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CONSTITUTION and BYLAWS
Of
GRACE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

Oshawa, Ontario
(Feb
, 2022 - Revised)


THE CONSTITUTION
PREAMBLE
The Word of God requires that a Christian congregation shall conform to this Divine Word in doctrine and practice (Gal 1:6-8) and that all things be done decently and in order (1 Cor 14:40).
Therefore, we the members of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church accept and subscribe to the following Constitution and Bylaws of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, in accordance with which all spiritual and material affairs of this congregation shall be governed, this 15th day of November 1959.


ARTICLE I NAME
The name of this congregation shall be Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church (Oshawa), corporate and legal, located at Oshawa, Ontario, under the laws of Ontario.

 

ARTICLE II PURPOSE
The purpose of this congregation shall be to serve its members and to spread the Kingdom of God by the preaching of the Word of God, and by the administration of the Sacraments which fosters Christian fellowship and charity; and by to provide religious instruction (catechesis) of youth and adults.

 

ARTICLE III CONFESSIONS
This congregation acknowledges and accepts all the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments as the revealed Word of God, verbally inspired, and acknowledges and accepts all of the Confessional Writings of the Evangelical Lutheran Church contained in the Book of Concord of the year 1580, to be the true and genuine exposition of the doctrines of the Bible. These Confessional Writings are:
1) The three Ecumenical Creeds (Apostles, Nicene, Athanasian),
2) The Unaltered Augsburg Confession,
3) The Apology of the Augsburg Confession,
4) The Smalcald Articles,
5) Luther's Large and Small Catechisms,
6) The Formula of Concord,
7) Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope.
In this congregation, therefore, no doctrine shall be taught or tolerated which is at variance with these symbols of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and according to this norm of doctrine all doctrinal controversies which may arise in this congregation shall be decided and adjusted.

 

ARTICLE IV MEMBERSHIP
The membership of this congregation shall include:


A. Baptized Members
Baptized members are all members who have been baptized in the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, including those on the membershi
p rolls who have confirmed their Baptismal vow in the Rite of Confirmation.


B. Communicant Members
Communicant members are those who:

1.    are baptized in the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost,

2.    accept all the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments as the only divine rule and standard of faith and life,

3.    have been properly instructed or have been received as communicant members

a) by transfer from a sister congregation, or

b) from other Lutheran bodies with whom we are in fellowship, and

4.    declare adherence to the Confessional Writings of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, as enumerated in Article III Confessions and are familiar with Luther's Small Catechism.


C. Voting Members
All communicant members who have reached the age set forth in Section I of the Bylaws, and who have read and been given a copy of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Congregation shall be entitled to vote and hold office.


Church Council - Church Council - Voting members may be elected to the church council in accordance with Section VIII of the Bylaws. The office of president, vice-president, and elder shall only be held only by male members of the congregation. (1 Tim 2:8 – 3:7, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Cor 14:33-38, Eph5:22-24).

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ARTICLE V THE OFFICE OF PASTOR
The pastoral office of this congregation shall be conferred upon such ministers and candidates only as:
A. Profess and adhere to the confessional standards set forth in Article III of this constitution and are well qualified for their work. Pastors shall, in the call extended to and accepted by them, be pledged to these confessional standards.
B. are members of, or have qualified and applied for membership in, the same synod to which this congregation belongs,
C. have been properly and rightfully called by the congregation.

 

ARTICLE VI POWERS OF THE CONGREGATION
A. General
The congregation as a body, through the voting members shall have supreme power to administer and manage all its affairs. The establishment and conduct of all institutions, organizations, and social groups within the congregation, such as the Sunday School; youth, ladies' and men's organizations; and choir; shall at all times be subject to the approval and supervision of the congregation. The congregation, however, shall not be empowered to decide anything contrary to the Word of God and the Confessions of the Lutheran Church (Article III), and any such decisions shall be null and void.


B. Right to Call
The right to call pastors, as well as the right to elect all other officers of the congregation, shall be vested in the congregation and shall never be delegated to an individual or to a minor body or circle within the congregation.


C. Decisions
Matters of doctrine and conscience shall be decided by the Word of God; other matters shall be decided by the Voters' assembly by a majority vote unless otherwise specified by the Constitution or Bylaws.


