GNLC Constitution
1 NAME
The name of the Congregation is 'GOOD NEWS' LUTHERAN CHURCH, MIDDLE PARK, herein referred to as 'the Congregation'.
2 CONFESSION
2.1 The Congregation declares:
2.1.1 It accepts without reservation the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as a whole and in all their parts, as the divinely inspired, written and inerrant Word of God, and as the only infallible source and norm for all matters of faith, doctrine and life.
2.1.2 It acknowledges and accepts as true expositions of the Word of God and its own confession all the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church contained in the Book of Concord of 1580, namely, the three Ecumenical Creeds: the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed; the Unaltered Augsburg Confession; the Apology of the Augsburg Confession; the Smalcald Articles; the Small Catechism of Luther; the Large Catechism of Luther; and the Formula of Concord.
2.2 The Congregation requires that all instruction and practice shall conform to the doctrinal basis laid down in 2.1 of this constitution.
3 RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHURCH
3.1 The Congregation, as a member of the Lutheran Church of Australia Inc, hereinafter called `the Church', and of the Lutheran Church of Australia, Queensland District, hereinafter called 'the District':
accepts the Constitution and By-laws of the Church and of the District;
undertakes to participate in the work of the Church and of the District and to promote their Objects;
agrees that where it cannot reach an amicable settlement on a question of ownership or control of any of its property, it shall in keeping with 1 Corinthians 6 make every effort to avoid action in the civil courts by first seriously seeking to settle any differences through the mediation and adjudication of the judicial system of the Church;
agrees to submit to the President of the District any amendments, alterations, additions, and deletions which it may make from time to time to its Constitution for determination by the Church Council of the District that the amended Constitution remains in conformity with Article 4 Clause 1 of the Constitution of the Church.
3.2 In common with the Church, the Congregation regards unity in doctrine and its application in practice as the necessary prerequisite for church fellowship, and it rejects religious syncretism or unionism in all its forms. It therefore adheres to the principle: Lutheran pulpits are for Lutheran pastors only; Lutheran altars are for Lutheran communicants only. Any exception to the application of this principle belongs to the sphere of privilege, not of right; and the determination of any such exception is to be made in consonance with the above by the conscientious judgment of the Pastor, as the case arises.
3.3 In common with the Church the Congregation regards as anti-christian any organisationor society, secret or open, which while practising forms of religion does not confess faith in the Triune God and in the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Saviour from sin, and which in teaching or in practice substitutes salvation by works for salvation in Christ.
4 OBJECTS
The Objects of the Congregation are:
4.1 to glorify the Triune God in its worship and in its work;
4.2 to bear witness to the Lord Jesus Christ through the proclamation of the Gospel in accordance with the Confession and practice of the Church;
4.3 to gather into the Congregation such persons as are, or desire to become, members of the Church for their edification through the Word and the Sacraments;
4.4 to help members dedicate their God-given spiritual, material and physical gifts to the service of their Lord;
4.5 to reach out into the community as bearers of the Gospel of God's salvation in Jesus Christ for all people;
4.6 to exercise discipline over its members in conformity with the Scriptures and Confession of the Congregation;
4.7 to join with the Church and District in building and extending the Kingdom of God;
4.8 to acquire, dispose of or otherwise deal with real and personal property in the interest of the work of the Church and the Congregation.
5 MEMBERSHIP
5.1 The Congregation shall comprise baptised, confirmed, and voting members. 5.1.1 BAPTISED MEMBERS are all those:
1. who have been baptised in the Congregation;
2. who have transferred as baptised members from another Congregation of the Church;
3. who have been baptised in accordance with the institution of Christ and have placed themselves or have been placed under the spiritual care of the Congregation.
Towards these baptised members, the Congregation recognises a continuing spiritual ministry so long as they remain in the community serviced by the Congregation.
5.1.2 CONFIRMED MEMBERS are all those:
a) who have been confirmed in the Congregation;
b) who have been received as confirmed members by transfer from another congregation of the Church;
c) who after instruction in the Christian faith and acceptance of it have been received into the Congregation by adult reception according to the rites and practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Confirmed members shall accept the Constitution of the Congregation.
5.1.3 VOTING MEMBERS shall be persons who have been accepted into membership of the Congregation as confirmed members. The voting rights shall be defined in the By-laws. Any voting member whose right to partake of the Lord's Supper has been suspended by the Congregation as an act of church discipline is not entitled to exercise the right to vote under such suspension.
5.2 The duties of members shall be:
to strive to remain true to the baptismal covenant;
to make diligent use of the Means of Grace, joining regularly in hearing the Word of God and partaking of the Lord's Supper;
to lead a Christian life in love, humility and peace, endeavouring through admonition, consolation and encouragement to edify one another;
to present their children for Holy Baptism in early infancy and to nurture them diligently in the Christian faith in the home and in the schools provided by the Congregation;
to study the Scriptures in private and family devotions in the home;
to promote the unity and welfare of the Congregation as a family of God;
to express their gratitude to God for His material gifts and blessings by contributing regularly towards the financial support of the Congregation and of the Church as the Lord has prospered them;
to support the Pastor in his work in the Congregation and community through prayer and personal concern for his spiritual and material welfare;
to reach out into the community, as bearers of the Gospel of God's salvation in Jesus Christ for all people;
to avoid holding membership in anti-Christian societies.
5.3 Membership in the Congregation shall be terminated:
a. when a person is received into membership in another congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church after having obtained a Letter of Transfer from the Congregation;
b. when a person joins another church outside the fellowship of the Evangelical Lutheran Church;
c. when the whereabouts of a person are unknown and cannot be established, in which case the name of such person shall be removed from the list of members by action of the congregational meeting;
d. when a person is excommunicated or excludes themselves.
