SECTION VI. DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND BOARDS
A. President - The President shall:
B. Recording Secretary - The Secretary shall:
1. Record and keep permanent minutes of the meetings of the Voters' Assembly and the Church Council.
2. Conduct official correspondence of the Voters' Assembly and the Church Council.
3. Register all persons attending the Voters' Assembly meetings and maintain an active and inactive list of the Voters' Assemblv.
4. Be responsible for notifying members of the Voters' .Assembly about the date, time, and place of regular and special meetings.
5. Record all amendments on a master copy of the Constitution and By-Laws.
6. Be the custodian of the permanent minutes, past and present, of the congregation.
C. Treasurer - The Treasurer shall:
1. Disburse the funds of the congregation in accordance with the budget and as directed by the Voters' Assembly, Church Council, and boards.
2. Keep an accurate record of all monies, according to proper accounting procedures, in books which shall be and remain the permanent property of the Congregation.
3. Be authorized to sign checks for the disbursement of funds.
4. Be responsible for prompt payment of salaries and bills and for regular remission of mission offerings.
5. Submit written reports at each regular meeting of the Church Council and Voters' Assembly, indicating receipts, expenditures, and the condition and status of the budget and any special funds.
6. Submit records for audit at the close of the year.
7. Maintain a system for the boards to submit invoices for purchases, showing the budget line item to be credited.
D. Board of Elders
1. The Board of Elders shall consist of male members only in accordance with practice set forth by the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod.
2. Consist of at least four members including the chairman.
3. Be composed of men having the following qualities:
a. Should not be a recent convert, but one who is experienced in the faith.
b. Should be regular in attendance at worship and Holy Communion.
c. Should demonstrate his love for the Word of the Gospel by his personal attendance at Bible Study.
d. Should be mature, in his personal attitudes. This does not necessarily imply that he is old or older.
e. Must love people and be willing to cope with their problems out of love and concern rather than personal prestige.
f. Must be a "man of prayer" who understands his own limitations.
g. Must understand that he is doing the work of Christ.
h. Must be prepared to take training in each of the areas in which special skills are needed for the performance of his duties.
4. Have basic objectives consisting of the spiritual welfare of the Pastor and congregation members, individually and corporately, and the supervision of everything pertaining to congregational worship.
5. Have the following specific objectives and duties:
a. Pray for the Pastor and other spiritual leaders.
b. Encourage and counsel the Pastor in his work by word and action.
c. Be concerned about the spiritual, emotional, and physical health and welfare of the Pastor and his family (adequate compensation, housing, free time, vacation, assistance in time of illness), and to that end specifically review these items.
d. Approve employment of the office secretary and review performance and compensation annually. The office secretary is directed by the Pastor. The board initiates and terminates employment.
e. Supervise the music program of the congregation. Annually review compensation and personnel needs for the music staff as required for public worship.
f. Submit an annual budget request in the form and at the time requested by the Budget Committee.
g. Assist the Pastor in counseling with difficult cases and in finding peaceful and God-pleasing solutions to personal problems within the congregation.
h. Exercise leadership in gathering call lists and calling a new Pastor when a vacancy occurs.
i. Maintain discipline within the congregation according to scripture, Article III, and Article IV of the Constitution.
j. Each Elder is to take spiritual charge and oversight of the families and individuals assigned to him in liaison with the Pastor and other concerned boards of the congregation.
k. Insure that the congregation functions in accordance with the established doctrine of the church as listed in Articles II and III of the Constitution.
l. Determine eligibility for membership of all individuals and families applying for membership in this congregation according to Article IV of the Constitution and Section I of the By-laws.
m. See to the prompt transfer of all members who move away and of new Lutheran families.
n. Engage in member conservation and discipleship training in conjunction with the Boards of Evangelism and Stewardship.
o. Engage in continual review of communion and church attendance of all members, make calls on delinquents, follow-up on all newborn children in the congregation until they are baptized.
p. Investigate cases of need within the congregation and make specific recommendations to the Pastor and the Board of Social Ministry and Parish Fellowship.
