Accessibility Equipment

Accessibility Equipment: What is Accessibility Equipment? (Accessibility Equipment Manufacturers' Association)

A variety of options from Bruno Independent Living Aids:
http://www.bruno.com/

Best Stair Lifts (Retirement Living Information Center)

Best Walk-In Bathtub Companies (Consumer Affairs)

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Parliamentary Procedure

Robert's Rules of Order Cheat Sheet for Nonprofits (Nick Price, BoardEffect)

Robert's Rules of Order
http://www.robertsrules.org/

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Background Checks in the State of Wisconsin

Background Check & Criminal History Information (WI Dept. of Justice)

Caregiver Program (WI Dept. of Health Services)
(includes access to forms and regulations)
 
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Portico (ELCA)

Portico

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Building Loans

These companies offer loans to congregations for building construction
and re-modeling:

Thrivent Church Financing

Mission Investment Fund: A Financial Ministry of the ELCA
 
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Building Upkeep

DoItYourself.com:
http://doityourself.com/

5 Simple Ways You Can Improve Your Church Facility (Brandon Hilgemann, Pro Preacher)

Repair and Maintenance Guide (Partners for Sacred Spaces)

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Building Use

Simple Tips for Managing Church Facility Use (Church Law & Tax published by Christianity Today)

Short and Long-Term Usage of Church Property (Pastoral Care, Inc.)

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Build a Web Site

HTML Goodies: The Ultimate HTML Resource (Joe Burns)

20 of the Best Church Websites in 2020 (Church Juice) In addition to linking to church sites, this article also gives tips on what design features draw people to take more than a cursory glance.

The Best Website Builders for 2020 (Jeffrey L. Wilson, PC Magazine)

10 Best Free Website Builders in 2020 (Lucy Carney, Website Builders)

Website Builder Software (Capterra) Lists both free and paid website builder programs with descriptions and provides a way to compare choices.

Tools for Web Development (Microsoft)


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Bus and Van Drivers

Licensing Standards for Church Bus and Van Drivers (Brotherhood Mutual)

Faith Based Organization-Related Transportation (FMCSA Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) Contains link to a PDF Tip Sheet

Church Bus Safety Guide (Worker Ministries)

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Call Process

Call Process (ELCA) Links to pages for rostered ministers, congregations, and current openings; also Bishop and Synod map, how-to-guides, and video tutorials

Call Process Resources (Eastern North Dakota Synod)

The Call Process for Rostered Ministers (Greater Milwaukee Synod)

The Call Process for Congregations (Greater Milwaukee Synod)

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Clip Art

(see Graphics)

 
Congregational Council

Seeds Monthly (ELCA) An e-Newsletter designed to equip leaders and members of the ELCA with important updates from the churchwide organization, helpful resources, ideas for ministry and more.

Church Council (ELCA) Provides many types of resources plus a search engine to find others that are not listed.

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Congregational Resources

Congregational Resource Guide (CRG) Online tool designed to help leaders of all congregations find the right resources to address their unique challenges and needs.

Lombard Mennonite Peace Center "seeks to proclaim Christ's good news, the gospel of peace and justice, and to be active in the sacred ministry of reconciliation..."

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Constitution (ELCA model) (Contains links for the Guide for Use of the Model Constitution for Congregations, Model Constitution for Congregations 2019, and Amendments to the Model Constitution for Congregations 2019)

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Copyright Permission

Using videos in church for education, Bible study, VBS, or worship? Get a
copyright license for that at:
http://www.mplc.com/

CCLI: Christian Copyright Licensing International for Church Music

Copyright (U. S. Copyright Office)

Augsburg Fortress: Terms of Use For their website

Copyright License Rates and Descriptions (GIA Publications: Music for the Church)

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Demographic Information

U.S. Census Bureau

Research and Evaluation: Demographics (ELCA)

Demographic Reports (ELCA) Demographic reports for a ZIP Code area and its county.

City, County, and Regional Data (Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services)

George Barna's Group:
http://www.barna.org/

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Disability Services

Social Security Administration:
http://www.ssa.gov/

Portico Benefit Services (ELCA)

Wisconsin Disability Determination Bureau (Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services)

ADA Americans with Disabilities Act (U.S. Dept. of Justice)

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Endowment Funds

How to Create a Mission Endowment Fund: A Guide for Congregations (ELCA)

ELCA Foundation: Services for Congregations Includes information on Mission Endowment Funds, Endowment Investing, Guidance for Congregations as well as a link for giving information and opportunities for individuals

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Equipment 

Projector Buying Guides: Business and Home Theater Projectors (Projector Central)

Camera Buying Guide (Consumer Reports) Contains tips about which type of camera might be best for a particular use, individual camera features and prices, links to stores which sell the cameras. People must subscribe to see ratings.

Best Cameras and Lenses (DPReview: Digital Photography Review) Links to Cameras By Budget, Lenses, Cameras By Type, Cameras By Use Case

AVdesign solutions (Fowler, Inc.) Provides design and consultation, installation, and sales of equipment to churches.

Boxlight Presentation Tools such as LCD Projectors, Overheads, Screens...: http://www.BOXLIGHT.com
 
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For Lutherans Only

Old Lutheran (The Center for Lutheran Pride - but not too proud) Provides unique products and services that help people express their Lutheran identity.

