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BYLAWS OF CHRIST THE KING LUTHERAN CHURCH

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Nashua, New Hampshire

These bylaws supplement the constitution of Christ the King Lutheran Church of Nashua, NH, the constitution having been approved on October 25, 1992 and adopted on May 23, 1993.

• ARTICLE 1
  Membership
  • A. The congregation shall issue a letter or certificate of transfer to another Lutheran congregation on request.
  • B. A member who has not fulfilled the provisions of membership for one year as described in Chapter 8 of the constitution shall be considered inactive. Inactive members shall be visited by the pastor or representatives of the Congregation Council towards restoring active membership. If the member does not respond during the second year, that member's name shall be removed from the active roster.
  • C. A voting member shall be included on the voting roster upon attending a congregational meeting. An individual shall be removed from the voting roster in any of the following circumstances:
    • 1. A period of two years has elapsed since the individual has attended any congregational meeting
    • 2. The individual is no longer a member.
  
  
• ARTICLE 2
  Congregation Meetings
  • A. The regular congregational meetings shall be held on or around the fourth Sunday of the months of January and October as called by the Congregation Council. Announcement of the time and place of the regular meetings of the congregation shall be made at two public services immediately preceding the meeting, said services to be at least a week apart.
  • B. Each organization of the congregation shall furnish a report to the Recording Secretary twenty (20) days before the January meeting. The report shall include the past year's activities, finances, and goals for the coming year. Members shall receive a consolidated annual report on or before the January meeting which shall include:
    • 1. Pastor's report
    • 2. Program staff reports
    • 3. Treasurer's report, forecast, and annual budget
    • 4. Audit Committee report
    • 5. Auxiliaries, reports
    • 6. Standing committees' reports
    • 7. Nominating Committee report
    • 8. President's report - a "State of the Church" report, especially concerning accomplishments and plans toward purpose and mission. The complete annual report shall be available to any member upon request.
  • C. The agenda for the regular meetings shall be prepared by the Executive Committee.
  • D. The agenda for the January congregational meeting shall include:
    • 1. opening worship
    • 2. Secretary's report (minutes and membership statistics)
    • 3. Pastor's report
    • 4. President's report
    • 5. Treasurer's report
    • 6. Committee reports
    • 7. Election of officers and committees
    • 8. Resolutions
    • 9. Benediction
  • E. The agenda for the October congregational meeting shall include:
    • 1. opening worship
    • 2. Secretary's report (minutes and membership statistics)
    • 3. Pastor's report
    • 4. President's report
    • 5. Treasurer's report
    • 6. Adoption of budget
    • 7. Resolutions
    • 8. Benediction
  
