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BY-
LAWS OF LAMB OF GOD LUTHERAN CHURCH, INC. MISSOURI SYNOD LAKE HAVASU CITY MOHAVE COUNTY, ARIZONA |
Article I – Procedure for Calling Pastors and Teachers
When a pastor/deacon or a teacher is to be called, every communicant member of the congregation shall have the privilege of making one or more nominations. The congregation shall also ask the President of the Synodical District for recommendations. In the case of a pastoral call, the Board of Elders shall serve as the screening committee, and in the case of calling a teacher, the Board of Education shall perform that function.
In the screening process the respective board shall submit all names to the District President for information and evaluation. After receiving information and recommendations from the District President, the board shall present to the congregation in writing a list of candidates with a biographical sketch of each candidate.
At the Voters' Assembly meeting called for the purpose of calling a pastor/deacon or teacher, the slate of candidates may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the voters present. Congregations shall seek the advice of the respective district president when calling ordained or commissioned ministers or deacons. It has been customary to follow a ballot vote by a voice vote to make the vote unanimous.
The Voters' Assembly shall call the Pastor/Deacon or Teacher by a majority ballot vote for one of the slated candidates.
Article II – Admission of New Members
Persons intending to join this congregation as Communicant Members shall give notice to the Pastor/Deacon and fill out an application form showing satisfactory evidence of their qualifications for membership. If not qualified, the Pastor/Deacon shall instruct them in the chief parts of the Catechism. (See Article V of the Constitution).
Article III – Meetings
The annual meeting of this congregation shall be held on the first Sunday of November each year. Elections when required shall be made in this meeting.
Regular Church Council meetings shall be held monthly at 7PM on the second Wednesday.
Quarterly Voters' Assembly meetings shall be held on the fourth Sunday following the end of each calendar quarter, i.e., April, July, October, and January.
Special meetings may be called at any time by the Pastor/Deacon, President, or the Board of Elders. All special meetings shall be announced on at least two (2) Sundays prior to the time of the meeting.
A quorum at all meetings will be those voting members present.
All proposals presented at Voters’ meetings shall be in writing and voted on by written ballot.
Pastor/Deacon shall have a vote in all meetings. The Presiding Officer, usually the President, shall vote only when a vote is by secret ballot; or, when his vote will break a tie to pass a motion or defeat a motion; or be the deciding vote in a two-thirds vote. All other Officers shall vote in Council and Voters’ Assembly meetings.
Chairpersons of Boards/Committees shall vote in their respective boards/committees as well as Council and Voters’ Assembly meetings.
The parliamentary procedures of Council and Voters’ Assembly meetings are to be governed by “Robert’s Rules of Order – Revised.”
Article IV – Officers, Boards and Elections
The President and Vice-President may be male or female. The Board of Elders shall be male.
The term of office for all officers, appointed boards and committees shall be for two (2) years except for Elders. See “Board of Elders.”
Each Board and Committee shall, at their first meeting after being elected, elect a chairperson and a secretary. Each secretary shall take and preserve the minutes of their respective meetings. They are to be made available to the Committee Members upon request.
If for any reason an elected officer or committee chairperson is unable to complete his or her term, the President shall appoint a person to serve the unexpired term for that office, with the advice and consent of the Pastor/Deacon.
If for any reason a committee person is unable to complete his or her term, the committee chairperson shall appoint a person to serve for the unexpired term, with the advice and consent of the Pastor/Deacon.
Elected Officers and Boards
This congregation shall have the following officers and boards:
Officers
Only voting members shall be eligible to hold these offices.
President
The President shall be the executive officer of the congregation responsible for implementing the provisions of this constitution and by-laws and the resolution of the Voters’ Assembly. He will chair the meeting of the Voters’ Assembly and the Church Council. The President shall also serve as ex-officio member on all boards and committees.
Vice-President
The Vice-President shall perform the duties of
the President during the President’s absence or disability. In the event
of a vacancy in the office of the President, the Vice-President shall succeed
to the office of President for the remainder of the term. In the event of an
absence of both the President and the Vice-President, the Chairperson of the
Board of Elders shall perform the duties of the President.
Recording Secretary
The Recording Secretary shall record and preserve
the minutes of the meetings of the Voters’ Assembly and the Church Council.
Corresponding Secretary
The Corresponding Secretary shall be chairperson
of the communication committee and report to the Council. This committee shall
consist of at least four (4) members.
Financial Secretary
The Financial Secretary, elected by the Voters’ Assembly,
shall keep and maintain a record of all member giving. He/she shall be responsible
for the ordering and distributing offering envelopes to members. He/she shall
issue individual semi-annual and annual statements to all envelope holders. The
term of office is for two years and re-election is allowed. He/she may appoint
up to two members to assist in accounting for the offerings.
Treasurer
The Treasurer shall keep and maintain the financial
records of the congregation. He shall disburse funds in accordance with the budget
unless otherwise authorized by the Church Council and/or the Voters’ Assembly.
Article V – Boards
Board of Stewardship
The Board of Stewardship shall consist of at least
three (3) members elected by the Voters’ Assembly, in addition to the Treasurer,
and the Financial Secretary who are automatically members. The term of office
shall be for two years with members appointed as vacancies occur. The Board of
Stewardship shall encourage in the congregation proper spiritual attitudes toward
the stewardship of time, talents and treasures. Members may be re-elected.
