The
Constitution
and
By-Laws
of
(LC-MS)
CONSTITUTION
AND BY-LAWS
ADOPTED
JUNE 29, 2008
Preface
It is written that all things in the
church are to be done decently and in good order (1 Cor. 14:40), and that all
believers are to be of like mind when they assemble together (
This edition of The Constitution and
By-Laws is intended to call the members of
It is our hope that this edition of the
Constitution and By-Laws motivate members of
CONSTITUTION
OF
ARTICLE
I: NAME.
The name of the congregation shall be
Grace Lutheran
ARTICLE
II: PURPOSE.
See Articles of Incorporation, Article 2, “The corporation is
a non-profit corporation.” The purpose
for which this congregation is formed is the support of public worship in
confessional Lutheranism as stated in Article III.
ARTICLE III: CONFESSIONAL BASIS (Unalterable/Irrepealable).
This congregation acknowledges and
accepts all the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments as the revealed
Word of God, verbally inspired, which shall be the only norm of faith and basis
of preaching and teaching. It
acknowledges and accepts the three Ecumenical Creeds and all the Symbolical
Books of the
1) The Apostles’ Creed
2)
The
Nicene Creed
3)
The
Athanasian Creed
4)
The
Unaltered
5)
The
Apology (Defense) of the
6)
The
Smalcald Articles
7)
Luther’s
Large and Small Catechisms
8)
The
Formula of
[The historic
definition of the “
ARTICLE
IV: MEMBERSHIP (Unalterable/Irrepealable).
A.
Eligibility
for communicant membership requires that a person:
1) Be
baptized.
2)
Accept
the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments as the only divine rule and
norm of faith and life.
3)
Accept
the doctrines of the
4)
Lead
a Christian life and abstain from manifest sins of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21).
5)
Attend
divine services faithfully and partake of the Lord’s Supper frequently.
6)
Submit
to the regulations made by this body and accept brotherly admonition when
having erred or offended his fellow Christians.
7)
Is
not a member of a secret or other organization with principles contrary to the
Word of God.
B.
When a member of this congregation, after
fruitless admonition in the various grades prescribed by the Word of God
(Matt.18:15-20), where the observance of such grades has been possible, shall
have been expelled by unanimous vote from the congregation (the member proposed
for expulsion shall not be allowed to vote, such person shall have forfeited
all rights of a member of this congrega- tion and all claims upon the property
of the congregation as such, or upon
any part thereof, as long as he is not again received into membership by the
congregation. The same shall apply to such
members as refuse to submit to church discipline and thus excom-municate
themselves, as also to those severing their connection with the congregation.
ARTICLE V:
DUTIES OF MEMBERS (Unalterable/Irrepealable).
It shall be the duty of every member of
this congregation to contribute, according to his ability, toward the
maintenance of the church and to assist in bearing the burdens of the
congregation
(Mk
16:15; 1 Cor. 9:14; 16:2).
ARTICL
VI: RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.
Communicant members who are at least 18 years of age
and who have signed the Constitution and By-Laws of this corporate body, in a
book kept by the Secretary for this purpose, shall have the right of suffrage.
ARTICLE
VII: OFFICERS.
The officers of this corporate body shall be: a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a
Treasurer, the Board of Elders of at least three members, and such other officers,
boards and committees as the Constitution and By-Laws may prescribe or as this
corporate body may elect in accordance with its needs. Only male communicate members can serve as
President, Vice President, and Elders. The
officers shall be elected at the annual meeting of this corporate body, and the
term of office of the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, and the
Treasurer shall be one year; that of the other officers as specified by the
Constitution and By-Laws of this corporate body.
ARTICLE VIII:
PASTORS AND TEACHERS (Unalterable/Irrepealable).
