This
congregation as a body, and all its members as individuals, declare
unreserved acceptance of and adherence to all the canonical books of the
Old and New Testaments as the inspired and revealed Word of God, and all
the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, contained In
the Book of Concord of the year 1580, as the correct presentation and
true exposition of Christian Doctrine drawn from the Holy Scriptures,
viz:
1.
The Three Ecumenical Creeds, viz:
The Apostolic, The Nicene, and The Athanasian
2.
The Unaltered Augsburg Confession
3.
The Apology of the Augsburg Confession
4.
The Smalcald Articles
5.
Luther's Large Catechism
6.
Luther's Small Catechism
7.
The Formula of Concord
No
doctrine or practice in conflict, or inconsistent, with the above norms
of our faith and life shall be taught or tolerated in this congregation.
In
order to do the Lord's work more efficiently within and beyond the
confines of our own parish, this congregation maintains voting
membership in the LUTHERAN CHURCH-MISSOURI SYNOD, as long as said Synod
adheres to the confessional basis detailed in Article II above.
As a member of the LUTHERAN CHURCH-MISSOURI SYNOD, we pledge
ourselves to participate in its meetings and deliberations, as well as
to help share its burdens, with our prayers, and personal and financial
support.
The
membership of this congregation includes the following:
1.
Baptized Membership
Baptized
members are all persons, children and adults, who are baptized in the
name of the Triune God with water and are under the spiritual care of
this congregation.
2.
Communicant Membership
Communicant members
are those who:
a)
Are baptized in the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost;
b)
Accept all canonical books of the Old and New Testaments as the
only divine rule and standard of faith and life;
c)
Are familiar at least with Luther's Small Catechism and declare
their acceptance of it;
d)
Have been received into communicant membership through
confirmation, letter of transfer, or profession of faith upon completion
of needed admonition or instruction in the Six Chief Parts of Christian
Doctrines;
e)
Attend divine services faithfully and partake of the Lord's
Supper frequently;
f)
Submit, for the sake of love and peace, to the regulations
already made, or still to be made, by this body, provided they do not
conflict with the Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions, and accept
brotherly admonition when having erred or offended;
g)
Are not members of any organization conflicting with the Word of
God;
h)
Contribute according to the blessing of God toward the support of
the total program of the church, both to the needs of this congregation
and the needs of the Synodical program of which this congregation is
part.
3.
Voting Membership
The rights and
privileges of voting membership in this congregation are available to
all members, male or female, who:
a)
Meet the conditions listed above;
b)
Are 18 years or older.
1.
Transfers to Sister Congregations
Communicant
members desiring to join a sister congregation shall present their
letter or letters of request for transfer to the Pastor.
Such request of membership shall be made known to the Board of
Elders at their next regular meeting.
Upon the recommendation of the Board of Elders transfers will be
issued after the approval of the voters assembly at their next regular
meeting.
2.
Joining Other Churches (Releases)
In cases where
communicant members have verifiably joined another congregation outside
our fellowship, they shall, upon the recommendation of the Pastor and
the Board of Elders, be considered as having terminated their membership
and their names shall be removed from the membership list by the
voter’s assembly.
3.
Whereabouts Unknown
The names of members whose whereabouts cannot be
established within a period of two (2) years shall have terminated their
membership here and their names shall be removed from the membership
roster by the voter’s assembly.
4.
Moving Out of Locality and Becoming Associate Members
a)
Associate members are those confirmed/baptized members who live
out of the area;
b)
Associate members will not be counted in the statistical report
as confirmed/ baptized members;
c)
Associate members will continue to be contacted in the best ways
possible and helped to find a church near them;
d)
Associate member status for those confirmed/baptized members will
be recommended by Board of Elders and ratified by the Church Council;
e)
Associate members will be received again as confirmed/baptized
members if they return to the area;
f)
The above stipulation would not apply to members serving in the
Armed Forces or attending college or university in a distant location.
5.
