CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE MASTER
Lakewood, CO
(Date the revision is
approved.)
CODIFICATION
Guidelines
to amend this document: Sections of this document marked by an asterisk
(*) are required. These sections must
be used without alteration or amendment of the text in any manner (neither
additions nor deletions). This is in
keeping with provision 9.52 in the Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing
Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran church in America. Provision 9.52 stipulates that when a
congregation of this church “wishes to amend any provision of its governing
documents, the governing documents of that congregation shall be so amended to
conform to 9.25.b” in the churchwide constitution. The provisions herein marked by an asterisk are those that are
indicated as required in ELCA constitutional provision 9.25.b.
Numbering
System: This document combines both the Constitution and
Bylaws. Items are numbered according to
the following system.
C4. Chapter Heading
C4.01. Constitution
C4.01.01. Bylaws. Articles transferred
from the original
bylaw document carry the title
from the original
document. New bylaws will include the year of
adoption in the title. All
bylaws are in BOLD
print.
*PREAMBLE
We, baptized members of the Church of Christ,
responding in faith to the call of the Holy Spirit through the Gospel, desiring
to unite together to preach the Word, administer the sacraments, and carry out
God's mission, do hereby adopt this constitution and solemnly pledge ourselves
to be governed by its provisions. In
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Chapter 1.
NAME
AND INCORPORATION
C1.01. The name
of this congregation shall be Lutheran Church of the Master.
C1.02. For the
purpose of this constitution and the accompanying bylaws, the congregation of
Lutheran
Church of the Master is hereinafter designated as
“LCM” or "this congregation."
C1.11. This
congregation shall be incorporated under the laws of the State of Colorado.
Chapter
2.
CONFESSION
OF FAITH
*C2.01. This
congregation confesses the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
*C2.02. This
congregation confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the Gospel as the
power of God for the salvation of all who believe.
a. Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate,
through whom everything was made and through whose life, death, and
resurrection God fashions a new creation.
b. The proclamation of God's message to us as
both Law and Gospel is the Word of God, revealing judgment and mercy through
word and deed, beginning with the Word in creation, continuing in the history
of Israel, and centering in all its fullness in the person and work of Jesus
Christ.
c. The canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the written Word of God. Inspired by God's spirit speaking through their authors, they record and announce God's revelation centering in Jesus Christ. Through them God's Spirit speaks to us to create and sustain Christian faith and fellowship for service in the world.
*C2.03. This
congregation accepts the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as
the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its
proclamation, faith, and life.
*C2.04. This
congregation accepts the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds as true
declarations of the faith of this congregation.
*C2.05. This
congregation accepts the Unaltered Augsburg Confession as a true witness to the
Gospel, acknowledging as one with it in faith and doctrine all churches that
likewise accept the teachings of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.
*C2.06. This
congregation accepts the other confessional writings in the Book of Concord, namely,
the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles and the Treatise,
the Small Catechism, the Large Catechism, and the Formula of Concord, as
further valid interpretations of the faith of the Church.
*C2.07. This
congregation confesses the Gospel, recorded in the Holy Scriptures and
confessed in the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran confessional writings, as the
power of God to create and sustain the Church for God's mission in the world.
Chapter
3.
NATURE
OF THE CHURCH
*C3.01. All power
in the Church belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ, its head. All actions of this congregation are to be
carried out under his rule and authority.
*C3.02. The
Church exists both as an inclusive fellowship and as local congregations
gathered for worship and Christian service.
Congregations find their fulfillment in the universal community of the
Church, and the universal Church exists in and through congregations. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
therefore, derives its character and powers both from the sanction and
representation of its congregations and from its inherent nature as an
expression of the broader fellowship of the faithful. In length, it acknowledges itself to be in the historic
continuity of the communion of saints; in breadth, it expresses the fellowship
of believers and congregations in our day.
Chapter
4.
STATEMENT
OF PURPOSE
*C4.01. The Church
is a people created by God in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, called and
sent to bear witness to God's creative, redeeming, and sanctifying activity in
the world.
*C4.02. To
participate in God's mission, this congregation as a part of the Church shall:
a. Worship God in proclamation of the Word and
administration of the sacraments and through lives of prayer, praise,
thanksgiving, witness, and service.
