It being the will of the Lord that among Christians all thing shall be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40), we, the undersigned Lutherans of Clackamas County, Oregon, and vicinity, hereby unite to form an Evangelical Lutheran congregation and set forth by this present document the Constitution and Bylaws in accordance with which all material and spiritual affairs of the congregation shall be regulated.

 

 

The name of this congregation shall be: Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church of Clackamas County, Oregon.

 

 

The purpose of this congregation shall be: The preaching of the Word of God, the administration of the Sacraments, the religious instruction of the youth and adults for the edification and spiritual growth of His people according to God’s Holy Word and plan, and the administration of charity according to the confessional standard of the Lutheran Church (Article III), and the extension of the kingdom of God throughout the world in obedience to Christ’s “Great Commission” as proclaimed in Matthew 28:19-20.

 

 

 

This congregation acknowledges and accepts all the canonical books of the Old Testament and the New Testament as the revealed and inerrant Word of God, verbally inspired, and submits to them as the only infallible authority in all matters of faith and life.

 

 

This congregation acknowledges and accepts all the confessional writings of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, contained in the Book of Concord of the year 1580, as true and genuine expositions of the doctrines of the Bible. These confessional writings are the three Ecumenical Creeds (Apostles’, Nicene and Athanasian), the unaltered Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, Luther’s Large and Small Catechisms, and the Formula of Concord.

 

 

 

Only such persons may become or remain members of this congregation, and exercise the rights and privileges of a member, as

 

1.    are baptized;

 

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

 

3.    are familiar at least with Luther’s Small Catechism and declare their acceptance thereof;

 

4.    lead Christian lives and do not live in manifest works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21);

 

5.    partake in the Lord’s Supper with due frequency;

 

6.    permit themselves to be fraternally admonished and corrected when they have erred;

 

7.    are not members of any antichristian organization or society.

 

8.    Means of Membership:

 

a)   Baptism – Baptized members are all members who have been baptized in the name of the Triune God and who are under the spiritual care of the pastor and elders of this congregation, including the children who have not yet confirmed their baptismal vow. Conditions one through seven does not necessarily apply to persons too young to be communicant members.

 

b)   Confirmation – Since confirmation is reception into church membership, all members received by this sacred rite shall be duly received as members in the meeting of the Elders Board following their confirmation.

 

c)   Transfer – Persons coming with a letter of transfer from another Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod congregation shall present such letter to the pastor who will submit it to the Elders Board for action at their next meeting.

 

d)   Confession of Faith – Other persons shall submit their application to the pastor upon completion of requirements for membership. Following approval by the pastor their names shall be forwarded to the Elders Board for action at their next meeting.

 

9.    All persons received into communicant membership must be admitted in a public reception of the congregation.

 

 

1.   When a member of this congregation, after fruitless admonition in the various grades prescribed by the Word of God (Matthew 18:15-20), where the observance of such grades has been possible, shall have been expelled from the church by a 75% vote of the Voters Assembly, such person shall have forfeited all rights of a member of this congregation and all claims upon the property of the congregation as such, or upon any part thereof, as long as they are not reinstated to membership by the congregation. The same shall apply to such members as refuse to submit to church discipline and thus excommunicate themselves, as also to those who sever their connection with the congregation by choosing to abstain from the public worship service of this congregation without reasonable cause (i.e. military service, temporary job location) for a period of at least one (1) year, by transfer to another congregation, or communicant members whose whereabouts are unknown and whose addresses cannot be established shall have their names removed from membership.

 

2.   Individuals whose membership had been terminated by the Voters Assembly may be reinstated to membership of the congregation with unanimous approval of the Elders Board, with ratification of the Voters Assembly.

 

 

1.    Contributions – Members agree to support the work of the Lord through the congregation by the ongoing offering of their time, talents and treasure. Members will make available their natural and spiritual gifts by participation in the programs, offices and activities of the congregation and provide financial support in accordance with scriptural guidelines.

 

2.    Christian Discipleship – Members will avail themselves of opportunities to grow in their knowledge, understanding, and application of the Word through the ministries of the congregation, and see to the proper training in Christian life and doctrine of unconfirmed children in their care.

 

 

The confirmed members of this congregation who are at least sixteen (16) years of age shall constitute Voters Assembly. It shall be the duty of every such member, if possible, to attend the meetings of the Voters Assembly and by failing to attend a meeting waives the right of casting their vote during such meeting. The exercise of the Office of the Keys, which includes the calling of a pastor, excommunication of members, and administration of the Sacraments, shall be the responsibility of the Voters Assembly.

 

 

This congregation has the exclusive right to call ordained and commissioned ministers. The pastoral office shall be conferred only on such a pastor or candidate who professes and adheres to the confessional standard set forth in Article III of this Constitution, who is qualified for his work, who has been endorsed by the Synod, and who is a member of the Synod. The same shall apply to all commissioned ministers rostered by the Synod.

 

 

The right of calling pastors (teachers) and all commissioned ministers rostered by the Synodshall ever be vested in the congregation and shall never be delegated to a smaller body or to an individual. The president under the direction of the congregation shallform a call committee which will include at least one elder, a minimum of three members-at-large and the lead pastor (unless the lead pastor is the vacant position being called) to assist the congregation in gathering information on nominees, to present this information to the congregation, and provide analysis and recommendation from its research.

