THE BYLAWS
OF THE
CONSTITUTION
Article 1: Communicant Membership
Section A: Application for Membership-Procedure
Applicants
for communicant membership in this congregation shall consult with the
Pastor(s) who shall determine whether such applicants are eligible for
membership in accordance with Chapter 8(Membership) of the Constitution. Applicants not familiar with the doctrines
and confessions of the
Applicants
from other Evangelical Lutheran Churches shall seek a letter of transfer from
their former congregation to establish their eligibility for membership. In the case of applicants whose previous
membership in a Lutheran congregation has lapsed, the Pastor(s) may arrange for
a period of re-instruction prior to reaffirmation of faith for such applicant.
After
applicants have given satisfactory evidence of their eligibility in accordance
with the two preceding paragraphs, their admission as communicant members shall
be recommended by the Pastor(s) to the congregational council. The roster of new members shall be publicized
in the various news media of the congregation.
Section B: Privileges and Duties of Communicant
Members
It
shall be the privilege and duty of members of this congregation to:
Grow
in the Christian faith and life through faithful use of the means of grace,
searching the Scriptures at home and in fellowship with other members of the
congregation and its agencies, and partaking of the Lord’s Supper frequently.
Live a
morally decent life before God and all people, abstaining from open works
of the flesh (Galatians 5:18-21),
and so conducting themselves at all times as to bring credit rather than
disgrace upon the Church of Jesus Christ.
Provide
for the proper Christian training of their children by instruction at home
and through the agencies of the Church.
Contribute toward the maintenance
of the congregation and the extension of the
Place their God-given talents and
abilities at the disposal of the Pastor(s), the officers, and other
organizations of the congregation as set forth in its Constitution and Bylaws,
so that the purpose and functions of the congregation may be effectively
implemented.
Article 2: Voting Membership
Section A: Eligibility
Voting members are confirmed members. Such confirmed members,
during the current or preceding calendar year, shall have communed in this
congregation and shall have made a
contribution of record to this congregation.
It is expected that every member will faithfully fulfill their
responsibility as a voting member to the best of their ability.
Section B: Privileges and Duties of Voting Members
It
shall be the privilege and duty of a Voting Member of this congregation to:
1. Conscientiously and prayerfully exercise
their right to vote in all measures that will advance the work of Christ’s
Kingdom both locally and in the church-at-large;
2. Willingly serve in any office or capacity for
which their talents and abilities equip them, and;
3. Assist with wholehearted diligence in
administering the temporal and spiritual affairs of the congregation.
Article 3: Discipline in the Congregation
Section A: Termination of Membership
l. Transfers
A member desiring transfer
to another Lutheran congregation shall apply to the Pastor(s). Upon approval by the Pastor(s), a Letter of
Transfer will be issued by the Pastor(s).
2. Joining Other Churches
In cases where members of this congregation
have joined another congregation, they shall, upon the decision of the
Pastor(s), be deemed to have terminated their membership in this congregation,
forfeiting all rights and privileges of such membership. Their name(s) shall be removed from the
membership list of the congregation.
3. Self-Exclusion
A member who, for a period of one year (1) does not partake of Holy
Communion, and or (2) does not participate in the worship of the congregation, or
(3) does not contribute shall be visited by the Pastor or laity and encouraged
by them to become more active in their membership. If, at the end of the second year, the member
still has not met the requirements for membership, their name shall be removed
from the active roll of the Congregation and placed on the inactive list as one
who is in need of the Congregation’s prayer and concern.
Article 4: Meeting of the Congregation
Section A: Business Meetings
A regular meeting of the
Voting membership shall be held annually during November on the Sunday before
Thanksgiving. The meeting shall give
thanks for the ministries of the current year and celebrate preparations to
enter a new year. At the meeting the proposed budget for the coming year shall
be presented. In odd years the agenda will include the election of
congregational council members. The November council meeting shall be held
prior to this meeting. The congregation
council will set the meeting date and notify the congregation of the date in accordance
with Constitution and bylaws.
