LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 326

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326

OPINIONS OF COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

D. “Brief but adequate” should be the watchword when congregations develop or amend their constitutions and bylaws. Brevity enables
congregations later to develop additional structures and programs (e.g.,
ad hoc committees) to meet specific needs and goals without the need
repeatedly to go through the time-consuming process of amending their
governing instruments.
E. It is the goal of this process and the hope of the Commission
in providing these guidelines that congregations of our beloved Synod
will be assisted in carrying out ever more effectively the great mission
which our Lord Jesus Christ has given to His church on earth: to make
disciples of all nations, sharing with their communities and the world
the good news of salvation and to nurture the faith of those who already
believe, by teaching them to observe all that He has commanded.
III. GUIDELINES FOR CONSTITUTIONS
The following are subjects that ordinarily should be addressed in a
congregation’s constitution. Instructive comments are provided together
with sample paragraphs. For ease of reference, a numeral and decimal
numbering system is also recommended.
1.0 NAME
Legal counsel should be consulted to make certain that this paragraph follows the requirements for ecclesiastical corporations established by the state in which the congregation is located. In addition,
1995 Synod convention Res. 3-13A resolved that “all congregations and
mission stations in our Synod boldly profess in their official title and/or
name that they are ‘Lutheran.’”25
Example:
“The name of this congregation shall be [Name] Lutheran Church of
[City,] [County,] [State].”
2.0 MISSION
In the constitution of a Christian congregation it is desirable to state
the mission or purpose for which it exists. Such a paragraph should contain the fundamental purposes included in the following example.
Example:
“The purpose of this congregation shall be to give honor and glory
to the Triune God, to carry out His will, to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus
Christ to all the world, to nurture the faith of its members, to manifest
the unity of our faith in Jesus Christ as God and Savior, to foster Christian fellowship and love, to extend a helping hand to human need, and
to achieve its objectives by the preaching of the Word of God, by the
administration of the sacraments, and by the religious instruction of all
its members according to the confessional standard of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church.”
3.0 CONFESSIONAL STANDARD
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod requires that its member
congregations accept the confessional standard of the Synod. It is recommended that Article II of the Synod’s Constitution be adapted for
inclusion in congregations’ constitutions. A congregation’s confessional
standard cannot go beyond that of the Synod.26
Example:
“This congregation accepts without reservation:
The Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament as the written
Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and practice.
3.2	All the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
as a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the
Word of God, to wit: the three Ecumenical Creeds (the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed), the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg
Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the Large Catechism of Luther, the Small Catechism of Luther, and the Formula of Concord.”
3.1

2013 Convention Workbook

4.0 SYNODICAL MEMBERSHIP
Although not essential, since membership in the Synod is not determined by a statement in a congregation’s constitution, congregations
may wish to include mention of their membership in the Synod. If a
congregation wishes to include mention of membership in the Synod,
the following may be used.
Example:
“This congregation shall be a member of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod as long as the Synod conforms to the congregation’s
confessional standards as set forth in this constitution.”
5.0 MEMBERSHIP
Synod congregations often distinguish between three types of congregational membership:27 baptized, communicant, and voting. 28 Voting
membership may be open to all communicant members but may also
be limited to males only.29 Care should be taken that the age at which
individuals may hold voting membership conforms to any requirements
of state law. Many congregations restrict voting membership to persons
who have reached the age of legal majority. This is especially important
when decisions involving contracts and other legal matters are made.
Again, membership in organizations whose principles and conduct conflict with the Word of God shall be prohibited (Bylaw 3.9.6.3.1 [a]).30
Also, congregations are not to deny membership or other congregational
privileges to any Christian because of race or ethnic origin (Bylaw 2.3.1
[a]).31
Example:
“This congregation distinguishes between three types of congregational membership.
5.1
The membership of this congregation includes the following:
5.1.1 Baptized members are all who have been baptized in the
name of the Triune God and who are under the spiritual
care of the pastor of this congregation, including
the children who have not yet been confirmed into
communicant membership.
5.1.2 Communicant members are those baptized members
who have been instructed and are familiar with the
contents of Luther’s Small Catechism, have been
confirmed in the Lutheran faith, and accept the
confessional standard of Section _______ of this
Constitution.
5.1.3. Voting members are communicant members who have
reached the age of ______ years.
5.2
The members of this congregation are received in the following
manner:
5.2.1 Baptized members are received through the Sacrament
of Holy Baptism or through the consent of one or both
parents in the case of children who have been baptized
in another Christian congregation.
5.2.2 Adult members are received through the rite of
confirmation and Sacrament of Holy Baptism as
appropriate, through transfer from a sister congregation,
or through profession of faith or reaffirmation of faith.
5.2.3 Eligible communicant members may be received as
voting members upon application for such privilege
upon approval of the voters assembly.
5.2.3 (Alternate) All communicant members who have
reached the age of ________ are voting members.
5.3	Members of this congregation shall conform their entire lives
to the authority of God’s Word and to that end shall make diligent use of the means of grace, exercise faithful stewardship
of God’s many gifts and talents, impart and accept fraternal
admonition as the need of such admonition becomes apparent,
and be readily available for service in the kingdom of Christ
within and beyond the congregation. Membership in organizations whose principles and conduct conflict with the Word of
God is prohibited.
5.4
Membership in this congregation shall be terminated as follows: