LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — November 2–4, 2012, Page 24

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7.2 All matters before the voters assembly shall be decided by a majority vote unless otherwise specified
by this constitution or bylaws. Matters of doctrine and conscience shall be decided only on the basis of
the Word of God.”
8.0 MEETINGS
Constitutions of congregations should establish how the meetings of the voters assembly or governing entities
will be called and how a quorum will be determined. Not requiring a specific number of voting members in
attendance permits a meeting to be valid so long as it has been properly called.
Example:
“Meetings of the voters assembly shall be held as determined in the bylaws.
8.1 Announcements of regular meetings shall be made in the services of the
two previous Sundays.
8.2 Announcements of special meetings shall be made in the services of the two previous Sundays or in
the services of the previous Sunday when accompanied by notification by mail. Such special meetings
may be called at the request of the pastor, chairman, church council, or ten (10) voting members.
8.3 All voting members present at a properly called meeting shall constitute a quorum.”
9.0 OFFICERS AND BOARDS
Congregations are at liberty to determine their own organizational and operational structures consistent with
local and state requirements for not-for-profit corporations. Constitutions should establish only those offices,
boards, and other committees that form the essential framework of the congregation. (The Synod encourages
every congregation to include in its organizational structure a board or committee for stewardship [Bylaw 2.2.1
(a) (1)]) 24.
Description of duties in the constitution should be limited to basic responsibilities, with detail to be provided in
the bylaws or in job descriptions. This will allow congregations or other authorized entities within
congregations to create (and to dissolve) additional offices and committees and determine their responsibilities
as necessary. As previously noted, many organizational structures are possible. Two examples, one involving a
coordinating church council and the second that of a board of directors, are provided.
In accordance with the teachings of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod women are not to be placed in
offices which call upon them to carry out the specific functions of the pastoral office.
Example:
“This congregation shall have the following officers and boards in addition to any which the congregation
shall establish from time to time. The officers and the chairpersons of the boards, and the pastor as an
advisory member, shall constitute the membership of the church council. Those officers identified by state
law shall serve as legal representatives of the congregation.
9.1 The officers of this congregation shall be:
9.1.1 A chairman, who shall conduct the meetings of the voters assembly, . . .
9.1.2 A vice-chairman, who shall serve in the chairman's absence or inability to act, . . .
9.1.3 A secretary, who shall keep the minutes of the voters' meetings, . . .
9.1.4 A treasurer, who shall be responsible for the financial records of the congregation, . . .
9.1.5 A financial secretary, who shall be responsible for the receipt of all contributions and shall
deposit the same in an account established in the name of the congregation.
9.2 The boards of this congregation shall be:

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“(1) Every congregation is encouraged to include in its organizational structure an elected or appointed board or committee
for stewardship. (2) This board or committee shall be responsible for carrying on an adequate stewardship program in a manner
prescribed by the congregation” (Bylaw 2.2.1 [a]).

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