The
Pastor(s), officers of the congregation, together with representatives of all
organizations and committees within the congregation shall submit their annual
reports concerning membership, finances, and the work of committees by the end
of October to be provided to those in attendance. A preliminary financial report will be
presented at the meeting and the final report will be distributed to the
congregation as soon after January 1st but no later than the 31st.
The annual reports shall be available to
general membership either at regular worship services or by mail if requested.
The
congregational council shall meet once a month at such a time as it may
decide. However, the congregational
council has the prerogative to suspend one meeting annually if the business of
the congregation warrants. The council
shall hold such additional meetings as the business of the congregation
requires. No congregational council
business shall be transacted unless a simple majority of the members are
present.
Section B: Special Meetings
A
special congregational meeting may be called by the Pastor, the congregation
council, or the president of this congregation, and shall be called by the
president of the congregation upon the written request of two-thirds of the
voting members. The call for each
special meeting shall specify the purpose for which it is to be held and no
other business shall be transacted.
All
voting members of the congregation may attend the congregational meeting, may
make recommendations, and participate in a discussion of any given item of
business at the congregation meeting.
Every
meeting of the congregation shall be announced at the worship services on the
two weekends preceding the date of the meeting.
Section C: Order Of Business
at Regular Meetings
Regular
meetings of the congregation shall proceed as follows:
1. Scripture
2. Minutes of previous meeting(s), including
special meetings
3. Unfinished business
4. Treasurer’s reports
5. New Business
6. State of the Parish Report by Pastor and
President
7. Adjournment
The
President may vary the above order in the interest of the congregation. The annual report may include written reports
by officers and directors.
In general,
for purposes of order, Robert’s Rules of Order shall prevail.
Section D: Restrictions
Pertaining To Congregation’ Meetings
A
quorum for a regular or special congregational meeting shall be 15% of the
voting members and shall be 15% of the voting members for a business meeting
concerning a new building, cases of discipline, or calling a pastor. If the quorum of 15% fails to materialize, a
second meeting shall be called, and at least ten days written notice of the
purpose be given to the members. At the
second meeting 10% of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum. The presider when necessary shall cast the
deciding vote.
There shall be no voting by
proxy or absentee ballot.
Article 5: Election of Congregational Council
Section A: Nomination Procedure
In
an election year (odd Numbered years), the president shall appoint a nominating
committee.
The
nomination committee shall solicit input from the congregation by distributing
forms asking for nominations during the month of September. Any member of the congregation may then submit
in writing to the committee the names of potential candidates for office. The person making the written nomination must
sign the nomination form.
Following
the receipt of the forms the nominating committee will determine eligible
candidates and ask them to run for office provided:
1. That such names shall be submitted at least
10 days before the date(s) of the election,
2. That the nominating committee, through
consultation with the Pastor(s) and the congregation council, shall have
reviewed the status of the proposed candidates and found them spiritually
eligible for office and willing to serve.
The nominating committee shall publish a
list of candidates in the church bulletin prior to the election dates for the
following positions president, vice-president, treasurer, controller,
secretary, and directors of the various committees.
The nominating committee may submit any
additional candidate to the list up until the election date.
Section B: Election
Procedure
From
the final list of candidates for each elective office submitted by the
nominating committee, the congregation shall, in November, elect by ballot and
simple majority, the following nominees for council in the order herein
indicated:
1.
President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Controller, and Secretary
2.
Eight Directors specifically nominated for the directorship of one of
the following committees: Worship and Music,
Community Ministry, Parish Education, Youth, Stewardship, Properties,
Fellowship, Invitational Public Relations.
Section C: Installation of
Congregational Council Term of Office
The
newly elected congregational council shall be installed prior to assuming
duties of office.
The
term of office of all officers, and directors shall be two years.
The
President, the Vice-President, the Directors, the Treasurer, the Controller and
the Secretary may succeed themselves on the congregational council twice. After a person has served on the
Congregational Council three full terms in succession, that person must leave
council for one full term before being eligible for election.
Section D: Vacancies of
Officers, Directors
Un-expired
terms or shortages of officers and directors will be filled on an interim basis
through appointment by the congregational council. Such appointment is effective until the next
regularly scheduled election.