D. Power of Officers
Congregational officers or committees, whether elected or appointed by the voters, shall have no authority beyond that which has been conferred upon them, and whatever power may have been delegated to them may at any time be altered or revoked by the voters.


E. Removal from Office
Any officer, pastor, or teacher may be removed from office by the congregation by ballot, in Christian and Lawful order, for one of the following causes:
1. persistent adherence to false doctrine,
2. scandalous life, or
3. inability to perform his official duties or wilful neglect of them.


F. Non-profit Organization
The affairs of this congregation shall be carried on without purpose of gain for its members and any profits or other accretions to the organization shall be used in promoting its objects.

 

ARTICLE VII OFFICERS & CHURCH COUNCIL
The officers of this congregation shall be such officers, boards or committees as the Bylaws of this congregation may prescribe. There shall be a Church Council, the members and duties of which shall be prescribed by the Bylaws.

 

ARTICLE VIII PROPERTY RIGHTS
If at any time a separation should take place on account of doctrine or any other reason, the property of the congregation and all benefits therewith connected shall remain with those voting members who continue to adhere in confession and practice to

Article III and Article V of this constitution.
 

ARTICLE IX FORFEITURE OF PROPERTY RIGHTS
When a member of this congregation, after fruitless admonition in the various grades prescribed by the Word of God, where the observance of such grades has been possible, has been expelled by the congregation, such excommunicated person shall then have forfeited all the rights of a member of this congregation and all claims upon the property of the congregation as a whole or as a part thereof. The same shall apply to such members as have refused to submit to church discipline and thus have excommunicated themselves. The same applies to those members also who sever their connection with the congregation. If Grace Lutheran Church, Oshawa is disbanded, then the property and real estate shall be sold and the proceeds shall pay all outstanding debts and the balance be remitted to Lutheran Church Canada.

 

ARTICLE X DOCTRINAL LITERATURE
Only such hymns, prayers and liturgies shall be used in the public services of the congregation and in all ministerial acts as conform to the confessional standard of Article III. Likewise, in all classes for instruction in Christian
doctrine only such books shall be used as conform to this standard.

 

ARTICLE XI SYNODICAL MEMBERSHIP
A. This congregation shall hold membership in Lutheran Church - Canada.
B. It shall be the duty of the congregation and its individual members to support the work of Synod, since they thereby support their own Christ-appointed work.

 

ARTICLE XII BYLAWS
This congregation may adopt such bylaws as may be required for the accomplishment of its purpose.

 

ARTICLE XIII CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION
A. Irrevocable Articles
The following articles of this Constitution or sections thereof shall be irrevocable: III, IV, V, VIII, IX, X, XIII-A.

 

Amendments to this Constitution and the Bylaws may be adopted at a regular Voters' Assembly, provided that:

 

1.    They do not conflict with the provisions laid down in Article III and Article XIII-A, or with any section of any other article that pertains to scriptural doctrine and practice;

 

2.    the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing at a previous Voters' assembly;

 

3.    an affirmative vote of two-thirds majority of the votes cast at the Voters' assembly has been effected for the adoption of the Amendment.

 

4.    amendments to the constitution and bylaws are submitted to the Lutheran Church Canada Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure, and approved by the Board of Directors before the amendments can become official and acted upon.


GRACE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH Oshawa, Ontario BYLAWS
 

Section I MEMBERSHIP
A. Admission into Membership EXPECTATIONs of Members


1. Communicant Membership
a) By Confirmation
Confirmation itself being a reception into church membership, all who are thus received by this sacred act become communicant members.


b) By Transfer
Persons coming with a communicant letter of transfer from a congregation in church fellowship, provided they conform in all respects to the requirements of membership, shall be received by the pastor.


c) By Profession of Lutheran Faith
Other persons shall submit their application to the Pastor (or an Elder), and having given satisfactory evidence of qualification for communicant membership to the Pastor (or an Elder who shall refer this candidate to the Pastor), and after approval by the Pastor shall be received as a communicant member.


d) Expectations of Communicant Members
 

Expectations of Communicant Members 

  1. Accord the Pastor honour, love, and obedience within his ministry of God’s Word (Hebrews 13:17).

  2. Support the Pastor’s ministry with diligence and prayer.

  3. Help the Pastor in the discharge of his duties in cordial one-mindedness (1 Corinthians 1:10) by willing readiness and peaceable conduct.