C4.02.01. Bylaw – Worship and Holy Communion
a. As
an expression of our unity in Christ and the Lutheran traditions, we as a
congregation will utilize those hymnals and worship materials which are
available through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, or which are
consistent with the Lutheran Confessions.
b. The
sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated at all regular worship services
and certain other festivals.
c. Communing
members are encouraged to participate in the hearing of the Word and the receiving of this sacrament with
regularity.
d. Visitors
are invited to participate in this sacrament and will be advised of the
Lutheran teachings regarding preparation and worthiness:
1) Acceptance of the presence of
Christ "in, with, and under" the bread and wine.
2) Firm
belief in the words "given and shed for you for the remission of
sins."
e. Holy
Communion instruction normally will be provided during the fifth grade school
year. This instruction is not a prerequisite
to receiving Holy Communion. The age of first communion shall be at the
discretion of the parents or guardians in consultation with the pastor. It is
recommended that young children receive first communion prior to their entrance
into the catechetical program of this congregation.
*C.4.02. continued
b. Proclaim God's saving
Gospel of justification by grace for Christ's sake through faith alone,
according to the apostolic witness in the Holy Scripture, preserving and
transmitting the Gospel faithfully to future generations.
c. Carry out Christ's Great Commission by
reaching out to all people to bring them to faith in Christ and by doing all
ministry with a global awareness consistent with the understanding of God as
Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier of all.
d. Serve in response to God's love to meet human
needs, caring for the sick and the aged, advocating dignity and justice for all
people, working for peace and reconciliation among the nations, and standing
with the poor and powerless, and committing itself to their needs.
e. Nurture its members in the Word of God so as
to grow in faith and hope and love, to see daily life as the primary setting
for the exercise of their Christian calling, and to use the gifts of the Spirit
for their life together and for their calling in the world.
f. Manifest
the unity given to the people of God by living together in the love of Christ
and by joining with other Christians in prayer and action to express and
preserve the unity which the Spirit gives.
*C4.03. To
fulfill these purposes, this congregation shall:
a. Provide services of worship at which the Word
of God is preached and the sacraments are administered.
b. Provide pastoral care and assist all members
to participate in this ministry.
c. Challenge,
equip, and support all members in carrying out their calling in their daily
lives and in their congregation.
d. Teach the Word of God.
e. Witness to the reconciling Word of God in
Christ, reaching out to all people.
f. Respond to human need, work for justice and
peace, care for the sick and the suffering, and participate responsibly in
society.
g. Motivate its members to provide financial
support for the congregation's ministry and the ministry of other parts of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
h. Foster and participate in interdependent
relationships with other congregations, the synod, and the churchwide
organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
i.
Foster and
participate in ecumenical relationships consistent with churchwide policy.
C.4.03.01.Bylaw – Statement of Purpose
and Fellowship
This congregation will cooperate with and seek to participate with
other organizations whose purposes are compatible with this constitution and
bylaws.
*C4.04. This congregation shall develop
an organizational
structure to be described in the bylaws.
The Congregation Council shall prepare descriptions of the
responsibilities of each committee, task force, or other organizational groups
and shall review their actions. Such descriptions shall be contained in
continuing resolutions in the section on the Congregation Council.
C4.04.01.
Spiritual Gifts – 2007 Bylaw
The Holy Spirit gives each believer spiritual gifts to empower a believer to
build up the body of Christ, be equipped for service, and to develop spiritual
maturity. Therefore, LCM will be
intentional about matching people’s gifts with their roles in the
structure.
*C4.05. This
congregation shall, from time to time, adopt a mission statement, which will
provide specific direction for its programs.
Chapter
5.
POWERS
OF THE CONGREGATION
*C5.01. The
powers of this congregation are those necessary to fulfill its purpose.
*C5.02. The
powers of this congregation are vested in the Congregation Meeting called and
conducted as provided in this constitution and bylaws.
*C5.03. Only such
authority as is delegated to the Congregation Council or other organizational
units in this congregation's governing documents is recognized. All remaining authority is retained by the
congregation. The congregation is
authorized to:
a. call a pastor as provided in Chapter 9;
b. terminate the call of a pastor as provided in
Chapter 9;
c. call or terminate the call of associates in
ministry, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers in conformity with the applicable
policy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America;
d. adopt
amendments to the constitution, as provided in Chapter 17, and amendments to
the bylaws, as specified in Chapter 16;
e. approve the annual budget;
f. acquire
real and personal property by gift, devise, purchase, or other lawful means;
g. hold title to and use its property for any
and all activities consistent with its purpose;
h. sell, mortgage, lease, transfer, or otherwise
dispose of its property by any lawful means;
i. elect its Congregation Council, boards, and
committees, and require them to carry out their duties in accordance with the
constitution, bylaws, and continuing resolutions; and
j. terminate its relationship with the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as provided in Chapter 6.
