HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH
of the
Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America
By-Laws
Adopted at the Hope Lutheran
at the first annual congregational meeting
January 22, 2006
BYLAWS OF HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH, RIVER FALLS, WI
BL.01 Annual Meeting
01.01 This congregations organizational structure shall be comprised of its
elected Officers and one representative elected by each of its committees and
one high school age youth. Elections shall occur at the regularly called annual
meeting of this congregation as follows:
01.02 The Annual Meeting of this congregation shall regularly take place annually
in January.
01.03 The final decision, responsibility and accountability in all matters pertaining
to this congregation shall be invested in this congregation gathered at a regularly
called and legal meeting, including the annual meeting and all special meetings
called in accordance with the constitution. (C.10)
01.04 All Officers and members of the Congregational Council shall be elected
at the annual meeting of this congregation. The election of a Congregational
Council representative from each committee shall take place at that committees
first meeting convened immediately following the annual meeting specifically
for this purpose of election. That representative will not necessarily be the
committees coordinator.
01.05 Representatives shall be elected at the annual meeting of this congregation
to represent the congregation to the Synod Assemblies and Conference. The number
of persons to be elected by the congregation shall be prescribed in guidelines
established by the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin. (C5.04)
BL.02 Congregational Officers
02.01 The Officers of this congregation shall be the President, the Vice-President,
the Secretary and the Treasurer of the Congregational Council. These Officers
shall work with the Pastor to shepherd the life of the Congregation. The Officers
shall be responsible to the congregation and shall prepare reports of their
activities and areas of responsibilities for the congregational Council. These
reports will regularly be presented to this congregation at its regularly designated
annual meeting.
02.02 The committee of Officers in cooperation with the Congregational Council
representatives shall set and distribute the counsel agenda. (C.13.01)
02.03 The term of Officers of the congregation will be one year, beginning at
the end of the congregational meeting. The Secretary and Treasurer can be elected
for a maximum of three consecutive terms.
02.04 The President of the Congregational Council shall preside over the meetings
of the congregation and the Congregational Council and shall conduct its business
according to the Constitution, Bylaws, Continuing Resolutions and Robert's Rules
of Order.
02.05 The Vice-President of the Congregational Council shall act on behalf of
the President if he/she is absent or if he/she cannot accomplish his/her duties.
a. The Vice President shall also serve as the President Elect for the Congregation
and will be nominated for the position as the President of the Congregational
Council one-year following his/her election as Vice President.
b. The Vice President will also convene the Nominating Committee as one of the
members from the Congregational Council. (See C.I 2.02) The Nomination Committee
is expected to compile a slate of Officers no later than December 1st in advance
of the annual congregational meeting. Those names shall be presented to the
congregation in the report for the annual meeting.
02.06 The Council Secretary shall be elected from the slate of nominees at the
annual meeting.
a. The Council Secretary shall be responsible for recording, preserving, and
disseminating the minutes of the meeting of the congregation and the Congregational
Council.
b. The Council Secretary shall also oversee the preservation and updating of
the Constitution, Bylaws and Continuing Resolutions of this congregation.
02.07 The Treasurer of the congregational Council shall keep the books of account
of the congregation. The disbursement of all funds will be reviewed and approved
by the Council.
a. The Treasurer shall make monthly reports of all financial transactions to
the congregational Council and to the congregation at its annual meeting.
b. The Treasurer is responsible for making monthly remittance of benevolence
receipts to the treasurer of the synod.
c. The Treasurer will meet regularly with the Fiscal Affairs Committee if such
a committee is convened by the Congregational Council. (BL.04.03)
BL.03 The Congregational Council
03.01 The Congregational Council shall consist of the Officers of the congregation
and one member from each committee duly elected as stated in BL01.01 and BL01.04.
03.02 One additional member of the Congregational Council shall be a high school
aged youth, serving a one-year term.
03.03 The remaining members of the Congregational Council shall be elected for
one year terms.
03.04 All Congregational Council members, including the youth representative,
shall be eligible to serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.
03.05 When a Congregational Council position becomes vacant, the Congregational
Council shall have the power to appoint a member to serve until the next annual
meeting.
BL.04 Standing Committees
04.01 The Pastor shall be an ex-officio member of all boards and committees.
04.02 Each committee shall strive to include no fewer than four members, counting
the Council Representative, but not including the pastor. All ministries are
reminded (the boards, the committees, the task force, and all organizations)
that we exist to serve God!
04.03 Mission and Outreach Committee
Hope Lutherans Mission and Outreach effort exists for the purpose of actively
responding to Gods call to be loving, forgiving, compassionate and courageous
in offering Gods love through Christ Jesus to all people. Accordingly, Hopes
Mission and Outreach goals are as follows:
a. Investigate, articulate, and continually hold before the people of Hope a
vision for Mission and Outreach that extends to all people in need, physically
or spiritually, remembering that Jesus said: As you have done it to the least
of these, you have done it to me. (Mt. 25:40)
b. Determine, through study and congregational reflection and conversation,
social conditions locally, nationally and globally which Hope might affect through
loving, compassionate and courageous service.
c. Invite and challenge the people of Hope to personally participate in living
Hopes vision for Mission and Outreach through mission projects in which they
may engage, through partnering with the church wide units of the ELCA, other
congregations of the ELCA or the River Falls community and organizations of
care such as Habitat for Humanity, through first fruits sharing of all financial
resources consistent with our commitment to synod and church wide benevolence.
d. Actively engage in creating opportunities for unchurched people who are seeking
to experience and explore the spiritual life as well as a relationship with
a faith community.
