Chapter 1.
NAME, INCORPORATION, SEAL, AND LOCATION

1.11.

The churchwide organization shall be incorporated.

1.11.01.

The seal of the churchwide organization is a cross with three united flames emanating from the base of the cross and three entwined circles beside the cross. The year of the constituting convention of this church is included at the base of the cross. The name of this church forms the circular outer edge of the seal.

1.11.02.

The principal office of the churchwide organization shall be located in Chicago, Illinois.

1.11.03.

The churchwide organization may maintain offices in such other locations as the Churchwide Assembly or the Church Council shall determine.

Chapter 5.
PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIZATION

5.01.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America shall be one church. This church recognizes that all power and authority in the Church belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ, its head. Therefore, all actions of this church by congregations, synods, and the churchwide organization shall be carried out under his rule and authority in accordance with the following principles:

f.

Except as otherwise provided in this constitution and bylaws, synods, through synod councils, shall establish processes that will ensure that at least 60 percent of the members of their assemblies, councils, committees, boards, and other organizational units shall be laypersons; that, as nearly as possible, at least 45 percent of the lay members of their assemblies, councils, committees, boards, or other organizational units shall be women and, as nearly as possible, at least 45 percent shall be men, and that the representation of rostered ministers shall include both women and men. Each synod shall establish processes that will enable it to reach a minimum goal that 10 percent of the membership of its assemblies, councils, committees, boards, or other organizational units be persons of color and/or persons whose primary language is other than English.

Chapter 6.
MEMBERSHIP

6.02.

The voting members of the churchwide organization shall be those persons elected to serve as members of the Churchwide Assembly. Membership in a congregation does not, in itself, confer voting rights in this corporation.

6.02.A09.

It is the goal of this church that at least 10 percent of the voting members of the Churchwide Assembly, Church Council, and churchwide boards and committees be youth and young adults. The Church Council shall establish a plan for implementing this goal. For purposes of the Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA, the term “youth” means a voting member of a congregation who has not reached the age of 18 at the time of election or appointment for service. The term “young adult” means a voting member of a congregation between the ages of 18 and 30 at the time of election or appointment for service.

Chapter 7.
MINISTRY

7.30.

STANDARDS FOR MINISTERS OF WORD AND SACRAMENT

7.31.02.

Responsibilities. Consistent with the faith and practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,

a.

Every minister of Word and Sacrament shall:

b.

Each pastor with a congregational call shall, within the congregation:

7.40.

CALLS FOR MINISTERS OF WORD AND SACRAMENT

7.44.A16.

Sources of Calls for Ministers of Word and Sacrament

b.

Table of Sources of Calls for Ministers of Word and Sacrament

Setting	Calling Body
1.0 Congregational ministry
1.1 Single congregation	Congregation meeting
1.11 Pastor 1.12 Senior Pastor 1.13 Associate/assistant pastor 1.14 Co-pastor 1.15 Shared-time pastor

Chapter 9.
CONGREGATIONS

9.20.

CRITERIA FOR RECOGNITION AND RECEPTION

9.21.

This church shall recognize, receive, and maintain on the roster those congregations which by their practice as well as their governing documents:

a.

preach the Word, administer the sacraments, and carry out God’s mission;

b.

accept this church’s Confession of Faith;

c.

agree to the Statement of Purpose of this church;

d.

agree to call pastoral leadership from the roster of Ministers of Word and Sacrament of this church in accordance with the call procedures of this church, except in special circumstances as defined in the bylaws accompanying this provision, and with the approval of the synodical bishop;

e.

agree to be responsible for their life as a Christian community; and

f.

agree to support the life and work of this church.

9.25.

A congregation newly formed by this church and any congregation seeking recognition and reception by this church shall:

b.

Adopt governing documents that include fully and without alterations the Preamble, Chapter 1, where applicable, and all required provisions of Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 in the Model Constitution for Congregations consistent with requirements of this constitution and the Constitution for Synods of this church. Bylaws and continuing resolutions, appropriate for inclusion in these chapters and not in conflict with these required provisions in the Model Constitution for Congregations, the constitution of the synod, or the Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, may be adopted as described in Chapters 17 and 18 of the Model Constitution for Congregations.

9.50.

GOVERNANCE

9.51.

Each congregation shall structure itself in such a way as to involve its members in fulfilling the definition, purpose, and functions of a congregation.

9.52.

The governing documents of congregations recognized at the establishment of this church shall continue to govern such congregations. When such a congregation wishes to amend any provision of its governing documents, the governing documents of that congregation shall be so amended to conform to 9.25.b. The synod responsible for the review of such amendments may permit, for good cause, a congregation to retain particular unamended provisions in the congregation’s governing documents that were in force at the establishment of this church.

