Sierra Pacific Synod
of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
CONSTITUTION, BYLAWS,
and
CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS
as adopted by the Constituting Convention
of the Sierra Pacific Synod
in San Jose, California
July 12, 1987
and
as last amended by the 2006 Synod Assembly
of the Sierra Pacific Synod
in Burlingame, CA
May 19, 2006
MISSION STATEMENT
Sierra Pacific Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
This Synod is an expression of the Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit to be a witness to God's creative, redeeming and sanctifying activity in all the world.
Recognizing that the context of this Synod reflects a great variety of ethnic traditions, languages, races, and economic groups, our mission is:
1) to assist congregations in proclaiming, celebrating and struggling with what it means to live out the Good News of Jesus Christ;
2) to support the institutions and agencies of the Church located within the territory of this Synod, and other institutions and agencies for which we have responsibility;
3) to meet human needs in response to God's love and to be an advocate for all who suffer injustice, with special focus on victims of racism, sexism and other forms of oppression;
4) to place as one of our highest priorities the commitment of synodical and churchwide budget for the intentional creation of an inclusive church;
5) to promote the inclusive church which Christ intended, reflecting the multicultural and economic diversity within our boundaries;
6) to participate in the life and global mission of the ELCA, promoting its support through our congregations; and,
7) to grow in our relationship with the worldwide Lutheran communion, the ecumenical church, and their religious expressions.
Adopted by the 1988 Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly
May 14, 1988
Sacramento, California
Table of Contents
Constitution, Bylaws and Continuing Resolutions
Bylaws are incorporated into the text of the Constitution where applicable and are numbered as: SBXX.XX.XX. Continuing Resolutions are numbered as: SX.XX.XXX. A † indicates a provision required by the Constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Chapter 1 NAME AND INCORPORATION
Chapter 5 NATURE OF THE CHURCH
Chapter 6 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Chapter 9 NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Chapter 11 COMMITTEES, DIVISIONS, AND COMMISSIONS
Chapter 12 CONFERENCES, CLUSTERS AND COALITIONS, OR OTHER AREA SUBDIVISIONS
Chapter 14 ORDAINED MINISTERS AND ASSOCIATES IN MINISTRY
Chapter 18 AMENDMENTS, BYLAWS, and CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS
Chapter 19 INSTITUTIONS, AGENCIES, AND AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
Constitution, Bylaws and Continuing Resolutions
Sierra Pacific Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Chapter 1 NAME AND INCORPORATION
†S1.01. The name of this synod shall be Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
†S1.02. For the purposes of this constitution and the accompanying bylaws, the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is hereafter designated as “this synod” or “the synod.”
†S1.11. This synod shall be incorporated. Amendments to the articles of incorporation of this synod shall be submitted to the Church Council for ratification before filing.
†S1.21. The seal of this synod is a circle that includes the name of the synod and the date of its incorporation.
†S2.01. This synod possesses the powers conferred upon it, and accepts the duties and responsibilities assigned to it, in the constitution, bylaws, and continuing resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA or "this church"), which are recognized as having governing force in the life of this synod.
†S2.02. No provision of this constitution shall be inconsistent with the constitution and bylaws of this church.
†S3.01. The territory of this synod, as determined by the Churchwide Assembly, shall be the counties of Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo, Yuba in the state of CALIFORNIA; the counties of Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, White Pine, and the political subdivision and county seat of Carson City in the state of NEVADA.
†S3.02. "Determined by the Churchwide Assembly," as stipulated by †S3.01., is understood to include the reported changes in synod relationship made by any congregation in a border area agreed under ELCA Bylaws 10.01.11. and 10.02.02.
†S4.01. This synod confesses the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
†S4.02. This synod confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe.
a. Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate, through whom everything was made and through whose life, death, and resurrection God fashions a new creation.
b. The proclamation of God's message to us as both Law and Gospel is the Word of God, revealing judgment and mercy through word and deed, beginning with the Word in creation, continuing in the history of Israel, and centering in all its fullness in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
c. The canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the written Word of God. Inspired by God's Spirit speaking through their authors, they record and announce God's revelation centering in Jesus Christ. Through them God's Spirit speaks to us to create and sustain Christian faith and fellowship for service in the world.
