PREAMBLE
We, baptized members of the
Church of Christ, responding in faith to the call of the Holy Spirit through
the Gospel, desiring to unite together as a congregation to preach the Word,
administer the sacraments, and carry out God's mission, do hereby adopt this
constitution and solemnly pledge ourselves to be governed by its provisions. In
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C 1.01 The name of this congregation shall be
Bethel Lutheran Church.
C 1.02 For
the purpose of this constitution and the accompanying bylaws, the Bethel
Lutheran Church congregation is hereinafter designated as “this congregation”.
C 1.03 This congregation shall
be incorporated under the laws of the State of California.
*C 2.01 This
congregation confesses the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
*C 2.02 This congregation confesses Jesus Christ as
Lord and Savior and the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who
believe.
a. Jesus Christ is the Word of
God incarnate, through whom everything was made and through whose life, death,
and resurrection God fashions a new creation.
b. The proclamation of God's message to us as both Law and Gospel is
the Word of God, revealing judgment and mercy through word and deed, beginning
with the Word in creation, continuing in the history of Israel, and centering
in all its fullness in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
c. The canonical Scriptures of
the Old and New Testaments are the written Word of God. Inspired by God's
Spirit speaking through their authors, they record and announce God's
revelation centering in Jesus Christ. Through them God's Spirit speaks to us to
create and sustain Christian faith and fellowship for service in the world.
*C 2.03 This
congregation accepts the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as
the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its
proclamation, faith, and life.
*C 2.04 This
congregation accepts the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds as true
declarations of the faith of this congregation.
*C 2.05 This congregation
accepts the Unaltered Augsburg Confession as a true witness to the Gospel,
acknowledging as one with it in faith and doctrine all churches that likewise
accept the teachings of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.
*C 2.06 This congregation accepts the other
confessional writings in the Book of Concord, namely, the Apology of the
Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles and the Treatise, the Small
Catechism, the Large Catechism, and the Formula of Concord, as further valid
interpretations of the faith of the Church.
*C 2.07 This congregation confesses the Gospel, recorded in the Holy Scriptures and confessed in the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran confessional writings, as the power of God to create and sustain the Church for God's mission in the world.
*C 3.01 All power in the
church belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ, its head. All actions of this congregation
are to be carried out under his rule and authority.
*C 3.02 The Church exists both as an inclusive
fellowship and as local congregations gathered for worship and Christian
service. Congregations find their fulfillment in the universal community of the
Church, and the universal Church exists in and through congregations. The
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, therefore, derives its character and
powers both from the sanction and representation of its congregations and from
its inherent nature as an expression of the broader fellowship of the faithful.
In length, it acknowledges itself to be in the historic continuity of the
communion of saints; in breadth, it expresses the fellowship of believers and
congregations in our day.
*C 4.01 The Church is a people created by God in
Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, called and sent to bear witness to God’s
creative, redeeming, and sanctifying activity in the world.
*C 4.02 To participate in God’s mission, this congregation
as a part of the Church shall:
a. Worship God in proclamation of
the Word and administration of the sacraments and through lives of prayer,
praise, thanksgiving, witness, and service.
b. Proclaim God’s saving Gospel of justification by grace for Christ’s sake through faith alone, according to the apostolic witness in the Holy Scripture, preserving and transmitting the Gospel faithfully to future generations.
c. Carry out Christ’s Great
Commission by reaching out to all people to bring them to faith in Christ and
by doing all ministry with a global awareness consistent with the understanding
of God as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier of all.
d. Serve in response to God’s
love to meet human needs, caring for the sick and the aged, advocating dignity
and justice for
all people, working for peace and reconciliation among the nations, and
standing with the poor and powerless, and committing itself to their needs.
e. Nurture its members in the
Word of God so as to grow in faith and hope and love, to see daily life as the
primary setting for the exercise of their Christian calling, and to use the
gifts of the Spirit for their life together and for their calling in the world.
f. Manifest the unity given to
the people of God by living together in the love of Christ and by joining with other Christians in prayer
and action to express and preserve the unity that the Spirit gives.
*C
4.03 To fulfill these purposes, this
congregation shall:
a.
Provide
services of worship at which the Word of God is preached and the sacraments are
administered.
b.
Provide
pastoral care and assist all members to participate in this ministry.
c.
Challenge,
equip, and support all members in carrying out their calling in their daily
lives and in their congregation.
d.
Teach
the Word of God.
e.
Witness
to the reconciling Word of God in Christ, reaching out to all people.
f.
Respond
to human need, work for justice and peace, care for the sick and the suffering,
and participate responsibly in society.
g.
Motivate
its members to provide financial support for the congregation's ministry and
the ministry of other parts of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
h.
Foster
and participate in interdependent relationships with other congregations, the
synod, and the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America.
i.
Foster
and participate in ecumenical relationships consistent with churchwide policy.
*C 4.04 This congregation shall
develop an organizational structure to be described in the bylaws. The
Congregation Council shall prepare descriptions of the responsibilities of each
committee, task force, or other organizational group and shall review their
actions. Such descriptions shall be contained in continuing resolutions in the
section on the Congregation Council.
*C 4.05 This congregation shall, from time to time,
adopt a mission statement that will provide specific direction for its
programs.
*C 5.01 The powers of this
congregation are those necessary to fulfill its purpose.
*C 5.02 The powers of this
congregation are vested in the Congregation Meeting called and conducted as
provided in this constitution and bylaws.
*C 5.03 Only such authority as
is delegated to the Congregation Council or other organizational units in this
congregation’s governing documents is recognized. All remaining authority is
retained by the congregation. The congregation is authorized to:
a. call a pastor as provided in Chapter 9;
b.
terminate
the call of a pastor as provided in Chapter 9;
c. call or terminate the call
of associates in ministry, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers in conformity
with the applicable policy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America;
d. approve the annual budget;
e. acquire real and personal
property by gift, devise, purchase, or other lawful means;
f. hold title to and use its
property for any and all activities consistent with its purpose;
g.
sell,
mortgage, lease, transfer, or otherwise dispose of its property by any lawful
means;
h.
elect
its officers, Congregation Council and such members of boards and committees as
specified herein and require them to carry out their duties in accordance with
the constitution, the bylaws and the continuing resolutions;
i. terminate its relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America as provided in Chapter 6.
*C5.04 This congregation shall choose from among its
voting members laypersons to serve as voting members of the Synod Assembly as
well as persons to represent it at meetings of any conference, cluster,
coalition, or other area subdivision of which it is a member. The number of
persons to be elected by the congregation and other qualifications shall be as
prescribed in guidelines established by the Sierra Pacific Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
*C 6.01 This congregation shall
be an interdependent part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America or its
successor, and of the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America. This congregation is subject to the discipline of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America.
*C 6.02 This congregation
accepts the Confession of Faith and agrees to the Purposes of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America and shall act in accordance with them.
*C 6.03 This congregation acknowledges its
relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in which:
a. This congregation agrees to
be responsible for its life as a Christian community.
b. This congregation pledges
its financial support and participation in the life and mission of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
c. This congregation agrees to
call pastoral leadership from the clergy roster of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America in accordance with its call procedures except in special
circumstances and with the approval of the bishop of the synod.
d. This congregation agrees to
consider associates in ministry, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers for call
to other staff positions in the congregation according to the procedures of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
e. This congregation agrees to
file this constitution and any subsequent changes to this constitution with the
synod for review to ascertain that all of its provisions are in agreement with
the constitution and bylaws of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and
with the constitution of the synod.
*C 6.04 Affiliation with the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America may be terminated as follows:
a.
This
congregation takes action to dissolve.
b.
This
congregation ceases to exist.
c.
This
congregation is removed from membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America according to the procedures for discipline of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America.
d.
This
congregation follows the procedures outlined in C6.05.
*C 6.05 This
congregation may terminate its relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America by the following procedure:
a. A resolution indicating the
desire of this congregation to terminate its relationship must be adopted at a
legally called and conducted special meeting of this congregation by a
two-thirds majority of the voting members present.
b.