  4. Contribute as God has blessed them, for the support of the pastoral office and the God-given work of the congregation.

  5. Accord each other love, support, and compassion recognizing special needs and acting upon them.

  6. Attend Divine Service and partake of the Lord’s Supper regularly.

  7. Abstain from manifold works of the flesh and seek to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit as taught in Galatians 5:19-26.

  8. Submit out of Christian love, to brotherly admonition to Matthew 18:18-22 when having erred or offended.

  9. Renounce or refrain from joining any organization or secret society that conflicts with the Word of God.

  10. Submit, for the sake of love and peace, to the will of the voters’ assembly and regulations made by this congregation provided such motions and regulations do not conflict with the Word of God and conscience.

  11. Accept committee appointments if possible.

 

Parents or guardians of children shall:

1.    Bring their children regularly to Divine Services,

2.    Bring their children to Christian instruction (catechesis) in preparation for Christian confession,

3.    Have their children confirmed in their baptismal faith,

4.    Teach their children of their responsibility to honour and obey their parents per Ephesians 6:1-3.


2. Voting Membership
a) Reception
All members who have been confirmed and who have reached their eighteenth year shall have the right to vote in the Voters' assembly.


b) Expectations 

It is expected that every voting member to attend the Voters' assemblies. By failing to attend such meetings a member waives the right to cast his or her vote during that meeting. He or she shall generally participate in the business of the Voters' assembly; he or she shall familiarize himself or herself with and adhere to the Constitution and Bylaws of the congregation.


c) Forfeiture
The right of voting membership shall cease with the termination of the communicant membership upon which it is conditioned.

 

B. Termination of Membership
1. Communicant Membership
Communicant membership in this congregation shall terminate under one or more of the following conditions:


a) Transfer to Other Congregations
Communicant members desiring to join another Lutheran congregation shall present their request for transfer to the Pastor, to whom authorization is granted to issue such transfers. Such transfers of membership shall be announced in the Voters' assembly or published and posted for the congregation information at a subsequent meeting. Members under church discipline shall not be transferred.


b) Joining Congregations of Other Denominations
In cases where communicant members have joined congregations outside our own fellowship, they shall, upon the recommendation of the Pastor be considered to have terminated their membership, and their names shall be removed from the membership rolls by resolution of the Voters' assembly.


c) Whereabouts Unknown
The names of members whose whereabouts are unknown for a period of one year and cannot be established, shall be removed from the membership rolls by resolution of the Voters' assembly, and forthwith such membership is terminated.


d) Excommunication
All members who conduct themselves in an unchristian manner shall be admonished according to Matthew 18:15-20; "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." If they refuse to amend their sinful lives after proper admonition, they shall be excommunicated. A unanimous vote shall be required for every resolution by the Voters' assembly for Excommunication. Excommunication terminates membership.


e) Status
All persons whose communicant membership has been terminated have forfeited all rights as a member of this congregation and all claims upon property of the congregation as such, or upon any part thereof so long as they are not reinstated into membership.

SECTION II Meetings and Quorum
A. Regular meeting of the Voters' assembly shall be four in number during each calendar year and shall be held preferably in the months of February, April, June, and November, with election of officers in the June meeting.


B. After the voters of Church Council have fixed the exact date, time and place of a regular or special Voters' assembly meeting, announcement shall be made twice by any recognized method (announcement by the Pastor or an Elder in a public service, mailed parish paper, mailed notice by the secretary of the congregation, advertisement in the newspaper, etc.), provided that both announcements are not made on the same day and that the meeting is not held within seven days after the first announcement. Whenever a meeting has been properly announced, the members present shall constitute a quorum, and it shall be considered a properly convened meeting capable of transacting business.


C Special meetings of the Voters' assembly may be called when such are deemed necessary by the Church Council or pastor after he has conferred with the Church Council. They may also be called by the Board of Elders. The privilege of calling a special meeting shall also be granted to any group of members at large. However, in this case it shall be necessary for those members who desire a special meeting to first confer with the Pastor and Church Council and also present a written petition to which there have been affixed, in their own signatures, the names of four members in good standing.
 

