On this page you will find resources for parish administration, including congregational forms and due dates, policies, building and property management, emergency preparedness, guidelines and resources for onboarding and managing new employees, and parish communications. Resources for the financial administration of a parish can be found on the Finance & Audit page.
The Diocese of Southern Ohio hosts occasional informational webinars. Watch recent webinars using the links below and explore more videos on the diocesan Vimeo channel.
Each year, congregations across our denomination follow the democratic processes that are part of our tradition, holding annual meetings, reflecting on the mission of the community, and conducting important business, including the election of vestry members and other offices.
And following that meeting, each year, every parish in the diocese submits an Annual Reporting Form to identify their newly elected leadership for information sharing, communication specific to their role (like communicating with delegates about diocesan convention), and to collaborate in ongoing mission and ministry as Episcopalians in Southern Ohio. Typically, this form is completed either by the clerk of the vestry, a parish administrator, clergy, or the senior warden.
The 2026 report form is available now. The submission deadline is April 1, 2026.
If there’s been a mid-year change to your vestry membership, staff, and/or other elected positions, please email Liz Brauza-Hughes, data and information manager.
Learn about managing and using church buildings and property, including cemeteries and columbaria, and see policies about encumbrance and selling at the Buildings & Property page.
Visit the Communications page to learn more about diocesan and parish communications and online safety.
Annual Audit
A financial audit of the parish’s finances are due September 1 each year. Learn more.
Annual Reporting Form
The diocesan Annual Reporting Form is due April 1 each year. This report includes contact information for lay leadership and ministry leaders (paid and volunteer), certification of elected lay delegates to convention, and other information not reported on the Parochial Report. Learn more.
Mission Share Payment due June 30
Mission Share is the annual financial contribution required from a congregation for the support of the mission and ministry of the diocese. Final mission share payments are due June 30 for the previous year. Learn more.
Parochial Report
Parochial Reports are due March 1 each year. Filing information is sent out by the General Convention Office directly to individual congregations in late December. Learn more on the General Convention website, or contact Susan Byrnside with questions.
Find information about tools for congregational assessment and growth on the Congregational Assessment and Growth page.
Alcohol Policy
The Episcopal Church does not prohibit the use of beverages containing alcohol among adult members. This Church also supports and has a responsibility to those people who abstain from the use of alcoholic beverages for whatever reason. Many churches do not serve alcoholic beverages at social functions, but for those which do, guidelines must be followed. Download the policy.
Criminal Check for Volunteers
On April 22, 2001, an Ohio law with the purpose of upgrading the safety of children in custody of a volunteer became effective. This law applies to all volunteers who have “unsupervised access to a child.” The chancellor provided recommendations for congregations. Download the recommendations.
Safe Church Policy
The purpose and intent of the Diocese of Southern Ohio’s safe church policy is to safeguard employees, children, and others from sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse. The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Southern Ohio approved this policy at their meeting on April 26, 2018. Learn more.
The Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity Plan template was created by the Diocese of Southern Oho to provide congregations with a tool to begin assessing your facility safety and to serve as a foundation for emergency response and business continuity planning. Learn more.
Items from closed congregations have been made available to diocesan congregations by the Church Foundation. Browse available items.
New Hire Checklist
Congregations with new hires are encouraged to make use of the “New Team Member” checklist.
Clergy Compensation and Housing Allowance
Employee Benefits
Visit the Lay & Clergy Benefits page.
Template for Employee Handbook/Resource Guide
This document is designed to help congregations create their own employee handbooks and resource guide.
Submit a prayer request, find the diocesan cycle of prayer, and other resources on the Prayer Lists & Requests page.
Congregations without clergy may find the following resources helpful:
Questions? Contact the Rev. Canon Meredith Day Hearn, canon for congregations, at mdayhearn@diosohio.org.
The Diocese of Southern Ohio has four 10 x 10 vendor tents available for use by any of our congregations to increase the visibility of the Episcopal Church in our communities. Learn more.