†S4.03. This synod accepts the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life.
†S4.04. This synod accepts the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds as true declarations of the faith of this synod.
†S4.05. This synod accepts the Unaltered Augsburg Confession as a true witness to the Gospel, acknowledging as one with it in faith and doctrine all churches that likewise accept the teachings of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.
†S4.06. This synod accepts the other confessional writings in the Book of Concord, namely, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles and the Treatise, the Small Catechism, the Large Catechism, and the Formula of Concord, as further valid interpretations of the faith of the Church.
†S4.07. This synod confesses the Gospel, recorded in the Holy Scriptures and confessed in the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran confessional writings, as the power of God to create and sustain the Church for God's mission in the world.
Chapter 5 NATURE OF THE CHURCH
†S5.01. All power in the Church belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ, its head. All actions of this synod are to be carried out under his rule and authority.
†S5.02. The Church exists both as an inclusive fellowship and as local congregations gathered for worship and Christian service. Congregations find their fulfillment in the universal community of the Church, and the universal Church exists in and through congregations. This church, therefore, derives its character and powers both from the sanction and representation of its congregations and from its inherent nature as an expression of the broader fellowship of the faithful. In length, it acknowledges itself to be in the historic continuity of the communion of saints; in breadth, it expresses the fellowship of believers and congregations in our day.
Chapter 6 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
†S6.01. The Church is a people created by God in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, called and sent to bear witness to God's creative, redeeming, and sanctifying activity in the world.
†S6.02. To participate in God's mission, this synod as a part of the Church shall:
a. Proclaim God's saving Gospel of justification by grace for Christ's sake through faith alone, according to the apostolic witness in the Holy Scripture, preserving and transmitting the Gospel faithfully to future generations.
b. Carry out Christ's Great Commission by reaching out to all people to bring them to faith in Christ and by doing all ministry with a global awareness consistent with the understanding of God as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier of all.
c. Serve in response to God's love to meet human needs, caring for the sick and the aged, advocating dignity and justice for all people, working for peace and reconciliation among the nations, and standing with the poor and powerless, and committing itself to their needs.
d. Worship God in proclamation of the Word and administration of the sacraments and through lives of prayer, praise, thanksgiving, witness, and service.
e. Nurture its members in the Word of God so as to grow in faith and hope and love, to see daily life as the primary setting for the exercise of their Christian calling, and to use the gifts of the Spirit for their life together and for their calling in the world.
f. Manifest the unity given to the people of God by living together in the love of Christ and by joining with other Christians in prayer and action to express and preserve the unity which the Spirit gives.
†S6.03. To fulfill these purposes, this synod, in partnership with the churchwide organization, shall bear primary responsibility for the oversight of the life and mission of this church in the territory of this synod. In fulfillment of this role, this synod shall:
a. Provide for the pastoral care of congregations, ordained ministers, associates in ministry, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers of this church in this synod, including:
1) approving candidates for the ordained ministry in cooperation with the appropriate seminaries of this church, which may be done through multi-synodical committees;
2) authorizing ordinations and ordaining on behalf of this church;
3) approving associates in ministry, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers of this church, which may be done through multi-synodical committees;
4) authorizing the commissioning of associates in ministry, the consecration of deaconesses, and the consecration of diaconal ministers of this church; and
5) consulting in the calling process for ordained ministers, associates in ministry, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers.
b. Provide for leadership recruitment, preparation, and support in accordance with churchwide standards and policies, including:
1) nurturing and supporting congregations and lay leaders;
2) seeking and recruiting qualified candidates for the rostered ministries of this church;
3) making provision for pastoral care, call or appointment review, and guidance;
4) encouraging and supporting persons on the roster of this church in stewardship of their abilities, care of self, and pursuit of continuing education to undergird their effectiveness of service; and
5) supporting recruitment of leaders for this church's colleges, universities, seminaries, and social ministry organizations.