*C5.04. This
congregation shall choose from among its voting members laypersons to serve as
voting members of the Synod Assembly as well as persons to represent it at
meetings of any conference, cluster, coalition, or other area subdivision of
which it is a member. The number of
persons to be elected by the congregation and other qualifications shall be as
prescribed in guidelines established by the Rocky Mountain Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
C.5.05. This
congregation may choose to have a mission endowment fund that will operate as
specified in this congregation’s bylaws.
The purpose of the mission endowment fund is to provide for mission work
beyond the operational budget of this congregation.
Chapter
6
CHURCH AFFILIATION
*C6.01. This
congregation shall be an interdependent part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America or its successor, and of the Rocky Mountain Synod of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America. This
congregation is subject to the discipline of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America.
*C6.02. This
congregation accepts the Confession of Faith and agrees to the Purposes of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and shall act in accordance with them.
*C6.03. This
congregation acknowledges its relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America in which:
a. This congregation agrees to be responsible
for its life as a Christian community.
b. This congregation pledges its financial
support and participation in the life and mission of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America.
c. This congregation agrees to call pastoral
leadership from the clergy roster of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
in accordance with its call procedures except in special circumstances and with
the approval of the bishop of the synod.
d. This congregation agrees to consider
associates in ministry, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers for call to other
staff positions in the congregation according to the procedures of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
This congregation agrees to file this
constitution and any subsequent changes to this constitution with the synod for
review to ascertain that all of its provisions are in agreement with the
constitution and bylaws of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and with
the constitution of the synod.
*C6.04. Affiliation
with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America may be terminated as follows:
a. This congregation takes action to dissolve.
b. This
congregation ceases to exist.
c. This congregation is removed from membership
in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America according to the procedures for
discipline of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
d. This congregation follows the procedures
outlined in *C6.05.
*C6.05. This
congregation may terminate its relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America by the following procedure:
a. A resolution indicating the desire of this
congregation to terminate its relationship must be adopted at a legally called
and conducted special meeting of this congregation by a two-thirds majority of
the voting members present.
b. The
secretary of this congregation shall submit a copy of the resolution to the
synodical bishop and shall mail a copy of the resolution to voting members of
this congregation. This notice shall be
submitted within 10 days after the resolution has been adopted.
c. The bishop of the synod shall consult with
this congregation during a period of at least 90 days.
d. If this congregation, after consultation,
still desires to terminate its relationship, such action may be taken at a
legally called and conducted special meeting by a two-thirds majority of the
voting members present, at which meeting the bishop of the synod or an
authorized representative shall be present.
Notice of the meeting shall be mailed to all voting members at least 10
days in advance of the meeting.
e. A certified copy of the resolution to
terminate its relationship shall be sent to the synodical bishop, at which time
the relationship between this congregation and the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America shall be terminated.
f. Notice of termination shall be forwarded by the
synodical bishop to the secretary of this church and published in the
periodical of this church.
*C6.06. If this
congregation considers relocation, it shall confer with the bishop of the synod
in which it is territorially located before any steps are taken leading to such
action. The approval of the Synod
Council shall be received before any such action is effected.
Chapter
7.
PROPERTY
OWNERSHIP
*C7.01. If this
congregation ceases to exist, title to undisposed property shall pass to the
Rocky Mountain Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
*C7.02. If this
congregation is removed from membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America according to its procedure for discipline, title to property shall
continue to reside in this congregation.
*C7.03. If a
two-thirds majority of the voting members of this congregation present at a
regularly called and conducted special meeting of this congregation vote to
transfer to another Lutheran church body, title to property shall continue to
reside in this congregation. Before this congregation takes action to transfer
to another Lutheran church body, it shall consult with representatives of the
Rocky Mountain Synod.
*C7.04. If a
two-thirds majority of the voting members of this congregation present at a legally
called and conducted special meeting of this congregation vote to become
independent or relate to a non-Lutheran church body, title to property of this
congregation shall continue to reside in this congregation only with the
consent of the Synod Council.
The Synod Council, after consultation with this congregation by the established
synodical process, may give approval to the request to become independent or to
relate to a non-Lutheran church body, in which case title shall remain with the
majority of this congregation. If the Synod Council fails to give such
approval, title shall remain with those members who desire to continue as a
congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Chapter
8.
MEMBERSHIP
*C8.01. Members
of this congregation shall be those baptized persons on the roll of this
congregation at the time that this constitution is adopted and those who are
admitted thereafter and who have declared and maintain their membership in
accordance with the provisions of this constitution and its bylaws.