SECTION III Calling of Pastors
A. Nominations
At a meeting of the Voters' assembly, properly convened, the list of candidates received from the Regional Pastor or equivalent authority shall be presented to the Voters' assembly. Any voting member is entitled to make additional nominations from the floor.


B. Elections
The election of the Pastor from the list of candidates chosen by the voters shall be by secret ballot. The candidate receiving the majority of all votes cast shall be considered elected. In the interest of Christian solidarity, the elections shall be made unanimous by a rising vote, and the call shall be sent to the Pastor elect.

 

SECTION IV Officers
The following shall be the officers of this congregation:
A. The Pastor
The Pastor is ex officio a voting member of all Boards and committees.


B. The Board of Elders
The Voters' assembly shall elect from its eligible members a Board of Elders. After the June elections, the Pastor may assign a list of families to each Elder. The Board of Elders may appoint "assisting Elders” with the approval of Church Council. The Elders shall elect their own chairman and secretary from within their midst.


C. The Board of Trustees
The Voters' assembly shall elect from its eligible members a Board of Trustees. This Board shall elect its own chairman from within its midst and, with Church Council, set its own zones and areas of responsibility.


D. Other Officers
The Voters' assembly shall elect from its eligible members the following other officers:
1. President of the congregation and Director of the Corporation
2. Vice-President of the congregation and Director of the Corporation
3. Recording Secretary and Director of the Corporation
4. Financial Secretary and Director of the Corporation
5. Treasurer and Director of the Corporation
6. Evangelism Director
7. Parish Education Director
8. Stewardship Director
9. Youth Director
10. Social Ministry Director
11. Auditors


E. The corporate board of directors will normally consist of the President, Vice President, Financial Secretary, Secretary and Treasurer. On completion of the elections the Voters' assembly shall confirm the elected members to the Corporate Board of Directors as a block consisting of at least three members of the elected officials.
 

SECTION V Nominating Committee
A. A Nominating Committee consisting of the Pastor and four voting members of the congregation shall be selected and approved by a majority vote of all the voters present at the April meeting of the Voters' assembly.


B. The Nominating Committee shall nominate at least one voting member for each elective office and shall submit a complete slate of such nominees to the voters at the Voters' assembly meeting in June. Additional nominations may be made from the floor by any voter present at the Voters' election meeting in June. If any vacancy occurs in any office between elections, the Nominating Committee shall nominate at least one voting member for election to the vacant office and the election shall take place at the next Voters’ assembly.


C. The Treasurer may be retained indefinitely by acclamation.
 

SECTION VI Sequence in Election of Officers

The following officers shall be elected in the following sequence in the even-numbered years:

1.    President

2.    Financial Secretary

3.    Treasurer

4.    Parish Education Director

5.    Youth Director

6.    Elders

7.    Trustees

 

The following officers shall be elected in the following sequence in the odd numbered years:

1.    Vice President

2.    Recording Secretary

3.    Stewardship Director

4.    Social Ministry Director

5.    Evangelism Director

6.    Elders

7.    Trustees

 

Additionally an Auditor shall be elected each year.


SECTION VII Election & Term of Officers

The officers, Auditors, and the Board of Directors of this congregation shall be elected in the following manner:

 

A. The Board of Elders shall be nominated according to Section V., B. of the Bylaws, and elected by a majority vote by show of hands or by secret ballot if requested by the voters assembly at the annual election meeting of the Voters' assembly in June. The term of the office shall be two years.

 

B. The Board of Trustees shall be nominated according to Section V., B. of the Bylaws, and elected by majority vote by show of hands or by secret ballot if requested by the voters assembly at the annual election meeting of the Voters' assembly meeting in June. The term of office shall be two years. The term shall be so arranged or staggered so that an approximate even number of terms of office expire each year.

 

C. Other Officers shall be nominated according to Section V., B. of the Bylaws and elected by majority vote by show of hands or by secret ballot if requested by the voters assembly at the annual election meeting of the Voters' assembly in June. All terms of office shall be two years.

 

D. An Auditor shall be nominated according to Section V.. B of the Bylaws and elected by majority vote by show of hands or by secret ballot if requested by the voters assembly at the annual election meeting of the Voters’ assembly in June. All terms of office shall be two years.