Board of Elders
The Board of Elders shall consist of at least three
(3) members elected by the Voters’ Assembly. The Board of Elders shall
watch over the doctrinal life and administration of the officers of called personnel,
and assure that they are treated with respect and the congregation fulfills its
duty toward them with respect to their physical needs in accords with the Word
of God and their respective calls. The Board of Elders shall assist in maintaining
order and discipline in difficult ministerial cases. The Board of Elders shall
seek to lead members in the deepening of their spiritual life and regular participation
in worship. The term of office shall be on a staggered term basis. One Elder
for one year, the second for two years, and the third for three years. In the
event of a fourth Elder being elected, he shall initially serve the term of one
year. Elders may be re-elected but may not serve the same term consecutively
with the exception of those serving one year terms.
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees shall consist of at least
three (3) members elected by the Voters’ Assembly. The term of office shall
be for two years with members appointed as vacancies occur. The Board of Trustees
shall maintain the congregation’s property. Members may be re-elected.
The Board of Trustees shall also be responsible for proposing to the Church Council
all recommendations relating to studies, grading, bids, master planning, interviewing
architects, and designs for any and all buildings for Council action and/or approval.
Board of Evangelism
The Board of Evangelism shall consist of at least
three (3) members elected by the Voters’ Assembly. Term of office shall
be for two years with members appointed as vacancies occur. The Board of Evangelism
shall encourage a personal witness of Christian faith as well as participation
in the witness of the congregation. Members may be re-elected.
Board of Education
The Board of Education shall consist of at least
three (3) members elected by the Voters’ Assembly. The term of office shall
be for two years with members appointed as vacancies occur. The Board of Christian
Education shall be responsible for the Sunday School program, the Bible Class
program, and the Vacation Bible School. Members may be re-elected.
Board of Finance
The Board of Finance shall consist of at least
three (3) members elected by the Voters’ Assembly. The term of office shall
be for two years with members appointed as vacancies occur. The Finance Board
shall supervise all financial matters of the congregation. The Treasurer shall
be a member of the Finance Committee. Members may be re-elected.
Board of Circles of Fellowship
The Board of Circles of Fellowship shall consist
of at least three (3) members elected by the Voters’ Assembly. The term
of office shall be two years with members appointed as vacancies occur. The Board
of Circles of Fellowship shall coordinate and supervise an effective and adequate
social ministry program. Members may be re-elected.
Board of Altar Guild
The Board of Altar Guild shall consist of at least
three (3) members. The term of office shall be for two years with members appointed
as vacancies occur. The Board of Altar Guild shall coordinate and supervise other
members of the Altar Guild. Members may be re-elected.
Board of Youth
The Board of Youth shall consist of at least three (3) members elected by the
Voters’ Assembly. The term of office shall be for two years with members
appointed as vacancies occur. The Board of Youth shall coordinate and lead
all youth activities under the supervision of the church ministry. Members
may be re-elected.
Article VI – Church Council
The Church Council shall consist of the President,
the Vice-President, the Recording Secretary, the Corresponding Secretary, the
Treasurer, the Financial Secretary, and the Chairperson or designee of the following
Boards: Education, Elders, Evangelism, Finance, Circles of Fellowship, Stewardship,
Trustees, Altar Guild and Youth.
The Council will meet regularly on a monthly basis,
or otherwise as deemed necessary, to hear reports from the various boards, and
in general, to take such action as shall seem advisable to implement the congregational
program. In consultation with the Pastor/Deacon, the Church Council shall determine
the kinds and numbers of committees, other boards, or positions needed to carry
on the work of the congregation.
Article VII – Expenditures Authorizations
Each committee and board is authorized to spend
up to a total of $100 for unbudgeted expenses in any calendar year without further
approval. Any expenditures over $100 but less than $500 requires Church Council
prior approval if unbudgeted. All expenditures over $500 require prior Church
Council approval whether budgeted or not.
Article VIII – Nomination and Election of Officers
A Nominating Committee consisting of the Vice-President
as chairman, and four (4) members appointed by the Church Council shall publish
a slate of candidates to be distributed to voting members in the October Voters’ Assembly
meeting. The slate proposed by the Nominating Committee shall normally consist
of one name for each office. Before the November meeting any voting member may
submit to the committee additional names for inclusion on the list, and such
names shall also be placed in nomination by the Nominating Committee. Additional
nominations may also be made from the floor at the November meeting.
The officers, board members, and committee members
elected at the November Annual Meeting shall assume their respective duties on
January 1 of the following year, and shall be installed on the second Sunday
of that year.
Article IX – Auditing Committee
The Church Council shall appoint an Auditing Committee
of two (2) voting members who shall audit the financial records of the congregation
at least once a year and report to the Voters’ Assembly their findings.
Article X – General
These By-Laws may be amended by the Voters’ Assembly
by a majority vote, provided that the proposed amendment has been announced on
two (2) Sundays prior to the call of the meeting.
End of the By-Law
Rev. Nov. 2005