Voters' Meeting Information
Summary of Proposed Changes
Constitution
Article IV - We removed the descriptions of the different types of membership from the Constitution, since they are also mentioned in Article I of the Bylaws.
Article V - We changed the title from "Right of Suffrage" to "Holding Office in the Congregation."
Article VI - We added language that allows the officers of the congregation to be prescribed by the Bylaws as well as Policies or Procedures as set forth by the Congregation. This allows us to add or abolish boards as the needs of the congregation change, without having to amend (and have approved by the district) our Constitution and/or Bylaws in the future.
Article VII - We changed the title of the article (and references within the article from Pastors and Parochial Teachers to Pastors and Called Church Workers. We did not change the meaning or intent of the article.
Bylaws
Article I - Some of the language was slightly modified to allow the Pastor and Elder(s) to receive new members by profession of faith where applicable.
Another change to Article I also removes the requirement for new voting members to "sign the Constitution and Bylaws in the presence of the Pastor and/or councilman" since we no longer do that in practice.
Finally, the language in the "Whereabouts Unknown" paragraph about termination of membership has been slightly amended to read that those whose whereabouts are unknown and cannot be established may be removed by the Board of Elders or Church Council, instead of "shall be removed."
Article II - The language has been changed to state that the Church Council will meet regularly instead of monthly. The intent is still for the council to meet on approximately a monthly basis, but this gives the President and Council some leeway in deciding to cancel or postpone some meetings when appropriate.
The language about when the Voters' Assembly shall be held has been changed from "May and October" to "Spring and Autumn," allowing a little more flexibility should it be necessary. The intent of the paragraph remains unchanged.
The language about a majority has been changed to reflect that a majority vote is "50% plus one" to pass a resolution.
Article III - Changed the title (and subsequent references in the article) from "Pastors and Teachers" to "Pastors and Other Called Workers"
Article IV - The language has been changed in the final paragraph about filling a vacancy in the Board of Elders. It states that a special nominating committee and Voters' Assembly may be called to elect a successor, instead of the Bylaws requiring it.
Article V - Language clearly stating that all terms for council members is one year, except for the Congregational President which is for two years. It states further that any Church Council member may only serve in the same position for a total of four consecutive years in office, unless the Church Council member and the nominating committee mutually agree that an additional term would be appropriate. This change allows someone who is willing and able to serve the Lord and His Church to continue beyond his/her term limits if both the Congregation (through its nominating committee) and the council member agree.
Similar to a vacancy on the Board of Elders, a vacancy in the Council may be addressed to elect a successor, but can be waived if the Congregation (through its Church Council) deems it unnecessary (i.e., if a new term is starting soon, etc).
Article VI - We removed the actual positions of the Church Council from the Bylaws, and moved them to a Policy. This does not change the makeup of the Church Council at present, but it gives the congregation flexibility to add or abolish Boards or Council Positions as the needs of the congregation change, without having to amend the Bylaws and thereby requiring District review.
The Congregational President and the Chairman of the Board of Elders remain in the Bylaws, as these positions cannot be abolished under the governance structure.
Article VII - We changed the language of the last paragraph of "Duties of the Congregational President" so that it states that the President "appoints a qualified member of the congregation to review the financial records of the congregation." We removed the word "audit" from the language at the suggestion of a Lutheran attorney (and a reviewer on the Constitution and Bylaws Review Board of the Missouri District), who stated that "audit" now has certain legal requirements, and that to avoid any issues in the future, we refrain from using the word "audit."
Policies
Policy 01 - A proposed policy contains the language that was removed from the Bylaws about the positions of the Church Council.
Article IV - We removed the descriptions of the different types of membership from the Constitution, since they are also mentioned in Article I of the Bylaws.
Article V - We changed the title from "Right of Suffrage" to "Holding Office in the Congregation."
Article VI - We added language that allows the officers of the congregation to be prescribed by the Bylaws as well as Policies or Procedures as set forth by the Congregation. This allows us to add or abolish boards as the needs of the congregation change, without having to amend (and have approved by the district) our Constitution and/or Bylaws in the future.
Article VII - We changed the title of the article (and references within the article from Pastors and Parochial Teachers to Pastors and Called Church Workers. We did not change the meaning or intent of the article.
Bylaws
Article I - Some of the language was slightly modified to allow the Pastor and Elder(s) to receive new members by profession of faith where applicable.
Another change to Article I also removes the requirement for new voting members to "sign the Constitution and Bylaws in the presence of the Pastor and/or councilman" since we no longer do that in practice.
Finally, the language in the "Whereabouts Unknown" paragraph about termination of membership has been slightly amended to read that those whose whereabouts are unknown and cannot be established may be removed by the Board of Elders or Church Council, instead of "shall be removed."
Article II - The language has been changed to state that the Church Council will meet regularly instead of monthly. The intent is still for the council to meet on approximately a monthly basis, but this gives the President and Council some leeway in deciding to cancel or postpone some meetings when appropriate.
The language about when the Voters' Assembly shall be held has been changed from "May and October" to "Spring and Autumn," allowing a little more flexibility should it be necessary. The intent of the paragraph remains unchanged.
The language about a majority has been changed to reflect that a majority vote is "50% plus one" to pass a resolution.
Article III - Changed the title (and subsequent references in the article) from "Pastors and Teachers" to "Pastors and Other Called Workers"
Article IV - The language has been changed in the final paragraph about filling a vacancy in the Board of Elders. It states that a special nominating committee and Voters' Assembly may be called to elect a successor, instead of the Bylaws requiring it.
Article V - Language clearly stating that all terms for council members is one year, except for the Congregational President which is for two years. It states further that any Church Council member may only serve in the same position for a total of four consecutive years in office, unless the Church Council member and the nominating committee mutually agree that an additional term would be appropriate. This change allows someone who is willing and able to serve the Lord and His Church to continue beyond his/her term limits if both the Congregation (through its nominating committee) and the council member agree.
Similar to a vacancy on the Board of Elders, a vacancy in the Council may be addressed to elect a successor, but can be waived if the Congregation (through its Church Council) deems it unnecessary (i.e., if a new term is starting soon, etc).
Article VI - We removed the actual positions of the Church Council from the Bylaws, and moved them to a Policy. This does not change the makeup of the Church Council at present, but it gives the congregation flexibility to add or abolish Boards or Council Positions as the needs of the congregation change, without having to amend the Bylaws and thereby requiring District review.
The Congregational President and the Chairman of the Board of Elders remain in the Bylaws, as these positions cannot be abolished under the governance structure.
Article VII - We changed the language of the last paragraph of "Duties of the Congregational President" so that it states that the President "appoints a qualified member of the congregation to review the financial records of the congregation." We removed the word "audit" from the language at the suggestion of a Lutheran attorney (and a reviewer on the Constitution and Bylaws Review Board of the Missouri District), who stated that "audit" now has certain legal requirements, and that to avoid any issues in the future, we refrain from using the word "audit."
Policies
Policy 01 - A proposed policy contains the language that was removed from the Bylaws about the positions of the Church Council.
Proposed Amended Constitution
Proposed Amended Bylaws
Proposed Policies
