Bylaws

BYLAWS OF THE CONSTITUTION

OUR SAVIOUR EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF JOHNSON CITY, TN

C4.04.01   The organizational structure of the congregation shall consist of the pastor(s), the officers of the congregation as stated in C11.01, and such other members elected by the congregation to serve on the Congregation Council. 

C8.01.01   Applicants for membership in this congregation shall consult the Pastor who shall determine whether such applicants are eligible for membership in accordance with Chapter 8 of the Constitution.

C8.01.02  Applicants not familiar with the doctrines and confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America shall be required to receive instruction and to make profession of their faith either before the congregation or, at the Pastor's discretion, before at least one witness of the Congregation Council, prior to being received as members.

C8.01.03   Applicants from other Lutheran Churches shall request that a letter of transfer be submitted from their former congregation to establish their eligibility for membership.  In the case of applicants for whom no letter of transfer is forthcoming, the pastor may arrange for a period of instruction prior to the applicant's affirmation of faith.

C8.04.01   Children will be admitted to Holy Communion (First Communion) after preparatory study and after reaching a specified age as defined in the continuing resolutions, but not until their names have been approved by Congregation Council.

C8.05.01   Anyone wishing to resign from membership in this congregation shall make the decision known either by letter to, or by personal appearance before the Congregation Council.

C8.05.02   A member may request transfer to another congregation.  If the member moves to another denomination, a certificate of standing shall be granted by the Pastor and/or Congregation Council.

C8.05.03   A confirmed member who fails to commune and make a contribution of record for two consecutive years may be removed from the rolls.

C10.01.01   The Annual Meeting of the congregation shall be held during the fourth quarter of each calendar year.  During said meeting, the budget shall be approved and the Congregation Council and the officers of the Congregation shall be elected.

C10.01.02   In addition, there may be a congregation meeting in each of the other three quarters as scheduled by the Congregation Council. 

C11.01.01   The President shall:

a. Preside at all meetings of the Congregation Council and the congregation.    

b. Carry out the expressed will of the congregation as embodied in the voting and resolutions of the congregation.

c. Endeavor to coordinate the functions, plans, and activities of the congregation for the furtherance of the Kingdom of Christ.                                                                                  

C11.01.02   The Vice-President shall:

a. Serve as president pro tempore.

b. Chair the Strategic Planning Ministry.

c. Coordinate and oversee other committees/ministries as directed by the President of the Congregation  Council.

C11.01.03   The Secretary shall:

a. Attend all meetings of the Congregation Council and the congregation and shall keep records and minutes of all meetings.  At such times the secretary is not present, the president shall appoint a pro tempore secretary.

b. Place in a proper file of the congregation a signed original copy of all minutes.

c. At the request of the Congregation Council, conduct official correspondence of the congregation and the Congregation Council.

d.  Maintain the official copy of the Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions and shall note on any change when and how it was authorized.

C11.01.04   Within his/her oversight, the Treasurer shall:

a. Record all cash receipts and disbursements of the congregation according to appropriate accounting practices and congregation's policies and practices

b. Segregate revenues, expenses, and fund balances into three account types - unrestricted (operating funds), temporarily restricted (specified use), and permanently restricted (endowment funds).  Contributions to restricted accounts will be recorded and disbursed with respect to the wishes of the contributor and subject to approval by the Memorials, Honoraria, and Special Gifts (MHSG) committee.

c. Make timely payment of all payroll, invoices, and other budgeted items including the regular monthly payment of the benevolence covenant to the Synod.

d. Reconcile checking and savings account balances each month.

e. Prepare and submit all required reports and forms for taxes, social security, workman's compensation, etc.

f. Provide to the Congregation Council monthly financial reports as defined by the Finance Ministry.

g. Provide financial reports as required for the Congregation Annual Report and the parochial report to the synod and ELCA.

h. Provide records and reports and support the completion of the annual audit.

i. Serve as an ex officio member of the Finance and Stewardship Ministries.