 

E. The Board of Directors shall be elected each year by show of hands or by secret ballot if requested by the voters assembly at the annual election meeting of the Voters’ Assembly in June.

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SECTION VIII    The Board of Directors

 

A. The Board of Directors shall:

 

1. Exercise oversight on all matters pertaining to the Corporation’s compliance with the law and all relevant legislation.

 

2. Meet at least once per year.

 

3. Record the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and place these minutes in the official minute book of the congregation.

 

SECTION IX Church Council
A. The Church Council shall consist of the Pastor, the President of the Congregation, the Vice-President of the Congregation, the Recording Secretary, the Financial Secretary, the Treasurer, the Elders, the Trustees, Auditors, and the Directors of Evangelism, Parish Education, Stewardship, Youth, and Social Ministry.


B. It shall be the duty of the Church Council to meet at least four times a year, preferably one or two weeks before the Voters' meetings to consider and discuss all the matters pertaining to the general welfare of the congregation as presented by the recommendations to the Voters' assembly, and, in cases of emergency, in matters which arise between Voters' meetings. It shall be the duty of the Church Council to see to it that all the books of the congregation and Sunday School are audited annually and that all resolutions of the congregation are carried out.
 

SECTION X Duties of Officers

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A. The office of Pastor is divinely instituted and conferred on the Pastor through the call of the congregation. The pastoral office is the primary office of the congregation from which all other offices of the congregation issue.

 

The Pastor shall:

 

  1. feed the congregation by proclaiming the Gospel in all truth and purity and fulfill the Lord’s mandate to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins in His Name. (Luke 24:46-47),

  2. faithfully administer the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-25), baptism (Matthew 28:18-20) and the office of the keys (John 20:21-22),

  3. be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money, manage his own household well (1 Timothy 3:1-7),

  4. supervise parish education, including the approval of all curricula and doctrinal material,

  5. personally instruct confirmands or catechumens,

  6. console the bereaved, visit the sick and counsel the tempted,

  7. advise the council and directors of their duties and responsibilities, sharing synodical resources and news, and

  8. oversee the recording of baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and deaths; ensuring their accuracy.


B. The Board of Elders shall:
1. Assist the Pastor in all matters pertaining to the spiritual welfare of the congregation, having particular oversight in doctrinal matters and matters pertaining to the Godly walk of life on the part of the Pastor, officers, and members of the congregation, being careful to observe that our Lord's injunction in
Matthew 18:15-18 (see 1. page 8) be applied in church discipline according to Christian love and for the salvation of the erring soul;
2. Render counsel and advice
3 Carry out regular visits to members of the congregation requiring support such as shut-ins and inactive members
4. Sign diplomas of vocation in the name of the congregation;
5. Be examples of Christian conduct and conversation;
6. See that all resolutions of the Voters Assembly, pertaining to the duties of the Elders and Pastor, are carried out;
7. See to it that all services are conducted in such manner as to avoid needless disturbances and to foster an attitude conducive to worship among those in attendance; and be responsible for the doctrinal soundness of all music in the Church;
8. Assist the Pastor in arranging for pulpit assistance, special services, and guest speakers;
9. Supervise the ushering
10. Appoint the music coordinator annually;
11. Appoint the Altar Guild coordinator annually.


C. The Board of Trustees
Shall on behalf of the congregation and in accordance with specific authorizations of the congregation passed at meetings of the Voters' assembly from time to time, negotiate the purchase, sale, leasing or mortgaging of real property, and for this purpose are empowered to enter into all necessary agreements and execute all necessary deeds, mortgages, leases, and other instruments with respect to real property of the congregation, and may receive deeds to real property on behalf of the congregation.
The Trustees shall also have general power of supervision over all property of the congregation whether real or personal, moveable or immovable, and shall perform such duties in connection therewith as the congregation shall authorize from time to time.
They shall:
1. Manage the property of the congregation as an equitable trust;
2. Make provisions for the upkeep of the property of the congregation and see to it that the same is kept in good condition and repair, and, if necessary, solicit the help of the members in this work. This includes adequate insurance against fire, loss, damage, etc.;
3. Administer all secular affairs of the congregation according to the instructions and resolutions of the congregation and represent the congregation in all legal matters. All legal papers will be valid when signed by two Trustees;
4. Make expenditures to the extent of $1000.00 without express permission of the voters, but for which expenditures they are responsible to the voters;
5. Retain for safekeeping in the designated bank's deposit box, in the name of the congregation, all valuable and important documents and securities of the congregation;
6. Supervise the janitor service;
7. Serve as a planning committee for the congregation (additions, new buildings), unless a building
committee is formed by the voters for this purpose;
8. Serve as members of the Finance Committee.


