THE BYLAWS
OF THE CONSTITUTION
7001 Harford Road Baltimore, MD
21234
Article 1: Communicant
Membership
Section A: Application for
Membership-Procedure
Applicants for communicant membership
in this congregation shall consult with the Pastor(s) who shall determine
whether such applicants are eligible for membership in accordance with Chapter
8(Membership) of the Constitution. Applicants not familiar with the
doctrines and confessions of the Lutheran Church shall be encouraged to attend
a course of instruction, and to make profession of their faith before the
congregation.
Applicants from other Evangelical Lutheran
Churches shall seek a letter of transfer from their former congregation to
establish their eligibility for membership. In the case of applicants
whose previous membership in a Lutheran congregation has lapsed, the Pastor(s)
may arrange for a period of re-instruction prior to reaffirmation of faith
for such applicant.
After applicants have given satisfactory
evidence of their eligibility in accordance with the two preceding paragraphs,
their admission as communicant members shall be recommended by the Pastor(s)
to the congregational council. The roster of new members shall be
publicized in the various news media of the congregation.
Section B: Privileges and Duties
of Communicant Members
It shall be the privilege and duty of members of this congregation to:
Grow in the Christian faith and life through faithful use of the means of grace, searching the Scriptures at home and in fellowship with other members of the congregation and its agencies, and partaking of the Lord’s Supper frequently.
Live a morally decent life before God and all people, abstaining from open works of the flesh (Galatians 5:18-21), and so conducting themselves at all times as to bring credit rather than disgrace upon the Church of Jesus Christ.
Provide for the proper Christian training of their children by instruction at home and through the agencies of the Church.
Contribute toward the maintenance of the congregation and the extension of the Kingdom of God at home and abroad to the limit of their financial ability.
Place their God-given talents and abilities at the disposal of the
Pastor(s), the officers, and other organizations of the congregation as set
forth in its Constitution and Bylaws, so that the purpose and functions of
the congregation may be effectively implemented.
Article 2: Voting
Membership
Section A: Eligibility
Voting
members are confirmed members. Such confirmed members, during the current
or preceding calendar year, shall have communed in this congregation and
shall have made a contribution of record to this congregation.
It is expected that every member will faithfully fulfill their responsibility
as a voting member to the best of their ability.
Section B: Privileges and Duties
of Voting Members
It shall be the privilege and duty of a Voting Member of this congregation to:
1. Conscientiously and prayerfully exercise their right to vote in all measures that will advance the work of Christ’s Kingdom both locally and in the church-at-large;
2. Willingly serve in any office or capacity for which their talents and abilities equip them, and;
3. Assist
with wholehearted diligence in administering the temporal and spiritual
affairs of the congregation.
Article 3: Discipline in the Congregation
Section A: Termination of Membership
l. Transfers
A member desiring transfer to another Lutheran congregation shall apply
to the Pastor(s). Upon approval by the Pastor(s), a Letter of Transfer
will be issued by the Pastor(s).
2. Joining Other Churches
In cases where members of this congregation have joined another congregation,
they shall, upon the decision of the Pastor(s), be deemed to have terminated
their membership in this congregation, forfeiting all rights and privileges
of such membership. Their name(s) shall be removed from the membership
list of the congregation.
3. Self-Exclusion
A
member who, for a period of one year (1) does not partake of Holy Communion,
and or (2) does not participate in the worship of the congregation, or (3)
does not contribute shall be visited by the Pastor or laity and encouraged
by them to become more active in their membership. If, at the end of
the second year, the member still has not met the requirements for membership,
their name shall be removed from the active roll of the Congregation and
placed on the inactive list as one who is in need of the
Congregation’s prayer and
concern.
Article 4: Meeting of the
Congregation
Section A: Business
Meetings
A regular meeting of the Voting membership
shall be held annually during November on the Sunday before
Thanksgiving. The meeting shall give thanks for the ministries of the
current year and celebrate preparations to enter a new year. At the meeting
the proposed budget for the coming year shall be presented. In odd years
the agenda will include the election of congregational council members. The
November council meeting shall be held prior to this meeting. The
congregation council will set the meeting date and notify the congregation
of the date in accordance with Constitution and bylaws.
