Constitutionally Speaking

I recently read that Sandra Day O’Connor, retired associate justice of the Supreme Court, carries a copy of the Constitution of the United States of America and a copy of the Declaration of Independence with her at all times.  Whenever and wherever she can, she teaches about just how important these documents are to our life together in this country.  She appended the Constitution and Declaration to her book, Out of Order.  Since I had reached the end of the book and had nothing else in front of me on the treadmill, I read completely through these documents for, perhaps, the first time since eighth grade.  I recommend it!

Reading constitutions may not sound like the most fun way to spend an evening.  In the synod office, we spend a lot of time reading constitutions.  We are constantly updating the synod constitution so that it is in line with the ELCA model constitution.  We also read congregations’ constitutions as they come before the Synod Council for approval.  Did you know that we have a small committee that works with congregations on constitutional changes?

David Swartling, the current secretary of the ELCA, has for his entire tenure, referred to the constitutions of the church as missional documents.  Too often congregation councils only refer to the constitution when a crisis is reached or conflict is encountered.  Take a look at your congregation’s constitution.  You will find some fascinating stuff.

I was recently speaking with a pastor whose congregation does not have a particularly good sense of shared ministry.  The congregation seems to believe that ministry is the pastor’s “job.”  Take a look at what the Model Constitution for Congregations says about the pastor:

*C9.03.           Consistent with the faith and practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,

            a.         Every ordained minister shall:

                        1)         preach the Word;

                        2)         administer the sacraments;

                        3)         conduct public worship;

                        4)         provide pastoral care; and

                        5)         speak publicly to the world in solidarity with the poor and oppressed,

calling for justice and proclaiming God’s love for the world.

            b.         Each ordained minister with a congregational call shall, within the congregation:

1)         offer instruction, confirm, marry, visit the sick and distressed, and bury the dead;

                        2)         supervise all schools and organizations of this congregation;

                        3)         install regularly elected members of the Congregation Council; and

                        4)         with the council, administer discipline.

            c.         Every pastor shall:

1)         strive to extend the Kingdom of God in the community, in the nation, and abroad;

2)         seek out and encourage qualified persons to prepare for the ministry of the Gospel;

3)         impart knowledge of this church and its wider ministry through distribution of its periodicals and other publications; and

4)         endeavor to increase the support given by the congregation to the work of the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and of the Northern Illinois Synod of the ELCA.

*C9.04.           The specific duties of the pastor, compensation, and other matters pertaining to the service of the pastor shall be included in a letter of call, which shall be attested by the bishop of the synod.

*C9.12.           The pastor of this congregation:

a.         shall keep accurate parochial records of all baptisms, confirmations, marriages, burials, communicants, members received, members dismissed, or members excluded from the congregation;

            b.         shall submit a summary of such statistics annually to the synod; and

            c.         shall become a member of this congregation upon receipt and acceptance of the

letter of call. In a parish of multiple congregations, the pastor shall hold membership in one of the congregations.

*C9.13.           The pastor(s) shall submit a report of his or her ministry to the bishop of the synod at least 90 days prior to each regular meeting of the Synod Assembly.

*C9.14.           The parochial records of this congregation shall be maintained by the pastor and shall remain the property of the congregation.  The secretary of this congregation

shall attest in writing to the bishop of this synod that such records have been placed in his or her hands in good order by a departing pastor before the installation of that pastor in another field of labor or the granting by the synod of retired status to the pastor.

Are you surprised by anything you read here?  Are you surprised by anything that is left out?  You may not need to carry a copy of your congregation’s constitution around with you all the time, but it is worth taking a look at once in a while.

Comments?  Go to http://niselca.blogspot.com or comment on Facebook. --JC