c. Provide for discipline of congregations, ordained ministers, and persons on the official lay roster; as well as for termination of call, appointment, adjudication, and appeals consistent with procedures established by this church in Chapter 20 of the ELCA constitution and bylaws.
d. Foster organizations for youth, women, and men, and organizations for language or ethnic communities.
e. Plan for the mission of this church in this synod, initiating and developing policy and implementing programs, consistent with churchwide policy, including:
1) ecumenical guidance and encouragement;
2) development of new ministries, redevelopment of existing ministries, and support and assistance in the conclusion, if necessary, of a particular ministry;
3) leadership and encouragement of congregations in their evangelism efforts;
4) development of relationships to and participation in planning for mission of social ministry organizations and ministries;
5) encouragement of financial support for the work of this church by individuals and congregations.
6) provision for resources for congregational life;
7) assistance to the members of its congregations in carrying out their ministries in the world; and
8) interpretation of social statements in a manner consistent with the interpretation given by the churchwide unit which assisted in the development of the statement, and suggestion of social study issues through (a) Synod Assembly memorials to the Churchwide Assembly or (b) resolutions for referral from the Synod Assembly through the Synod Council to the Church Council and (c) Synod Council resolutions addressed to the Church Council or for referral to a unit of the churchwide organization through the Church Council's Executive Committee.
f. Promote interdependent relationships among congregations, synods, and the churchwide organization, and enter into partnership with other synods in the region.
g. Participate in churchwide programs and develop support for the ministry of the churchwide organization.
h. Foster the grouping of congregations in conferences, clusters, coalitions, or other area subdivisions for mission purposes.
i. Support relationships with and provide partnership funding on behalf of colleges, universities, and campus ministries.
j. Foster relationships with and provide partnership funding on behalf of social ministry organizations.
k. Maintain relationships with and provide partnership funding on behalf of seminaries and continuing education centers.
l. Foster supporting relationships with camps and other outdoor ministries.
m. oster supporting relationships with preschools, elementary schools, and secondary schools operated by congregations of this synod.
n. Interpret the work of this church to congregations and to the public.
o. Respond to human need, work for justice and peace, care for the sick and the suffering, and participate responsibly in society.
p. Provide for archives in conjunction with other synods.
q.Cooperate with other synods and the churchwide organization in creating, using, and supporting regions to carry out those functions of this synod which can best be done cooperatively with other synods and the churchwide organization.
r. Elect members of the Churchwide Assembly in accordance with bylaw 12.41.11 of the constitution and bylaws of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and according to procedures specified in the bylaws of this constitution.
†S6.04. Except as otherwise provided in this constitution and bylaws, the Synod Council shall establish processes that will ensure that at least 60% of the members of the synod assemblies, councils, committees, boards, and other organizational units shall be laypersons; and that, as nearly as possible, 50% of the lay members of assemblies, councils, committees, boards, or other organizational units shall be female and 50% shall be male; and that, where possible, the representation of ordained ministers shall be both male and female. This synod shall establish processes that will enable it to reach a minimum goal that 10% of its assemblies, councils, committees, boards, or other organizational units be persons of color and/or persons whose primary language is other than English.
†SB6.04.01. It is the goal of this synod that 10% of the membership of synod assemblies, councils, committees, boards and/or other organizational units be persons of color and/or persons whose primary language is other than English.
†S6.05. Each assembly, council, committee, board, commission, task force, or other body of this synod or any synodical units shall be conclusively presumed to have been properly constituted, and neither the method of selection nor the composition of any such assembly, council, committee, board, commission, task force, or other body may be challenged in a court of law by any person or be used as the basis of a challenge in a court of law to the validity or effect of any action taken or authorized by any such assembly, council, committee, board, commission, task force, or other body.