The
secretary of this congregation shall submit a copy of the resolution to the
synodical bishop and shall mail a copy of the resolution to voting members of
this congregation. This notice shall be submitted within 10 days after the
resolution has been adopted.
c.
The
bishop of the synod shall consult with this congregation during a period of at
least 90 days.
d.
If
this congregation, after consultation, still desires to terminate its
relationship, such action must be taken at a legally called and conducted
special meeting by a two-thirds majority of the voting members present, at
which meeting the bishop of the synod or an authorized representative shall be
present. Notice of the meeting shall be mailed to all voting members at least
10 days in advance of the meeting.
e. A certified copy of the
resolution to terminate its relationship shall be sent to the synodical bishop,
at which time the relationship between this congregation and the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America shall be terminated.
f.
Notice
of termination shall be forwarded by the synodical bishop to the secretary of
this church and shall be published in the periodical of this church.
*C 6.06 If this congregation is considering
relocation it shall confer with the bishop of the synod in which it is
territorially located before any steps are taken leading to such action. The
approval of the Synod Council shall be received before any such action is
effected.
CHAPTER 7. PROPERTY OWNERSHIP.
*C 7.01 If this congregation
ceases to exist, title to undisposed property shall pass to the Sierra Pacific
Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
*C 7.02 If this congregation is
removed from membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America according
to its procedure for discipline, title to property shall continue to reside in
this congregation.
*C 7.03 If a two-thirds
majority of the voting members of this congregation present at a legally called
and conducted special meeting of this congregation vote to transfer to another
Lutheran church body, title to property shall continue to reside in this
congregation. Before this congregation takes action to transfer to another
Lutheran church body, it shall consult with representatives of the Sierra
Pacific Synod.
*C 7.04 If a two-thirds
majority of the voting members of this congregation present at a legally called
and conducted special meeting of this congregation vote to become independent
or relate to a non-Lutheran church body, title to property of this congregation
shall continue to reside in this congregation only with the consent of the
Synod Council. The Synod Council, after consultation with this congregation by
the established synodical process, may give approval to the request to become
independent or to relate to a non-Lutheran church body, in which case title
shall remain with the majority of this congregation. If the Synod Council fails
to give such approval, title shall remain with those members who desire to
continue as a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
*C 8.01
Members of this congregation shall be those baptized persons on the roll
of the congregation at the time that this constitution is adopted and those who
are admitted thereafter and who have declared and maintain their membership in
accordance with the provisions of this constitution and its bylaws.
*C 8.02 Members shall be
classified as follows:
a. Baptized members
are those persons who have been received by the Sacrament of Holy Baptism in
this congregation or, having been previously baptized in the name of the Triune
God, have been received by certificate of transfer from other Lutheran
congregations or by affirmation of faith.
b.
Confirmed members are baptized persons who have been confirmed in this
congregation, those who have been received by adult baptism or by transfer as
confirmed members from other Lutheran congregations, or baptized persons
received by affirmation of faith.
c. Voting members are confirmed
members. Such confirmed members, during the current or preceding calendar year,
shall have communed in this congregation and made a contribution of record to
this congregation.
d. Associate
members are persons holding membership in other Christian congregations who
wish to retain such membership but desire to participate in the life and
mission of this congregation, or persons who wish to retain a relationship with
this congregation while being members of other congregations. They have all the
privileges and duties of membership except voting rights and eligibility for
elected offices or membership on the Congregation Council of this congregation.
*C 8.03 All applications for
confirmed membership shall be submitted to and shall require the approval of
the Congregation Council.
*C 8.04 It shall be the privilege and duty of
members of this congregation to:
a. make regular use of the means
of grace, both Word and sacraments;
b. live a Christian life in
accordance with the Word of God and the teachings of the Lutheran church; and
c. support the
work of this congregation, the synod, and the churchwide organization of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America through contributions of their time,
abilities, and financial support as biblical stewards.
