New! A Conduct Covenant in Session Meetings (PDF)
We are called and ordained as ruling and teaching elders to come together to discern God's will for our church. We need to recognize that sometimes we bring the baggage of how the world likes to operate with us; there are times, in the spirit of competition, that winning our debate becomes more important than discerning God's will. With this conduct covenant, we acknowledge this and commit to listening and debating in a Christ-like manner so that God's will is done.

New! Spiritual Needs at End-of-Life (PDF)
“When cure is not possible, care is….” One key tool to facilitate a “good” death is spiritual reminiscence, which includes encouraging storytelling, letting them know they will be remembered, reminding them of their value and affirming legacy. Read tips and tools for teaching and ruling elders and spiritual care teams who address spiritual needs at end-of-life.

New! Pastoral Care Visiting (PDF)
Be prepared. Try not to go on a visit cold, although I am aware this is not always possible. However, I trust you will have prayed about your visit before you cross the doorway. When making pastoral care visits, be sure to keep your "Be’s in your bonnet"  – not only in spring. Read this tool to learn ten more helpful "Be’s."

New! The Session and Congregation as Emotional Systems (PDF)
Both teaching and ruling elders are aware that congregational leadership is complex. Here are some tools for understanding the emotional systems underlying sessions and congregations.

New! When a problem becomes a "Problem" (PDF)
Every congregation faces challenges. Sometimes these challenges become problems that cause conflict. Try to manage conflict in the initial stages to avoid scarring, which may detrimentally affect a congregation’s life for many years. Here are some tools for recognizing the various stages of conflict and for managing conflict effectively.

New! Discerning God's Will (PDF)
How do we discern God’s will in our lives and the church? How do we know which path to take when we are confronted with dissenting voices and differing perspectives? Here are some basic principles of Presbyterian polity that may help us understand the difficult process of distinguishing God’s will from our own.

Tool 1 Choosing Curricula for Faith Communities (PDF)
When choosing a curriculum for Bible study, Sunday School, retreats or other educational programs, here are some questions to ask yourself before you decide.

Tool 2 Leading Successful Bible Studies (PDF)
Well-formulated questions can spark conversations that we carry with us long after the Bible study ends. Here are some questions to consider before heading off to lead Bible study.

Tool 3 Reaching Consensus (PDF)
Reaching consensus can sometimes be a difficult task in groups or committees of all kinds. But nowhere is agreement more important than in groups that do the work of the church. Here are some tools to achieve consensus in your committee work.

Tool 4 Helping Committees Work as Effective Teams (PDF)
Since most of the work in our church is done by committee, working together as a team is very important. Here are some tools to increase your group's effectiveness.

Tool 5 Writing Prayers for Public Worship (PDF)
Writing relevant, engaging prayers for public worship can seem a daunting task. This resource provides some practical suggestions for turning your heartfelt prayers into Prayers for the People.

Tool 6 Praying Aloud in Public Worship (PDF)
If this is the first time you have written your own prayer and offered it in public worship, here are some pointers to ensure your comfort in the delivery of your prayers.

Tool 7 Reading in Public Worship (PDF)
Reading Scripture in public worship is an important moment. Scripture that is read well can prepare listeners to hear more and enable valuable contributions to the shape and content of worship.

Tool 8 How to Participate in a Debate on a Motion (PDF)
All courts of our church deal with the business before it through debate—without a formal motion to discuss, we are merely having a conversation. Learn more on how to deal with business through sound and proper debate.

Tool 9 Five Tips on How Not to Debate a Motion (PDF)
What constitutes a strong argument? It is useful to understand some of the common lines of argumentation that weaken an argument. Learn more on how to avoid the five worst mistakes.

Tool 10 How to Prepare a Committee Report (PDF)
What can you expect to find in a committee report? To fulfil its mandate, a committee must report to the presbytery, describe its findings and present any resolutions. This is how it's done!

Tool 11 How to Write a Motion (PDF)
A motion puts a matter "on the floor" of the court so that it can then be discussed. However, it is extremely important to present a motion that is clear, complete and debatable—and this is not always easy.

Tool 12 What Should Be in the Minutes? (PDF)
The Book of Forms provides an outline of what should be in the minutes. However, taking minutes often causes some confusion so here are a few guidelines.

Tool 13 What is the Book of Forms? (PDF)
What kind of book is the Book of Forms? Is it a procedures manual? Is it the Presbyterian version of canon law? How does the Book of Forms describe its purpose? Here are some insights into the Book of Forms.