Each year as congregations set their ministry spending plan, the synod is also planning financial commitments on behalf of all congregations of the synod.  To help with this planning, congregations are asked to submit a mission support form at the beginning of the year. Congregations are encouraged to use a remittance form when mailing mission support / benevolence to Southeastern Iowa Synod Center for Ministry.

See our Mission Support resources including remittance form for submitting your congregation's regular Mission Support

Learn how your mission support dollars change lives here in Iowa and across the world. This printable PDF is for congregational use, highlighting the broad-based ministries that we do together as the Southeastern Iowa Synod and ELCA.

See our Mission Support resources

The Southeastern Iowa Synod recommends rostered ministers and congregational leaders to engage in an annual review. The review provides space for a formal conversation about where the congregation has been in the past year(s) and sense where God is calling the congregation in the coming year(s) in shared ministry. The commitment to an annual review/conversation keeps the congregation and rostered minister accountable to one another and to the ministry to which has been entrusted to the congregation.

Review Process for Ministers and Congregation Councils

Administration Matters is a bimonthly e-newsletter for ELCA congregational and synodical leaders. It addresses common, practical issues including finance, governance, risk management, tax, legal concerns and topics of interest about day to day operations and management in church settings. To view the current issue and sign-up to receive the e-newsletter, visit the ELCA Administration Matters web page.

Congregations are required to file Annual Congregational Report Forms A and C each year. Reports may be submitted online through the ELCA’s Report Congregational Statistics web page. To access the site, you will need your congregation ID number and the password found on paper version mailed to you in December.

How long does a congregation keep financial records, employee files, or members’ information? Advice and guides can be found on the ELCA Office of the Secretary Resource page.

Resources for treasurers and bookkeepers of congregations concerning accountable reimbursement policies, audits, internal control best practices, and much more are available on the ELCA Financial Resources page.

Guidance for IRS Mileage Rate for 2024

W-2, 1099, and State Tax Resource Information - for treasurers and bookkeepers of congregations as they prepare W-2 information for employees and 1099-NEC information for non-employees.

General legal information from the general counsel of the ELCA concerning the church for members, pastors, and congregations to help answer questions of financial, property, and other matters is available to congregations on the ELCA Legal Issues Resource page.

Biennial Report Instructions - A Biennial Report in Iowa is a legally regular filing that your congregation must complete every two years with the Secretary of State.