The Pastor(s), officers of the congregation,
together with representatives of all organizations and committees within
the congregation shall submit their annual reports concerning membership,
finances, and the work of committees by the end of October to be provided
to those in attendance. A preliminary financial report will be presented
at the meeting and the final report will be distributed to the congregation
as soon after January 1st but no later than the
31st. The annual reports shall be available to general
membership either at regular worship services or by mail if
requested.
The congregational council shall meet
once a month at such a time as it may decide. However, the congregational
council has the prerogative to suspend one meeting annually if the business
of the congregation warrants. The council shall hold such additional
meetings as the business of the congregation requires. No congregational
council business shall be transacted unless a simple majority of the members
are present.
Section B: Special
Meetings
A special congregational 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 two-thirds 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.
All voting members of the congregation may attend the congregational meeting, may make recommendations, and participate in a discussion of any given item of business at the congregation meeting.
Every meeting of the congregation shall
be announced at the worship services on the two weekends preceding the date
of the meeting.
Section C: Order Of Business at Regular
Meetings
Regular meetings of the congregation shall proceed as follows:
1. Scripture Reading and/or Prayer
2. Minutes of previous meeting(s), including special meetings
3. Unfinished business
4. Treasurer’s reports
5. New Business
6. State of the Parish Report by Pastor and President
7. Adjournment
The President may vary the above order
in the interest of the congregation. The annual report may include
written reports by officers and directors.
In general, for purposes of order,
Robert’s Rules of Order shall prevail.
Section D: Restrictions Pertaining
To Congregation’ Meetings
A quorum for a regular or special
congregational meeting shall be 15% of the voting members and shall be 15%
of the voting members for a business meeting concerning a new building, cases
of discipline, or calling a pastor. If the quorum of 15% fails to
materialize, a second meeting shall be called, and at least ten days written
notice of the purpose be given to the members. At the second meeting
10% of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum. The presider
when necessary shall cast the deciding vote.
There shall be no voting by proxy
or absentee ballot.
Article 5: Election of Congregational
Council
Section A: Nomination
Procedure
In an election year (odd Numbered years), the president shall appoint a nominating committee.
The nomination committee shall solicit input from the congregation by distributing forms asking for nominations during the month of September. Any member of the congregation may then submit in writing to the committee the names of potential candidates for office. The person making the written nomination must sign the nomination form.
Following the receipt of the forms the nominating committee will determine eligible candidates and ask them to run for office provided:
1. That such names shall be submitted at least 10 days before the date(s) of the election,
2. That the nominating committee, through consultation with the Pastor(s) and the congregation council, shall have reviewed the status of the proposed candidates and found them spiritually eligible for office and willing to serve.
The nominating committee shall publish a list of candidates in the church bulletin prior to the election dates for the following positions president, vice-president, treasurer, controller, secretary, and directors of the various committees.
The nominating
committee may submit any additional candidate to the list up until the election
date.
Section B: Election Procedure
From the final list of candidates for each elective office submitted by the nominating committee, the congregation shall, in November, elect by ballot and simple majority, the following nominees for council in the order herein indicated:
1. President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Controller, and Secretary
2. Eight Directors specifically
nominated for the directorship of one of the following committees:
Worship and Music, Community Ministry, Parish Education, Youth, Stewardship,
Properties, Fellowship, Invitational Public Relations.
Section C: Installation of Congregational
Council Term of Office
The newly elected congregational council shall be installed prior to assuming duties of office.
The term of office of all officers, and directors shall be two years.
The President, the Vice-President, the
Directors, the Treasurer, the Controller and the Secretary may succeed themselves
on the congregational council twice. After a person has served on the
Congregational Council three full terms in succession, that person must leave
council for one full term before being eligible for
election.