q. Be present for periodic training as determined by the Pastor and this Board.
r. Provide guidance and coordination to ad hoc committees associated with the Board of Elders.
s. Provide for vicars, assistants, substitute pastors and guest speakers as needed.
t. Staff, train, and supervise the ushering staff.
u. Assist the Pastor with communion distribution, reading of Scripture, preaching, etc., as required.
v. Set the time, schedule, type, and number of services in conjunction with the Pastor, ad hoc committees, and the desires of the voting membership.
w. Administer the congregation's welfare fund in coordination with the Pastor.
x. As needed, implement spiritual services and care to hospitals, homes for the aged, prisons, and other institutions within the community. This effort is in coordination with the Pastor.
E. Board of Evangelism
1. The Board of Evangelism shall consist of at least four members including the chairperson.
2. The basic objectives of this board are the bringing of the Gospel to the unchurched; the enlistment of all of God's people in the work of spreading the Gospel; the deepening of the faith of the members of this congregation.
3. That the basic objectives of the board may be carried out, the board either corporately or through specifically designated individuals shall:
a. Share with the Pastor in the entire program of proclaiming the Gospel to all men.
b. Encourage prayer in church and homes for sincere evangelistic concern toward all people inside and outside the Church.
c. Greet visitors effectively and make them feel welcome in our midst.
d. Maintain an ongoing visitation program which offers people a saving relationship with Christ, not just membership in a church.
e. In coordination with the Pastor, make an initial call promptly after a person or family from the local area visits our church and make appropriate followup calls. Try to witness for Christ at every such visit.
f. Maintain a prospect file. Meet monthly to go through the file, assign visitors, and review progress on all levels.
g. Try to assimilate regular visitors into our church life through Bible study groups, church functions, etc.
h. Be concerned for the reception, orientation, and assimilation of new members into the congregation. Review their progress periodically. Provide New Member Packets when new members are received.
i. In conjunction with Pastor and appropriate boards, initiate additional Bible study groups at church and in homes, cell groups, retreats, special study groups (example: training for witnessing), to create opportunities for involvement and better assimilation of new members and uninvolved members.
j. Be concerned about church growth and be aware if conditions and attitudes arise that hamper growth. With Pastor and the appropriate boards, initiate corrective measures.
k. Study and adapt or adopt suggestions by the evangelism departments of Synod, District and circuit.
l. Promote and direct congregation-wide evangelism programs.
m. Enlist callers and conduct an ongoing Bible study and witnessing training program for callers.
n. Make available for visitors informational brochures about our church, visitors cards in pews, and other appropriate cards or brochures.
o. Be responsible, together with the Board of Social Ministry and Parish Fellowship, for a program of community relations that identifies the congregation with the Gospel of Christ.
p. Emphasize, in conjunction with the Board of Christian Education, child and youth evangelism, both in participation and outreach.
q. Set up and maintain tract racks.
r. Submit to the Board of Stewardship, in the appropriate form and at the time requested, a budget request for the coming year's work.
F. Board of Christian Education
The Board of Christian Education shall:
1. Consist of at least seven members including the chairperson and the Sunday School Superintendent.
2. Have basic objectives to plan and administer the total educational program of he congregation, to determine policies, to select personnel for the various agencies, to provide the necessary means and facilities for the agencies, and to direct and supervise the entire educational program of the congregation.
3. Have the following specific objectives and duties:
a. Establish agencies to provide learning opportunities for all age levels with Christ-centered objectives.
b. Be responsible for the Christian nurture of children, youth, and adults.
c. Establish objectives, set policies for, and supervise the total education program for each educational agency of the congregation, including the personnel; i.e., for the pre-school, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, confirmation classes, Bible classes, and all other educational groups.
d. Establish all policies of enrollment, home co-operation, attendance, calendar, and standards for the formal agencies of the congregation.
e. Provide ways and means of strengthening the use of the Word of Clod in the Christian home.
f. Approve curriculum of each education agency.
g. Continually review existing agencies to determine whether all age groups (and Christian maturity levels) are being served and seek revisions and additions as deemed advisable.