*C 8.05 Membership
in this congregation shall be terminated by any of the following:
a.
death;
b.
resignation;
c.
transfer
or release;
d.
disciplinary
action by the Congregation Council; or
e.
removal
from the roll due to inactivity as defined in the bylaws.
Such persons
who have been removed from the roll of members shall remain persons for whom
the Church has a continuing pastoral concern.
*C 9.01 Authority to call a pastor shall be in this congregation by at
least a two-thirds majority ballot vote of members present and voting at a
meeting legally called for that purpose. Before a call is issued, the officers,
or a committee elected by the Congregation Council to recommend the call, shall
seek the advice and help of the bishop of the synod.
*C 9.02 Only a member of the
clergy roster of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America or a candidate for
the roster of ordained ministers who has been recommended for the congregation
by the synodical bishop may be called as a pastor of this congregation.
*C 9.03 Consistent with the faith and practice of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
a.
Every
ordained minister shall:
1)
preach
the Word;
2)
administer
the sacraments;
3)
conduct
public worship;
4)
provide
pastoral care; and
5)
speak
publicly to the world in solidarity with the poor and oppressed, calling for
justice and proclaiming God's love for the world.
b.
Each
ordained minister with a congregational call shall, within the congregation:
1)
offer
instruction, confirm, marry, visit the sick and distressed, and bury the dead;
2)
supervise
all schools and organizations of the congregation;
3)
install
regularly elected members of the Congregation Council; and
4)
with
the council, administer discipline.
c.
Every
pastor shall:
1)
strive
to extend the Kingdom of God in the community, in the nation, and abroad;
2)
seek
out and encourage qualified persons to prepare for the ministry of the Gospel;
3)
impart
knowledge of this church and its wider ministry through distribution of its
periodicals and other publications; and
4)
endeavor
to increase the support given by the congregation to the work of the Churchwide
organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and of the
Sierra Pacific Synod of the ELCA.
*C 9.04 The
specific duties of the pastor, compensation, and other matters pertaining to
the service of the pastor shall be included in a letter of call, which shall be
attested to by the bishop of the synod.
*C 9.05 a. The call of a congregation, when accepted by a
pastor, shall constitute a continuing mutual relationship and commitment which,
except in the case of the death of the pastor, shall be terminated only
following consultation with the synodical bishop and for the following reasons:
1)
mutual
agreement to terminate the call or the completion of a call for a specific
term;
2)
resignation
of the pastor, which shall become effective, unless otherwise agreed, 30 days
after the date on which it was submitted;
3)
inability
to conduct the pastoral office effectively in the congregation in view of local
conditions without reflection on the competence or moral and spiritual
character of the pastor;
4)
the
physical or mental incapacity of the pastor;
5)
disqualification
of the pastor through discipline on grounds of doctrine, morality, or continued
neglect of duty;
6)
the
dissolution of the congregation; or
7)
suspension
of the congregation as a result of discipline proceedings.
b. When allegations of physical
or mental incapacity of the pastor or ineffective conduct of the pastoral
office have come to the attention of the bishop of the synod, the bishop in his
or her sole discretion may, or when such allegations have been brought to the
synod's attention by an official recital of allegations by the Congregation
Council or by a petition signed by at least one-third of the voting members of
the congregation, the bishop shall investigate such conditions personally in
company with a committee of two ordained ministers and one layperson.
c. In case of alleged physical
or mental incapacity competent medical testimony shall be obtained. When such
disability is evident, the bishop of the synod with the advice of the committee
shall declare the pastorate vacant. Upon the restoration of a disabled pastor
to health, the bishop of the synod shall take steps to enable the pastor to
resume the ministry, either in the congregation last served or in another field
of labor.
d.
In
the case of alleged local difficulties that imperil the effective functioning
of the congregation, all concerned persons shall be heard, after which the
bishop of the synod together with the committee described in C9.05.b. shall
decide on the course of action to be recommended to the pastor and the
congregation. If they agree to carry out such recommendations, no further
action shall be taken by the synod. If either party fails to assent, the
congregation may dismiss the pastor at a legally called meeting after
consultation with the bishop, either (a) by a two-thirds majority vote of the
voting members present and voting where the bishop and the committee did not
recommend termination of the call, or (b) by a simple majority vote of the
voting members present and voting where the bishop and the committee
recommended termination of the call.
e.
