Table of
Contents
 

Preamble

Article I
Name

Article II
Purpose

Article III
Confessional
Standard

Article IV
Communicant
Membership

Article V
Right of
Suffrage

Article VI
Officers,
Boards, and
Standing Committees

Article VII
Pastors and
Teachers

Article VIII
Powers
Vested in the Congregation

Article IX
Property
Rights of the
Congregation

Article X
Synodical
Membership

Article XI
Bylaws

The Constitution of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
Augusta, GA
 

PREAMBLE

Whereas, the Word of God demands that a Christian congregation not only conform to the Word of God in doctrine and practice (Ps. 119:105, Acts 2:42, Gal. 1:6-8, II Tim. 4:1-5) and endeavor to keep the unity of the faith (I Cor. 1:10, Eph. 4:4-6), but that also all things be done decently and in order (I Cor. 14:40), therefore, we, the members of Our Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church of Augusta, Georgia, accept and subscribe to the following constitution and Bylaws in accordance with which our congregational affairs, spiritual and material, shall be conducted.

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this congregation shall be Our Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, Augusta, Georgia.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The purpose of this corporate body shall be that of a religious organization, more specifically, that of a Christian congregation, established and maintained for the express purpose of winning and keeping souls for and with Christ for the sake of a happy, Christian life here on earth and the eternal enjoyment of heaven.

ARTICLE III - CONFESSIONAL STAND

This congregation acknowledges and accepts all the canonical books of the Old and New Testament as the inspired and revealed Word of God, and acknowledges and accepts all the Confessional Writings of the Lutheran Church, contained in the Book of Concord of 1580, to be the true and genuine exposition of the doctrine of the Bible. The Confessional Writings are: The three Ecumenical Creeds (the Apostolic, the Nicene, and the Athanasian), the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the same, the Smalcald Articles, Luther's Large and Small Catechisms, the Formula of Concord.

ARTICLE IV - COMMUNICANT MEMBERSHIP

Anyone may become and remain a communicant member of this congregation and enjoy the rights and privileges of such membership who -- (A) is baptized in the name of the Triune God, (B) accepts all the canonical books of the Old and New Testament as the only divine rule and standard of faith and life, (C) is acquainted with, and accepts the doctrine of Luther's Small Catechism,  (D) leads a Christian life and abstains from manifest works of the flesh (Gal.5:19-23), (E) attends divine worship services faithfully and partakes of the Lord's supper frequently, (F) submits, for the sake of love and peace, to the regulations already made, or still to be made, by this body, provided they do not conflict with the Word of God, and welcomes brotherly admonition when having erred or offended, (G) supports the Kingdom of God at home and aboard with his time, talent, and money in proportion to god's blessing. The position of this organization toward members of fraternal organizations shall be in accord with the Synodical Handbook (1975 Edition; Bylaws, article XIV, pp. 233-234).

ARTICLE V - RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE

All communicant members of the congregation shall have the right of suffrage.

ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS, BOARDS, AND STANDING COMMITTEES

  The officers, boards, and standing committees shall be such as the Bylaws of this congregation prescribe.

ARTICLE VII - PASTORS AND TEACHERS

Only such pastors and full-time teachers shall be called by this congregation who are in accord with the confessional standard of this congregation (Article III), have been prepared for their work, and are well qualified for it. Sufficient grounds for deposing a pastor or duly called or contracted teacher shall be persistent adherence to false doctrine, scandalous life, and willful neglect of official duties or evident and protracted incapacity to perform the function of the sacred office.

ARTICLE VIII - POWERS VESTED IN THE CONGREGATION

The congregation, through the voting members, shall decide all matters relating to the church affairs except those matters which it delegates to the Church Council. The decision of the congregation shall be binding. But, such decision shall always be in accord with the Word of God and the Confessional Writings of the Lutheran Church, and, unless it is so, shall be null and void. Neither the right of calling pastors or full-time teachers nor excommunication shall ever be delegated to a smaller body or an individual.

ARTICLE IX - PROPERTY RIGHTS OF THE CONGREGATION

The congregation may receive, acquire, hold title to, and manage such real estate and other property as it may need to accomplish its purpose (Article II), and may sell or dispose of such real estate and other property or any part thereof. In case of dissension within the congregation and actual separation, the property of the congregation and all the benefits connected therewith shall remain with those members who shall continue to adhere to the Unaltered Augsburg Confession and the other Confessions (Article III) and consequently continue to pledge their ministers and teachers to the same. In the event of total dissolution the property and all the rights connected therewith shall be transferred to the Synod indicated in Article X.

ARTICLE X - SYNODICAL MEMBERSHIP

The congregation shall be affiliated with the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod as long as the confessions and constitution of said Synod are in accord with the confession and constitution of this congregation as laid down in Article III.

This congregation shall, to the best of its ability, cooperate with said Synod and assist it in effecting all sound measures intended for the building up of the Kingdom of God.

ARTICLE XI - BYLAWS

This Constitution may be changed or amended by two-thirds majority of the votes cast in a meeting of the Voting Membership provided that the intention to amend the Constitution and the wording of the amendments proposed shall be read to the congregation assembled for worship on two Sundays prior to the date upon which the amendment is presented for action.