h. Maintain a "people accounting system" to record members' participation in the education program and to follow up the uninvolved.
i. Provide, in conjunction with the Board of Evangelism, for the recruitment of pupils for the educational opportunities of the church.
j. Encourage increasing participation of every congregational member in Bible study, privately and in formal or informal groups.
k. Exercise leadership in gathering lists of candidates for vacancies in the teaching staff and for properly calling or contracting professional teachers.
l. Enlist, train, place, and continue to train lay teachers and Bible class leaders.
m. Be concerned about the spiritual, emotional, and physical health and welfare of the pre-school staff.
n. Annually review and make recommendations concerning the compensation of the pre-school staff.
o. Publicly recognize faithful service by all persons involved in the educational task of the congregation.
p. in conjunction with the Board of Evangelism consider special classes, courses, conferences, retreats and the like for special purposes and special groups.
q. Provide for the professional growth of the educational staff through conferences, conventions, continuing education and the like, and request the necessary funds for the same in the yearly budget.
r. Maintain, improve and cultivate the use of a church library and provide for and promote the use of audiovisual aids.
s. Provide and/or promote subscriptions to church periodicals.
t. Study and adopt or adapt helps suggested by the education departments of synod, district, and circuit.
u. Establish and maintain a permanent file of all children and youth of the congregation by age, grade level, and the like and see to it that such a file in kept continually up to date.
v. At least annually examine the education facilities and equipments and make recommendations to the Board of Church Properties as to upkeep, repairs, and replacements needed as well as new equipment needed.
w. Check the safety of education facilities steps, handrails, lights, exits, housekeeping practices, fire drills and the like on a regular basis.
x. Prepare and submit an annual budget request in the form and at the time requested by the Board of Stewardship.
4. Meet at least quarterly. The Pastor (or acting pre-school principal), the pre-school teachers, and the Sunday School Superintendent shall also attend the meetings of the Board of Christian Education.
5. Have the board chairperson act as pre-school principal in the event of pastoral vacancy.
6. The Sunday School Superintendent as a member of the Board of Christian Education shall:
a. See to orderly and proper facilities, pupil attendance, and teacher attendance.
b. Preside at regularly called meetings of the Sunday School teachers.
c. Supervise ordering all materials and distribute and care for these teaching materials.
d. Suggest improvements in teaching aids and methods, home co-operation, pupil attendance, reaching new pupils, and Sunday School worship to the Board of Christian Education.
e. Carry out the board's programs in the Sunday School.
f. Arrange for Sunday School openings.
Board of Stewardship
The Board of Stewardship shall:
1. Consist of at least five members, including the elected chairperson of the Board and the elected Financial Secretary.
2. The basic objectives of this board are to initiate programs for the development of good stewardship attitudes in the members of the congregation in regard to time, talents, and treasures, to provide for the training and utilization of members of the congregation for the work of Christ's Kingdom, and to insure the financial stability of the congregation and its work through a developed program of dedicated, proportionate, firstfruits giving.
3. Shall act as the public relations agency for the congregation.
4. That the objectives of this board may be carried out, the board, either corporately or through specifically designated individuals shall:
a. Contact and encourage new members for service to the congregation and endeavor to stir up the talents of present members for use in Christ's work.
b. Maintain a program to discover and enlist for Kingdom service the talents trod has given members old and new, young people and adults.
c. Be responsible for maintenance of a congregational talent file at all times, and provide for the immediate recording of the talents and abilities of incoming members.
d. Provide opportunities for the development of talents (training courses, workshops and the like).
e. Conduct an extensive program periodically to confront every member personally with basic Biblical stewardship principles and practices.
f. Prepare and present to the congregation an annual God-pleasing work program, determine anticipated receipts, and recommend a budget for adoption by the Voters' Assembly.
g. Foster support for missions and charities through an ongoing program of mission information and education through education agencies, committees and organizations, rallies, festivals, films and filmstrips, letters and tracts, appearances of missionaries and the like.
