Chapter 8. MEMBERSHIP

Those who may or do have the power to vote on legal actions.

About This Chapter

This chapter outlines how to become a member (or be removed from membership) and describes the privileges and duties of members.

Thoughts and Suggested Provisions

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.

*C8.02. Types of Membership

Are the synod bishop or the presiding bishop ex officio members of the congregation?

*C8.02.b. Confirmed Membership

This category leaves a big potential hole. What happens to baptized members when they become adults (age 18) but are not confirmed? See ELCA Continuing Resolution 6.02.A09. Especially if such individuals are received by transfer? How will the congregation handle this?

On the one hand, unconfirmed adults may simply become confirmed adults. On the other hand, remaining unconfirmed into adulthood may be grounds for removal due to inactivity.

How will congregations guard against double standards, requiring teens to take extended classes for confirmation but letting adults become confirmed members after a couple new member classes or less?

*C8.02.c. Voting Membership

The first thing to note is that every confirmed member is potentially a voting member. This category basically describes the circumstances in which confirmed members gain the right to vote.

The phrase "record of contribution" is potentially ambiguous. Many congregations assume it means financial contribution, but it could include contributions of time or talents as well.

It should also be determined whose contributions count toward such records. This decision will both effect voting membership and inactivity.

*C8.02.d. Associate Membership

Simply decide if associate members must belong to ELCA congregations or if they can belong to any Lutheran or Christian congregation.

*C8.02.e. Seasonal Membership

This category is the newest type of membership. It has a lot of restrictions. Any congregation with season members will have to consider their impact on quorum. See *C10.04.

*C8.03. Application for Confirmed Membership

How does the congregation handle all types of membership? Are there any other requirements for membership?

Ultimately, any procedures for becoming a member need to be clear.

*C8.04. Privileges and Duties of Members

If there are additional privileges or duties of members, put them here. Many privileges and duties are likely to derive from Chapter 4.

A particularly important privilege to address is whether baptized, confirmed, or associate members have the privilege of voice.

Another common privilege is permitting members free or reduced prices for various services, such as wedding, funerals, and general facility usage.

*C8.05. Termination of Membership

The most important thing to remember in this provision is that anyone removed from the roll of members "remain persons for whom the Church has a continuing pastoral concern." This statement has implications on any governing document, including policies that differentiate between members and non-members. Do these policies account for this continuing pastoral concern?

Required Bylaws According to *C8.05.e.

Inactivity is one of the most misunderstood words in the entire Model Constitution.

Many congregations are reluctant to remove people from membership. In some ways, this is understandable. Membership is often conflated with being a disciple of Jesus, and removing someone from membership often drives them permanently away from the Church and faith in Christ. At the same time, keeping inactive people as confirmed members has the potential to allow them to return to voting membership at times of controversy. Such actions have resulted in pain and turmoil in many congregations. Every congregation needs to decide how a member will be removed from the roll due to inactivity.

Because membership has important legal consequences, having a clear definition of inactivity provides many protections to a congregation. Bylaws defining inactivity should, minimally, address two concerns:

  1. What is the definition of "inactivity"?
  2. What is the procedure for removing someone from the rolls due to inactivity?

Definition of Inactivity

Many congregations have simply defined inactivity as "not meeting the requirements of voting membership". Such a definition can work for confirmed members, but ignores other types of membership as well as a whole slew of additional questions, including whether or not confirmed membership should be conflated with voting membership, as if the requirements for both are one in the same.

Questions to answer when determining the definition of inactivity may include:

Procedure for Removal Due to Inactivity

The Model Constitution does not explicitly state who has the power to remove someone from membership. Likely, such power should be granted to whoever has the authority to make someone a member. In the case of confirmed and seasonal members, this is the Congregation Council. The process for removal should specify who can remove someone from membership.

But once someone meets the definition for inactivity, what happens? In some cases, inactivity may result in automatic removal, even without the vote of the Congregation Council. In other cases, certain steps may be required before someone can be removed due to inactivity. Such steps may include:

Ultimately, the procedure for removal needs to be clear.

Congregations may also want to consider whether a member may be removed for inactivity during a time of pastoral vacancy.

Example Bylaws

The following is offered only as an example. It does not address all the issues laid out above, but provides some building blocks that congregations may expand upon.

C8.05.01.
Definition of Inactivity. Inactivity is defined as one or more of the following:
a.
Not participating in the life and mission of this congregation in the current or preceding two calendar years, as attested by the pastor and the entire membership of the Congregation Council;
b.
Being a confirmed or seasonal member and having neither communed nor made a contribution of record in the current or preceding two calendar years; or
c.
Not maintaining current contact information with this congregation.
C8.05.02.
A member of this congregation may be removed from the roll due to inactivity as follows:
a.
The pastor and the Congregation Council must make multiple attempts to contact the member, encouraging the member to participate in the life and mission of this congregation; and
b.
If, six months after the initial contact attempt, the member still meets the definition of inactivity, the Congregation Council may vote to remove the member from the roll.