HOSANNA LUTHERAN CHURCH CONSTITUTION Amended March, 2010 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen PREAMBLE It is the command of our Lord Jesus Christ that His disciples should preach the Gospel to the whole world (Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8). That Christ s command for His Church might be carried out according to His will, He has also commanded that Christians unite in worship, preach the Word, study His Word, witness to all people, encourage one another in prayer, practice fellowship with one another, help each other grow in the Word, serve the needs of all people in Christian love, and administer the Office of the Keys as His Church through the local gatherings of people which His Word calls the congregation. Since the Word of God requires that a Christian congregation shall conform to His Word in doctrine and practice and that all things be done decently and in order, we, therefore, the members of Hosanna Lutheran Church, accept and subscribe to the following Constitution and By-Laws, in accordance with which all spiritual and material affairs of our congregation shall be governed. ARTICLE 1 The name of this congregation shall be: Hosanna Lutheran Church, Mesa, Arizona. ARTICLE 2 THE PURPOSE In response to the love of Jesus Christ and His great commission to us, the purposes of this congregation are to: 2.1 reach out to seekers and those who are lost with the saving and healing Gospel of Jesus Christ that they might come to a personal growing relationship with the Lord Jesus. 2.2 reach in to the already convinced and saved with the saving and healing Gospel of Jesus Christ that they might be encouraged in their personal relationship with the Lord and be equipped for a life of discipleship and witnessing for the Christ Jesus. Therefore we are committed to: 2.3 provide solid Biblical preaching and teaching that is not only true to the Word of Page 1 of 7
God, but also relevant and full of practical application of the Word for living in today s world. 2.4 include different styles of relevant, meaningful, friendly, praise giving worship of the Lord Jesus that equip and encourage the Worshipers and is also seeker sensitive and seeker targeted. 2.5 provide ongoing Bible study in small and large groups as well as different types of studies for all age groups. 2.6 an authentic ministry of prayer for both the worshiping community at Hosanna as well as encouraging all individuals in an ongoing commitment to a life of prayer. 2.7 present a well rounded approach to evangelism that includes evangelistic programs and processes with a strong focus on friendship evangelism and testimonial evangelism. 2.8 an emphasis on world missions by direct prayer and financial support to missionaries, off site mission trips and local mission opportunities. 2.9 encourage all to use their spiritual gifts for the good of the body of Christ. 2.10 encourage a vital small group ministry structure within all aspects of the Church. 2.11 provide Christian support, Christian love and Christian care both in groups and to individuals.. 2.12 place a strong focus on ministries to children, youth, individuals and families. ARTICLE 3 CONFESSION OF FAITH 3.1. This congregation accepts without reservation the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the written Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and of practice. It also accepts without reservation all the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, contained in the Book of Concord in the year 1580, as a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of God. These confessional writings are: 1. the three ecumenical Creeds, the Apostles the Nicene and the Athanasian 2. the Unaltered Augsburg Confession 3. the Apology of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession 4. the Smalcald Articles 5. Luther s Large Catechism Page 2 of 7
6. Luther s Small Catechism 7. the Formula of Concord 3.2 No doctrine or practice in conflict, or inconsistent, with the above norms of our faith and life shall be taught or tolerated in this congregation. ARTICLE 4 SYNODICAL AFFILIATION This congregation shall be affiliated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod as long as the Confessions and Constitution of said Synod are in accord with the Confession and Constitution of this congregation as stated in Article 3. This congregation shall, collaborate with said Synod to accomplish the mission of the Church as set forth in the Preamble and Articles of this Constitution. ARTICLE 5 POWERS OF THE CONGREGATION 5.1 All schools, societies, boards and organizations within the congregation must be organized only with the expressed approval of the voting Assembly members, and all such organizations shall be under the supervision of the ministry staff and the appropriate Board under whose jurisdictions they function. Only Voters Assembly members of this congregation shall be officers of such societies or groups. Any decisions, enactment or performance of, or by, societies or groups shall be invalid if they conflict with this Constitution and its associated bylaws. The Pastor(s) by virtue of his office shall be the advisor for such societies or groups within the congregation. 5.2 The congregation has no power, however, to order or decide anything which is contrary to the Word of God and to the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. All such contrary orders and decisions are null and void. ARTICLE 6 MEMBERS AND PARTICIPANTS The Church recognizes that God alone builds His Church when He adds to the number of those who believe and are saved. He does this through His means of Grace, namely His Holy Word and the Sacraments. The Church welcomes every person to participate in the Church s ministry and worship of the One True God. The membership of this congregation includes the Baptized Members, Confirmed Members, Voting Members and Associate Members, as defined in the Bylaws. (Article 1) ARTICLE 7 ORGANIZATION Page 3 of 7
7.1 Voters Assembly The Voters Assembly shall consist of all voting members present at a regular or special meeting of the congregation. The congregation, through the Voters Assembly, shall have final authority in managing its internal and external affairs. Regular and special Voters Assembly meeting shall be announced in the church bulletin two (2) weeks prior to the meeting and in the church newsletter. Notice of special meetings shall be mailed to all voting members at least two weeks prior to the meeting. A minimum of ten percent (10%) of Voters Assembly members of the congregation must be in attendance to establish a quorum. A simple majority shall be necessary to pass any proposals unless stated otherwise in the Constitution or bylaws. 7.2. Church Council The Church Council shall manage the congregation between Voters Assembly meetings and is responsible to administer all the congregation s affairs except the following matters for action only by the Voters Assembly: 1. call or removal of a called worker. 2. purchase or sale of Church property over 5% of the annual operating budget. 3. purchase or sale of land or buildings. 4. adoption of the annual Vision, Ministry and Budget Plan. 5. dissolution of the congregation. 6. Election of a slate of Officers and Church Council at Large as provided in the bylaws. 7. Excommunication of members. 7.3 Committees and Teams The Church Council shall have the authority to establish such standing committees and ministry teams as are needed for the ministries of the congregation. The committees and teams shall have no authority beyond that which has been conferred upon them in the Constitution or bylaws and handbook. 7.4 The election or appointment to serve as an officer of the Church Council or in Page 4 of 7