h. Evaluate and make recommendations for memorials, special gifts, etc.
i. Screen all outside appeals for funds and initiate the action appropriate to such an appeal.
j. Review, accept or decline all offers of nonsolicited gifts to the congregation.
k. Evaluate the offerings and expenditures of the congregation as needed and share these evaluations with the congregation.
l. Annually review the budgeting procedures of the congregation in conjunction with the Treasurer and Financial Secretary and recommend any necessary improvements or revisions.
m. Submit an annual budget request including district and synod giving and direct giving to missions, all in proportion to clod's blessings on this congregation.
n. Distribute direct giving mission funds as appropriate.
o. In conjunction with the Treasurer, decide. where to deposit various funds (checking account, savings account, church extension fund, etc.).
5. The Financial Secretary shall:
a. Be responsible for the prompt accurate counting, recording, and depositing of all receipts for the congregation in appropriate financial institutions and to that end shall enlist from the Board of Stewardship an assistant Financial Secretary. All contributions by members for whatever purpose shall be recorded.
b. Be responsible for issuance of regular statements to members, showing their offerings to date.
c. Furnish the Treasurer with a duplicate deposit slip and a breakdown of the funds received, i.e., for current expenses and missions, building debt retirement, memorials, special gifts, etc.
d. Be responsible for requisitioning and distribution of offering envelopes.
6. The public relations activity for the congregation shall:
a. Be concerned, together with other appropriate boards, with the congregation's role in the community, and develop useful means of becoming a better servant to the community.
b. Establish and maintain a continuing program of publicity for the congregation and its activities which will reflect favorably on the congregation and its commitment to the Gospel of Christ.
c. Maintain the church bulletin boards.
d. Work for the overall enhancement of the congregation's image in the various news media and publications of the community.
H. Board of Church Properties
The Board of Church Properties shall:
1. Consist of at least five members, including the elected chairperson of the board. It shall also consist of a continuing subcommittee designated as Trustees, consisting of three additional members.
2. The basic objectives of the board are the proper maintenance and repair of church property, the representation of the congregation in all legal matters, and the general protection of the congregation against loss or damage of whatever nature.
3. That the basic objectives of this board may be carried out, the board, either corporately or through specifically designated individuals, shall:
a. Make an annual inspection of church properties and equipment and recommend to the Voters' Assembly needed repairs, improvements, or replacements.
b. Conduct an annual inventory of all church properties, equipment, and supplies, including acquisition date and approximate value of each item.
c. Carry out all resolutions of the Voters' Assembly on purchases, repairs, replacement of church property and equipment.
d. Determine and engage, with congregational approval, adequate custodial help. The Board shall also meet periodically with custodians to discuss the care of the buildings, needs and problems in custodial service, and the like.
e. Prepare for the custodial help a detailed list of the required daily and weekly, monthly, or annual maintenance of the facilities and equipment of the congregation.
f. Annually review and recommend salaries for all custodial help and to that end study and recommend policies regarding union labor, fair employment practices and the like to be applied to suppliers and to the congregation.
g. Determine and establish, with the approval of the Voters' Assembly, regulations governing the use of church property and equipment.
h. Make and issue keys for church property, and keep and review annually a list of the keys issued.
i. Supervise, control and recommend adequate storage facilities for all church property, equipment, and supplies and the orderly maintenance of the same.
j. check all property twice a year for fire hazards.
k. Enlist work crews for special repair, improvement, cleaning, painting, decorating, landscaping and other projects.
l. Arrange for immediate repairs of an urgent nature and all normal repairs and alterations for which budget funds have been allocated.
m. Negotiate service contracts for the organ, office machines, and the like.
n. Submit an annual budget request to the Board of stewardship in the form and at the time requested by that board.
4. The Trustees shall:
a. Legally represent the congregation in accordance with the laws of this state.
b. Obtain legal information necessary for the wise consideration of contracts, deeds, and the like by the congregation.
c. Sign official documents and contracts that have been negotiated and approved by the congregation.
d. Make an annual inventory of official documents in safekeeping, and enter its completion in the official minutes of the congregation.
e. Accept and receive grants and bequests.
f. Annually check the adequacy of all types of insurance for church property and equipment and negotiate insurance contracts.