  
• ARTICLE 3
  Officers
  • A. The President shall:
    • 1. Carry out the will of the congregation as ordered by this constitution, bylaws, and resolutions of the congregation.
    • 2. Preside at meetings of the congregation, the Congregation Council, and Executive Committee.
    • 3. Coordinate the work of all committees.
    • 4. Deliver an annual report to the congregation.
    • 5. Nominate delegates to conference, synod, and general conventions as required.
    • 6. Execute letters of call, countersign checks, and sign documents on behalf of the congregation.
    • 7. Nominate persons to fill vacancies of elected positions until the next congregational meeting, such nominations to be ratified by majority vote of the Congregation Council.
    • 8. Participate in the activities associated with the Executive Committee.
    • 9. Appoint a Staff Support Committee jointly with the pastor.
  • B. The Vice-President shall:
    • 1. Perform the duties of President in the President's absence, incapacity, or at the President's request.
    • 2. Chair the Budget Committee.
    • 3. Act as parliamentarian at congregational and Congregation Council meetings.
    • 4. Participate in the activities associated with the Executive Committee.
  • C. The Recording Secretary shall:
    • 1. Record proceedings of the congregation and Congregation Council and make copies available to any member upon request.
    • 2. Retain secretarial records to be filed permanently in the church office; keep a duplicate personal set of records which shall be turned over to successor.
    • 3. Keep attendance records of each council meeting; advise President of absentees and their reason for absence; notify members having three unexcused absences.
    • 4. Provide for congregational and Congregation Council meetings and arrange for meeting places.
    • 5. Maintain membership records and congregational meeting attendance lists; make list of voting members available at each congregational meeting; prepare directory of Congregation Council and committee members.
    • 6. Assist President on agenda items, calling to attention matters deferred or referred to committees for further study and recommendations.
    • 7. Maintain a register of congregational and Congregation Council resolutions and policies.
    • 8. Execute letters of call to pastors and sign legal documents on behalf of the congregation.
    • 9. Be responsible for safekeeping of all official congregational documents, such as deeds, mortgages, articles of incorporation, and tax returns.
    • 10. Compile and distribute the Annual Report of the Congregation and the Parochial Report to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
    • 11. Notify the Nominating Committee of all offices to be filled ninety (90) days prior to the congregational meeting at which elections take place.
    • 12. Maintain status of incorporation with the State of New Hampshire.
    • 13. Determine quorum for congregational meetings.
  • D. The Treasurer shall:
    • 1. Supervise the financial records and investments of the .congregation.
    • 2. Render a monthly statement of income and expenses compared with budget to the Congregation Council.
    • 3. Countersign all checks.
    • 4. Deliver an annual financial report to the congregation.
    • 5. Be a member of the Budget Committee.
    • 6. Recommend written financial policies and procedures for cash management, annual budgeting, and fund accounting.
  • E. The Financial Secretary shall:
    • 1. Direct the counting, depositing, and recording of all contributions, fees collected, gifts, and bequests received.
    • 2. Reconcile each deposit to contributors' records.
    • 3. Issue, at a minimum, statements to contributors as of December 31, with additional statements issued as directed by Congregation Council.
    • 4. Keep individual giving records confidential. Disclosure may only be made to the Executive Committee including the pastor and only when adequate justification can be rendered.
    • 5. Prepare annual report to the congregation.
    • 6. Monitor cash management policies and procedures and make recommendations for changes to the Treasurer.
    • 7. Be a member of the Budget Committee.
  