Self -Exclusion and Excommunication
Whenever a
member displays persistent neglect of or disregard for public worship
and for receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion for a period of one
(1) year, he/she shall be admonished and encouraged by the Pastor, the
Board of Elders, and the congregational family, as described in Matthew
18:15-20. When such
discipline proves unfruitful, the voters assembly shall, upon the
recommendation of the Board of Elders, declare such a membership to be
terminated. Any
self-excluded person shall be reinstated into membership when he/she
gives evidence of repentance and indicates willingness to utilize the
privileges and assume the responsibilities of church membership in
response to the forgiveness won for him/her by Christ.
6.
Status
Such
self-exclusion or excommunication release the individual from all
responsibilities to this congregation, but it also excludes the
individual from the privileges of church membership and of any claim
against the properties of this congregation.
SUCH A PERSON, HOWEVER, WILL AT ALL TIMES BE CORDIALLY WELCOME TO
ATTEND ALL DIVINE SERVICES IN OUR CHURCH.
It
shall be the duty of every confirmed member:
1.
To attend
public worship faithfully and to partake of Holy Communion frequently;
2.
To bring their children in early infancy to Holy Baptism and to
send them at the proper age to the agencies of Christian training and
instruction maintained
by the congregation, or otherwise to provide for their proper training
in the true doctrine and faith in our church;
3.
To live peaceably with one another and in case difficulties
should arise, endeavor to settle them in a Christian manner, with the
help of their brethren, and without recourse to law;
4.
To maintain an efficient Christian Day School and any other
agencies which shall be necessary to train members and non-members in
Lutheran doctrine and Christian life, as outlined in Article II;
5.
To submit and conform to this Constitution, By-Laws, and to the
resolutions
adopted by this congregation.
The
office of a pastor or teacher shall be conferred upon such pastors,
teachers, or candidates only as:
1.
Unreservedly pledge their acceptance of, and adherence to, the
Declaration of Creed contained in Article II of this Constitution;
2.
Are members of, or have qualified and applied for membership in
the same orthodox synod to which the congregation belongs; and
3.
Have been properly and rightfully called by the congregation.
The right of calling pastors, teachers or other called workers
shall be vested in the congregation through the Voters' Assembly and
shall never be delegated to a smaller body of members or to an
individual.
1.
Nominations
The
President and Board of Elders shall serve as a nominating committee;
they shall secure a list of candidates with all available information
concerning them from the District President.
Any member of the congregation may submit the name of a candidate
through any member of the Nominating Committee; nominations may also be
made from the floor with the consent of the nominee.
The Nominating Committee shall then secure all Information
possible concerning the additional nominees through accepted Synodical
channels. This then becomes
the official call list from which the Pastor, Teacher, or worker elect
is selected.
The
names of the nominated candidates shall be made known to the
congregation by bulletin two (2) Sundays preceding the call meeting.
2.
Election
The
election of a Pastor, Teacher or other called workers from the list of
candidates chosen by the President and Board of Elders shall be by
ballot, in a regular or special meeting of the Voters Assembly called by
the President.
The
candidate receiving a majority of all votes cast shall he considered
elected. The election
shall, if possible, be made unanimous by a rising vote, and the call
shall be sent to the Pastor, Teacher, or Worker(s) elect.
Negotiations
for contract teachers (new or renewal) shall be delegated to the Board
of Christian Education-School. The
results of such negotiations shall be reported to the Voting Membership
for approval before the contracts are offered.
1.
Duties of the pastor(s)
a)
Be responsible for the preaching of the Word of God at all public
worships;
b)
Administer the Sacraments in accordance with their Divine
Institution;
c)
Pastorally visit the members of the congregation, especially the
sick and dying, and admonish the indifferent and the erring members;
d)
Teach the Six Chief Parts of Christian Doctrine to those persons
preparing fir confirmation;
e)
Officiate at marriages according to the laws of God and State;
f)
Officiate at funerals according to the practices of this
congregation and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod;
g)
Care conscientiously for the souls of his flocks and maintain
church discipline, together with the Board of Elders;
h)
Supervise all religious education in the congregation;
i)
Supervise an accurate and up-to-date recording of all official
acts within the congregation, as well as keep an accurate membership
list. All records
j)
Shall remain the property of the congregation;
k)
Serve as an ex-officio member of every board or committee;
l)
Perform faithfully the functions of his office in public and in
private, according to the Word of God and the Confessional Writings of
the Lutheran Church and practices of the Missouri Synod;
m)
To serve as an example by Christian conduct and to do all that is
possible for the upbuilding of the congregation and for the advancement
of the Kingdom of Christ;
n)
The pastor(s) shall have the authority and responsibility for
supervising the musical portion of all worship services in conjunction
with the Board of Elders so that it is at all times in harmony with the
doctrine and practice of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
Members of the
congregation are obligated to accord the pastor(s) honor, love, and
obedience in his ministry of God's Word, and to support his
ministrations with diligence and faithful prayers; to help him in the
discharge of his duties by cordial one-mindedness, by willing readiness,
by peaceable conduct, and in every other way possible; and to provide
for his maintenance according to the ability of the congregation.
