Constitution
Revised 1/28/2008
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1.1. The name of the congregation is Saint Anthony Park Lutheran Church of Saint Paul, Minnesota.
ARTICLE 2 - CONFESSION 2.1. This congregation believes and confesses that the Holy Scriptures, the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, are the Word of God, revealed for the salvation of man, and therefore the only source and rule of faith, doctrine and life. 2.2. This congregation accepts the Apostolic and Nicene and the Athanasian Creeds, and also the Unaltered Augsburg Confession and Lutheran Small Catechism, as a correct exposition of the teachings of the Word of God, and all preaching and teaching in the congregation shall conform to these confessions.ARTICLE 3 - PURPOSE AND AIM 3.1. The purpose of this congregation is to provide for the Divine Word free course to the mind and heart, that the Kingdom of God may come. It seeks the end by diligent use of the Means of Grace in public teaching and worship. To this end it also exhorts its members to cultivate family worship that the Word of God may dwell richly among them; and, to be diligent in good works that the life of faith may be strengthened and the Kingdom extended.ARTICLE 4 - SYNODICAL MEMBERSHIP 4.1. The congregation shall be a member of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and shall hold membership in the Saint Paul Area Synod and be subject to its policy and discipline, as expressed in the constitution and bylaws of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and in the constitution of the synod. 4.2. Being affiliated with The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, this congregation is ready to be served by representatives of the Church in the various capacities for which they have been called or appointed. 4.3. Severance of membership in The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America shall require a two-thirds majority vote of all voting members present at two legally called meetings. Following the meeting at which the initial action has been taken, the Synod Bishop shall be notified. A second meeting, called for purpose of ratifying the initial actions, shall not be called sooner than 90 days after the Synod Bishop has been notified. The final action must be ratified by a two-thirds majority vote of all members present at this second legally called meeting.ARTICLE 5 - LITURGY, RITUAL, HYMNBOOK 5.1. The public services of this congregation shall conform to the authorized liturgies and rituals of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the approved hymnbooks of said Church shall be used in its worship and in its schools.ARTICLE 6 - MEMBERSHIP 6.1. Members of the congregation shall be those who are designated as such at the time that this constitution is adopted, and those who are admitted thereafter; and who maintain their membership in accordance with the provisions of this constitution and its bylaws. There shall be no membership restrictions with respect to race or color. 6.2. Members shall be classified as (a) baptized; (b) confirmed; (c) voting.- 6.2.1. Baptized members shall be those who, as provided in the bylaws, have been baptized in the name of the Triune God. 6.2.2. Confirmed members shall be those baptized members who have been admitted to confirmed membership as provided in the bylaws. 6.2.3. Voting members shall be those who are members in good standing, as provided in the bylaws.
- 6.3.1. make diligent use of the Means of Grace, both Word and Sacraments; 6.3.2. live a Christian life in accordance with the Word of God and the teachings of the Lutheran Church; 6.3.3. support the work of the congregation and of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
- 6.4.1. A member who advocates doctrines which are contrary to Holy Scriptures and the Confession of the Church, or who is guilty of conduct that is grossly unbecoming a member of the Body of Christ, shall be subject to discipline. 6.4.2. Discipline shall be administered by the Cabinet in behalf of the congregation, with the right of appeal to the congregation. Right of further appeal from a decision of the congregation shall be as provided in the Constitution and Bylaws of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 6.4.3. Discipline in the congregation shall be exercised in accordance with Matthew 18:15-18. 6.4.4. Procedures for the exercise of discipline shall be those provided in the bylaws.
ARTICLE 7 - CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS 7.1. The power and authority of this congregation shall be exercised through the congregational meeting.
7.2. The date of the first semi-annual meeting of this congregation shall be made in the last half of the month of January, at a day and time determined by the cabinet. The congregation members shall be informed of the meeting day and time in writing not less than two weeks prior to the meeting. Meeting day and time shall be announced in worship for two consecutive Sundays prior to the date of the meeting. The budget shall be approved at this semi-annual meeting.
7.3. The date of the second semi-annual meeting of this congregation shall be in the month of May, at a day and time determined by the cabinet. The congregation members shall be informed of the meeting day and time in writing not less than two weeks prior to the meeting. Meeting day and time shall be announced in worship for two consecutive Sundays prior to the date of the meeting. Officers and commission chairpersons shall be elected at this meeting. These elected persons will assume their respective responsibilities on June 1.
7.4. The president may call a special meeting when she/he deems it advisable. The president shall call a special meeting on the written request of the pastor(s), or a majority of the Cabinet or of ten voting members of the congregation. Such petition and call must state definitely the time and purpose of the meeting. If the president neglects or refuses to call the meeting the Cabinet shall upon just request call it. Should the Cabinet also refuse to call a meeting, the signers of the petition, in conference assembled, may elect one of their members to call the meeting. All meetings provided for in the paragraph shall be called by announcement at a public service or by written notice to the voting members at least ten days in advance.