†S7.01. This synod shall have a Synod Assembly, which shall be its highest legislative authority. The powers of the Synod Assembly are limited only by the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, this constitution and bylaws, the assembly’s own resolutions, and the constitution and bylaws of this church.
†S7.11. A regular meeting of the Synod Assembly shall be held at least biennially.
SB7.11.01. The Synod Assembly shall meet annually.
S7.12. Special meetings of the Synod Assembly may be called by the bishop with the consent of the Synod Council, and shall be called by the bishop at the request of one-fifth of the voting members of the Synod Assembly or two-thirds of the members of the Synod Council. Such a meeting shall be called with advance notice of not less than 60 days, and the purpose for a special meeting shall be stated in the notice. The scope of actions to be taken at such a special meeting shall be limited to the subject matter(s) described in the notice.
If the special meeting of the Synod Assembly is for the purpose of electing a successor bishop because of death, resignation, or inability to serve, the special meeting shall be called by the bishop of the ELCA in cooperation with the Synod Council.
S7.13. Notice of the time and place of all regular meetings of the Synod Assembly shall be given by the secretary of this synod not less than 60 days prior to the convening date.
S7.14. All members present at any session of a duly-called meeting of the Synod Assembly shall constitute a quorum.
†S7.21. The membership of the Synod Assembly, of which at least 60% of the voting membership shall be composed of lay persons, shall be constituted as follows:
a. All ordained ministers under call on the roster of this synod in attendance at the Synod Assembly shall be voting members.
b. All associates in ministry, deaconesses of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and diaconal ministers, under call, on the official lay rosters of this synod shall have both voice and vote as lay voting members in the Synod Assembly, in addition to the voting membership of lay members of congregations provided in item †S7.21.c.
c. A minimum of one lay member elected by each congregation with fewer than 175 baptized members and a minimum of two lay members elected by each congregation with more than 175 baptized members related to this synod, normally one of whom shall be male and one of whom shall be female, shall be voting members. The Synod Council shall establish a formula to provide additional lay representation from congregations on the basis of number of baptized members in the congregation. The Synod Council shall seek to ensure that, as nearly as possible, 50 percent of the lay members of the assembly shall be female and 50 percent shall be male. Additional members from each congregation normally shall be equally divided between male and female.
d. Voting membership shall include the officers of this synod.
SB7.21.01. Congregations with fewer that 175 baptized members may send one additional lay member to the Synod Assembly beyond the minimum required by S7.21. If such a congregation is sending only one member, they may choose either a lay male or a lay female; if sending two members, one must be male and one female.
S7.22. This synod may establish processes that permit retired ordained ministers, retired associates in ministry, retired deaconesses, and retired diaconal ministers on the roster of this synod to serve as voting members of the Synod Assembly, consistent with S7.21.c. above.
SB7.22.01. Not less than 90 days prior to the convening of the Assembly, the Secretary of the Synod shall mail a letter to all retired ordained ministers, retired associates in ministry, retired deaconesses, and retired diaconal ministers on the combined rosters of the Synod, asking if they are willing to serve as a voting member of that year's Assembly. From the list of those who reply affirmatively, the secretary shall designate a number equal to 10% of the total number on the combined rosters who shall be selected as voting members. The names of those replying affirmatively shall be placed in alphabetical order, and the persons selected shall be chosen alphabetically, moving down the list from the alphabetical point where the previous year's list of voting members left off. Alternates shall be designated by continuing down the list in alphabetical order, but alternates who are not seated as voting members will continue to be eligible the next year. The secretary shall notify all retired rostered persons of the results of this process.
S7.23. All retired ordained ministers, all ordained ministers on leave from call, all associates in ministry on leave from call or retired, all deaconesses of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on leave from call or retired, and all diaconal ministers of this church on leave from call or retired, all of whose names appear on the rosters of this synod, shall have the privilege of voice but not vote at all meetings of the Synod Assembly. The bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and such other official representatives of this church as may be designated from time to time by the Church Council shall also have voice but not vote in the meetings of the Synod Assembly. Like privileges shall be accorded to those additional persons whom the Synod Assembly shall from time to time designate.
