OFFICIAL SAM HANDBOOK
Clergy Ethics and Congregational Boundaries Course Registration
VISION STATEMENT
The Synod Authorized Ministry (SAM) Program of the Upstate New York Synod seeks to help identify the gifts God has given God’s people and to help equip those people for the ministry of sharing the Good News among all people.
DEFINITIONS
SAM (Synod Authorized Ministry) Student: an enrolled student who has not completed his/her studies.
Certified SAM: a SAM who has completed her/his/their studies and is certified for ministry. These SAMSs are also available to supply preach and/or preside with permission from the bishop.
Assigned SAM: a SAM who has completed studies, is certified for ministry, and assigned by the bishop to serve a congregation or ministry setting.
Mentor: an ordained ELCA pastor working with SAM Student(s) or an preaching/ presiding certified SAM(s)
SAM Supervisor: an ordained ELCA pastor supervising an assigned SAM or SAM on your congregation staff.
Congregational Authorized Lay Minister (CALM): lay leader serving in their home congregation under the direction of their pastor. These folks are under the care of their congregation with no supervision from the synod supported SAM program. If they are presiding at eucharist the pastor must seek authorization from the office of the Bishop.
What is the process for becoming a certified SAM?
Applicants must be active members of an ELCA congregation for at least one year and remain active ELCA members to maintain SAM Student status.
The participant is expected to demonstrate spiritual maturity and a willingness to learn, serve, and grow.
Per ELCA Church Council guidelines, as a candidate for ministry, all SAM Students are expected to abide by Definition and Guidelines for Discipline of Rostered Ministers. The document is available at www.elca.org.
SAM certification is an educational program of part-time studies over two to five years, with the pace determined by the student.
Participants must successfully complete the required courses and training specified.
STEPS IN DISCERNEMENT…
First, Read the updated guidelines for Synod Authorized Ministry. Share them with your pastor. After reading the guidelines…
Interested in being a SAM Student?
1. Speak with your pastor.
2. Complete form and subsequent request for a background check.
3. Send processing fees for application and background check to the UNYS Office 4. Wait for entrance decision from the steering committee. They may want to set up a time to meet with you in person or via Zoom prior to making the decision.
5. Schedule first required course through SELECT Learning (you will receive more guidance and details about this once accepted as a student)
6. Explore course offerings and schedule at your convenience.
7. Meet as scheduled with the Steering Committee. Stay connected to your pastor/mentor.
Interested in renewal?
1. Speak with your pastor/mentor
2. Complete form. Share form with congregation council and pastor/mentors so they can complete their reference report/from.
3. Wait for approval (you will be notified by January 1)
4. Once approved you will be on the list of those approved by the steering committee. When a congregation requests for you to preach and preside Bishop Miller will be able to easily access that list. You may also be asked to consider other opportunities to serve.
Supply Preaching
Compensation
Per the 2023 compensation guidelines, the current minimum compensation for supply preaching is:
$175 Supply for one service
$225 Supply for two services on the same day
$ 50 Add per service over two services on the same day
$125 Supply an extra day
Mileage reimbursement at the current IRS rate (January-June 2022, $.575/mile; July-December 2022, $0.625/mile) for daily transportation expenses between your residence and the temporary work station outside the metropolitan area where you live as outlined in the IRS Publication 463.
Certified Synod Authorized Ministers are to be compensated at the same rate, with all compensation paid directly to the supply preacher.
Communion Presidency
The pastor of record of a congregation is responsible for seeking dispensation from the bishop of the synod for any person who is not on the roster of pastors of the ELCA to preside at the table in their congregation. Note: Except in the case of a shared worship service with a local ecumenical partner, this includes presidency at the table by pastors on the roster of a full-communion partner and by Certified Synod Authorized Ministers.
Request should be made with this form as early as possible, preferably at least a month in advance, and absolutely no later than noon of the Wednesday prior to the service.