The congregation's legal information.
This chapter provides the basic legal information about the congregation. It primarily contains the congregation's name and in which state the incorporation documents can be found. However, the chapter also serves as the place where all pertinent legal information may be put. This information may include former names of the congregation, locations of operation, and official identifiers, such as a corporate seal, brand, or trademark.
Top Priority: Make sure that the blanks are filled in, using the full legal name of the congregation as found in the incorporation documents.
The following is offered merely as suggestions, often based on common provisions in congregational constitutions. It is up to each congregation to determine what is and is not important to include in their own governing documents.
Are there other names the congregation is commonly known by or historically called? Tracking name changes, including the date of the name change, will aid the congregation if it ever needs the State to search its records for a legal document. Including colloquial names may be worthwhile as well, in case they ever accidentally show up on legal documents.
Example: A congregation needed to look up a legal record. The current legal name refers to the nearby town (e.g. Immanuel Lutheran in Everytown, USA), but everyone in the community refers to the congregation based on the township it is located in (e.g. Fulton Lutheran, because it is in Fulton Township). At one time the congregation was a union church (joint Lutheran and Reformed).
Not having tracked this history, the congregation was at a loss when filling out paperwork requesting the state to look for a record, because the state wanted a list of all previous names and dates of name changes.
Have there been any mergers or splits? Tracking mergers and splits, including the date, can also aid in maintaining a congregation's legal history.
Has the congregation ever moved locations? Moving locations may require changing incorporation documents. To track the legal history, it is good to include prior locations of the congregation.
Does the congregation have any official brands or trademarks? This might include a logo, emblem, colors, motto, or tagline. Anything that might be trademarked or be part of your trademark. Describe them or include actual drawings. Example in ELCA Provision 1.11.01.
Does the congregation have a corporate seal? Though no longer required by law, many congregations still have a corporate seal. Describe it or include an actual drawing. Example in ELCA Provision 1.11.01.
Where is the principal office for the congregation? This should be the location of incorporation. Example in ELCA Provision 1.11.02.
Does the congregation operate in other locations? Because congregations are often small, it's easy to track locations of business in the Constitution. If there are satellite congregations, offices, off-site cemeteries, or other properties, list them here. Example in ELCA Provision 1.11.03.