Risen Savior Lutheran Church

Transcription

1 Risen Savior Lutheran Church Revised Date: April 15, 2014 CONSTITUTION PREAMBLE Whereas the Word of God commands that a Christian congregation not only conform to the Word of God in doctrine and practice (Psalm 119:105; Galatians 1:6-8), but also that all things be done decently and in order (I Corinthians 14:10); therefore, as Christians who are members of Risen Savior Lutheran Church of Broomfield, Colorado, we set forth this constitution and bylaws. This document shall govern all our congregational affairs. ARTICLE I Name, Mission, and Purpose The name of this congregation is Risen Savior Lutheran Church (this Congregation ). The mission of Risen Savior Lutheran Church is to be a family of brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, committed to the inspired Word of God, and dedicated to welcome, accept and love everyone through our Lord and Savior. Risen Savior Lutheran Church will provide a spiritual foundation in the Word of God, through worship, education, fellowship, community outreach and missions. Our purpose is to develop disciples so that lives are changed to the glory of God in Christ Jesus. We focus on the nurturing of people so that the Holy Spirit can grow them and they become spiritually mature and more Christ-like through Christian education and worship. We connect God s family in fellowship, encouraging participation by everyone. We celebrate God s presence through worship and demonstrate God s love by telling others, serving Him, and serving our community near and far. This corporate body shall have all the rights and powers that are granted by the laws of the State of Colorado to religious corporations. ARTICLE II - Confessional Standard / Synod Affiliation This Congregation acknowledges and accepts all the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God, and all the Confessional writings contained in the Book of Concord of the year 1580 A.D. as the true and correct exposition of the doctrines of the Word of God. These Confessional Books are: The Three Ecumenical Creeds (Apostolic, Nicene, and Athanasian), the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, Luther s Large and Small Catechisms, and the Formula of Concord. This Congregation with its pastor(s) and Called Staff shall be members of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod ( LCMS ) so long as the LCMS shall remain true to the confessional standard set forth in this Article II. ARTICLE III - Membership A. This Congregation welcomes into membership all those who adhere to the confessional standards of Article II. There are three categories of membership: 1. Baptized Members are individuals who have been baptized in the name of the Triune God and come under the spiritual care of this Congregation.

2 2. Communicant Members are those Baptized Members in good standing who have been confirmed in the Lutheran Faith, accept the confessional standard of Article II of this Constitution, are familiar at least with the contents of Luther s Small Catechism, and are not members of organizations whose principles and conduct conflict with the Word of God (Ephesians 5:11-22; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Matthew 5:34-37). 3. Voting Members are Communicant Members who have reached the age of 18 years; Voting Members shall be entitled to vote at meetings of the Voter s Assembly. B. The Congregation may, from time to time, appoint various individuals to help with ministry. 1. Ministry Staff are all individuals hired, appointed, elected, or called by the Congregation to serve in positions of ministry leadership. 2. Called Staff are Ministry Staff who are rostered church workers with the LCMS and who are callable. 3. Pastoral Staff are Called Staff who are pastors. All Ministry Staff must be Communicant Members of this Congregation. C. Baptized and Communicant Members are received through: 1. the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, 2. the consent of one or both parents of children who have been baptized in another Christian congregation, 3. the Rite of Confirmation, 4. transfer from a sister congregation, or 5. the profession or reaffirmation of faith. D. Individuals cease to be Baptized or Communicant Members of this Congregation by: 1. transfer to a sister congregation, 2. death, 3. joining a congregation outside the fellowship of this Congregation, 4. excommunication, or 5. self-exclusion. ARTICLE IV - Authority of Congregation A. Voter s Assembly Meetings of the Voting Members convened as set forth in the Bylaws (the Voter s Assembly ) shall be held regularly at least once each year, and special Voter s Assembly meetings may be called as set forth in the Bylaws. B. General The Congregation as a body, through its Voter s Assembly, shall administer and manage all of the Congregation s external and internal affairs. The Congregation, however, shall not decide anything contrary to the Word of God and the confessions of the LCMS (see Article II), and any such contrary decision shall be null and void. Matters of doctrine and conscience shall be decided in accordance with the Word of God. Unless otherwise specified by this Constitution or Bylaws, other matters shall be decided by a simple majority vote of the Voting Members in attendance at a Voter s Assembly meeting. C. Right of Calling The right of calling Called Staff shall be vested in the Voter s Assembly and shall not be delegated to a smaller body or an individual.

