Constitution
PREAMBLE
It is the will of God that a Christian
Congregation conform to His divine Word in doctrine and practice (Psalm
119:105; Matthew 28:18-20; Galatians 1:6-8;
II Timothy 4:1-5) and that all things be done decently and in order (I
Corinthians 14:40). Therefore, we the
members of
1.
NAME
The name of
this congregation shall be Faith Lutheran Church of Eldersburg, Maryland.
2.
PURPOSE
As a fellowship of Lutheran Christians
in the assembly of all believers in the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit, we
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celebrate an awesome relationship with Jesus,
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invite others to know Him, and
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together transform the
world.
With the help of Almighty God, we commit
ourselves to
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honor and glorify Him,
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do His will,
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manifest unity of faith,
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study God's Word,
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partake of the Sacraments,
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grow in our relationship to God and to each other,
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carry the Gospel to all people,
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and share His
spiritual and material blessings.
We pledge to express our love and faith in Jesus by
supporting and actively furthering God's ministry in our homes, church,
community, and world.
3.
CONFESSIONAL
STANDARD
3.1.
This congregation accepts all the canonical books of the Old
and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the sole rule of faith and
life.
3.2.
This congregation accepts all the Symbolic books of the
These confessional writings are
The Ecumenical
Creeds (the Apostolic, the Nicene, and
the Athanasian);
The unaltered
Augsburg Confession of 1530;
The Apology of
the
The Catechisms
of Martin Luther;
The Smalcald Articles and
The
Formula of
3.3.
The Pastoral office of the congregation shall be conferred
only upon such ministers and candidates whose beliefs are in accord with the
confessional standard of this congregation and as have been approved by the
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod as being qualified Pastors of the church.
4.
SYNODICAL
AFFILIATION
This congregation shall be affiliated
with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and the Southeastern District so long
as the confessions and constitution of said Synod and District are in accord
with those of this congregation. The
authority of said Synod will not be legislative, but in an advisory capacity
over the congregation. It shall be the
duty of the congregation and its individual members to accept the
responsibility to support the work of Synod and to send its pastor and a lay
delegate to the District conventions of Synod.
5.
MEMBERSHIP
The membership of this congregation
includes Baptized Members, Confirmed Members, and Voting Members as defined in
the bylaws.
6.
ORGANIZATION
6.1.
Voters’
Assembly
The Voters’ Assembly shall consist of
all voting members present at a regular or special meeting of the congregation.
The congregation, through the Voters’ Assembly, shall have final authority in
managing its internal and external affairs.
The Voters’ Assembly shall have sole
responsibility to perform the following actions:
6.1.1. Call or remove
a called worker,
6.1.2. Purchase or
sell real estate or buildings,
6.1.3. Adopt the
annual financial plan,
6.1.4. Adopt the
ministry plan,
6.1.5. Amend this
constitution, bylaws, and / or Articles of Incorporation,
6.1.6. Dissolve the
congregation,
6.1.7. Elect
officials of the church, as set forth in the bylaws,
6.1.8. Accept and
terminate members of the congregation.
6.2.
Servant
Leadership Team (SaLT)
The Servant Leadership Team shall be
the governing body of the congregation and is responsible to administer all the
congregation’s affairs except those matters outlined in Section 6.1 of this constitution.
The Servant Leadership has overall
responsibility for the creation and effectiveness of the Ministry Plan and the
creation and management of the annual financial plan. Final approval of these plans is the
responsibility of the Voters’ Assembly.
6.3. Officers
and Boards
The officers of this congregation shall
be such officers as the Articles of Incorporation prescribe. The officers and
boards shall have no authority beyond that which has been conferred upon them
in the constitution or bylaws.
7.
PROPERTY
RIGHTS OF THE CONGREGATION
7.1.
This congregation, in its capacity as a religious
corporation established under the laws of the State of Maryland, may receive,
acquire, hold title to, and manage such real estate and other property as it may
deem necessary to accomplish its purpose as a congregation and may sell or
dispose of such real estate and other property or any part thereof; and this
congregation shall have all the rights and powers that are granted by the laws
of the State of Maryland to religious organizations and corporations, and
charitable corporations.
7.2.
If matters arise in the congregation which could lead to a
division or separation, the advice of the District should be sought. Should a separation in the congregation
occur, the entire property of the congregation, the corporate identity of
7.3.
In the event the
congregation shall disband, the corporate charter shall be terminated and the property and
all rights connected therewith shall be transferred to the District of the Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod of which the congregation is a member, provided such membership
is in accordance with 4.0 SYNODICAL AFFILIATION, and subject to the default
provisions in any then existing loan(s) or mortgage(s) on which the corporate
entity may then be liable.
8.
DECISIONS
All
congregational matters decided by the Voters’ Assembly shall be decided by a
simple majority of the voting members present at a properly convened meeting of
the Voter’s assembly, except as otherwise provided in this constitution and
bylaws.
9.
AMENDMENTS
This constitution and
associated bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast in
a properly convened meeting of the Voters’ Assembly provided the amendment has
been submitted in accordance with Article 9.1.
9.1.
PROCEDURE FOR
SUBMITTING PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
9.1.1. Any proposed
amendment to the Constitution and Bylaws must be in writing. Said written proposal shall be in proper
form, consistent with the form of the existing Constitution and By-Laws, and
shall be appropriately numbered as to its intended position.
9.1.2. Prior to submission at a Voters’ Assembly, a
proposed amendment shall be submitted to the Servant Leadership Team. The Servant Leadership Team shall review the
proposed amendment for appropriateness, legality, and form. The Servant Leadership Team shall prepare a
review of the proposed admission, addressing legality, ripple effect, and
practical considerations. A written summary of this review including the
Servant Leadership Team’s endorsement or disapproval of the amendment shall be
included in the submission of the amendment to the Voters’ Assembly.
9.1.3. The amendment and the review outlined in
Article 9.1.2 must be published and distributed no less than 2 weeks prior to
the Voters’ Assembly meeting in which the amendment will be presented for
consideration. Publication of the
proposed amendment may be accomplished by any reasonable means including, but
not limited to congregational mailing, distribution of the written material at
a prior Voters’ Assembly or at any congregational assembly, including following
a worship service, publication in the bulletin, or publication in the
newsletter.