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Monday, February 06, 2012

Leadership

Constitution

1.             NAME

The name of this Congregation shall be Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church of Coppell, Dallas County, Texas, hereinafter referred to as the Congregation.

2.             MISSION

The Mission of the Congregation is to glorify God by proclaiming Jesus Christ crucified as the world’s only Savior through the power of the Holy Spirit. As Jesus is the vine and His people are the branches His people can do nothing apart from Him and He has called the members of this Congregation to join Him in reaching the lost and condemned world by making disciples and discipling the saved. This Mission shall be carried out on the solid foundation of preaching of the whole Word of God and the administration of the Sacraments. In response to the Word of God and the Sacraments each member is to seek God’s direction in how he/she is to serve others within the body and outside of the body of Christ. The outcome of this prayer and seeking is that we would become known as a congregation that glorifies God by loving one another and loving our neighbor as ourselves through acts of Christian service.

3.             CONFESSIONAL STANDARD

This Congregation accepts the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as the inspired and inerrant Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and practice as expounded in the Book of Concord of 1580.

4.             SYNODICAL MEMBERSHIP

The Congregation shall be a member of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

5.             CONGREGATIONAL MEMBERSHIP

5.1.        Baptized Membership shall be held by all those who are baptized in the Name of the Triune God and who submit to the Congregations pastoral care.

5.2.        Communicant Membership shall be held by those who: Are baptized in the Name of the Triune God; are confirmed in the Lutheran faith; do not live under the control of the works of the flesh, Galatians 5:19-21; seek by God’s power to lead a Christian life; and are not members of a secret society or of any organization conflicting with the Word of God and the conduct of a Christian, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

5.3.        Membership shall be terminated by transfer to a sister Congregation, by death, by joining a Congregation outside the fellowship of this Congregation, by excommunication, by moving without leaving a forwarding address, or by self-exclusion.

6.             CALLED STAFF

The status of “Called” can only be conferred on those persons who profess and adhere to the confessional standard set forth in Article 3 of this Constitution. All Called staff must be certified by the Synod.

7.             GOVERNMENT

The Communicant Members through Congregational Meetings shall be the governing body of this Congregation.

8.             DIVISION OF PROPERTY

8.1.        If at any time a division should take place on account of doctrine, the property of the Congregation and all benefits connected therewith shall remain with those Communicant Members who continue to adhere in confession and practice to Article 3 of this Constitution. This shall be determined by the dispute resolution procedures of the Synod.

8.2.        If division takes place for any other reason, the property shall remain with the majority of the Communicant Members.

8.3.        In the event the Congregation should dissolve, the property and all rights connected therewith shall be transferred to the Texas District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

9.             AMENDMENTS

9.1.        Amendments to this Constitution shall be adopted at an official Congregational Meeting.

9.1.1.   The proposed Amendment shall be submitted in writing to the Communicant Members of the Congregation at least two weeks before the meeting at which the proposed amendment shall be on the agenda for approval.

9.1.2.   A 90% vote of those present and voting is necessary to amend this Constitution.

9.2.        Proposals to amend Articles 3, 5, 7, and Section 9.1 shall require that previous notice of the amendment and discussion of the amendment shall be presented at an official Congregational Meeting. Notice that a vote shall be taken at the next Congregational Meeting shall be given to all Communicant Members. Any amendments to these Articles shall not destroy the essential meaning. Whether this has occurred shall be decided, if challenged, by the Dispute Resolution Committee of the Texas District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

9.3.        All amendments shall have the approval of the Texas District LCMS Committee on Constitutions/Bylaws, according to the Bylaws of Synod.

Bylaws

1.             CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS

1.1.        Regular Meetings

1.1.1.   "Congregational meetings shall be scheduled by SALT on an as needed basis. The day and the hour of the meeting shall be set by SALT and publicized two weeks in advance. The notification shall contain the agenda. The President of the Congregation or designated representative shall preside at all Congregational meetings."

1.1.2.   All Communicant Members of the Congregation shall be eligible to vote at Congregational Meetings. Items of business that involve legal contracts may be voted upon by those Communicant Members in attendance who are 18 years or older.

1.2.        Special Meetings

1.2.1.   The Congregation shall meet if five (5) Communicant Members request a meeting. Notice of any special meetings shall be publicized at least two weeks in advance. The notice shall contain the agenda.

1.2.2.   Unless otherwise specified in this Constitution and Bylaws, all items require a majority vote for approval.

1.3.        A quorum constitutes those members present at a properly called meeting.

1.4.        Business Requiring Congregational Meeting.

1.4.1.   Calling a staff person for the Congregation.

1.4.2.   Removing a Called staff person from the Congregation.

1.4.3.   Electing Congregational Officers.

1.4.4.   Approving the Annual Budget based on the fiscal year established SALT

1.4.5.   Approving any building projects.

1.4.6.   Acquiring or disposing any single asset or liability that exceeds $5000.00.

1.4.7.   Functions designated by The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

2.             PARLIMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall be considered and observed insofar as these may be applicable and consistent with Christian love and the Constitution and Bylaws of the Congregation

3.             Affirming the Servant Leaders God has set apart for Leadership

3.1.        Leader Characteristics: These characteristics are not intended to be limiting but are intended to be descriptive of qualities that God, the Holy Spirit, gives to those whom are called to lead. They are also not to be applied legalistically or in a way that tries to measure the degree of each quality, but they are descriptive of a heart attitude that glorifies God while dying to self.