S7.24. Ordained ministers under call on the roster of this synod shall remain as voting members of the Synod Assembly so long as they remain under call and so long as their names appear on the roster of ordained ministers of this synod. Lay members of the Synod Assembly representing congregations, and Associates in Ministry, deaconesses of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and diaconal ministers of this church serving under call on the rosters of this synod, shall continue as such until replaced by the election of new members or until they have been disqualified by termination of membership. Normally, congregations will hold elections prior to each regular meeting of the Synod Assembly.
†S7.25. Except as otherwise provided in this constitution or in the Constitution, Bylaws, and continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, each member of the Synod Assembly shall be a voting member of a congregation of this synod.
S7.26. This synod may establish processes through the Synod Council that permit representatives of authorized worshiping communities of the synod, under ELCA bylaw 10.02.03., to serve as voting members of the Synod Assembly, consistent with †S7.21. Such authorized worshiping communities, acknowledged under criteria and procedures of the ELCA Division for Outreach and the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, shall accept and adhere to the Confession of Faith and Statement of Purpose of this church, shall be served by leadership under the criteria of this church, and shall be subject to the discipline of this church.
S7.26.A00. One lay member from each synodically authorized worshiping community shall be a voting member of the Assembly.
S7.27. Duly elected voting members of the Synod Council who are not otherwise voting members of the Synod Assembly under †S7.21. shall be granted the privilege of both voice and vote as members of the Synod Assembly.
S7.28. Each ordained minister on the roster of the synod who is retired or on leave from call and, at the time of an assembly, is serving a congregation as an interim pastor pursuant to a letter of agreement approved by the bishop of the Synod shall be a voting member of that assembly.
†S7.31. Proxy and absentee voting shall not be permitted in the transaction of any business of this synod.
S7.32. Robert's Rules of Order, latest edition, shall govern parliamentary procedure of the Synod Assembly.
S7.33. “Ex-officio” as used herein means membership with full rights of voice and vote unless otherwise expressly limited.
†S8.01. The officers of this synod shall be a bishop, a vice-president, a secretary, and a treasurer.
†S8.10. Bishop
†S8.11. The bishop shall be elected by the Synod Assembly. The bishop shall be a pastor who is an ordained minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
†S8.12. As this synod's pastor, the bishop shall:
a. Preach, teach, and administer the sacraments in accord with the Confession of Faith of this church.
b. Have primary responsibility for the ministry of Word and Sacrament in this synod and its congregations, providing pastoral care and leadership for this synod, its congregations, its ordained ministers, and other rostered leaders.
c. Exercise solely this church's power to ordain (or provide for the ordination by another synodical bishop of) all approved candidates who have received and accepted a properly issued, duly attested letter of call for the office of ordained ministry (and as provided in the bylaws of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
d. Commission (or provide for the commissioning of) approved candidates who have received and accepted a properly issued, duly attested letter of call for service as associates in ministry; consecrate (or provide for the consecration of) approved candidates who have received and accepted a properly issued, duly attested letter of call for service as a deaconess of the ELCA; consecrate (or provide for the consecration of) approved candidates who have received and accepted a properly issued, duly attested letter of call for service as diaconal ministers of this church.
e. Attest letters of call for persons called to serve congregations in this synod, letters of call for persons called by the Synod Council, and letters of call for persons called by the Church Council on the roster of this synod.
f. Install (or provide for the installation of):
1) the pastors of all congregations of this synod;
2) ordained ministers call to extraparish service within this church; and
3) persons serving in the other rostered ministries within this synod.
