The Board of Elders
Chairman: Dave Ford
Constitutional Description
5.0 The Board of Elders
5.1
Membership. This board shall consist of a minimum of 12 male voting
members who are examples of a dedicated Christian
life (see Section 9.0 of
the Constitution).
5.2 Objectives. The Board of
Elders is to assist the pastor in promoting the spiritual and temporal
welfare of all members and
organizations of the congregation, supervise all
matters pertaining to the spiritual life and activity of the congregation,
and provide for the care of the Pastor(s) and other Elder related positions.
5.3
Responsibilities. In order to carry out these objectives the Board of
Elders shall:
5.3.1 Personally contact the members of
the congregation in a systematic fashion to encourage regular attendance at
worship
services and Holy Communion, as well as to promote the general
spiritual development of each member of the
congregation.
5.3.2 Identify and visit inactive
members in an effort to restore them to active participation in the life of
the congregation and
seek ways to prevent future inactivity. The status of
continually inactive members will be reviewed annually and those
who have
excluded themselves by their prolonged inactivity will be removed from
membership in the congregation.
5.3.3 Assist the Pastor(s) by visiting the hospitalized and shut-in members.
5.3.4 Oversee with the pastor(s)
the church secretary responsible for recordkeeping. That person will
keep and store all records pertaining to baptized and communicant membership
status, official
Sacred Acts, and membership changes. A monthly report will be given to
Church Council for a
later Voters ratification.
5.3.5 Insure that the worship services
of this congregation are conducted in accordance with Section 4 of the
Constitution. The
Board may examine and evaluate any worship form used with
the congregation.
5.3.6 Assist
the Pastor(s) in the administration of the sacraments and the orderly
conduct of the public
worship services.
5.3.7 See
that all auxiliary organizations and Elder related positions are being
organized and administered
by an able leader or director including:
a. The Daughters of Mary of Bethany Altar Guild
b. Church Ushers
c. The Sons and Daughters of Samuel (Acolytes)
d. Church Nursery
e. Interpreters for the Deaf
f. Tape Ministry
g. Music Director
h. Church Office Personnel
i. Director of Christian Education
j. Greeters
k. Deacon Ministry
An
annual review of each area and its leadership will promote more effective
functioning.
5.3.8 Encourage the Pastor(s) in his
(their) work by word, prayer, and action. Therefore, the Board shall express
concern for
the spiritual, mental, and physical welfare of the Pastor(s) by
annually reviewing compensation, housing,
vacations, days
off, continuing education, and making appropriate
recommendations to the Church Council (see Section 4.5).
5.3.9 Provide leadership in problems
involving the Pastor(s), especially if a pastor is teaching false doctrine,
living a scandalous
life, willfully neglecting the duties of his office, or
if he becomes unable to perform his duties. In such cases, the board
shall
discuss this matter first with the Pastor, and then, if necessary, with the
Circuit Counselor and District President
before taking formal action as
specified in Section 7.5 of the Constitution.
5.3.10 Secure such
pastoral services for the congregation as needed when the office of pastor
is vacant or when temporary
services are
required. The Board shall also show active leadership as it serves as a Call Committee when
a vacancy in
the pastoral office occurs. No pastor shall be selected for pastoral service who
does not qualify for the pastoral office
in a congregation of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.
5.3.11 Provide
oversight of the Christian Doctrine education program, which shall include
both the Bible and Luther’s Small
Catechism, in order to
prepare youth and adults for communicant membership and Christian life.
5.3.12 Assure that the congregation is
informed of the work of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod on the District
and
Synodical levels, especially through the distribution of official
periodicals.
5.3.13 Monitor the activities of all
organizations associated with the congregation to assure such activities are within the
guidelines of Christian
service, including the approval and oversight of fund raising activities and promotional projects.
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