How and When to Request a Supply Preacher

Pulpit Supply Request Form
One of the services the Presbytery of Kiskiminetas provides to our churches is central management of pulpit supply requests.  With adequate advance notice, we will assign a supply preacher, if one is available, to cover your congregation's pulpit during times of vacancy, pastoral vacation, illness, or disability. 

You do not have to use this service! Churches may cover their pulpit vacancies themselves (with consultation with the Committee on Ministry if the church is without a pastor).

Supply preachers in the Presbytery of Kiskiminetas include trained Authorized Lay Preachers, other approved lay preachers, active Presbyterian clergy without regular preaching assignments, retired ministers, and a few approved ministers from other denominations. 

Procedure for Requesting a Supply Preacher

Notify the Presbytery office of the dates for which you desire a supply preacher. In order to minimize errors, we prefer that you use the Pulpit Supply Request form. If you do not have internet access you may phone your requests in, send them by snail mail or email us if forms do not work on your computer.

All requests must be received in the presbytery office by the FIRST day of the preceding month. In other words, if you want a preacher for September, we need to know by August 1. We cannot always guarantee your requests can be filled, but we'll do our best.

When preaching assignments are completed, the clerk of session and moderator of your church will receive a list of preaching supplies for the coming month. It's up to you to contact them for bulletin information and to give them directions to your church.

Your church is responsible for writing a check and presenting it to the supply preacher on the day she/he preaches. The presbytery minimum fee is $90 if preaching in a "solo" church, and $110 when the preaching supply is shared between 2 churches, or if there are two worship services in the same church. You may, of course, pay more than this. Mileage reimbursement is highly recommended, although not required.

Please make sure the office gets any feedback: we'd like to hear if the preacher was appreciated or if there were any difficulties.

Questions? Get in touch with any questions or concerns