Congregational Resources

Pastoral Care Resources

But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. (1 Corinthians 24-26)

Revised Alcohol Policy

The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina approved a Standing Resolution to repeal the existing policy established in 1985 and bring the diocesan alcohol policy into alignment with Resolution A158 of the Seventy-Eighth General Convention of the Episcopal Church (2015) regarding the responsible presence of alcohol at church events.

Stewardship

We hope in this space to begin a larger conversation about the spirituality of stewardship and the ways it forms us as disciples of Christ. At the same time we seek to support you in managing the practical demands of financial stewardship by providing best practices and resources for conducting meaningful and successful campaigns.

Strategic Visioning

Strategic visioning can be transformational for a congregation. The process typically begins with an acknowledgment of where we are and setting a goal of where we want to be. What do we want to become? How can we accomplish it? What roadblocks might we expect to encounter and how do we tackle them?

EDUSC Strategic Visioning Resource Guide

EDUSC Strategic Visioning Follow-Through

Reporting Clergy Misconduct

The Rev. Canon Stephen Rhoades is the Intake officer for the Diocese of Upper South Carolina.

Contact her by e-mail, phone, or in person by appointment:
[email protected]; 803-771-7800 x 111 (confidential voicemail)

Safe Church Training

Safeguarding God's People (SAFE Church) training will help you to develop appropriate teaching, caring and mentoring relationships which are based in trust and the promises that we make in the Baptismal Covenant. This training will prepare you so that you can create relationships and environments where you can Make, Equip, and Send Mature Disciples.

Lay Ministry Licensure

Rectors and Priests-in-Charge provide training for Eucharistic Ministers. After completing this training, priests complete the Licensed Ministries Request Form and return it to EDUSC, Attn: The Rev. Canon Stephen Rhoades, 1115 Marion Street, Columbia, SC 29201. As part of EDUSC's continuing efforts to conserve paper, the completed forms can also be scanned and emailed to Rev. Canon Stephen Rhoades for processing the lay licensure applications.

Click here for the Licensed Ministries Request Form.

U.S. Congregational Vitality Survey

An great way to evaluate the progress of your congregation is to repeat the US Congregational Life survey. Taking the survey every three or four years is recommended so that you can compare your congregation’s improvement in the relevant measures of congregational strength as well as opinions on other questions.

RenewalWorks

RenewalWorks is a catalyst for refocusing parishes (and the individuals in them) on spiritual vitality. It has been tailored to the Episcopal tradition, adapting 10 years of research that has uncovered key characteristics of flourishing congregations. It will inspire your congregation and leadership to rediscover who Jesus is, and what it means to follow him.

Research and Statistics

Congregational Data

Beginning in January 2020, congregational and diocesan leaders in The Episcopal Church will have access to a new online resource for understanding history and visioning the future with the data collected through the Parochial Report. The General Convention Office has contracted with Datastory Consulting to create a web-based, interactive tool to map data. Dat…