The
office of a called teacher is the authority conferred upon a teacher by
God, through a call of the congregation, to perform the duties of
his/her office in all its parts according to the Word of God and the
needs of the congregation.
Upon
being installed the called teacher is authorized and obligated to
instruct end train the children under his/her care diligently and
faithfully in the Word of God as contained in the canonical books of the
Old and New Testaments and confessed in the Confessional Writings of the
Lutheran Church as found in the Book of Concord of 1580, and to base
such instruction on the Small Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther; to accord
them also a thorough Christian education in branches of learning
prescribed by a course of study adopted or approved by the Board of
Christian Education — School; to maintain Christian discipline in the
school in accord with the Holy Scripture.
All federal and state laws will be compiled with.
To serve the congregation as an example of Christian
conduct, to endeavor earnestly to live in brotherly unity with his/her
pastor(s) and his/her fellow teachers, to work under the supervision of
the pastor(s), principal, and the Board of Christian Education —
School.
To
perform such other functions as are to the welfare of the church and
school as have been mutually agreed upon, as the circumstances of the
congregation may require and as time and ability may permit.
1.
The following duties are assigned to the Principal:
a)
Represent the school whenever necessary and endeavor to work for
the efficiency of the entire school;
b)
Exercise his/her office in a climate of Christian unity, and
serve as educational leader of the school;
c)
Lead all his/her colleagues, in zeal for, and devotion to, the
school, and its improvement as an educational agency and a Christian
institution;
d)
Keep the pastor(s) fully informed as to school activities and
problems, counsel with the pastor(s) and strive to manage and lead the
school in accordance with the pastors' spiritual advice based on the
Word of Cod;
e)
Serve as executive advisor of the Board of Christian Education --
School. He/She shall keep the Board informed as to the courses of study
outlined by the Board for Parish Education of Synod, the local and the
State Department of Education. He/She
shall adminstrate the policies established by this Board;
f)
Periodically submit a report on some area of school work at
regular meetings of this congregation;
g)
Supervise instruction in the school, have charge of the school
enrollment, attendance, hygiene and sanitation, decorum, safety and
records;
h)
Be responsible for supervising the school lunch program;
i)
Endeavor to advance professionally;
j)
Assist in preparation of and administration of school budget in
cooperation with the staff and Board of Christian Education-School;
k)
Show interest in all endeavors of the congregation as their
abilities, lime and talents permit.
2.
Duties of the Teachers
a)
Teach the Word of God in its truth and purity in conformity to
the named Symbols in Article II of this Constitution;
b)
Teach from a Lutheran viewpoint all academic subjects required by
the state and as assigned by the Board of Christian Education-School;
c)
Maintain Christian discipline and order both in the classrooms
and on the playgrounds;
d)
Show interest in all endeavors of the congregation as their
abilities, time and talents permit;
e)
Agree to conduct themselves in a truly Christian manner and be an
example in Christian life and faith to the children and the
congregation;
f)
Endeavor to advance professionally.
Members
of the congregation are obligated to receive the teachers as servants of
the Word, to honor and love him/her as such, to do everything possible
to instill in our children true Christian respect for his/her training
and teaching, and to support his/her work among us with diligent,
faithful assistance and prayer.
Members
are also obligated to render the discharge of his/her duties pleasant
for the teacher by peaceable conduct and, in every other possible way,
to encourage him/her by won and deed, to aid him/her in the maintenance
of Christian discipline in school, to hold him her in love and respect;
and to provide for his/her maintenance according to the ability of the
congregation.