 
C11.01.05   The Financial Secretary shall:

a. Schedule tellers to perform weekly counting of the offering, banking of the receipts, and notifying the office secretary of memorials, honoraria and special gifts to enable mailing of acknowledgement to the donor and notification of the recipient.

b. Record members' identified offerings to their account.  Allocate designated income to those funds indicated by the offering envelopes and checks, and allocate undesignated income according to the policies of the congregation.

c. Provide the members with a quarterly summary statement of their offerings.

d. Serve as an ex officio member of the MHSG committee, the Finance Ministry, and the Stewardship Ministry.

C11.02.01   The officers shall serve for a term of two (2) years and shall be eligible for re-election once (four consecutive years).

C12.01.01   No two immediate family members (husband, wife, mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter) may serve on the Congregation Council simultaneously.

C12.01.02   Should a Congregation Council member be charged before the Congregation Council with dereliction of duty, the following procedure applies:

a. The accused shall be presented a written list of the charges and specifications.

b. The validity of these charges and specifications shall be considered by an ad hoc committee of four non-council members, appointed by the Congregation Council.

c. The accused shall have the right to be heard prior to deliberations by the committee on this subject.

d. The committee shall report its findings to the Congregation Council.  Upon confirmation of the charges by ¾ vote of the ad hoc committee, the Congregation Council shall thereupon declare the position vacant.

C12.02.01   Members of the Congregation Council, except for the Pastor(s), the officers, and the youth representative, shall be elected to serve for three (3) years beginning the first day of the year following their election.  Such members shall be eligible to serve no more than two consecutive terms.  The youth representative is elected annually.

C12.02.02   A class of Congregation Council positions as defined in the Continuing Resolutions will be elected each year.

C12.02.03   At least three weeks prior to the Congregation Annual Meeting, the Congregation Council shall nominate at least one candidate for each specific forthcoming vacancy.  Nomination can also be made from the floor.  The election shall be by written ballot if there is more than one candidate.

C12.02.04   The Congregation Council shall incorporate the name of the nominees in the meeting notice as specified in C10.03 of the Constitution.

C12.02.05   The Congregation Council shall be installed on a Sunday prior to the first day of the new calendar year.

C12.04.01    The Congregation Council shall hold an annual retreat for orientation and planning.

C12.04.02    In cooperation with the pastor, the Congregation Council shall work out terms of any sabbatical subject to the approval of the congregation.

C12.05.01   The proposed budget shall be provided to the congregation at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting.

C12.05.02   Congregation Council approval will be required on all single expense item bids or contracts exceeding five thousand dollars ($5000).

C12.05.03   All requests for the use of church facilities shall be approved by the Congregation Council and/or the pastor(s) in accordance with the facilities use policy as defined in the Continuing Resolutions.

C12.05.04   The congregational year including the fiscal and administrative functions shall be the calendar year.

C12.05.05   The primary check signature responsibility resides with the Treasurer.  President, Vice-President, and Pastor(s) will also have the authority to sign checks.  

C12.05.06   More than one signature will be required on all financial transactions greater than five thousand dollars ($5000) with the exception of recurring payments.

C12.05.07   Endowments may be created, guided by wishes from the grantors, with the approval of the Congregation Council.

C12.09.01   The annual report of the congregation shall be provided to the congregation during the first quarter.

C13.02.01   The president, with the approval of the Congregation Council, shall appoint one present council member who shall act as chair and two non-council members to serve as a nominating committee.

C13.02.02   During the fourth quarter, the president shall appoint an audit committee of three (3) members.  Members of this committee shall not be signatory on any of the congregational financial accounts or an officer of the congregation.  The president shall appoint a chair from the committee membership.

C13.02.03   When needed, a Call Committee consisting of at least seven (7) members, including one council member shall be appointed by the Congregation Council in consultation with the Mutual Ministry Committee and shall be broadly representative of the congregation.  The chairperson shall be appointed by the Congregation Council.

C13.02.04   A Mutual Ministry Committee shall be appointed jointly by the president and pastor(s).  The committee shall consist of six (6) non-council members.   Each member shall serve a three (3) year term, renewable for one additional term and is appointed on a staggering basis - two (2) members shall be appointed annually.   The chair shall be elected from within the committee.