Committee on Ministry (COM) Documents
The Committee on Ministry – (COM) supports National Capital Presbytery’s (NCP) responsibilities for the care, oversight, and accountability for teaching elders and educators. These include examining, receiving, and dismissing minister members; offering encouragement and support to teaching elders and educators; seeking healthy relationships between teaching elders and congregations; and helping congregations secure appropriate pastoral leadership and educators in times of transition.
The work is carried out by four teams of teaching and ruling elders – Congregational Transitions, Examinations, Ministry Relations, and Teaching Elder Care & Nurture – and with the oversight of the COM Coordinating Committee. COM’s authority is based in the Book of Order, G-3.0306 and G-3.0307 [Book of Order references here].
For information on the work of each team, its leadership,
and the members of the Committee on Ministry, please click
here.
Care for Pastors and Educators
- Guidelines for Sabbatical Leave
- Request for Financial Support for Interim Ministry Training
- Ministry Crisis Fund of National Capital Presbytery
How to Apply for Ministry Crisis Funds: The Ministry Crisis Fund exists to help members of the Presbytery with acute, urgent needs. Funds are typically limited to $10,000 and extended in the form of loans, repayable over time, to enable as many recipients to benefit as possible, but may be forgiven upon request if there is no means to repay over the long term. To apply, please answer the following questions and send your request to the General Presbyter.
1) Describe the nature of the crisis.
2) What other sources of support do you have? How are you marshalling that help?
3) How specifically can we help? How will that help move you forward?
4) What will be the impact for you of not receiving the help?
The Ministry Relations Team of the Committee on Ministry will review your request at its meeting on the second Thursday of each month.
Compensation
- Compensation and Personnel Policy for Pastors – 2025
- Theological and Practical Guidance for Benefits Decision-Making – 2025
- Pastor Minimum Salary Report Form – 2025 (XLSX)
- Annual Pastor Salary Report Form – 2024
- Terms of Call Housing Allowance – 2024
- Terms of Call Manse – 2024
- Honorarium for Pulpit Supply, Temporary Supply, Moderating Session
Commissioned Ruling Elder (CRE)
Educators
- Procedure documents for Educators:
Conducting a Dual Search
On Calling a Christian Educator in NCP
When an Educator is Departing
Interim Ministry
- Changes in Pastoral Roles within a Congregation – Discernment Questions (for changes in pastoral roles policy)
- Intentional Interim Ministry Manual
- Interim Pastor Report Form
- Recommended Interim Minister Contract
- Request for Financial Support for Interim Ministry Training
- Procedure documents for Interim Ministry:
Selecting an Interim Pastor-Associate Pastor
Membership in NCP
- Administrative Leave Policy
- Changes in Pastoral Roles within a Congregation – Discernment Questions (for changes in pastoral roles policy)
- Code of Ethics for Clergy and Other Church Professionals
- Commitment for Mutual Ministry with Entering at-Large and Honorably Retired Teaching Elders
- Examination Process
- Pastoral Relationships in NCP – Policy
- Policy to Receive Ministers from Other Denominations
- Policy for Laboring Within and Without the Bounds
- Sexual Misconduct Policy
- When NCP Minister Members Retire
- Procedure Documents for Membership in NCP:
Calling a Designated Pastor as Pastor
Ministry Relations and Evaluation
Pastor Nominating Committees
- Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action In Calling Church Leadership [“EEO/AA Policy”]
- Supplement for Persons with Disabilities
- Changes in Pastoral Roles within a Congregation – Discernment Questions (for changes in pastoral roles policy)
- PNC Guide to Calling a Pastor
- National Capital Presbytery’s Background Check Policy
Procedure documents for Pastor Nominating Committees:
Calling a Pastor or Associate Pastor
Establishing a New Associate Pastor position
Securing Pastoral Leadership for Immigrant Worshipping Communities
Admitting Ministers from Other Denominations
Specialized
- Housing Allowance (Specialized) Eform
- Policy on Specialized Ministers
- Policy on Parish Associate Relationships and Request Form
Stated Supply
- Changes in Pastoral Roles within a Congregation – Discernment Questions (for changes in pastoral roles policy)
- Stated Supply Contract Template 2025 – PDF
- Stated Supply Contract Template 2025 – Word Document
Procedure documents for Stated Supply:
Selecting a Stated Supply Pastor
When Pastoral Relationships End
- Former Pastors Policy
- Policy for Dissolution of Installed Pastoral Relations[formerly “Separation Termination Policy”]
Procedure documents for When Pastoral Relationships End:
When a Pastor Leaves