g. Exercise leadership in the mission of this church and in so doing:
1) Interpret and advocate the mission and theology of the whole church;
2) Lead in fostering support for and commitment to the mission of this church within this synod;
3) Coordinate the use of the resources available to this synod as it seeks to promote the health of this church's life and witness in the areas served by this synod;
4) Submit a report to each regular meeting of the Synod Assembly concerning the synod's life and work; and
5) Advise and counsel this synod's related institutions and organizations.
h. Practice leadership in strengthening the unity of the Church and in so doing:
1) Exercise oversight of the preaching, teaching, and administration of the sacraments within this synod in accord with the Confession of Faith of this church;
2) Be responsible for administering the constitutionally established processes for the resolution of controversies and for the discipline of ordained ministers, other rostered leaders, and congregations of this synod;
3) Be the chief ecumenical officer of this synod;
4) Consult regularly with other synodical bishops and the Conference of Bishops;
5) Foster awareness of other churches throughout the Lutheran world communion and, where appropriate, engage in contact with leaders of those churches;
6) Cultivate communion in faith and mission with appropriate Christian judicatory leaders functioning within the territory of this synod; and
7) Be ex officio a member of the Churchwide Assembly.
i. Oversee and administer the work of this synod and in so doing:
1) Serve as the president of the synod corporation and be the chief executive and administrative officer of this synod, who is authorized and empowered, in the name of this synod, to sign deeds or other instruments and to affix the seal of this synod;
2) Preside at all meetings of the Synod Assembly and provide for the preparation of the agenda for the Synod Assembly, Synod Council, and the council's Executive Committee;
3) Ensure that the constitution and bylaws of the synod and of the churchwide organization are duly observed within this synod, and that the actions of the synod in conformity therewith are carried into effect;
4) Exercise supervision over the work of the other officers;
5) Coordinate the work of all synodical staff members;
6) Appoint all committees for which provision is not otherwise made;
7) Be a member of all committees and any other organizational units of the synod, except as otherwise provided in this constitution;
8) Provide for preparation and maintenance of synodical rosters containing:
a) the names and addresses of all ordained ministers of this synod and a record of the calls under which they are serving or the date on which they become retired or disabled; and
b) the names and addresses of all other rostered persons of this synod and a record of the positions to which they have been called or the date on which they become retired or disabled;
9) Annually bring to the attention of the Synod Council the names of all rostered persons on leave from call or engaged in approved graduate study in conformity with the constitution and bylaws of this church and pursuant to prior action of this synod through the Synod Council;
10) Provide for prompt reporting to the secretary of this church of:
a) additions to and subtractions from the rosters of this synod and the register of congregations;
b) the issuance of certificates of transfer for rostered persons in good standing who have received and accepted a properly issued, duly attested, regular letter of call under the jurisdiction of another synod;
c) the entrance of the names of such persons for whom proper certificates of transfer have been received;
11) Provide for preparation and maintenance of a register of the congregations of this synod and the names of the laypersons who have been elected to represent them; and
12) Appoint a statistician of the synod, secure the parochial reports of the congregations and make the reports available to the secretary of this church for collation, analysis, and distribution of the statistical summaries to this synod and the other synods of this church.
S8.14. The bishop may have such assistants as this synod shall from time to time authorize.
†S8.15. The presiding bishop of this church, or the appointee of the bishop, shall install into office, in accord with the policy and approved rite of this church, each newly elected synod bishop.
S8.16. As part of his or her pastoral responsibility for this synod, the bishop may from time to time request a report from each ordained minister on the roster of this synod concerning his or her ministry.
S8.20. Vice-President
†S8.21. The vice-president shall be elected by the Synod Assembly. The vice-president shall be a layperson. The vice-president shall be a voting member of a congregation of this synod. The vice-president shall not receive a salary for the performance of the duties of the office.
S8.22. The vice-president shall chair the Synod Council.
S8.23. In the event of the resignation, death, or disability of the bishop, the vice-president shall convene the Synod Council to arrange for the conduct of the duties of the bishop until a new bishop shall be elected or, in the case of temporary disability, until the bishop resumes full performance of the duties of the office. If the vice-president is unable to fulfill this duty, or if the office of vice-president is vacant, the Synod Council shall meet and arrange for the conduct of the duties of the bishop.