3.1.1.   Humbly desires to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love people the way that God loves, Matthew 22:37-39.

3.1.2.   Diligently seeks to know God as He reveals Himself through Holy Scripture through the teaching of the Holy Spirit and in the fellowship of the body of Christ, John 16:12-15.

3.1.3.   Desires to have the Holy Spirit produce His fruit within their life, Galatians 5:22-24.

3.1.4.   Repentant of all works of the flesh, Galatians 5:19-21.

3.1.5.   Recognizing the spiritual battle seeks to live under the protection of God by putting on the whole armor of God with prayer, Ephesians 6:10-20.

3.1.6.   Faithfully testifies to the preeminence of Christ, Colossians 1:15-20.

3.1.7.   Acknowledges Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, John 14:6.

3.1.8.   Desires to grow into the full stature of Christ being firmly rooted and grounded in Him, Colossians 2:6-15.

3.1.9.   Receives Godly correction from brothers and sisters in Christ as a gift of love from God, 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

3.2.        Servant Acts Leadership Team (SALT)

3.2.1.   Any Confirmed member of the congregation can offer themselves to serve on SALT based on their desire to reflect the characteristics sampled above.

3.2.2.   SALT shall consist on no less than 5 members with the Pastor serving ex-officio. There is no limit to the size of SALT beyond the minimum.

3.2.3.   Each member will serve on SALT until God leads them to serve Him in other ways. The member should tell SALT of their intention to leave the team two months in advance of leaving and the congregation is to be informed of their leaving. After the two months have passed, the member is thanked for their service in a regularly scheduled worship service and SALT prays over them thanking God for their service and asking God to continue to guide them in their new service to Him and His church.

3.2.4.   At any time of the year any member shall express their interest in joining SALT. Their name would be presented to the congregation for affirmation as specified in 12.2.4.

3.2.5.   The list of servant leaders will be presented to the congregation and for two weeks the congregation will be asked to pray for these leaders and if anyone within the congregation has a concern about one of the proposed members of the leadership team they are to meet with them privately to discuss their concern (see Matthew 18:15-20) and to seek the unty of the Spirit in the bond of peace through repentance and forgiveness. If this meeting or meetings do not resolve the concern, then the Pastor is asked to meet with both persons to seek a Biblical and God-pleasing resolution.

3.2.6.   Following the two week time of prayer, if no concerns are raised regarding a servant leaders, SALT will be commissioned in a regularly scheduled worship service.

3.3.        The Work of SALT:

3.3.1.   SALT members will seek God’s leading through daily reading Scripture and Prayer regarding any decision the Congregation must make. SALT will make a recommendation to the congregation. The recommendation will be presented to the congregation for affirmation.

3.3.2.   SALT members shall read Scripture daily with prayer and meet twice a month for discussion and prayer seeking what God is saying to each member of SALT.

3.3.3.   For legal purposes SALT will chose from among the team members a Congregational President and Secretary to sign all legal documents on behalf of the congregation.

3.3.4.   For Theological and polity considerations, SALT will designate male members to assist the Pastor in activities that are a part of the public Ministry of the Word of God.

3.3.5.   SALT will appoint a Congregational Treasurer who will work with the Business Manager to be good stewards of God’s resources entrusted to the Congregation.

3.3.6.   SALT will work with the Congregation Business Manager to create an annual budget coving the fiscal year August 1 through July 31 and present this annual budget for Congregational affirmation in May of each calendar year. The designated Congregation President will guide this process working with the appointed Congregational Treasurer.

3.3.7.   SALT meetings are open to all members to come and observe or give input when requested, unless the SALT team votes to go into executive session to discuss a matter that should be kept confidential.

3.4.        Affirming a servant event that is congregation sponsored

3.4.1.   Any member shall bring to the SALT a servant event that they believe God is leading the whole congregation to embrace using the SALT NEEDED form.

3.4.2.   The SALT team has two weeks of prayer and study to give their God-directed answer to the person presenting the SALT NEEDED form.

3.4.3.   If SALT believes that God is leading the Congregation to serve in this event, a recommendation will come to the Congregation for their affirmation to join God in His Work.

4.             AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS

The agenda for the Congregational Meeting at which Bylaw amendments are to be considered shall include in the order of business the proposed amendment(s). A 90% vote of those present and voting shall be necessary to amend these Bylaws. All amendments shall have the approval of the Texas District LCMS Committee on Constitution/Bylaws, according to the Bylaws of Synod. (See 10.2.2)