C8.01.01.
Bylaw – Membership
A
member who has not fulfilled the provisions of
membership
for one year as described in Chapter 8
of the Constitution shall be contacted by the
pastor and/or representatives of this congregation
towards restoring active membership. If, during
the second year the member does not respond,
that
member's name shall be removed
from the active
roster.
The rosters of all membership
classifications will
be reviewed annually.
*C8.02. Members shall be
classified as follows:
a. Baptized
members are those persons who have been received by the Sacrament of Holy
Baptism in this congregation, or, having been previously baptized in the name
of the Triune God, have been received by certificate of transfer from other
Lutheran congregations or by affirmation of faith.
C8.02.a.01. Bylaw
– Membership
Adult candidates and parents or
guardians of children shall be instructed concerning the meaning of the
sacrament of Holy Baptism.
Christians from other Lutheran congregations or other denominations become
members of this congregation through reception into Lutheran Church of the
Master. In Baptism they were made
Christian, now they become members of the Lutheran Church by affirmation of
Baptism.
Communing
members are baptized members who receive the sacrament of Holy Communion.
All children shall be prepared in the Christian faith as confessed in
the teachings of the
Lutheran Church. Those children who
receive their first communion must do so at the discretion of their parents/guardians
and the pastor.
*C8.02.
continued
b. Confirmed members are baptized persons
who have been confirmed in this congregation, those who have been received by
adult baptism or by transfer as confirmed members from other Lutheran
congregations, or baptized persons received by affirmation of faith.
C8.02.b.01. Bylaw
– Membership
Confirmation marks the completion of
this congregation's program of confirmation ministry, a period of instruction
in the Christian faith as confessed in the teachings of the Lutheran
Church. Those who have completed this
program were made members of the Church in Baptism. Confirmation includes a public profession of the faith into which
the candidates were baptized, thus underscoring God's action in their Baptism.
*C8.02. continued
c. 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.
C8.02.c.01.
Bylaw – Membership
In matters of
legal consequences, state statutes
shall apply.
*C8.02. continued
d. Associate members are persons holding
membership
in other Christian congregations who wish to retain such membership but desire
to participate in the life and mission of this congregation, or persons who
wish to retain a relationship with this congregation while being members of
other congregations. They have all the
privileges and duties of membership except voting rights and eligibility for
elected offices or membership on the Congregation Council of this congregation.
*C8.03. All applications for confirmed
membership shall be submitted to and shall require the approval of the
Congregation Council.
*C8.04. It shall
be the privilege and duty of members of this congregation to:
a. make regular use of the means of grace, both
Word and sacraments;
b. live
a Christian life in accordance with the Word of God and the teachings of the
Lutheran church; and
c. support the work of this congregation, the synod,
and the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
through contributions of their time, abilities, and financial support as
biblical stewards.
*C8.05. Membership
in this congregation shall be terminated by any of the following:
a. death;
b. resignation;
c. transfer or release;
C8.05.c.01. Bylaw – Membership
This congregation will issue a letter or
certificate of transfer to another Lutheran
congregation on request. Should a member who
has moved to another community
fail to request
a transfer, the pastor will notify a
Lutheran congregation in that
community.
d. disciplinary action by the Congregation
Council; or
e. removal from the roll due to inactivity as
defined in the bylaws.
Such
persons who have been removed from the roll of members shall remain persons for
whom the church has a continuing pastoral concern.
Chapter
9.
THE
PASTOR
*C9.01. Authority
to call a pastor shall be in this congregation by at least a two-thirds
majority ballot vote of members present and voting at a meeting legally called
for that purpose. Before a call is
issued, the officers, or a committee elected by this congregation to recommend
the call, shall seek the advice and help of the bishop of the synod.
*C9.02. Only a
member of the clergy roster of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America or a
candidate for the roster of ordained ministers who has been recommended for the
congregation by the synodical bishop may be called as a pastor of this
congregation.
*C9.03. Consistent
with the faith and practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
a. Every ordained minister shall:
1) preach
the Word;
2) administer the sacraments;
3) conduct public worship;
4) provide pastoral care; and
5) speak publicly to the world in solidarity
with the poor and oppressed, calling
for justice and proclaiming God's love for the world.
b. Each ordained minister with a congregational
call shall, within the congregation:
1) offer instruction, confirm, marry, visit
the sick and distressed, and bury the
dead;
2) supervise all schools and organizations of
this congregation;
3) install regularly elected members of the
Congregation Council; and
4) with the council, administer discipline.
c. Every pastor shall:
1) strive to extend the Kingdom of God in the
community, in the nation, and abroad;
2) seek out and encourage qualified persons
to prepare for the ministry of the
Gospel;
3) impart knowledge of this church and its
wider ministry through distribution of
its periodicals and other publications; and
4) endeavor to increase the support given by
the congregation to the work of the
churchwide organization of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and of the Rocky Mountain Synod
of the ELCA.