Only such pastors and teachers shall be
called by this congre-gation as are in accord with the confessional standards
of this con-gregation (Article III), and as have been prepared for their work
and are qualified for it. The right of
calling pastors and teachers shall ever be vested in the congregation and shall
never be delegated to a smaller body or to an individual. Reasons for dismissing a pastor or teacher
shall be: persistent adherence to false teaching, an ungodly life,
unfaithfulness or inability in reference to the performance of duties.
ARTCLE IX: CHURCH LEADERSHIP (Unalterable/Irrepealable).
The position of
pastor/shepherd/overseer/bishop shall be held only by (a) male(s). (I Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6, et.al.) Only male communicant members can serve in
the office of elder (deacon), president, and vice president. (Acts 6:3, 1 Timothy 3:12) These positions shall be standing offices of
this church body.
ARTCLE X: POWERS VESTED IN THE
CONGREGATION.
The congregation shall decide all
matters relating to the church or church affairs, and every member may appeal
to it in regard to any matter relating to the affairs and government of said
church, and its decisions shall be final and binding. But such decisions shall always be in accord
with Article III.
ARTICLE XI: PROPERTY RIGHTS OF THE CONGREGATION.
A. This
congregation may receive, acquire, hold title to, and manage such real estate
and other property as it may need to accomplish said purpose and may sell or
dispose of such real estate and other property or any part thereof, and this
congregation shall have all the rights and the powers that are granted by the
laws of the State of Texas to religious corporations.
B. If at any time a separation should take
place in this congregation on account of doctrine, the properties of the
congregation and all the benefits therewith connected shall remain with those
members who continue to adhere to Articles III and VIII of this
Constitution. In case some of the
parties can be shown to be unfaithful to the Constitution, the property shall
belong to the majority.
ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS.
A. Amendments
to this Constitution must be made in writing and may be made at any regular
meeting, provided that the amendment has already been submitted to a previous
meeting and that two-thirds of the
voting members present cast their vote in favor of such amendment.
B. Articles
III, IV, V, VIII, and IX of this Constitution shall be unalterable or irrepealable. [These have been noted throughout.] (Mk. 16:15, 1 Cor. 9:14; 16:2)
BY-LAWS OF
1. ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS.
Persons intending to join this
congregation as communicant members shall give notice of such intention to the
Pastor, together with satisfactory evidence of their qualification for
membership. The names of all such
applicants shall be announced at a regular meeting of the Congregation. If no protest is entered or sustained, the
applicant may at such meeting be received into membership by majority vote.
2. MEETINGS.
A.
The regular Voters’ Meetings of this
congregation shall be at least six in
number in the calendar year at such times as are convenient to the
majority. Every Voters’ Meeting shall be
scheduled in the Sunday bulletin or announced on the Sunday before the date of
the meeting.
B.
When
a meeting has thus been announced it shall be a valid and legal meeting,
capable of transacting business, provided that at least one-half of the voting
members are in attendance.
C.
When
there is insufficient business to merit a regular business meeting of the
Voters’ Assembly, the meeting may be dropped at the agreement of the President
of the congregation and the Pastor.
Announcement to this effect must be made public in the public service
prior to the date of the regular meeting.
D.
It
shall be the duty of every voting member to attend meetings of the Voters’
Assembly. By failing to attend a regular
or a special meeting, a member waives
the right of casting their vote during such meeting.
E.
When
a voting member is absent for two consecutively scheduled meetings, their name
shall be removed from the Voters’ active roster. Such a person may be reinstated upon their attendance
at a Voters’ meeting and may vote at the next meeting.
3. OFFICERS.
A. No person shall hold the same
office for more than two consecutive
terms, with the exception of the Treasurer and the Secretary, who may be
elected to as many consecutive terms as the assembly shall deem advisable.
B. The President and Elders in
office at the time of a pastoral call shall remain in office for one year after
the Pastor has been installed. (This is in order to provide some measure of
continuity during the new Pastor’s first year.)
C. The Board of Elders shall serve
as legal directors of the corporation.