  
• ARTICLE 4
  The Congregation Council
  • A. Council members shall, through the Power of the gospel, lead the congregation towards its purpose and mission in their personal worship, witness, learning, service, and stewardship.
  • B. Meetings
    • 1. The date, time, and place for regular meetings of the Congregation Council shall be set by the Congregation Council. Regular meetings shall normally be held monthly.
    • 2. Special meetings of the Congregation Council may be called by the pastor, president, or any three members of the council. Notice of the meeting shall be given not less than seven (7) days prior to the meeting.
    • 3. A majority of the Congregation Council shall constitute a quorum.
    • 4. If a council member plans to be absent or late to a scheduled meeting, notification must be made to the secretary or the Executive Committee.
    • 5. Four consecutive unexcused absences shall constitute forfeiture of the office of council member and said office shall be declared vacant.
  • C. The Congregation Council shall represent the people of this congregation, having been elected at large. The Congregation Council has responsibilities including but not limited to the following functions:
    • 1. Membership
      • a. Supervise the rosters of baptized, confirmed, voting, and associate members.
      • b. Provide procedures for the incorporation of new members or the departure of members of the congregation.
      • c. Activate and motivate all members of the congregation to participate in ministries of worship, learning, witness, service, fellowship, and support.
      • d. Support the inactive member through prayer, visitation, and caring ministries.
      • e. Recognize the service of members to congregational and community ministry at least annually.
    • 2. Personnel
      • a. Secure necessary staff other than pastor, and recommend their salaries.
      • b. Review staff salaries annually, including the pastor, using synod guidelines.
      • c. Develop and maintain written personnel policies for all staff covering at least salaries, hours, working conditions, vacation, and sick leave.
      • d. Provide procedures for staff support and performance evaluation; form committees for each purpose, if needed.'
      • e. Should the office of the pastor be vacant, provide for the services of an interim pastor in consultation with the synod bishop.
      • f. Adopt office policies for the church and staff, such as office hours and records retention.
    • 3. Finance
      • a. Encourage congregation members of all ages to proportionate biblical stewardship; determine congregation's proportion of offering to be committed to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for mission support and benevolence.
      • b. Prescribe a process for developing the annual budget and recommend the budget to the congregation.
      • c. Authorize expenditures, loans, or use of restricted funds up to $5,000 in excess of budgeted funds in any one year.
      • d. Adopt a written audit procedure for both income and expense and for adequacy of insurance coverage; report findings to congregation.
      • e. Authorize all fund-raising events and extra-budgetary appeals to the congregation.
      • f. Adjust allocation of funds should income fall short of expectations or expenses exceed budgeted amounts; provide for contingency or emergency funds.
      • g. Prepare and adopt a capital budget for improvements or major repairs; provide a capital growth fund in a foundation, trust, or endowment to receive bequests, special or deferred gifts to the congregation, review and accept or decline all offers of unsolicited gifts to the congregation.
      • h. Approve all depositories of congregational funds; consolidate all funds of the congregation and its organizations into a unified budget using a voucher system for disbursements.
      • i. Provide insurance coverage, and procedures for the handling of funds, that are consistent with the risk management policies of the ELCA.
      • j. Buy and sell real property up to $1,000 in value and borrow funds for the congregation, up to $5,000. Transactions more than these amounts may be enacted only by two-thirds majority vote of the congregation at a legally called meeting.
      • k. Form a Budget Committee, consisting of the Vice-President as chair, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, and two non-council members to be elected by the Congregation Council.
    • 4. Property Management
      • a. Maintain the buildings and premises of the congregation including equipment and furnishing; keep a record of inventory of physical assets, maintenance performed thereon, and estimated replacement date.
      • b. Make decisions on the occasional use of congregational facilities by outside groups and assess usage fees and restrictions. Make recommendations to the congregation on the regular use of facilities.
      • c. Perform annual fire safety inspections with or without the assistance of the local fire department; call fire drills at least annually in the Sunday School.
      • d. Prescribe a policy for building and premises security, distribution of keys, fire extinguishers, burglar alarms, smoke and heat detectors, and responsibility for locking the buildings.
      • e. Inspect the premises regularly with a view to sound maintenance, safety, accessibility, insurance, and building code compliance.
    • 5. Administration
      • a. Designate standing committees and specify their number, duties, authority, budget, and accountability to the Congregation Council.
      • b. Name a Congregation Council member to act as liaison to standing committees that do not include council members.
      • c. offer opportunities to serve on special purpose Congregation Council task forces to members of the congregation.
      • d. Render annual and special reports of activities to the congregation.
      • e. Support the pastor according to the letter of call.
      • f. Provide an operational manual and training opportunity for each Congregation Council member and officer. The manual shall contain at least this constitution and bylaws, directory, minutes, resolution registry, organization chart, and position descriptions for each staff position and standing committee.
      • g. Provide for internal and external communications of the congregation.
      • h. Encourage fellowship and spiritual care in the congregation.
      • i. Support auxiliary organizations; invite representatives from each auxiliary to attend Congregation Council meetings with voice but without vote.
      • j. Appoint or assign planning functions to recommend long-range plans to the Congregation Council and to evaluate present programs.
      • k. Require every organization to be accountable to the mission statement of the organization.
      • l. Preserve historical archives of the congregation; appoint congregational historian; maintain written history of the congregation.
      • m. Prepare and distribute a directory of members of the congregation.
      • n. Coordinate the programs and ministries of the congregation; direct ministry functions not otherwise specified to the most appropriate committee.
    • 6. Spiritual Care
      • a. Acknowledge candidates for the rite of confirmation in consultation with the pastor.
      • b. In consultation with the pastor, determine the general policy and guidelines for the age when baptized members normally receive their first Holy Communion.
      • c. Exercise general oversight of the spiritual life, mission, and ministry of the congregation that all may be done according to the Word of God and this constitution. Approve modifications in worship as recommended by the worship committee.
  
  
• ARTICLE 5
  Youth Representative
  • A. A youth representative position to the Congregation Council shall be established.
  • B. Terms. The youth representative position shall:
    • 1. Be filled by election by the congregation at a congregational meeting.
    • 2. Be a non-voting member of the Congregation Council.
    • 3. Be for a one year term. In the event of a vacancy, the position shall be filled the same as an at-large Congregation Council member vacancy.
  • C. Qualifications. Any communing congregation youth is eligible for the youth representative position.
  • D. Duties. The youth representative shall strive to:
    • 1. Attend Congregation Council meetings.
    • 2. Serve as a role model.
    • 3. Report to the Congregation Council on youth activities, issues, and concerns.
    • 4. Report to the youth the items of interest from the Congregation Council meetings.
    • 5. Help coordinate youth activities and events.
    • 6. Participate in youth activities and events.
  