I. Board of Youth Ministry
The Board of Youth Ministry shall consist of at least three members, including the elected chairperson of the board.
The basic objectives of this board are to involve the young people of the congregation in the work of Christ, provide for their spiritual growth and nurture, and to promote genuine Christian fellowship for the young people of the congregation.
That the objectives of this board may be carried out, the board, either corporately or through specifically designated individuals, shall:
1. Promote attendance and involvement of the congregation's youth at all youth activities.
2. Provide for the continuing spiritual growth of the young people of the congregation through Bible study, prayer, and Christian service.
3. Plan and carry out, together with other concerned boards, a year-round program for the young people of the congregation.
4. Involve youth leaders from all parts of the congregation's work in developing a planned parish program for young people.
5. Develop a program for the social fellowship of both young people and the young adults of the congregation, including various recreational programs.
6. Actively engage in the selection and training of leaders for the young people's program at all times.
7. Plan and observe, together with the Pastor, a yearly congregational Young Peoples' Sunday.
8.
Plan a special event to welcome the newly confirmed young people of the
congregation and to invite them to
join the young people's groups.
9. Provide for topics of current interest to young people.
10. Plan and coordinate activities for youth with other young people's groups outaide the congregation, particularly with other Lutheran young people's groups at various levels.
11. In conjunction with the Board of Evangelism, train and involve the young people of the congregation in bringing others to faith in Christ.
12. Submit, at the time and in the form required, an annual budget as requested by the Board of Stewardship.
13. For administrative purposes and program development, supervise the work of all youth and young adult groups in the congregation.
J. Board of Social Ministry and Parish Fellowship
1. The Board of Social Ministry and Parish Fellowship shall consist of at least five members including the chairperson and the President of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League.
2. The basic objectives of this board are to provide as we are able a ministry of Christian service to persons or agencies where needs exist in this congregation, in the community, in the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, in the nation and world; to strengthen the fellowship between congregation members spiritually and socially; to aid in the assimilation of new members into the life of the congregation; and the general upbuilding of mutual cooperation, trust, and enjoyment among members of the congregation.
3. That the basic. objectives of the board may be carried out, the board either corporately or though specifically designated individuals shall:
a. Develop goals and objectives each year in the light of the congregation's needs for a ministry of Christian service and concern.
b. Know the service agencies of the church and community and relate them to the congregation and the congregation to them.
c. Provide appropriate help to those within the congregation and those without who are in need.
d. Refer those problems, when they are beyond the congregation's abilities, to appropriate agencies for professional help.
e. offer and supervise, as feasible, the use of the church facilities (with congregational approval) for community service and programs in the area of social ministry.
f. Use a variety of resources to make the congregation aware of and sensitive to the opportunities in Christian service as they relate to the needs of mankind.
g. Study and adopt or adapt suggestions from the social ministry departments of the synod and district.
h. For administrative purposes include the Lutheran Women's Missionary League under this board. In addition to the functions set forth in its constitution, the LWML will supervise the Nursery Guild, the Altar Guild and kitchen maintenance.
i. Plan and supervise adult and family fellowship activities of the congregation (example: church picnic, family nights, etc.).
j. Plan and supervise the athletic activities of the congregation.
k. Review and adopt or adapt materials and ideas from various sources which will bring congregational members into personal contact in groups such as family nights, plays, fun fairs, talent shows, and the like.
1. Aid in the assimilation of new members into the life of the congregation through coffee socials and other appropriate activities in conjunction with the Board of Evangelism.
m. Receive and take action on requests for the use of the congregation's facilities for wedding receptions, recreational activities by various groups and all other activities of whatever nature and from whatever source.
n. Provide and decorate the Christmas tree and provide any plants or flowers needed at Christmas, Master, etc.
o. Submit to the Board of Stewardship in the appropriate form and at the time requested, a budget request for the coming year's work.