If,
in the course of proceedings described in C9.05.d., the committee concludes
that there may be grounds for disciplinary action, the committee shall make
recommendations concerning disciplinary action to the synodical bishop who may
bring charges, in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and bylaws
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the constitution of this
synod.
f.
If,
following the appointment of the committee described in *C9.05.b. or d., it
should become apparent that the pastoral office cannot be conducted effectively
in the congregation being served by the ordained minister due to local
conditions, the bishop of the synod may temporarily suspend the pastor from
service in the congregation(s) without prejudice and with pay provided through
a joint synodical and churchwide fund and with housing provided by the
congregation(s).
*C 9.06 At
the time of pastoral vacancy, an interim pastor shall be appointed by the
bishop of the synod with the consent of this congregation or the Congregation
Council.
*C 9.07 During the period of
service, an interim pastor shall have the rights and duties in the congregation
of a regularly called pastor and may delegate the same in part to a supply
pastor with the consent of the bishop of the synod and this congregation or
Congregation Council. The interim pastor and any ordained pastor providing
assistance shall refrain from exerting influence in the selection of a pastor.
*C 9.08 This
congregation shall make satisfactory settlement of all financial obligations to
a former pastor before calling a successor. A pastor shall make satisfactory
settlement of all financial obligations to this congregation.
*C 9.09 When a pastor is called
to serve in company with another pastor or pastors, the privileges and
responsibilities of each pastor shall be specified in documents to accompany
the call and to be drafted in consultations involving the pastors, the
Congregation Council, and the bishop of the synod. As occasion requires, the
documents may be revised through similar consultations.
*C 9.11 With
the approval of the bishop of the synod the congregation may depart from
*C9.05.a. and call a pastor for a specific term. Details of such calls shall be
in writing setting forth the purpose and conditions involved. Prior to the
completion of a term, the bishop or a designated representative of the bishop
shall meet with the pastor and representatives of the congregation for a review
of the call. Such call may also be terminated before its expiration in
accordance with the provisions of *C9.05.a.
*C 9.12 The pastor of this
congregation:
a.
shall
keep accurate parochial records of all baptisms, confirmations, marriages,
burials, communicants, members received, members dismissed, or members excluded
from the congregation;
b.
shall
submit a summary of such statistics annually to the synod;
c.
shall
become a member of this congregation upon receipt and acceptance of the letter
of call. In a parish of multiple congregations, the pastor shall hold
membership in one of the congregations.
*C 9.13 The pastor(s) shall
submit a report of his or her ministry to the bishop of the synod at least 90
days prior to each regular meeting of the Synod Assembly.
C 9.20 Ecumenical pastoral ministry
C 9.21 Under special circumstances, subject to the approval of the synodical bishop and the concurrence of this congregation, an ordained minister of a church body with which the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America officially has established a relationship of full communion may serve temporarily under contract as pastor of this congregation.
CHAPTER 10. CONGREGATION MEETINGS
C10.01 The annual
Congregational Meeting and other regular meetings of this congregation shall be
held at a time specified in the bylaws.
C10.02 A special Congregation
Meeting may be called by the pastor, the Congregation Council, or the president
of this congregation, and shall be called by the president of the congregation
upon the written request of ten percent of the voting members. The call for
each special meeting shall specify the purpose for which it is to be held and
no other business shall be transacted.
C10.03 Notice of all meetings
of this congregation shall be given at the services of worship on the preceding
two consecutive Sundays and by mail to all members at least 10 days in advance
of the date of the meeting. The posting of such notice in the regular mail,
with the regular postage affixed or paid, sent to the last known address of
such members shall be sufficient.
C10.04 Ten percent of the
voting members shall constitute a quorum.
C10.05 Voting by proxy or by
absentee ballot shall not be permitted.