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Family Leave Policy

Family and Medical Leave Act (Employer Guide)

Family and Medical Leave Act (Employee Guide)

FMLA Frequently Asked Questions

elaws - Family and Medical Leave Act Advisor:
http://www.dol.gov/elaws/fmla.htm

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For Parish Secretaries

Worship (ELCA) Resources on Lectionary, Liturgy, Ministry Rites, General, and Frequent Questions

Records Management; Records Retention Schedule (ELCA)

Congregations: Managing Concregation Records (ELCA)

Records Management for Synods (ELCA)

Maintaining the Parish Register: Advice for Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Look Up a ZIP Code (U.S. Postal Service)

Staples

Office Depot and Office Max

UPS

FedEx

USPS: Mail & Ship: Convenient Domestic Shipping

(See also Copyright Permission)
 
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Fraternal Organizations Supporting Lutheranism

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

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Foundations

ELCA Foundation

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Graphics

ELCA Branding

Clipart (Vital Imagery, Ltd.) Royalty-free clip art. There is a fee to purchase, but not for each additional use.

Clipart Guide (Acclaim Imagery, Ltd.) This link connects directly to the pages that provide free clipart images. Tabs are available to access other clipart files.

Animation Factory:
http://www.animationfactory.com/

Animation Library Over 13,700 free animations to use on websites or send as digital postcards.

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Grant Writing

ALDE: Association of Lutheran Development Executives "Inspiring, educating and mentoring the Christian fundraising community to spark generosity for mission."

Wisconsin Grants and Nonprofit Resources: Resources and Tools (UW-Madison Libraries)

The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Grant Seeking Resources Subscribers receive access to most information.

GRANTS.GOV (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services) A multitude of information resources about the granting process from grant writing tips to the names of granting agencies.

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Health and Wellness

Portico: Call to Live Well

Wholeness Wheel (ELCA Resource Repository)

Evangelical Lutheran Parish Nurse Association (Affiliated with the ELCA)

Practical Resources for Churches (PRC): Caring Ministry Webinars on a variety of mental and emotional health issues, plus Cancer Care Ministry, End of Life, and Parish Nursing

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Insurance

Church Mutual

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Job Descriptions for Congregational Ministries

Director of Christian Education and Youth Ministry (Sample from NE Iowa Synod)

Youth and Family Director (Sample from Faith Lutheran, Meadow Vista, CA)

Administrative Assistant (Sample from Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church ELCA)

Associate Pastor (Sample from Cross of Christ Lutheran Church)

Director of Music (Sample from Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN)

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Leadership Development

Leadership Network: Inspiring and Equipping Churches and Leaders to See Around the Corner

Robert Greenleaf Center for Servant-Leadership Membership organization

Frances Hesselbein Leadership Forum (University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs GSPIA) Renamed from theThe Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management

Transforming Church Initiative Includes Transforming Church Network, teaching and learning opportunities, published resources, on-site coaching and consulting for congregations
 
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Legal Issues

Church Law & Tax (Published by Christianity Today)

Wisconsin Laws (FindLaw) Scroll down until "Wisconsin Law" appears, to find links for user-friendly iaw language on on a variety of topics such as divorce, injury compensation, landlord/tenant law, and real estate.

Equal Rights (WI Dept. of Workforce Development)

(See also Copyright Permissions)
 
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Library

Evangelical Church Library Association

Religious Resources on the Net:
http://guides.library.yale.edu/freeweb

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License and Insurance Issues

Risk Management, Loss Prevention and Insurance (ELCA)

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Long Range Planning

Mission Planning (ELCA)

Church Strategic Planning in 4 Easy Steps (Patricia, Smart Church Management)

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Mandatory Government Posters

Wisconsin (WI Dept. of Workforce Development)

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Music

(See Copyright Permission)

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Periodicals

Living Lutheran

Seeds for the Parish (ELCA) Print issues were discontinued in 2019. Articles from recent past issues can be accessed here. Going forward, people can now subscribe to the e-Newsletter, Seeds Monthly.

Seeds Monthly (ELCA) Sign up to receive this "e-Newletter designed to equip leaders and members of the ELCA with important updates from the churchwide organization, helpful resources, ideas for ministry and more."

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Retirement

ELCA Retirement Plan (Portico)

Social Security (U.S.)

Retirement (U.S. government site)

AARP

 
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Sabbatical

Ministry Sabbatical Resources (LaCrosse Area Synod ELCA)

Churchwide Organization Personnel Policies (For Sabbatical Leave policy, see page 25)

Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs

List of Pastors’ Retreats and Getaways (Ed Stetzer, Christianity Today)

Does Your Church Have a Sabbatical Leave Policy? (Charles Arn, ChurchLeaders)

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Streaming Video

10 Church Live Streaming Providers: Providers to Consider (ChurchTechToday)

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Treasurer of Congregation

Congregational Treasurers’ and Bookkeepers’ Financial and Accounting Guide (ELCA)

Financial (ELCA Resources on Finances for Congregations and Synods)

Giving Thought to a Narrative Budget Booklet (ELCA)

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Virus Checks

McAfee

Norton

Wondering if the e-mail you got warning you about a virus is for
real? Check it at Snopes. Snopes is a fact-checking site that researches the claims made on digital media.

Tips for Avoiding Computer Viruses (University of WI-Milwaukee)
 
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