04.04 Membership and Congregational Life Committee
The Membership and Congregational Life Committee shall work toward deepening
the spirituality of the members of this congregation and inviting those who
do not know the gospel of Christ Jesus to learn of it in this faith community
by:
a. Studying this congregation and community to see that our worship focuses
on Gods presence with and in this congregation and speaks to peoplesneeds.
b. Developing programs to involve all members of this congregation in worship,
learning, witness, service, fellowship and suppor
c. Identifying persons and/or families seeking a faith community in which to
grow spiritually and inviting them to participate in the life of Hope Lutheran.
d. Developing, shepherding and supporting the involvement of all worshipers
in a fellowship time for each service.
e. Developing programs that make every person feel welcomed and included at
Hope Lutheran.
04.05 Communications Committee
The Communications Committee will be responsible for ensuring that all members
of the congregation and the community are aware of the vision, missions, programs,
goals, and actions to which God calls Hope Lutheran Church by:
a. Maintaining information on all persons associated with Hope Lutheran, including
contact information such as telephone numbers, mailing addresses and electronic
addresses where possible.
b. Providing regular contact with all persons associated with Hope Lutheran.
c. Developing and employing a variety of ways to reach members and others in
the community, informing them about Hope Lutheran Church. This might include
electronic mailing lists, newsletters, flyers, pamphlets, brochures and other
media that is effective.
d . Planning and coordinating advertisements and other notices that will inform
the public about Hope Lutheran Church.
e. Reporting to the Congregation a full list of membership including baptized,
confirmed, voting and associate members at the annual meeting or as requested
by the Congregational Council.
f. Notifying members of committee agendas, minutes, meeting times and dates,
and to whom questions, comments and/or concerns may be directed.
04.06 Worship Committee
The Worship Committee shall assure that worship at Hope Lutheran is conducted
with regard for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the norms of the Lutheran tradition
as interpreted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Working cooperatively
with the pastor to maintain dynamic, active and vital worship to Gods glory
by:
a. Planning and coordinating musical support for all regularly scheduled worship
services, scheduling and arranging for special music when appropriate.
b. Arranging and scheduling volunteers and planning for physical materials,
including bulletins, hymnals, and all other items needed for worship.
c. Arranging for pastoral supply during vacations and absences of the Pastor.
d. Encouraging and arranging for regular involvement by Lay members in the worship
ministry of Hope Lutheran.
e. Reviewing annually the entire worship program. As corporate worship is often
considered the point from which all other ministries follow, the committee shall
study, pray about, reflect on and research dynamic worship utilizing both new
and old ways of proclaiming the Gospel. The committee is encouraged to continually
seek new resources for worship that grow out of the Lutheran tradition and are
meaningful to all who worship at Hope Lutheran.
04.07 NURTURE Education and Youth Ministry
Recognizing that nurturing in faith is Spirit-led, the education ministers and
pastor will seek to engage all ages in learning opportunities by:
a. Offering childrens, youth and adult programs that will be defined, given
life, and reviewed for value to ministry within and beyond congregational life.
b. Inspiring the development, training, support and celebration of those called
to facilitate learning.
c. Including formal and informal groups for study and reflection to challenge
and renew the faith journey of all people. Age specific groups as well as age-integrated
opportunities will be created.
d. Encouraging youth to consider serving on the Congregational Council as the
Youth Representative.
e. Using teaching tools which will include but are not limited to those published
or approved by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
04.08 SHARING GODS GIFTS: Fiscal Affairs Committee
The Fiscal Affairs Committee need not be a standing committee. It shall be convened
when deemed necessary by the Congregational Council. Until convened the Congregational
Council will work with the treasurer to receive, record and oversee all gifts
to the congregation, deposits and investments by:
a. Defining a ministry plan based on congregational vision the to include support
of the wider ministry being carried on in its behalf by the ELCA and the Northwest
Synod of Wisconsin.
b. Presenting the ministry plan to the congregation for review a minimum of
two weeks prior to and again at the annual meeting.
c. Providing information to the independent Audit Committee which will do an
annual review of accounts. (see C13.03).
d. Assuring that the Audit Committee report is included in the annual report
for the Congregational meeting in January of every year.
04.09 Property Committee
The Property Committee shall assist the Congregational Council as its trustees
of this congregation by:
a. Maintaining and protecting congregational property whether owned or leased.
b. Proper drafting of leases and planning for spaces for education and worship.
c. Making arrangements for property and liability insurance on behalf of the
congregation.
d. Meeting regularly with the holder of any leases and/or any congregational
maintenance employees, and making recommendations to the Congregational Council
on the status of our contract.
e. Anticipating future property needs and making recommendations to the Congregational
Council regarding such needs.