D. The President of the Congregation shall:
1. Preside at all meetings of the Council and Voters' assembly;
2. Submit to the Voters’ assembly the order of business;
3. Present for discussion all proper resolutions regularly moved and seconded;
4. Decide questions of order;
5. Call motions and announce the result;
6. Preserve order and proper decorum during the meeting;
7. Cast the deciding vote in case of deadlock or tie vote.


E. The Vice-President of the Congregation shall:
1. Perform the duties of the President in his absence or inability to act.


F. The Recording Secretary shall:
1. Prepare and keep careful and accurate minutes of the proceedings of each meeting of the Voters' assembly and Church Council in the official minute book of the congregation, and present the same to be read and adopted at the next regular meeting;
2. Keep a record of attendance at all voters' meetings;
3. Serve as clerk and correspondent of the congregation;
4. Sign the minutes of each meeting after their adoption together with the President.
5. Keep church files up to date i.e.: resolution motions correspondence and reports and ensure that they are archived periodically.


G. The Treasurer shall:
1. Disburse all monies of the congregation and pay all fixed salaries without a special order, and make all other disbursements on written order of voters, Church Council, or Board of Trustees;
2. Keep an exact record of all financial transactions of the congregation in the permanent book provided for that purpose, which shall be and remain the property of the congregation;
3. Retain all receipts, vouchers, and bank sheets until the Auditing Committee has made its report on its annual audit;
4. Report at each Council meeting and Voters' assembly, showing actual receipts and disbursements compared with budgeted amounts and outstanding accounts;
5. Sign the authorized cheques of the congregation;
6. Serve as a member of the Stewardship and Finance Committees.
7. The treasurer shall chair the Budget committee


H. The Financial Secretary shall:
1. Keep an accurate record of all contributions made by individuals and of other monies received in the official book provided for that purpose by the congregation;
2. Compile and distribute the semi-annual financial statements of contributions to all members holding envelopes;
3. Issue receipts for income tax purposes to all individuals who made recordable contributions to the congregation;
4. Serve as a member of the Stewardship committee and organize counters.

 

SECTION XI Boards and Committees
An Evangelism Committee, a Parish Education Committee, a Stewardship Committee, a Youth Committee, and a Social Ministry Committee shall be chosen by each committee director with the approval of the Church Council.
A. The Evangelism Committee shall:
1. Teach the congregation the principles and practices of Biblical evangelism;
2. Keep a file on prospective members;
3. Enlist members of the congregation as lay visitors;
4. Arrange for visiting all members on the congregation's responsibility list in co-operation with the Elders and the Pastor;
5. Conduct regular meetings to train lay visitors, assign visits and receive reports of visits made;
6. Welcome visitors at divine services and church functions;
7. Assist the Pastor in training the laity to bring prospects to the Pastor's instruction classes;
8. Sponsor such programs as the committee deems appropriate for their mandate
9. Report poor and needy members of the congregation to the Elders;
10. Recruit students to become pastors, teachers, deaconesses and parish workers.
11. Coordinate all internet-based outreach activities such as the church website and social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter).


B. Parish Education Committee shall:
1. Foster spiritual growth in the life of the individual Christian;
2. Strengthen the Christian at home and help equip parents, and young people for Christian family living;
3. Provide learning opportunities for all age levels; pre-school, school age youth, adults and older adults;
4. Encourage the congregation to set up agencies and organization to help the parish best perform its educational task for each specific age group, namely; the Sunday School (from nursery department to Bible Class), vacation Bible School, confirmation class, youth and adult groups, couples' and parents' groups;
5. Provide leadership education for teachers, officers, and workers;
6. Provide Christian literature;
7. Promote the use of visual aids;
8. Integrate new members into the work and life of the church;
9. Encourage all eligible members to become voters.