5.4 Any action involving excommunication shall be determined according to the principles of Scripture contained in Matthew 18: 15-20 and related passages. A person who refuses to accept such admonition and to discuss their case with the Congregation or its representative thereby excludes themselves.
5.5 Upon termination of membership such member's right, title, interest or claim in, to, and upon any property of the Congregation shall cease and they shall have no claim to compensation for contributions made by them.
6 THE MINISTRY
6.1 The Congregation recognises and upholds the Office of the Ministry as the office divinely instituted for the public administration of the Means of Grace.
6.2 The Pastor of the Congregation shall be a person whose soundness in faith, aptness to teach, and other qualifications for office have been examined and approved by the Church.
6.3 The duties of the Pastor shall be:
to preach the Word of God and administer the Holy Sacraments according to the Confession of the Congregation (Clause 2);
to exercise pastoral oversight over all organisations and activities of the Congregation;
to live an exemplary life;
to visit the sick, the infirm, the destitute, and the afflicted, and to exercise pastoral care among the members of the Congregation;
to devote himself diligently to the instruction and training of the young;
to comfort, instruct, reprove, admonish, and warn, both publicly and privately, the members of the Congregation as the Word of God directs (2 Timothy 4: 1-
to equip and help the members to fulfil their Christian ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ and outreach into the community;
to be mindful of the calling as a winner of souls, both within and outside the Congregation;
to be responsible for the keeping and preservation of accurate Congregational records;
to exercise as much as possible his right to attend the meetings of all committees and organisations of the Congregation;
to submit a written pastoral report to the annual meeting of the Congregation.
6.4 The right of the Congregation to call a paster shall be exercised, where applicable in association with other congregations.
a. in consultation with the President of the District or his nominated deputy, and with regard to the regulations of the Church and of the District; and
b. only at a meeting duly convened for this purpose and conducted according to the rules of the Church concerning calls and transfers.
7 AUTHORITY AND POWERS
7.1.1 The Congregation as a body shall have supreme power to administer and manage all its affairs by a majority vote of those present and entitled to vote unless otherwise specified by the Constitution or By-laws.
7.1.2 The Congregation, however, shall not be empowered to decide anything contrary to the Word of God and the Confession of the Congregation (Clause 2), and any such decision shall be null and void. In matters of Doctrine a decision shall be made only after careful study of the Word of God in accordance with Clause 2.1.
7.2 The Congregation shall have the right to call or appoint full-time and part-time workers. It shall exercise this right, where applicable, in association with other congregations in accordance with the regulations of the Church and District.
7.3 Officers or committees, whether 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, may at any time be varied or revoked by the Congregation.
7.4 Any worker may be removed from office by the Congregation in Christian and lawful order in accordance with the rules of the Church, for one of the following causes: persistent adherence to false doctrine, scandalous life, or wilful and persistent neglect of official duties. In any such procedure voting shall be by ballot.
7.5 The establishment and conduct of all institutions and societies within the Congregation shall at all times be subject to the approval and supervision of the Congregation.
8 MEETINGS
8.1 The Congregation shall hold an annual meeting for the management of its affairs as prescribed in the By-laws.
8.2 The Congregation may hold other meetings from time to time as prescribed in the By- laws.
8.3 It shall be the duty of every member entitled to vote to attend the meetings of the Congregation unless unable to do so.
8.4 All resolutions carried at a duly convened meeting of the Congregation shall be binding upon all members of the Congregation, whether present or absent, or refraining from voting, provided always that the required quorum was present.
9 OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATION
9.1 The Congregation shall appoint a committee of management, called the Church Council, which shall consist of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Directors and Assistant Directors of the various Departments and others as prescribed in the By-laws. The Pastor shall be an ex officio member of the committee of management and any other committees of the Congregation.
9.2 The Congregation shall appoint such officers and persons and form committees when needed for the proper conduct of its affairs as prescribed in the By-laws or as determined from time to time by Congregational resolution.
9.3 Lay Readers are to be confirmed members.
10 DISSOLUTION
Any decision to dissolve the Congregation shall be taken only after consultation with the President of the District and shall require a two-thirds majority vote, the quorum for such meeting being one-third of all members entitled to vote. Such a decision shall not become operative until the sanction of the Church Council of the District has been obtained. In the event of such dissolution, the Congregation may give indication regarding the use of its assets by the District and/or the Church. Where no such indication is given they shall be transferred to the District absolutely.
11 BY - LAWS
The Congregation shall have power, by majority of the quorum prescribed in the By-laws for the transaction of ordinary business, to make, repeal, alter or amend By-laws not inconsistent with these or any amended rules for the regulation of its proceedings and the management of its business and affairs and for giving effect to the rules. Notice of any such change shall either be given at a duly called meeting of the Congregation held at least seven days earlier or be published to the Congregation on two immediately preceding Sundays.
12 ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION
12.1 The Congregation shall have power at a duly convened meeting by a two-thirds majority of those present and entitled to vote to repeal, alter, amend, or add to these rules, except as hereinafter provided, and subject to Clause 3.1.d.
12.2 Notice of the proposed repeal, alteration, amendment, or addition shall be presented in writing and shall be read to the Congregation at a duly called meeting of the Congregation held at least fourteen days earlier or be published to the Congregation on the two immediately preceding Sundays.
12.3 The quorum for such meeting shall be one-quarter of the members entitled to vote.
12.4 Clause 2 and Clause 12.4 of this Constitution shall be considered fundamental and shall not be repealed, added to, altered, or
amended so as to alter their intent and meaning.
Nov 2014