S8.30. Secretary
†S8.31. The secretary shall be elected by the Synod Assembly. The secretary shall be a voting member of a congregation of this synod. The secretary may be either a layperson or an ordained minister.
†S8.32. The secretary shall:
a. Keep the minutes of all meetings of the Synod Assembly and Synod Council, be responsible for the printing and distribution of such minutes, and perform such other duties as this synod may from time to time direct.
b. Be authorized and empowered, in the name of this synod, to attest all instruments which require the same, and which are signed and sealed by the bishop.
c. In consultation with the bishop, classify and arrange all important papers and documents and deposit them in the archives of this synod.
d. Submit to the secretary of this church at least nine months before each regular Churchwide Assembly a certified list of the voting members elected by the Synod Assembly.
e. Give notice of all meetings of the Synod Assembly, as required by S7.12 and S7.13.
f. Incorporate into this Constitution any amendments made necessary by action of the Churchwide Assembly as provided in S17.02.
S8.40. Treasurer
†S8.41. The treasurer shall be elected by the Synod Assembly. The treasurer shall be a voting member of a congregation of this synod. The treasurer may be either a layperson or an ordained minister.
S8.42. The treasurer shall provide and be accountable for:
a. Management of the monies and accounts of this synod, its deeds, mortgages, contracts, evidences of claims and revenues, and trust funds, holding the same at all times subject to the order of this synod.
b. Investment of funds upon the authorization of the Synod Council.
c. Receipt and acknowledgment of offerings, contributions, and bequests made to this synod, collecting interest and income from its invested funds, and paying regular appropriations and orders on the several accounts as approved and directed by the Synod Council. The treasurer shall transmit each month to the treasurer of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America the funds received by this synod for the general work of this church.
d. Maintenance of a regular account with each congregation of this synod and informing the congregation, at least quarterly, of the status of this account.
e. Rendering at each regular meeting of the Synod Assembly a full, detailed, and duly audited report of receipts and disbursements in the several accounts of this synod for the preceding fiscal year, together with the tabulation, for record and publication in the minutes, of the contributions from the congregations.
f. Giving of corporate surety in the amount determined by the Synod Council, which shall be in the custody of the secretary, and the premium therefore shall be paid by this synod. Fidelity coverage provided by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America shall be deemed a fulfillment of this requirement.
S8.50. General Provisions
†S8.51. The terms of office of the officers of this synod shall be:
a. The bishop of this synod shall be elected to a term of six years and may be reelected.
b. The vice president, secretary, and treasurer of this synod shall be elected to a term of four years and may be reelected.
S8.52. The term of the bishop shall begin on the first day of the third month following election, and the terms of the other officers shall begin on the first day of the second month following election.
†S8.53. Each officer shall be a voting member in a congregation of this synod, except that the bishop need not be a member of a congregation of this synod at the time of election.
†S8.54. Should the bishop die, resign, or be unable to serve, the vice-president shall convene the Synod Council to arrange for the appropriate care of the responsibilities of the bishop until an election of a new bishop can be held or, in the case of temporary disability, until the bishop is able to serve again. Such arrangements may include the appointment by the Synod Council of an interim bishop, who during the vacancy or period of disability shall possess all of the powers and authority of a regularly elected bishop. The term of the successor bishop, elected by the next Synod Assembly or a special meeting of the Synod Assembly called for the purpose of election, shall be six years with the subsequent election to take place at the Synod Assembly closest to the expiration of such a term and with the starting date of a successor term to be governed by constitutional provision S8.52.
S8.55. Should the vice-president, secretary, or treasurer die, resign, or be unable to serve, the bishop, with the approval of the Executive Committee of the Synod Council, shall arrange for the appropriate care of the responsibilities of the officer until an election of a new officer can be held or, in the case of temporary disability, until the officer is able to serve again.