  
• ARTICLE 6
  Congregational Committees
  • A. The Executive Committee shall:
    • 1. Supervise support of the pastor according to the letter of call, unless otherwise provided herein.
    • 2. Prepare the agenda for the regular and special congregational meetings and Congregation Council meetings.
    • 3. Develop and recommend a mission statement to the congregation.
    • 4. Perform the duties of various committees if the committee has not been formed or fails to fulfill its task.
  • B. The Nominating Committee shall:
    • 1. Be convened by the Congregation Council; elect a chairman from its membership who shall call and preside at subsequent meetings.
    • 2. Nominate one or more candidates for each office, council position, elected committee position, and synod delegate to be filled.
    • 3. Ask candidates to serve the full term of the office if elected.
    • 4. Announce the nominees and their qualifications to the congregation with the notices of the regular or special congregational meeting.
    • 5. Accept nominations from the floor providing that the nominee is present at the meeting or has been notified in advance to deliver both Qualifications and consent to serve.
  • C. The Audit Committee shall:
    • 1. Audit the financial records and procedures of all church organizations annually.
    • 2. Follow generally accepted audit procedures.
    • 3. Report their findings to the congregation in the annual report, signed and dated by each member of the committee.
  • D. The Staff Support Committee shall:
    • 1. Meet at least quarterly and on notice of a convener designated by the Congregation Council.
    • 2. Provide support for pastor and other staff members as specified in the letter of call, including such matters as housing, health, continuing education, pensions, salaries, and communications.
    • 3. Recommend needed changes in staff support to the Congregation Council or Executive Committee.
    • 4. Meet with staff both individually or in groups, as required; meet at least once each year with entire staff.
  • E. The Call Committee shall:
    • 1. Review synod guidelines pertaining to the call process.
    • 2. Review the congregation's mission and pastoral needs, and furnish this information to the office of the synodical bishop.
    • 3. Receive and study recommendations of pastoral candidates from the office of the synodical bishop.
    • 4. Conduct interviews and evaluations of the pastoral candidates.
    • 5. Recommend a candidate to the Congregation Council and, following councils approval, to the congregation.
  
  
• ARTICLE 7
  Holy Communion
  • A. The Sacrament shall normally be offered weekly during regular worship services.
  • B. Members and visitors who are baptized are invited to participate in the Sacrament and shall be advised of the Lutheran teachings regarding preparation and worthiness:
    • 1. Acceptance of the real presence of Christ in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine.
    • 2. Firm belief in the words "given and shed for you for the remission of sins."
  • C. Preparation for first Holy Communion shall be provided for baptized members, according to policy, as stated by the Congregation Council, in accordance with ELCA guidelines, and joint agreement by parents and pastor.
  
  
• ARTICLE 8
  Fellowship
  • A. The congregation shall cooperate with other religious organizations whose purposes are compatible with the constitution, including but not limited to the Pastoral Care Center and Nashua Interfaith Council.
  • B. The use of the building and facilities of this congregation shall be limited to this congregation's activities and those of outside groups, as approved by the Congregation Council.
  
  
• ARTICLE 9
  Congregational Records
  • A. The records of the congregation shall be the property of the congregation and shall not be removed or used for commercial purposes. The records are:
    • 1. The roster of baptized, confirmed, voting, and associate members.
    • 2. The ministerial acts performed by the pastor.
    • 3. The minutes and reports of the conference and synod; the Parochial Report of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
    • 4. The minutes of the meetings of the congregation and Congregation Council.
    • 5. The financial records of the congregation; all official and legal documents including the constitution and bylaws, deeds, mortgages, and contracts.
  • B. The pastor shall be responsible for the maintenance and security of the records, except as provided herein.
  • C. In the event of dissolution or cessation of ministry, the official records of the congregation shall be deposited in the archives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

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