*C9.04. The
specific duties of the pastor, compensation, and other matters pertaining to
the service of the pastor shall be included in a letter of call, which shall be
attested by the bishop of the synod.
C9.04.01. Bylaw – Pastors
Call documents referred to in the
Constitution may include but not be limited to:
a. The
relationship between the pastors.
b. Length of time of the calls to
each pastor (i.e., the term of an associate pastor may be co-terminous with the
pastor).
c. Resignation of a pastor should
the other pastor resign (i.e., the resignation shall be offered within six
months, an associate pastor shall not be a candidate for call as pastor).
d. Resignation
of a pastor should the other pastor be dismissed (i.e., the resignation shall
be offered within six months, an associate pastor shall not be a candidate for
call as pastor).
*C9.05. a. The
call of a congregation, when accepted by a pastor, shall constitute a
continuing mutual relationship and commitment, which, except in the case of the
death of the pastor, shall be terminated only following consultation with the
synodical bishop and for the following reasons:
1) mutual agreement to terminate the call or
the completion of a call for a specific
term;
2) resignation of the pastor, which shall
become effective, unless otherwise
agreed, 30 days after the date on which it was submitted;
3) inability to conduct the pastoral office effectively in the congregation in view of
local conditions, without reflection on the competence or the moral and
spiritual character of the pastor;
4) the physical or mental incapacity of the
pastor;
5) disqualification of the pastor through
discipline on grounds of doctrine, morality, or continued neglect of duty;
6) the dissolution of the congregation; or
7) suspension of the congregation as a result
of discipline proceedings.
b. When allegations of physical or mental
incapacity of the pastor or ineffective conduct of the pastoral office have
come to the attention of the bishop of the synod, the bishop in his or her sole
discretion may, or when such allegations have been brought to the synod's
attention by an official recital of allegations by the Congregation Council or
by a petition signed by at least one-third of the voting members of the
congregation, the bishop shall, investigate such conditions personally in company
with a committee of two ordained ministers and one layperson.
c. In case of alleged physical or mental
incapacity, competent medical testimony shall be obtained. When such disability is evident, the bishop
of the synod with the advice of the committee shall declare the pastorate
vacant. Upon the restoration of a
disabled pastor to health, the bishop of the synod shall take steps to enable
the pastor to resume the ministry, either in the congregation last served or in
another field of labor.
d. In the case of alleged local difficulties
that imperil the effective functioning of the congregation, all concerned
persons shall be heard, after which the bishop of the synod together with the
committee described in *C9.05.b. shall decide on the course of action to be
recommended to the pastor and the congregation. If they agree to carry out such recommendations, no further
action shall be taken by the synod. If
either party fails to assent, the congregation may dismiss the pastor at a
legally called meeting after consultation with the bishop, either (a) by a
two-thirds majority vote of the voting members present and voting where the
bishop and the committee did not recommend termination of the call, or (b) by a
simple majority vote of the voting members present and voting where the bishop
and the committee recommended termination of the call.
e. If, in the course of proceedings described in
*C9.05.d., the committee concludes that there may be grounds for disciplinary
action, the committee shall make recommendations concerning disciplinary action
to the synodical bishop, who may bring charges in accordance with the
provisions of the constitution and bylaws of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America and the constitution of this synod.
f. If, following the appointment of the
committee described in *C9.05.b. or d., it should become apparent that the
pastoral office cannot be conducted effectively in the congregation(s) being
served by the ordained minister due to local conditions, the bishop of the
synod may temporarily suspend the pastor from service in the congregation(s)
without prejudice and with pay provided through a joint synodical and
churchwide fund and with housing provided by the congregation(s).
*C9.06. At a time of pastoral vacancy,
an interim pastor shall be appointed by the bishop of the synod with the
consent of this congregation or the
Congregation Council.
*C9.07. During the period of service, an interim pastor shall have the rights and duties in the congregation of a regularly called pastor and may delegate the same in part to a supply pastor with the consent of the bishop of the synod and this congregation or Congregation Council. The interim pastor and any ordained pastor providing as