7.5. No special meeting of the congregation may be held without properly notifying the pastor(s), in view of her/his position as a member(s) of the congregation and an advisor in all congregational affairs. No business other than that stated as the purpose of the meeting shall be acted upon at such special meetings. 7.6. When necessary to complete the business of the meeting, a congregational meeting may by majority vote recess to reconvene at a specified time and place. A congregational meeting may also decide to recess or reconvene upon call, but the time and place of such reconvened meeting must then be announced at no less than one public service in advance or by written notice to the voting members mailed no less than three days in advance.ARTICLE 8 - OFFICERS, CABINET, COMMISSIONS 8.1. Officers. The congregation shall have the following officers:- President Vice-President Secretary Officers shall be elected at the May congregational meeting for a term of one year. Duties of the officers shall be provided in the bylaws.
ARTICLE 9 - THE PASTOR 9.1. A pastor of this congregation shall be a regularly trained and ordained minister of the Gospel in good standing as a member of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America or one who is recommended for call by the synodical bishop. 9.2. Authority to call a pastor shall rest in the congregation. Such Authority to call shall be exercised by at least two-thirds majority vote of members present and voting at a meeting called for that purpose. Before a call is issued, the officers or a committee authorized by the congregation, shall seek the advice and help of the Bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 9.3. It shall be the duty of the pastor(s) to preach the Word of God in truth and purity in accordance with the teachings of the Lutheran Church and to administer the Sacraments according to the Word of God and the doctrines and practices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She/he shall both in public and private lead such a life as becomes a minister of the Gospel, be diligent in the visitation of sick, poor, and needy of the congregation, superintend the instruction of the young in the truths of the Christian religion and the doctrines of the Lutheran Church and prepare them by a suitable course of instruction for confirmation provided, that as a rule, no one shall be confirmed who has not attained the age of fourteen years. The pastor(s) shall also keep accurate record of her/his ministerial acts in a book provided by the congregation and which shall remain the property of the congregation. She/he shall report these statistics to the congregation and synod annually. 9.4. If in the judgment of the congregation a pastor is not able to serve it satisfactorily, she/he may be requested to resign. However, before the resignation is requested, the matter shall first be carefully considered at a meeting of the Cabinet in consultation with the Synod Bishop. A request for a pastor's resignation shall require a two-thirds majority vote of a special meeting of the congregation called at least ten days in advance for the consideration of a resolution in the matter. If a pastor's resignation has been requested in a manner here specified she/he shall vacate office at the time specified by the congregation. 9.5. Matters of discipline involving a pastor for alleged defection in doctrine or for alleged conduct unbecoming a pastor, shall be referred by the Cabinet to the Synod Bishop for action according to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.ARTICLE 10 - POWERS OF THE CONGREGATION 10.1. In all matters of Christian faith and life the authority of the Word of God shall be supreme. 10.2. In all matters left undecided by the Word of God and not subject to civil laws, the congregation itself, not any individual or group within it, shall have the right of ultimate decision. 10.3. All schools, societies and other organizations within the congregation shall be organized with the approval of the congregation and operate in harmony with its policies.ARTICLE 11 - CONFLICTING LOYALTIES 11.1. While the buildings of the congregation shall be open to all people to share in its worship, instruction, pastoral care and fellowship, the congregation rejects all fellowship with organizations, secret or open, which are avowedly religious or which practice forms of religion without confessing faith in the Triune God and in Jesus Christ as the Eternal Son of God Incarnate to be our only Savior from sin, and which thus teach salvation by works. 11.2. Ceremonies of lodges or other such organizations shall not be permitted in the buildings or premises of the congregation; nor shall its pastor(s) or lay assistant(s) take part in any such ceremonies wherever they are conducted.ARTICLE 12 - PROPERTY 12.1. The property of this congregation shall not be disposed of nor encumbered in any way except by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a special meeting called for the purpose of considering such action. 12.2. All persons who voluntarily withdraw from the congregation or are excluded therefrom forfeit all their rights, title and interest to and in the property of the congregation. 12.3. Should a schism arise in the congregation, which may God in grace forbid, then all the property of the congregation shall belong to that division which remains loyal to the confessions, constitution and practices of the congregation.ARTICLE 13 - AMENDMENTS 13.1. The constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at the annual meeting, provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous annual meeting and approved by a majority vote. 13.2. Any article or section thereof of the constitution may be amended as above provided, except Articles 2, 12, and the present article.ARTICLE 14 - BYLAWS 14.1. The congregation shall adopt such bylaws as may from time to time be necessary. No bylaw may conflict with the constitution.
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