Synodical/Regional Archives Guidelines for Services

To Synods

Assure that important records documenting synod activity are placed in the archives.
Answer or provide information regarding records preservation to synod staff and committees. [Example: “Care of Information on Rostered Persons.”
Provide educational opportunities to those involved in synodical archives preservation or research, such as workshops, leaflets, in-service meetings.
Provide information to researchers from the historical records on file at the regional archives.
Provide access and reference assistance to researchers on-site at the regional archives.
Provide referrals to other resources if the information is not available from the regional archives.
Work with synod staff to provide assistance and ensure preservation of records of disbanding congregations.

To Congregations

Provide information regarding the history of the congregation or affiliated synods, either by letter, e-mail, phone or on-site.
Provide information, educational opportunities, or resources that enable congregations to preserve their archives.
Assist congregations in referring reference inquires to other appropriate resources.
Provide assistance and ensure preservation of records of disbanding congregations.

To the Region

Assure that important records documenting the work of the Regional Coordinator and Regional Advisory Council and all other regional activities are preserved.
As with synods and congregations, answer inquires or provide access to on-site research by regional staff and committees, or refer them to alternative resources.

To the Churchwide Office

Work together with the churchwide archives, providing up-to-date information on holdings, services offered.
Provide information or on-site research assistance to churchwide staff or referrals to other appropriate resources.
Together with the churchwide archives provide services as requested to congregations as noted above.
Together with other regional or synodical archives, the churchwide archives or other ELCA archives, seek to promote interest in Lutheran history and heritage; promote preservation of Lutheran historical materials; and seek additional means of working together on Lutheran archives and history activities.

In General

To provide access to ELCA archival collections to other persons, not necessarily employed by the ELCA or an affiliated organization or institution.
To provide all services, the regional archivist should remain current as to the archives profession, as well as historical, library, records management, museum, or other affiliated professional concerns, as they apply to archives.
Promote and seek to preserve additional records of local, synodical or regional interest. These might include records of non-official Lutheran organizations; personal papers of Lutheran leaders; and other materials that supplement the official records of the synod, region and the congregations of same.

Approved by ELCA Regional/Synodical Archivists, March 23, 2007.