D. The Board of Elders shall consist
of three or more members according to the growth of the congregation, an
additional elder being elected for every 35 communicants exceeding 100. Each elder shall be elected for a term of three
years with at least one elder retiring and one being elected each year. This group shall aid the Pastor and the
congregation in the spiritual part of their work, they shall have particular
oversight over doctrinal matters pertaining to the godly walk of life on the
part of the pastor, teachers, members, and other officers of the congregation; shall
observe that our Lord’s injunction in
Matthew 18:15-18 is applied as church discipline according to Christian love
and the salvation of the erring soul.
E. The Board of Trustees shall consist of five
or more members according to the growth of the congregation, an additional
trustee being elected for every 25 baptized member exceeding150. Each trustee shall be elected for a term of
three years with at least one trustee retiring and one being elected each
year. This group shall aid the Pastor
and the congregation in maintaining the physical plant of the church and
coordinating any repairs and changes that need to be made to the same. The Board shall elect from among its members
a Chairman who shall serve as the
representative of the Board to the Voters’ Assembly.
F. All other boards and offices
shall be created and filled by the Voters’ Assembly, as circumstances
warrant. These may include, but are not limited to: Head Usher/Board of Ushers, Head Teller/ Board
of Tellers, Evangelism Board, Stewardship Board, Board of Education/Sunday
School Superintendent. These Officers
and Boards shall be elected or approved each year by the Voters’ Assembly, and
may serve as many consecutive terms as the Assembly shall see fit.
G. When an officer of the
congregation, or board member is absent more than three consecutive regularly
scheduled meetings of his board or the Voters’ Assembly, without valid excuse,
or is found to not be performing duties assigned to him by the Voters’
Assembly, he may be asked to step down from his office or board, so that
another may fulfill the duties of that office.
If said officer refuses to step down, the Voters’ Assembly may consider
the matter at its next regularly scheduled meeting and may remove said officer
by a two-thirds majority vote of the eligible voters present.
4. METHOD OF CALLING PASTORS AND TEACHERS.
At a meeting of the Voters’ Assembly
constitutionally qualified to transact business, candidate for the office of
Pastor or Teacher shall be nominated.
The names of the candidates thus chosen shall be announced at public
service on the following Sunday, and if no protest is entered and sustained, a
candidate shall be elected by majority vote at the following Voters’ Assembly,
preferably that same Sunday. Final
action on each election must be made unanimous at this assembly.
5. ORDER OF BUSINESS.
1) Opening prayer or Scripture
reading.
2)
Reading
of Minutes.
3)
Reception
of new members.
4)
Report
of Treasurer.
5)
Reports
of boards and committees (including
Pastor’s report).Unfinished business.
6)
New
business.
7)
Adjournment
with prayer.
6. SELF-EXCLUSION
POLICY.
The following resolution was passed by
the elders on December 8, 1987, and passed by the Voters on December 13, 1987:
WHEREAS,
Scripture commands all Christians to “remember the Sabbath Day,” “not forsake
the gathering of believers,” and receive the Lord’s Supper “often,” and
WHEREAS,
each member agrees to live a Christian life (Constitution IV A 4) and accept
fraternal admonition and church discipline when they have erred (IV A 6, IV B)
in neglecting the pure Word and Sacraments (III, IV A 2-3, 5,7) or in failing
to support the congregation (V), and
WHEREAS,
we need to address our inactive problem so that our time and energy can be
freed up to build up our congregation and spread the Gospel, therefore be it
RESOLVED,
that after at least two contacts by the Pastor and/ or elders and/or a special
committee, that a letter asking for action be sent to inactives (i.e., those
not communing within one year), and be it
RESOLVED,
that those not responding or unreachable, be con-sidered to be “self-excluded”
from the congregational membership.
7. AMENDMENTS.
Revision
of these By-Laws must be presented in writing at a regular meeting. Such revision requires a two-thirds majority
of those eligible voters present.
903-784-3753