Voters' Assembly
The congregation as a body
through the voting members has supreme power to manage and administer all its
eternal and internal affairs. The congregation, however, is not empowered to
decide anything contrary to the Word of God and the Confessions of the Lutheran
church.
Church Council for
Administration and Planning
1.
The Church Council
consists of the elected officers and board chairpersons and under authority
received from the Voters' Assembly administers the affairs of the congregation
as set forth in the By-Laws.
2. The Church Council shall
hold at least two separate meetings each year for congregational planning. The
Council may invite other people.
Officers and Boards
The officers and boards of the congregation are such officers and boards as
prescribed in the By-Laws of this constitution.
Administrative Boards
The suggested Administrative Boards of the congregation are Elders; Evangelism;
Christian Education; Stewardship; Church Properties; Youth Ministry; and Social
Ministry and Parish Fellowship.
Rights and Powers
1.
Right of Calling
The right of calling
pastors and other called church workers is vested in the congregation through
its voting members and shall never be delegated to a smaller group or an
individual.
2. Right of Creating
Contracted Church Employee Positions
The right of creating
contracted church employee positions is vested in the congregation through its
voting members and shall never be delegated to a smaller group or an individual.
The Church Council delegates oversight responsibility of all contracted church
employees to the appropriate administrative board(s).
3. Decisions
Matters of doctrine are
decided by the Word of God. Other matters are decided by the Voters' Assembly by
a majority vote unless otherwise specified in the Constitution or By-Laws.
4. Powers of Officers
Congregational officers,
the Church Council, and elected or appointed boards have no authority beyond
that which has been conferred upon them by the Voters' Assembly.
5. Removal from Office
The Pastor, other called
church workers, congregational officers, or elected board members may be removed from office in a Christian
manner by the Voters' Assembly for one of the following reasons: persistent
adherence to false doctrine,
scandalous life, inability to perform official duties, or willful neglect of
them. See Article XIII for required quorum and
majority.
6. Contracted Church
Employees Contracts
The Church Council, based
on recommendations from oversight board(s), hires, renews, terminates or changes
terms of contracted church employees. The Church Council will communicate such
decisions to the Voting Membership.