1. THE CONSTITUTION IS YOUR FRIEND!
ELCA MODEL CONSTITUTION WORKSHOP
SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA SYNOD

2. “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor,…”
Devotion
“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor,…”
1 Timothy 5:17
God of power and might, wisdom and justice, through you authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment is decreed. Assist with your spirit of counsel and fortitude the President and other government leaders of these United States. May they always seek the ways of righteousness, justice and mercy. Grant that they may be enabled by your powerful protection to lead our country with honesty and integrity. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

3. What purpose does the Congregational Constitution serve?

4. Relationships

7. Each expression of this church — churchwide, synod, and congregation — is held together in a relationship of interdependence that encourages each to respond to its context. These documents also demonstrate our commitment to seeing ourselves with others as part of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
Introduction to the Model Constitution for Congregations

8. STRUCTURE
Chapters and Sections
Bylaws
Continuing Resolutions
Church and church

9. STRUCTURE Chapters and Sections Mandatory Sections “*C”
Regular Sections “C”
Choices?

10. More Choices! Bylaws Continuing Resolutions
STRUCTURE
More Choices! Bylaws Continuing Resolutions

11. The Constitution

12. PREAMBLE Mandatory States the purpose for the constitution
Relational Language
“We”
“unite together”
“pledging ourselves”
Invokes the Trinity.

13. Who are we?
Chapters 1-4

14. Chapter 1 Name And Incorporation
Congregation Name
Corporation Name
State of Incorporation
Missing Sections

15. Chapter 2 Confession Of Faith
Mandatory Section
Identifies the foundations of our faith
List the documents viewed as interpretations of our faith
Expresses a particular unity with other Lutherans

16. Chapter 3 Nature of the Church
Mandatory Section
Relationship Language
Unity
Relationship inside and outside of the denomination
Relationship to the entire Church of the past
Briefly defines the ELCA

17. Chapter 4 Statement of Purpose
Mandatory Section
Transitional Section-Moves from the who we are part of the constitution to how we are to structure our congregations
Speaks to the congregations mission in the church and how the congregation is to carry that mission out
Defines the relationship between the three expressions of the church as being non-legally binding

18. Form and Function
Chapters 5-15

19. Chapter 5 Powers of the Congregation
Mandatory Section
Who has the power?
What do we do with all this power?
Choices

20. Chapter 6 Church Affiliation
Mandatory Section
Relationship Language
With ELCA
With Synod
Ending the Relationship
Moving
Additional Locations

21. Chapter 7 Property Ownership
Mandatory Section
Who has rights to the property and when?
Congregation or Synod?

22. Chapter 8 Membership Mandatory Section Classes of Membership
Baptized
Confirmed
Voting
Associate (Choices)
Seasonal
Participation is necessary
Termination of Membership

23. Chapter 9 Rostered Minister
Mandatory Section
Longest Chapter
Hey how do we get one of those?
What do they do?
Letter of Call. This is a RELATIONSHIP and it’s not Employer/Employee
Ending the relationship?

24. Chapter 10 Congregation Meeting
Not Mandatory, what does that mean?
Lots of Options
When?
Who?
How?

25. Chapter 11 Officers Non Mandatory Section
Lots of Options
Who are they and what do they do?
Term Limits! Woohoo! Why is this a good idea?

26. Chapter 12 Congregation Council
Non Mandatory Section
Again Lots of Options
Who?
What?
Where?
How?
What do they do?

27. Chapter 13 Congregation Committees
Non Mandatory Section
Executive Committee
Nominating Committee
Audit Committee
Mutual Ministry Committee
Call Committee
Other Committees

28. Chapter 14 Organizations Within The Congregation
Non Mandatory
What other organizations?

29. Chapter 15 Discipline of Members and Adjudication
Mandatory Section
The most difficult section
How do we handle discipline of a difficult child?
Congregational Division
Internal Resolution
Call the Bishop
Call the Consultation Committee
Call the Synod Council

30. Legalese Chapters 16-20

31. Chapter 16 Amendments Mandatory Section A single choice
How do we change the sections in our Constitution?
When do we HAVE to update our Constitutions?

32. Chapter 17 Bylaws Mandatory Section What are Bylaws?
Where do we get them from?
What do we do with them?

33. Chapter 18 Continuing Resolutions
Mandatory Section
What’s the difference between a Bylaw and CR?
How are the processes different?

34. Chapter 19 Indemnification
Mandatory Section
What does this mean?
Protection from lawsuits and legal damages

35. Chapter 20 Parish Authorization
Possibly Mandatory
What is a Parish?
Do I have to have this in my Constitution?