9.52.A93.

The Church Council, in cooperation with the synods, shall provide an ongoing process for congregations whose governing documents have been accepted into this church under 9.52. to review those documents and compare them with the required elements of the Model Constitution for Congregations listed in 9.25.b., applicable to the extent provided in 9.52. to congregations recognized and received by this church as of January 1, 1988. Congregations are encouraged to resolve significant conflicts between their governing documents and the Model Constitution for Congregations.

9.53.

Each congregation shall have governing documents, no terms of which shall conflict with provision 9.21. Subject to the provisions of 9.52., these documents shall contain the elements listed in the bylaws.

9.53.03.

Each congregation shall provide a copy of its governing documents to the synod. All proposed changes in the constitution or incorporation documents of a congregation shall be referred to the synod with which the congregation is affiliated. The synod shall notify the congregation of its decision to approve or disapprove the proposed changes; the changes shall go into effect upon notification that the synod has approved them. The synod shall recognize that congregations may organize themselves in a manner which they deem most appropriate.

9.53.04.

Each congregation shall take the necessary steps to protect its members and this church from liability.

9.53.05.

Congregations shall normally maintain a fiscal year of January 1 through December 31.

Chapter 11.
CHURCHWIDE ORGANIZATION—DEFINITION AND PURPOSES

11.30.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CHURCHWIDE ORGANIZATION

11.31.

The legislative function of the churchwide organization shall be fulfilled by the Churchwide Assembly as described in Chapter 12 of this constitution.

11.32.

The Church Council shall exercise interim legislative authority and shall serve as the board of directors of the corporation.

11.33.

Leadership of this church shall be vested in the churchwide officers, the Churchwide Assembly, the Church Council, the Conference of Bishops, and executive directors of churchwide units. The full-time officers shall be the presiding bishop, secretary, and treasurer. The vice president shall be non-salaried and shall serve as chair of the Church Council.

11.34.

The churchwide organization shall carry out its duties through units and offices. Units and offices shall be responsible to the Churchwide Assembly and to the Church Council in the interim between regular meetings of the assembly.

Chapter 12.
CHURCHWIDE ASSEMBLY

12.40.

MEMBERS OF THE CHURCHWIDE ASSEMBLY

12.41.10.

Voting Members

12.41.C04.

Congregation Observers. Each congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America may register with the secretary of this church one congregation observer for the Churchwide Assembly prior to May 31 in the year of a Churchwide Assembly.

a.

Provision shall be made for such an individual to have reserved seating in the observers section of the plenary hall. Such congregation observers will receive a copy of the report of recommendations for assembly action and also materials distributed on the plenary floor to voting members, advisory members, and non-voting members during the assembly. Such observers shall have neither voice nor vote in plenary sessions of the assembly.

b.

A registration fee shall be established by the secretary of this church for registration and related costs, including enabling observers to receive the same meals as are provided for voting members.

c.

Transportation costs, housing, other meals, and related expenses shall be the responsibility of the registered observer or sending congregation.

12.50.

COMMITTEES OF THE CHURCHWIDE ASSEMBLY

12.51.

The Churchwide Assembly shall have a Reference and Counsel Committee, a Memorials Committee, a Nominating Committee, and an Elections Committee. The description of these committees shall be in the bylaws. The Churchwide Assembly may authorize such other committees as it deems necessary

12.51.01.

Reference and Counsel Committee. A Reference and Counsel Committee, appointed by the Church Council, shall review all proposed changes or additions to the constitution and bylaws and other items submitted that are not germane to items contained in the stated agenda of the assembly.

12.51.02.

Memorials Committee. A Memorials Committee, appointed by the Church Council, shall review memorials from synodical assemblies and make appropriate recommendations for assembly action.

12.51.03.

Nominating Committee. A Nominating Committee, elected by the Churchwide Assembly, shall nominate at least one person for each position for which an election will be held by the Churchwide Assembly in accordance with Chapter 19 of this constitution.

12.51.04.

Elections Committee. An Elections Committee, appointed by the Church Council, shall be responsible for the conduct and supervision of elections.

Chapter 13.
OFFICERS

13.10.

OFFICERS

13.11.

The officers shall be the presiding bishop, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. Each officer shall be a voting member of a congregation of this church.

13.20.

PRESIDING BISHOP

13.21.

The presiding bishop shall be a minister of Word and Sacrament of this church who, as its pastor, shall be a teacher of the faith of this church and shall provide leadership for the life and witness of this church. The presiding bishop shall:

a.