C. The Stewardship Committee shall
1. Discover the talents of the members and enlist them in the congregational program;
2. Assist in training lay workers;
3. Sponsor stewardship and mission talks, discussions, conferences, plays, movies, pageants, etc. in the congregation and in its organizations;
4. Work in close co-operation with the Synod and circuit stewardship committees and encourage larger attendance at circuit meetings;
5. Fully inform the members of their local congregation's program and opportunities to lengthen their outreach into all the world through the Synod;
6. Give the congregation a clear vision of the world's need for Christ and how they can supply that need;
7. Instruct the people in the grace of proportionate giving to God's work in their own parish and in the world;
8. Aid in planning successful mission Sundays and programs for young and old;
9. Supervise the raising of funds within the congregation;
10. Arrange for and conduct every member visits as needed;
11. Based on information provided by the various committees, create a list of projects (e.g. Memorials) to be undertaken with extraordinary funds, work out the details of the application of the funds with the donor, subject to the approval of the Voters' assembly.


D. The Youth Committee shall
1. Promote involvement of the congregation's youth in all youth activities;
2. Plan and carry out a year-round program for junior high, high school, and young adult members of the congregation;
3. Supervise the work of all youth groups to the congregation and represent their concerns to the Church Council;
4. Appoint annually with the approval of the Church Council youth counselors for the various youth groups.


E. The Social Ministry Committee shall
1. Administer the congregation’s welfare fund;
2. Study and maintain a list of available social agencies for help with alcoholics, drug problems, unwed mothers, homelessness, food assistance, unemployment, etc.;
3. Together with the Pastor study the possibilities and recommend implementation of offering spiritual services and care to hospitals, homes for the aged, prisons, and other institutions within the community;
4. Assist members of the congregation with physical and social needs such as transportation, counseling, etc;
5. Promote the program of Canadian Lutheran World Relief in the congregation, particularly the sponsorship of refugees to Canada;
6. Plan and carry out a year-round program for the senior citizen members and encourage their participation in the ministry of the congregation.


F. The Auditing Committee shall consist of two members to be elected by voice vote at the meeting in which the elections take place. Their term of office shall be two years, but they shall be elected in such a way that the term of only one auditor expires in any given year.
They shall audit the books of the congregation and Sunday School. They have the authority to conduct an audit of these books at any time.

To ensure independence, the members of the Auditing Committee are not officers of the Corporation.


G. The Budget Committee shall be composed of a least the following;
1. a) The Treasurer
b) The Financial Secretary
c) The Chairman of the Elders
d) The Chairman of the Trustees
e) The Pastor
f) Committee Directors (Parish Education, Evangelism, Stewardship, Youth, Social Ministry)
2. This committee shall prepare the annual proposed budget to be submitted to the annual Voters' assembly meeting in November.


H. Parish Nurse
1. Church Council may, at its discretion, appoint a Parish Nurse.
2. The Parish Nurse will be a Registered Nurse (RN) with the province of Ontario.
3. To ensure the Parish Nurse carries out his or her duties in accord with the overall provisions of this Constitution and By-laws, the Parish Nurse shall be a member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Oshawa.
4. The Parish Nurse will be accountable to Church Council. Oversight of the activities of the Parish Nurse will be provided by the President and/or the Vice President.
5. The Parish Nurse shall:
a. Provide health advice to members of the congregation that are consistent with the nursing profession.
b. Conduct health services and clinics that are consistent with the nursing profession (such as blood pressure clinics, nutrition clinics, CPR and First Aid classes).
c. Conduct seminars for the members of the congregation on manners pertaining to health.
d. Provide health literature to the members of the congregation.
e. Participate in continuing educational activities such as seminars and tutorials as approved by Church Council

 

SECTION XII Marriages
All marriages performed at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church Oshawa shall be in accordance with our doctrinal position and the Church’s standing policy on marriages, and with the approval of the called Pastor.

 

SECTION XIII
ORDER OF BUSINESS
The following shall be the order of business for the regular Voters' assembly meeting:
1. Devotions
2. Roll call
3. Reading of minutes
4. Adoption and signing of minutes
5. Unfinished business
6. Reception of new members
7. Reports of officers, boards and committees,
8. New business
9. Adjournment
10. Prayer
The rules of order contained in Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the Voters' meeting in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of this congregation.
End

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