WHEREAS,
the Apostle Paul sets forth, 1 Corinthians
WHEREAS, the
history of the Christian church of all times shows that certain agreements and
regulations are helpful to fulfill the purpose and attain the objectives of
congregations; therefore be it
RESOLVED, that
we, a congregation of Lutheran Christians located at
The name of this congregation
shall be Beautiful Savior Evangelical
Lutheran Church (of
Section 1.
This congregation accepts and
confesses all the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments as the verbally
inspired and inerrant Word of God and submits to this Word as the only
infallible authority of all matters of faith and life (2 Timothy 3:15-17).
Section 2.
This congregation accepts and
confesses all the symbolical books of the
A. The three ecumenical Creeds
1) The Apostles'
2) The Nicene
3) The Athanasian
B. The six Lutheran Confessions
1)
Dr. Martin Luther's Small Catechism
2) Dr. Martin Luther's Large Catechism
3) The
Unaltered
4) The Apology of the
5) The Smalcald Articles
6)
The Formula of
Section 3.
This congregation accepts and
confesses these symbolical books without reservation, not insofar as, but
because they are the presentation and explanation of the pure doctrine of the
Word of God and a summary of the faith held by the
Section 4.
No doctrine shall be taught or tolerated in this congregation, which is in any way at variance with the Holy Scriptures and these symbolical books.
Section 5.
All controversies that may arise
in this congregation shall be decided and adjusted according to this norm of
doctrine and practice.
Section 1.
The continuing purpose of this
congregation, as a gathering of Christians, is to serve all people in God's
world with the gospel of Jesus Christ on the basis of the Holy Scriptures
(Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15).
Section 2.
The primary objective of this congregation shall be to proclaim the law and the gospel in our congregation, community, and the world (2 Timothy 4:2), so that through the means of grace the Holy Spirit might:
A. Lead sinners to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ for life and salvation (Luke 24:46-48).
B.
Strengthen believers in faith and sanctification (Romans
C.
Equip believers as disciples, stewards, witnesses, and
servants to share the gospel and live their faith (Ephesians
This congregation shall affiliate
itself only with a church body that holds to all the truths of God's Word in
doctrine and practice and is bound to the confession of faith as set forth in
Article II, if, and as long as, such a church body exists. See the Bylaws for a
list of the currently affiliated church bodies.
Section 1. Classification
A.
Baptized members of the congregation are those who have
been baptized into the Christian faith in the name of the Triune God (Matthew
28:18-20; Mark
B. Communicant members are those baptized souls who confess Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior and have stated their adherence to all the canonical books of the Old and New Testament, without qualification, as the only rule and norm of faith and life, and have declared their agreement with the chief parts of Christian doctrine as written in Dr. Martin Luther's Small Catechism.
C.
Voting members are those male communicant members (1
Corinthians 11:3; 1 Corinthians
"God
is love" (1 John 4:8), and his love ever moves him to bless the members of
his church with physical and spiritual gifts (1 John 3:1; James
A. Our God has given us his Word, the one thing
needful (Luke
1) Hear and receive the Word of God diligently (Luke
2) Provide and promote opportunities for Christian education (2
Peter
3) Bring up their children in the
training and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).
4)
Share the gospel with
all people (Acts 1:8).
B. Our God has given us two sacraments: Holy
Baptism and Holy Communion, which are means that our Lord uses to bring his
grace to us. Consequently, members of his church will:
1) Have their
children baptized early in life, for "baptism now saves you also" (1
Peter
2) Frequently partake of Holy Communion (1 Corinthians
C. Our God has given us the privilege and
responsibility of being managers over a certain portion of his estate and assures us he will graciously bless our
faithful management (2 Corinthians 9:6). Therefore members of his church will
under grace:
1)
Continually
remember that all their possessions, time and abilities are really a trust from
God.
2)
Cheerfully decide
in their hearts (2 Corinthians 9:7) the portion of their possessions and time
and abilities which they will regularly devote to the Lord for use in carrying
out that which the congregation has made its concern, not omitting the work of
the church-at-large (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 9:14; 16:2; 2 Corinthians
9:6-11; 1 Peter 4:10).
3)
If eligible,
become voting members and regularly attend the voters' meeting and lend the
congregation their counsel and aid.
4)
If eligible and
willing, serve in any office or capacity for which his talents and abilities
equip him.
D. Our God has implanted within us Christians the new man, who
desires to live righteously (2 Corinthians
1) Not
live in obvious acts of the sinful nature (Galatians
2) When
they have erred, permit themselves to be admonished and corrected by their
fellow Christians in the spirit of Matthew 18:15-18.