Be the president and chief executive officer of the corporation, overseeing the work of the churchwide organization.

c.

Preside at the Churchwide Assembly.

k.

Serve as an advisory member, with voice but not vote, on all committees of this church and all boards or committees of churchwide units, or designate a person to serve as the presiding bishop’s representative.

13.30.

VICE PRESIDENT

13.31.

The vice president shall be a layperson who shall serve as chair of the Church Council and, in the event the presiding bishop is unable to do so, as chair of the Churchwide Assembly. The vice president shall serve under the presiding bishop of this church, providing leadership as specified in provision 11.33. of this constitution.

13.40.

SECRETARY

13.50.

TREASURER

13.60.

DEATH, RESIGNATION, OR DISABILITY OF AN OFFICER

13.61.

Should the presiding bishop die, resign, or be unable to serve, the vice president shall convene the Church Council to arrange for the appropriate care of the responsibilities of the presiding bishop until an election of a new presiding bishop can be held or until the presiding bishop is able to serve again. The term of the successor presiding bishop, elected by the next Churchwide Assembly, or a special meeting of the Churchwide Assembly called for the purpose of election, shall be six years, with the subsequent election to take place at the assembly closest to the expiration of such a term.

13.62.

Should the vice president, secretary, or treasurer die, resign, or be unable to serve, the presiding bishop, with the approval of the Executive Committee of the Church Council, shall arrange for the appropriate care of the responsibilities of the officer until an election of a new officer can be held or until the officer is able to serve again. The term of the successor vice president or secretary, elected by the next Churchwide Assembly, shall be six years. The Church Council shall elect the successor treasurer for a term of six years.

13.63.

The Executive Committee of the Church Council shall determine whether an officer is unable to serve; the officer may appeal the decision of the Executive Committee by requesting a hearing before the Church Council. A meeting to determine the ability of an officer to serve shall be called upon the request of at least three members of the Executive Committee and prior notice of the meeting shall be given to the officer in question.

Chapter 14.
CHURCH COUNCIL

14.10.

PURPOSE AND MEETINGS

14.11.

The Church Council shall be the board of directors and shall serve as the interim legislative authority between meetings of the Churchwide Assembly.

14.15.

The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America may remove for cause a voting member of the Church Council, other than an officer or the chair of the Conference of Bishops, at a duly held regular meeting by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting members of the Church Council, provided that at least 30 days written notice shall be given to each voting member of the Church Council that removal of a specific member of the Church Council will be on the agenda for such a meeting. The Church Council may remove an advisory member for cause, provided notice has been given as specified in this provision, by a majority vote of the voting members of the council.

14.20.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL

14.21.

The specific duties of the Church Council shall be listed in the bylaws.

14.21.01.

The Church Council shall act on the policies proposed by churchwide units, subject to review by the Churchwide Assembly.

14.21.02.

The Church Council shall review the procedures and programs of the churchwide units to assure that churchwide purposes, policies, and objectives are being fulfilled. Each unit shall recommend policy and develop strategies in its particular areas of responsibility after consultation with other units of the churchwide organization and affected synods, congregations, agencies, and institutions.

a.

Policies related to the day-to-day functioning of the unit or to the specific responsibilities of the unit that have no implications for other units, congregations, synods, agencies, or institutions may be approved by the unit, subject to ratification by the Church Council.

b.

All other policies shall be submitted to the Church Council for approval.

14.21.04.

The Church Council may adopt policies in accord with this church’s constitutions, bylaws, and continuing resolutions.

14.21.06.

The Church Council shall adopt personnel policies for the churchwide organization. Salary structures of churchwide units shall be within the personnel policies of the churchwide organization, unless exceptions are granted by the Church Council.

14.30.

COMPOSITION OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL

14.40.

CHURCH COUNCIL COMMITTEES

14.41.

The Church Council shall establish committees and nominate or elect such persons as necessary to carry out the functions assigned to it. The description of such committees shall be set forth in the bylaws and continuing resolutions.

14.41.01.

Executive Committee. The Church Council shall have an Executive Committee composed of the churchwide officers, the chair of the Conference of Bishops, and eight members of the Church Council elected by the council. The vice president of this church shall chair this committee. The Executive Committee shall...

14.41.A15.

Budget and Finance Committee

14.41.B15.

Legal and Constitutional Review Committee

14.41.C11.

Planning and Evaluation Committee

14.41.D99.

Program and Services Committee

14.41.E15.

Audit Committee

14.41.F13.

Board Development Committee