Sufficient
grounds for deposing a pastor, duly called or contacted teacher or
officer shall be persistent adherence to false doctrine, scandalous
life, and willful neglect of official duties or evident and protracted
incapacity to perform the functions of the sacred office.
"Now
a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate,
sensible, dignified, hospitable, and apt teacher, no drunkard, not
violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money.
He must manage his own household well, keeping his children
submissive and respectful in every way; for if a man does not know how
to manage his own household, how can he care for God's church?
He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with
conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil; moreover he must be
well thought of by outsiders, or he may fall into reproach and the snare
of the devil. Likewise must
the deacons be grave, not double-tongues, not given to much wine, not
greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure
conscience. And let these
also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being
found blameless. Even so
must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all
things. Let the deacons be
the husband of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses
well. For they that have uses the office of a deacon well purchase
to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in
Christ Jesus." (I
Timothy 3:1-13) and:
"He
must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to
give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who
contradict it." (Titus 1:9)
If it
should happen that a pastor, teacher or officer gives public offense in
doctrine or life, it shall be the duty of the Elders to take the initial
disciplinary steps according to Matthew 18:15-20.
If necessary, the Elders will also consult District official.
In all public
services of the congregation and in all ministerial acts, only Christian
hymns shall be used as outlined in Article II.
Also in the school, besides Holy Scripture and Luther's Small
Catechism, only such books shall be introduced for instruction in
Christian doctrine as outlined in Article II.
In secular textbooks all false doctrine shall be called to the
attention of the children.
1.
Calling and removing of called workers, pastors and teachers, and
elected officers;
2.
Approving the annual budget;
3.
Buying or selling of any real property;
4.
Approving all salary schedules;
5.
Electing all members specified by the By-Laws;
6.
Dissolving this congregation as a corporation;
7.
Amending the Constitution or By-Laws;
8.
Deciding on staff size and creating or deleting positions of
employment;
9.
Transfers in and out;
10.
Authorization of special projects.
All decisions, rules, and resolutions of the Voters
of this congregation, however, shall be in accord with the Word of God,
the Symbolical Books, or Confession, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church,
and this Constitution and By-Laws, or they shall be null and void.
1.
Conscientiously and prayerfully exercise his right of suffrage in
all measures that will advance the work of Christ's Kingdom both locally
and in the church-at-large;
2.
Willingly serve in any office or capacity for which his talents
and abilities equip him;
3.
Faithfully attend all meeting;
4.
Assist with wholehearted diligence in administering the temporal
and spiritual affairs of the Congregation.
1.
See Article IV, Section A, Paragraph 3
1.
The Church Council shall consist of the following:
a)
Board of Elders
b)
Board of Trustees
c)
Board of Christian Education - School
d)
Treasurer(s)
e)
Recording Secretary
f)
Finance Committee
g)
Cemetery Committee
h)
Auditing Committee
i)
Head Usher
j)
Chairman
k)
Vice-Chairman
l)
Sunday School Board - The Pastor is over the Sunday School,
Vacation Bible School, Public School, Confirmation Classes, Bible
Classes, etc. The
Superintendent is elected.
m)
Called Teacher(s)
n)
Pastor(s)
2.
Corporate Officers:
a)
Chairman
— 2 year office
b)
Vice-Chairman
— 2 year office
c)
Recording Secretary
— 2 year office
d)
Treasurer (Home Fund) — 2 year office
3.
Elected Boards *
a)
Elders — 5 (One elected yearly, Senior member is Chairman)
5 year term
b)
Trustees — 5 (2-2-1 is the election schedule) 3 year term
c)
Christian Education (School) — 3 (one is treasurer)
(1 elected yearly)
Secretary
1st Six (6) Months 3rd
Six (6) Months
Treasurer
2nd Twelve (12) Months
President
4th Twelve (12) Months
4.
Elected Committees *
a)
Finance
— 3 year term
3 elected (1
elected yearly)
b)
Cemetery —
3 year term 3 elected (one Treasurer)
(1
elected
yearly)
c)
Auditing —
3 year term 3 elected (1 elected yearly)
5.
Others
a)
Head Usher
— 2 year term
b)
Sunday School Superintendent
— 3 year term
c)
Synodical Treasurer
— 2 year term
d)
Special Fund
— Appointed annually
e)
Memorials
— Appointed annually
*The
first name in the list is chairman unless board decides otherwise.
