 KB
May 2008	57.87 KB
April 2008	62.95 KB
March 2008	67 KB
February 2008	58.21 KB
January 2008	57.5 KB
December 2007	59.62 KB
November 2007	54.58 KB
October 2007	56.51 KB
September 2007	62.32 KB
August 2007	57.28 KB
July 2007	49.67 KB
June 2007	54.42 KB
May 2007	51.3 KB
April 2007	59.09 KB
March 2007	62.04 KB
February 2007	60.46 KB
January 2007	51.35 KB

These documents provide information about the Jubilee Ministry, which provides support to the nations of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in their fight against AIDS.

Attachment	Size
Serving the Body of Christ	290.17 KB

The Liturgy & Music Committee researches and provides worship materials for congregations and the diocese as a whole. All inquiries should be directed to May B. Daw, secretary of the committee (mbdaw [at] earthlink [dot] net).

A proper for the Feast of Andronicus and Junia is attached below.

Attachment	Size
A Proper for the Feast of Andronicus and Junia	12.3 KB

Sample parish by-laws which parishes me use to set up their own by-laws

Attachment	Size
Model bylaws (Word format)	116 KB

A guide to mutual ministry, i.e. identifying and effectively utilizing ministerial resources within the parish, rather than being the sole motivator of ministry and mission

Attachment	Size
The cycle of mutual ministry A planning guide for the work of ministry	1.37 MB

A guide to the ordination process in the Diocese of Massachusetts

Attachment	Size
The ordination handbook for postulants and candidates for holy orders	121.48 KB

This document provides more information about this program for parishes.

Attachment	Size
The Congregational Coaches Program	34.25 KB

The canons (church laws) under which the Diocese of Massachusetts operates

Attachment	Size
Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts (2007)	150.15 KB

The Episcopal Times is the award-winning quarterly publication of the Diocese of Massachusetts. It is distributed to approximately 30,000 households in the diocese.

Attachment	Size
2008 Spring-Summer	1.78 MB
2007-08 Winter	852.68 KB
2007 Summer	995.61 KB
2007 Verano (Articulo en espanol sobre la Iglesia de Gracia en Salem)	410.19 KB
2006-07 Fall-Winter	1.15 MB
2006 Summer	1.15 MB
2006 Winter-Spring	1.24 MB
2005 Fall	1.35 MB
2005 Summer	1.17 MB
2005 Winter	1.08 MB
2004 Fall	1.12 MB

A form for parishes to fill out to update the transition ministry office about the status of their search.

These are the respective applications for clergy and parishes for the Diocese of Massachusetts Urban Residents Program. This program deploys newly ordained clergy in congregations committed to vital ministry and mission in the city.

Attachment	Size
Urban Residents Program Application for Congregations	38.07 KB
Urban Residents Program Application for Residents	65.84 KB

A set of recommendations to the bishops and the Diocesan Council for how parishes can develop and grow.

• Vitality: a lively and active participation in mission
• Viability: stable and strong development and administration of finances and property
• Mutuality: the emphasis on the interdependence of the Diocese and its parishes

Attachment	Size
Vitality A covenant and characteristics of congregations growing in mission	1.45 MB