various congregational offices should not be in opposition to positions limited by Synod. Women may hold all congregational offices except Board of Elders. ARTICLE 8 CALLED WORKERS 8.1. The Office of the Public Ministry in the congregation can be committed only to Pastor(s) who have been duly elected or Called and who: 1. profess all the beliefs in Article 3 of this Constitution, to which the Pastor(s) are obligated in their Calls. 2. are elected by the Voters Assembly majority of cast votes. 3. are rostered on the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod roster and not on restricted status by any district president. 8.2 Other Ministry staff called, or contracted will profess all the beliefs in Article three (3) of this constitution. (See bylaws Article 3) 8.3 Vacancy Should there be a vacancy in any Called office of the ministry, it becomes the duty of the Officers and the Board of Elders of the congregation to call meetings of the voting Assembly for the purpose of nominating and electing another Called Minister. The congregation should seek the advice and counsel of the respective District officials when calling congregational ministers. The district president shall be asked to provide a characterization of all candidates, and the call meeting shall not take place unless and until such characterizations for each candidate are received, including characterizations for those nominated from the floor. 8.4 Peaceful release from Call - Pastor(s) - When a Pastor(s) receives a new Call, it shall be discussed with the Board of Elders, and the congregation shall be informed. 8.5 Peaceful release from Call - other called ministry staff- When a worker receives a new Call, it shall be discussed with the Church Council and the congregation shall be informed. 8.6. Justifiable Causes for Dismissing the Pastor(s) and any Church Workers are: 1. Persistent adherence to false doctrines. 2. Willful unfaithfulness in their Calling. 3. Permanent incapacity to carry out their duties. 4. Scandalous life Page 5 of 7
8.7 Dismissal - Charges on any of these counts should be carefully investigated by the Board of Elders. Should such charges be substantiated by clear evidence, the individual involved shall first be given an opportunity to resign that position in the congregation. Such opportunity having been given and declined, the Board of Elders shall, after consultation with the Circuit Counselor and District President, notify the voters Assembly members of the situation, and shall submit the matter for action at a special meeting of that body. A two-thirds (2/3) majority of votes cast shall be required to pass a proposed dismissal. Should the occasion to dismiss a Pastor or other called ministry staff ever arise, the intended dismissal shall be announced by the Chairperson of the Board of Elders at all regular worship services on two (2) consecutive Sundays preceding a special meeting of the Voters Assembly; members shall be notified by a mail carrier at least two (2) weeks in advance of the special meeting. ARTICLE 9 OFFICERS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES The Officers, Boards and Committees of this congregation shall be as prescribed by the bylaws. (Article 4) ARTICLE 10 AMENDMENTS 10.1 Any proposed amendment, alteration, or repeal of any article in this Constitution other than Articles 3 and 4 shall be presented to Voters Assembly members in writing at least two weeks prior to the Voters Assembly meeting. Announcement shall also be made at all regular worship services two (2) weeks prior to the meeting. The proposed amendment, alteration or repeal shall be adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of votes cast. Members must be present to vote; devices such as absentee ballots and proxies are not permitted. 10.2 Articles 3 and 4 may be amended by a three-fourths (3/4) majority of votes cast by the Voters Assembly members. Notice of such amendment and discussion of the same shall be presented at two (2) properly called meetings of the Voters Assembly before the meeting at which the proposed amendment is to receive action. Due notice that a vote will be taken shall be given to all voting members following the notice procedure in 10.1. Any Disputes shall be decided by Pacific Southwest District dispute-resolution procedures. 10.3 All amendments to the Constitution shall be recorded in the official copy of the Constitution and bylaws and kept in the Church office and posted on the official Church website. All changes and updates shall be reproduced and distributed to the Church officers and made available from the Church office to the Church membership upon request. All changes shall be noted and dated on the cover page of the Constitution. Page 6 of 7
10.4 The revised constitution shall, as a condition of continued membership in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, be submitted to the president of the district for review by the district s Constitution committee and favorable action by the district s board of directors before being implemented by the congregation. ARTICLE 11 PROPERTY RIGHTS 11.1 The congregation represented by the Voters Assembly members shall have the right to acquire and own such property as is necessary for the successful administration of its Ministry. Everything owned by the congregation, whether movable or fixed, is the estate of the congregation. 11.2 If at any time a separation on account of doctrine or for any other reason should take place in this congregation, which God may mercifully prevent, the property of the congregation and all the benefits connected therewith shall remain with those members who adhere to the Articles set forth in this Constitution. The privilege and right of appeal, however, shall always be granted any dissenter. This appeal shall be placed before the dispute resolution process of the District. 11.3 All physical property while owned by this organization, or the proceeds from its disposal or rental, shall be designated to Hosanna s general fund. If at any time this congregation is dissolved, all physical property shall revert back to the Pacific Southwest District, Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod or its successor to be used or disposed of as they see fit. 11.4 The property of this congregation is irrevocably dedicated to religious and charitable purposes and no part of net income or assets of this organization shall ever inure to the benefit of any director, officer or member thereof or to the benefit of any private individual. 11.5 Dissolution may be done only after all voters have been notified by certified mail, the matter has been publicly announced prior to and considered at three (3) consecutive meetings of the Voters Assembly, and at least two-thirds (2/3) majority of votes cast in favor of dissolution. Page 7 of 7