 

 

The exercise of the right of calling shall be entrusted to the Voters Assembly of the congregation. The calling of a pastor (teacher) and other called staff positions shall proceed as follows: upon consulting the constituted authorities of Synod, the congregation shall, in a meeting convened for that purpose, nominate candidates either directly or from an officially proposed list. The names of the candidates thus nominated shall be made known to the congregation by public announcements or by bulletins. If no objection is entered and sustained, the persons thus nominated and published shall be recognized as candidates by the entire congregation. The appointed call committee shall then assemble to perform its analysis regarding the nominated candidates to give its recommendation to the congregation. The congregation through its Voters Assembly shall, in a meeting constitutionally convened, proceed to an election by ballot. The candidate receiving the majority of all votes cast shall upon unanimous approval, if possible, be extended a call by the congregation. When a candidate is called directly from an orthodox seminary (teacher’s college), the constituted authorities of Synod may be requested to appoint the person to whom the call shall be extended.

 

 

Ministry staff positions which do not require a call will be hired on contract or other working arrangement. Candidates will be selected through the formation of a committee including the lead pastor (or his designated staff representative), at least one elder and a minimum of three other members-at-large.  The position will be publicly posted beginning with the congregation and as broadly as necessary to solicit sufficient qualified candidates.  After interviewing and carefully examining the qualifications of these candidates the committee will bring forward as many as are deemed qualified for election by the congregation through the Voters Assembly in a congregational meeting properly convened.

 

 

1.   Called Staff: Valid reasons for dismissing any ordained or commissioned ministershall be: a) persistent adherence to false doctrine, b) offensive conduct or scandalous life, c) willful neglect of the duties of office, d) neglect of, or inability to perform, official duties, or e) domineering in office. The reasons for dismissal shall be made known both to the individual and to the Voters Assembly by mail at least two (2) weeks prior to where the action will take place. Fifty-one percent of the Voters Assembly mustbe present to constitute a quorum, and a 75% majority of those present shall be required for dismissal.

 

2.   Non-Called Staff: Termination for non-called ministry staff shall be on the recommendation of the lead pastor and the unanimous approval of the Elders Board, with ratification by the Voters Assembly. All other non-called staff will receive notice in writing signed by the lead pastor at least thirty (30) days in advance of the expiration of their current employment.

In case of a vacancy in the office of an ordained or commissioned minister, the congregation shall notify the President of the District so that he may assist in temporarily filling the vacancy and also give assistance in regard to the calling of a new pastor or teacher.

 

 

 

The congregation shall have the supreme power in all external and internal administration and management of its own affairs. The establishment and conduct of all institutions and societies within the congregation, such as Christian Day School, Sunday School, youth activities, ladies organizations, choir, etc., 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.

 

 

In matters of doctrine and conscience, a three-fourths majority from Voters Assembly shall be required.

 

 

Auxiliary officers and committees elected or appointed by the congregation shall have no authority beyond that which has been conferred upon them, and whatever power may have been delegated to them shall at all times be subject to change or rescission by the congregation. Any officer may be removed from office, with just cause, by a two-thirds majority vote of the Voters Assembly. The following officers are authorized to sign legal documents on behalf of the congregation and therefore must be of legal age in the State of Oregon: The President, President-elect and the Chairman of the Trustees.

 

 

If at any time a division should take place for any reason, the property of the congregation and all benefits connected therewith shall remain with those communicant members who continue to adhere in confession and practice to the confessional standards set forth in Article III of this Constitution, as determined by the dispute resolution process described in the Bylaws of the Synod. In the event the congregation should dissolve, the property and all rights connected therewith must be transferred to a not-for-profit entity. In light of our “walking together” all property shall be transferred to the Northwest District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.

 

 

In the public service of the congregation and in all ministerial acts, only such hymns and forms shall be used as conform to the confessional standard of Article III. Likewise in the Christian Day School, the Sunday School, and all other classes for instruction in Christian doctrine such books only shall be used as conform to this standard.

 

 

This congregation shall hold membership in the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod as long as this Synod remains true to the Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions. It shall send its pastor(s), called teacher(s), and a lay delegate to the district conventions of the Synod.

 

 

 

 

To alter or repeal the intent, but not necessarily the wording, of Article III and Article VI, Section One of this Constitution, it shall be required that, all voting members of the congregation be notified by mail at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the first constitutional meeting where the proposed action will take place. It shall be further required that in two (2) consecutive, properly called, constitutional meetings of the congregation, 51% percent of all voting members of the congregation be present and a 75% majority of those present vote in favor of such alteration or repeal.

 

 

To alter or repeal any other article, or the wording of Article III and Article VI, Section One of this Constitution, it shall be required that, in two (2) consecutive, properly called, constitutional meetings of the congregation, two-thirds of the Voters Assembly present cast their votes in favor of such alteration or repeal. The congregation shall be notified, by an announcement in the bulletin, for two consecutive Sundays at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the first constitutional meeting.

 

Any amendment to Article III or any other amendment of this Constitution which would alter or repeal Article III shall not be implemented until approved by the Board of Directors of the Northwest District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.

 

 

This congregation may adopt such Bylaws as the accomplishment of the purpose of its incorporation or organization may demand. Any of its Bylaws may be amended in a properly convened meeting of the Voters Assembly by a majority of all voting members present, provided the proposed change has been announced at least fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting the amendment is voted upon.