1.
Societies, clubs, or other groups wishing to organize, or already
organized within the congregation, whether using the name Trinity or
not, shall exist only with the approval of the Voters Assembly.
New groups wishing to organize shall make a statement of purpose
in their application, and shall submit same to the Voters Assembly for
approval. No group shall
organize or regularly use the property of this congregation without this
approval.
2.
The pastor shall, exercise supervision over all societies and
groups organized in accordance with this article.
3.
An annual detailed report, summarizing the year's work of the
group, together with a financial statement, shall be submitted in
writing for presentation to the Voters Assembly.
4.
In the event an organization becomes inactive or disbands, a
meeting shall be held with the remaining members and the Voters Assembly
regarding the disbursements of the organizational funds.
This
congregation may receive, acquire, hold title to, and manage such real
estate and other property as it may need to accomplish its purpose
(Preamble). On the other
hand, it may sell or dispose of its real estate and other property or
any part thereof.
This
congregation shall be free to make use of all rights and privileges that
are granted to religious organizations by the federal, state, and local
governments.
The
property of this congregation shall be controlled by the Trustees to the
extent of the power granted them by the Congregation.
If
at any time a separation should take place, which may God graciously
prevent, the property of the congregation and all benefits therewith
connected shall remain with those members who continue to adhere in
confession and practice to Article II of this constitution.
A.
All decisions, rules, and resolutions of the Voters of the
congregation shall be in accordance with the Word of God, the Symbolical
Books, or Confessions, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and this
Constitution and By-Laws, or they shall be null and void.
B.
All congregation matters shall be decided by a simple majority
vote of the Voting Members present at a properly convened meeting of the
Voters Assembly, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution and
its associated By-Laws for dealing with certain situations or matters
therein specifically mentioned and defined.
The
cemetery, as all other Church property, is community property of the
entire congregation. All
determinations referring to the cemetery are, therefore, to be acted
upon by the Voters Assembly.
Congregation
gives permission for burial only on a designated plot (lot) on its
'cemetery retaining all rights to the plot.
The designated plot is to be known as a lot.
The lots are to be distributed according to the plan, which the
congregation has adopted and in a manner prescribed by the
congregation.
Only
members of Trinity Lutheran Church, Worden, Illinois or past members who
are now members in good standing of sister congregation in Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod are eligible to acquire or buy a lot for burial
purposes.
The owner
of a lot shall retain burial rights until such lot is transferred to the
owners next of kin; however, should the next of kin relinquish such
rights, the ownership of said lot shall revert back to the congregation.
No
lot will be sold without perpetual care.
The cost of a half lot (two Graves) shall be $50.00 and the
perpetual care of a half lot shall be an additional $50.00.
The price of a full lot (four graves) shall be $100.00 and
perpetual care of a full lot an additional $100.00.
The price of lots and perpetual care costs are subject to
revision by action of the Voter's Assembly.
Amendments
to this constitution and the By-Laws may be adopted at a properly called
meeting of the Voters Assembly, provided that:
A.
They do not conflict with the provisions laid down in Article II
or with any sections of any other article that pertains to Scriptural
doctrine and practice.
B.
The proposed amendment has been distributed, in writing, to each
family in the congregation at least two weeks prior to such meeting.
C.
The affirmative vote of a three-fourths (3/4) majority of the
Voters present at the meeting of the Voters Assembly shall be required
for the adoption of an amendment.
The
following Articles in this Constitution shall be unalterable:
Article
II, Article III, Article IV, Article V, and Article IX.
No
vote to dissolve this congregation shall be taken except at a specially
called Voters Meeting. All
members shall be notified by mail of such a meeting at least two (2)
weeks proceeding. Dissolution
shall require a unanimous vote. In
the event of dissolution, the property shall be disposed of in the
manner and at the time designated by the Voters according to the
guidelines of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
Robert's
Rules of Order shall prevail at all meetings of the Voter's Assembly, as
long as they do not conflict with the Word of God.
The
Order of Business shall be as follows:
1.
Opening Devotion
2.
Roll-Call
3.
Reading of the Minutes
4.
Acceptance and Release of Members