Section D: Vacancies of Officers, Directors
Un-expired terms or shortages of officers and directors will be filled on an interim basis through appointment by the congregational council. Such appointment is effective until the next regularly scheduled election.
The interim appointee is subject to all
the duties of the office.
Article 6: Duties of Congregational
Council, Organization of Committees and the Congregational Council
Section A: Duties of Officers
1. President
The
president of the congregation council shall preside at all meetings of the
congregation. The president shall enforce the Constitution and Bylaws
of the congregation and carry out the expressed will of the congregation
as embodied in the resolutions of the congregation. All committees,
groups, etc., in the congregation shall be responsible to the president,
who shall be welcome at any and all meetings of such groups, either in person
or as represented by such person or persons as the president may appoint.
The president shall also call and preside over the meetings of the congregational
council and shall endeavor to coordinate the functions, plans, and activities
of the congregation for the total furtherance of the work of
Christ’s Kingdom in our midst.
2. Vice-president
The
vice-president of the congregation in the absence of the president shall
act for and in the stead of the president. The vice-president shall
be available for whatever duties the president shall assign to
him/her.
3. Treasurer
a. The Treasurer shall be responsible for planning, organizing, staffing, evaluating and controlling those activities involved with the keeping of financial records and the accurate counting, recording and depositing in financial institutions of all the congregation’s receipts.
b. The treasurer shall approve bills to be paid in consultation with the controller and issue checks. A written and duplicated financial report will be presented at the annual congregation meeting and a preliminary report at the monthly congregational council meetings.
c. The treasurer shall work in conjunction with the congregational council in the development and preparation of the annual budget and its presentation to the congregation. To this end the treasurer shall have available to assist, him or her a money-counting committee and financial recorders.
4. Controller
The controller performs an internal control function by reviewing reports,
tax returns, ledgers, and other documentation on an ongoing basis.
5. Secretary
The
Secretary shall be present at all meetings of the congregation and at all
meetings of the congregational council and shall enter the minutes of all
meetings of said groups in a permanent record compiling all official
correspondence of the congregational committees under the supervision of
the president.
Section B: The Congregational Council
It shall be the specific functions of the congregational council to:
1. Serve as the point of liaison between the Pastor(s), the officers of the congregation, and the various committees in planning the total work of the congregation.
2. Settle jurisdictional disputes between the various committees.
3. Set the dates and times for the congregational meetings.
4. Fill un-expired terms or shortages as specified in Article 5, Section D.
The congregational council serves to create an atmosphere of teamwork and cooperation to further the mission of the church. The council leads the congregation, empowers committees and engages members.
The congregational council shall be available at all times, however, for any additional functions which the congregation may wish to confer upon it.
The congregational council shall keep
a permanent set of minutes for each meeting, and such minutes shall be the
property of the
congregation.
Section C: The
Committees
1. General Duties and Powers of Committees
Each committee shall initiate and carry out such activities and programs within the congregation as will enable it to effectively carry out St Luke’s mission statement. These activities should not conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws, congregation council policy, or specific resolution of the congregation.
Each committee shall be empowered to administer funds set aside for its work by
budget appropriation or by special resolution of the congregation, provided that the
congregational council may, at its discretion, restrict such expenditures to conform
With the actual
financial condition of the congregation at any given time.
2. Organization and Meetings of Committees
Each Committee shall be under the direct control and supervision of the director of
the committee. The director will select other persons to assist in carrying out tasks
Assigned to the committee. The time and frequency of committee meetings shall be
At the discretion of the director of the committee, except that, for good and sufficient
reason either the president of the congregation or the Pastor may call a meeting of
the Board at any time. Meetings thus called shall be classified as special meetings,
and each person involved shall be notified of the date, time and purpose of such a
meeting.
Article 7: General
Provisions
Section A: Fund Contributions
All contributions of funds shall be deposited
to the credit of St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, and in such depositories
as the executive committee shall from time to time determine
appropriate.
Section B: Fiscal Year
This fiscal year of the fund shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of December.