3 D. Election of Officers The Voter s Assembly shall elect a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. These individuals shall be the Officers of the Congregation. The nomination and election of Officers shall be as specified in the Bylaws. E. Election of Elders The Voter s Assembly shall elect Elders as specified in the Bylaws, which together will constitute the Board of Elders. F. Board of Directors The Board of Directors of this Congregation consists of eight Directors as follows: the Officers of the Congregation as defined in Article IV(D) above, three Directors-at-Large, and the Chairman of the Board of Elders. The senior pastor shall be an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Board of Directors. The nomination and election of the Board of Directors shall be as specified in the Bylaws. G. Removal from Office Any pastor, or other Ministry Staff, Officer, Elder, or Director may be removed from office in Christian and lawful order only by a twothirds majority of the Voter s Assembly. Reasons for such action may include: willful neglect of, or inability to perform the duties of the office, persistent adherence to false doctrine, or scandalous life. Such action shall be initiated through a member of the Board of Elders. ARTICLE V - Pastors and Called Staff The Pastoral Staff of this Congregation as well as the offices of other Called Staff, shall be conferred upon only such ministers and candidates who profess and adhere to the confessional standards as set forth in Article II of this Constitution, who are Communicant Members and who are well qualified for their work. Pastoral Staff and Called Staff, in the call extended to them, shall be pledged to this confessional standard. ARTICLE VI - Board of Directors A. Board of Directors: The Board of Directors is empowered to conduct all business and administration of the Congregation, as set forth in this Constitution and Bylaws. The Board of Directors shall not hold any authority in administration of the Office of the Keys ( Pastoral Matters ). B. Directors-at-Large: The Directors-at-Large shall be Voting Members who have been elected by the Voter s Assembly to serve as members at large on the Board of Directors. The Directors-at-Large will be elected for staggered terms of three years. The nomination and election of Directors-at-Large shall be as specified in the Bylaws. C. General: The Board of Directors shall have no authority beyond that conferred upon it by this Constitution, the Bylaws, or by the Voter s Assembly. Powers delegated to the Board of Directors may at any time be altered or revoked by the Voter s Assembly. The Board of Directors may hire non-rostered Staff as supported by the annual budget or as approved by the Voter s Assembly. The duties of the Board of Directors are set forth by the Bylaws. D. Board of Directors Powers Requiring Prior Approval of the Voter s Assembly. The Board of Directors shall obtain prior approval of the Voter s Assembly on the following actions/items: 1. Annual financial ministry plan / budget.

4 2. Acquisition or disposition of any asset exceeding 2% of the annual operating budget. 3. Contractual obligations whose aggregate potential liability exceeds 2% of the annual operating budget. 4. Dissolution of the Congregation. 5. Termination of Membership in The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. 6. Sale, lease, purchase, disposition, or mortgage of real property or real estate E. Legal Documents: All legal documents requiring signature on behalf of the Congregation shall be signed by any two of the President, the Vice President, and the Secretary. The Board of Directors shall establish and maintain policies governing signing authority for the following types documents not requiring the signature of the Officers: 1. Maintenance and service contracts related to the operation of the facilities, 2. Contracts for consulting services not exceeding an actual or estimated value of $5,000, and 3. Contracts for the purchase of equipment and furnishings provided their value does not exceed 2% of the operating budget. F. Ministry Oversight: The Board of Directors shall be empowered to develop vision, set strategy and reach agreement with Ministry Staff on goals for executing the ministry of the Congregation according to Articles I and II. The Board of Elders shall be empowered to set roles and responsibilities for Ministry Staff involving Pastoral Matters. The Ministry Staff may establish Ministry Action Teams to assist them in achieving goals in their roles and responsibilities, as set forth in the Bylaws. G. Policies and Procedures: The Board of Directors shall be empowered to establish policies and procedures for conducting the business and administration of the Congregation, consistent with this Constitution and Bylaws. Except as set forth in Article VI(E), such policies and procedures need not be approved by the Voter s Assembly, but they may be established, modified, or replaced by the Voter s Assembly. The establishment and conduct of all organizations and societies within the Congregation, or related directly to it, shall be subject to the joint approval of the Board of Directors, the Pastoral Staff and/or the Board of Elders, as the case may be. ARTICLE VII - Property Rights All property of this congregation shall be held in the corporate name as stated in Article I. If at any time a separation should take place in this Congregation, the property of the Congregation and all benefits pertaining thereto shall remain with those members who shall continue to adhere to Article II of this Constitution. In the event of the dissolution of this Congregation, all property of the Congregation shall be disposed of by the final Voter s Assembly for the payment of debts, and any and all surplus, after due settlement of just claims against this Congregation, shall be conveyed to and become the property of the appropriate District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod overseeing this Congregation. ARTICLE VIII - Amendments Amendments to the Constitution may be adopted at a Voter s Assembly provided: 1. They do not conflict with the provisions set forth in Articles I or II, or with any sections of any other Article(s) that pertain to Scriptural doctrine and practice.

5 2. Amendment of the Constitution will be by a three-fourths majority vote of those Voting Members present at a Voter s Assembly, provided that: a. the proposed amendment has been read at the previous Voter s Assembly meeting, or b. each Voting Member of the Congregation has been informed in writing of the wording of any change by a mailing postmarked, or by an electronic communication sent, at least 30 days prior to the Voter s Assembly.