3) Refuse
to hold membership in any organization whose teachings and practices conflict
with the Word of God (e.g. lodges) (John
Christian discipline shall be
exercised in this congregation according to Matthew 18:15-18 toward those who
err from the faith or who in other ways have given offense. Those members who
become evident as impenitent sinners must be excommunicated. At all times this
shall be done in the spirit of the gospel, namely, to regain the erring. In
order that the congregation may be "perfectly united in mind and
thought" (1 Corinthians
Section 4. Termination of Fellowship
Members who persist in an error that in itself does not make the presence of saving faith impossible and who otherwise are not under church discipline (cf. Article V, Section 2, D, and Section 3) may be excluded from the fellowship of this congregation:
a) after they have been evangelically admonished by their
fellow Christians in the spirit of Matthew 18:15-16; and
b) when their adherence to error becomes public and a matter
of divisiveness (Titus
Section 5. Loss of Rights and Privileges
Those who have been excommunicated or excluded from the fellowship of this congregation lose all rights and privileges in the congregation and its property.
Section 6. Reinstatement
When, by the grace of God, a person who has been excommunicated or whose fellowship has been terminated repents of his sin, he is to be reinstated with all former rights and privileges of this congregation (2 Corinthians 2:6-8).
Section 1.
In all matters of Christian faith and life the Word of God is supreme (Psalm 119:105).
Section 2.
In all matters not decided by the Word of God the congregation, represented by the voters' assembly, shall have the right of decision (Romans 12:10; 14:19; Ephesians 5:21).
Section 3.
The church council, any other
elected or appointed committee or organization within the congregation, and any of
its elected or appointed officers shall have no power or authority beyond that
conferred upon them by the congregation. However, the church council in an
emergency may act in the name and for the welfare of the congregation. Such
action must be submitted for approval at the next voters' meeting.
Section 4.
No group or society may be
organized within the congregation without the approval of the congregation. The
congregation shall be assured that the aims of such a group are in complete
harmony with the congregation's aims before it grants its approval (1
Corinthians
Section 1.
The congregation, represented by
the voters’ assembly, has the exclusive right to call pastors, teachers, and
staff ministers.
Section 2.
The office of pastor in this congregation shall be conferred only upon such men who are qualified for this ministry and publicly and without reservation profess their acceptance of and adherence to Article II of this Constitution, and such acceptance and adherence shall be required of them in the call extended by the congregation (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9).
Section 3.
The offices of teacher and staff
minister in this congregation shall be conferred only upon such individuals who
are qualified for these ministries and are in accord with the confessional
standard of the congregation as set forth in Article II of this Constitution
(Ephesians 4:11-16; Romans 12:6-8).
Section 4.
In case of a vacancy in the
office of pastor, teacher, or staff minister the congregation shall notify the
president of the district that he may assist in temporarily filling the vacancy
and in giving his good counsel in regard to the calling of a new pastor,
teacher or staff minister.
Section 1.
The first New Testament
congregation at
Section 2.
The listing of the officers and their duties is given in the Bylaws.
Section 3.
The respect and esteem of the congregation are due these officers in the performance of their duties, and they shall be given its cooperation. They shall conduct themselves in a manner befitting their responsible office (1 Timothy 3:8-13).
Section 1.
If anyone who holds an office in
the congregation willfully neglects his duty and upon due admonition does not
amend, the congregation has the right and eventually the duty to remove him
from office and to elect another in his place (1 Timothy 3:8-13).
Section 2.
Sufficient and urgent causes for removing a pastor, a teacher, or a staff minister are persistent adherence to false doctrine, scandalous life, willful neglect of duty or established inability to perform the duties of his office (1 Timothy 3: 1-7; Titus 1:6-9). In such a case the advice and good counsel of the appropriate district officer shall be sought.
Meetings of this congregation shall be held at such times and in such manner as stated in the Bylaws. The meetings shall give the voters of this congregation the opportunity to hear, discuss and take necessary action in matters pertaining to the welfare of this congregation and of the church-at-large.
Section 1.
If at any time a separation
should occur in this congregation, the property and all equipment of this
congregation shall remain with that portion of the membership, which adheres to
this Constitution, regardless of number.
Section 2.
In the event of termination or dissolution of the congregation, the church council shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the congregation, dispose of its remaining assets, if any, exclusively for the purposes of the congregation, by distributing, at the direction of the voters' assembly, the remaining assets to (and only to) one or more organizations with which the congregation is in fellowship, which shall at the time qualify as exempt organization(s) (under section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1994 or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Code).
Section 1.
Articles II, III, IV, V, VI,
Sections 1 and 2, VII, Sections 1-3, VIII, Sections 1 and 3, IX and XII,
Section 1 of this Constitution shall be and remain unalterable and
irrepealable, inasmuch as they express clear, scriptural teachings.
Section 2.
Proposals to alter or repeal any alterable or repealable article of this Constitution or to add an article shall be submitted in writing to the church council, and shall be publicly announced at two consecutive worship dates immediately preceding a regular business meeting of the voters' assembly and posted in the church during that period.
Section 3.
Such a proposal shall be discussed in the meeting in which it is presented and voted on in the next regular meeting of the voters' assembly.
Section 4.
A two-thirds vote of the voting members present shall be required to alter or repeal any alterable or repealable article of this Constitution or to add an article hereto.
Section 5.
Any and all Bylaws may be repealed or amended by a majority vote of the voting members present at any regular meeting, provided that public notice of this proposed action shall have been announced to the congregation on two consecutive worship dates prior to the time of the meeting, and provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing to the church council for its study and recommendation.