The
interim appointee is subject to all the duties of the office.
Article 6: Duties of Congregational Council,
Organization of Committees and the Congregational Council
Section A: Duties of
Officers
1. President
The president of the congregation council shall preside at all meetings
of the congregation. The president shall
enforce the Constitution and Bylaws of the congregation and carry out the
expressed will of the congregation as embodied in the resolutions of the
congregation. All committees, groups,
etc., in the congregation shall be responsible to the president, who shall be
welcome at any and all meetings of such groups, either in person or as
represented by such person or persons as the president may appoint. The president shall also call and preside
over the meetings of the congregational council and shall endeavor to
coordinate the functions, plans, and activities of the congregation for the
total furtherance of the work of Christ’s Kingdom in our midst.
2. Vice-president
The vice-president of the congregation in the absence of the president
shall act for and in the stead of the president. The vice-president shall be available for
whatever duties the president shall assign to him/her.
3. Treasurer
a. The Treasurer shall be responsible for planning,
organizing, staffing, evaluating and controlling those activities involved with
the keeping of financial records and the accurate counting, recording and
depositing in financial institutions of all the congregation’s receipts.
b.
The treasurer shall approve bills to be paid in consultation with the
controller and issue checks. A written
and duplicated financial report will be presented at the annual congregation
meeting and a preliminary report at the monthly congregational council meetings.
c.
The treasurer shall work in conjunction with the congregational council in
the development and preparation of the annual budget and its presentation to
the congregation. To this end the
treasurer shall have available to assist, him or her a money-counting committee
and financial recorders.
4. Controller
The controller performs an internal control function
by reviewing reports, tax returns, ledgers, and other documentation on an
ongoing basis.
5. Secretary
The Secretary shall be present at all meetings of
the congregation and at all meetings of the congregational council and shall
enter the minutes of all meetings of said groups in a permanent record
compiling all official correspondence of the congregational committees under
the supervision of the president.
Section B: The
Congregational Council
It
shall be the specific functions of the congregational council to:
1.
Serve as the point of liaison between the Pastor(s), the officers of the
congregation, and the various committees in planning the total work of the
congregation.
2.
Settle jurisdictional disputes between the various committees.
3.
Set the dates and times for the congregational meetings.
4.
Fill un-expired terms or shortages as specified in Article 5, Section D.
The
congregational council serves to create an atmosphere of teamwork and
cooperation to further the mission of the church. The council leads the congregation, empowers
committees and engages members.
The
congregational council shall be available at all times, however, for any
additional functions which the congregation may wish to confer upon it.
The
congregational council shall keep a permanent set of minutes for each meeting,
and such minutes shall be the property of the congregation.
Section C: The Committees
1. General Duties and Powers of Committees
Each committee shall initiate and carry out such
activities and programs within the congregation as will enable it to
effectively carry out St Luke’s mission statement. These activities should not conflict with the
Constitution and Bylaws, congregation council policy, or specific resolution of
the congregation.
Each
committee shall be empowered to administer funds set aside for its work by budget
appropriation or by special resolution of the congregation, provided that the congregational
council may, at its discretion, restrict such expenditures to conform with the
actual financial condition of the congregation at any given time.
2. Organization and Meetings of Committees
Each Committee shall be
under the direct control and supervision of the director of the committee.
The director will select other persons to assist in carrying out tasks assigned
to the committee. The time and frequency
of committee meetings shall be at the discretion of the director of the
committee, except that, for good and sufficient reason either the president of
the congregation or the Pastor may call a meeting of the Board at any
time. Meetings thus called shall be
classified as special meetings, and each person involved shall be notified of
the date, time and purpose of such a meeting.
Article 7: General Provisions
Section A: Fund
Contributions
All
contributions of funds shall be deposited to the credit of St. Luke Evangelical
Lutheran Church, and in such depositories as the executive committee shall from
time to time determine appropriate.
Section B: Fiscal Year
This
fiscal year of the fund shall begin on the first day of January and end on the
last day of December.