†S8.56. The Executive Committee of the Synod Council shall determine whether an officer is unable to serve; the officer may appeal the decision of the Executive Committee by requesting a hearing before the Synod Council. A meeting to determine the ability of an officer to serve shall be called upon the request of at least three members of the Executive Committee and prior written notice of the meeting shall be given to the officer in question at least ten calendar days prior to the meeting.
†S8.57. The recall or dismissal of an officer may be effected in accordance with the procedure established by the Committee of Appeals of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
†S8.58. If the bishop is to be temporarily absent from the synod for an extended period, the bishop, with the consent of the Synod Council, may appoint as acting bishop for such period an ordained minister of this church. Except as limited by action of the Synod Council, an acting bishop shall possess all of the powers and authority of a regularly elected bishop other than authority to ordain or to authorize the ordination of properly approved candidates for ordination.
Chapter 9 NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
†S9.01. The Synod Assembly shall elect such officers of this synod and such other persons as the constitution and bylaws may require, according to procedures set forth in the bylaws.
SB9.01.01. Voting members of the Churchwide Assembly shall be elected by the Synod Assembly in the following manner:
a. The bishop shall automatically be a member, in accordance with ELCA Constitution 12.41.11.
b. The Assembly shall elect an ordained minister on the roster of this synod, one lay man and one lay woman from each electoral district. Preliminary nominations for these positions may be made by the conferences; additional nominations may be made from the floor at the Electoral District Caucus with the consent of the nominee. Each Caucus shall select two persons for each position from among those nominated by the Conferences of the Electoral District or from the floor at the time of the Caucus. The two nominees for each position selected by the Caucus shall be presented to the Synod Assembly; no additional nominations shall be permitted. The Assembly shall elect one person for each position to serve as a member of the Churchwide Assembly. A member who subsequently moves out of the electoral district from which he or she was elected shall continue to hold office until the next election, provided he or she continues to hold membership in a congregation of this synod.
c. Additional members-at-large sufficient to complete the assigned delegate number shall be elected from nominations made by the Nominating Committee, with further nominations from the floor permitted. The election of the at-large members, if necessary, shall take place after the elections of the members from the districts have been completed. In the event that the number of Churchwide Assembly members assigned to the Synod precludes electing three persons from each Electoral District, the Synod Council shall determine how best to distribute the members to be elected.
d. The runner-up in each election shall be the first alternate for the seat. In the event the elected voting member or alternate is unable to serve, the Synod Council or Executive Committee shall appoint additional alternates as necessary.
SB9.01.02. The Synod Council may recommend to the Assembly any alterations in the procedure of SB9.01.01 made necessary by the number of members of the Churchwide Assembly assigned to this synod.
S9.02. In all elections by the Synod Assembly, other than for the bishop, a majority of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election.
S9.03. There shall be a Nominating Committee consisting of nine members, appointed by the Synod Council in three classes for three-year terms. The new class shall take office at the close of the regular meeting of the Synod Assembly (or July 1, should the Synod Assembly not hold a regular meeting that year). The Synod Council shall designate a convener for the Committee, which shall elect its own chair. Additional nominations may be made from the floor for all elections.
SB9.03.01. The Nominating Committee shall monitor the progress and make recommendations about the place of elections in achieving the goal of †S6.04.A87.
SB9.03.02. The Nominating Committee, in consultation with the Conference Cabinets and other appropriate groups, shall present nominations for Synod officials (except as otherwise provided), including at-large members of the Council and Synod Churchwide Assembly delegates, and other positions as the Synod Council may designate.
SB9.03.03. The members of the Nominating Committee shall be limited to two consecutive terms of three years each.
S9.04. The bishop shall be elected by the Synod Assembly by ecclesiastical ballot. Three-quarters of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election on the first ballot. All persons receiving legal votes shall be reported in written form after the first ballot, together with the number of legal votes each received. The second ballot shall list all persons who received legal votes on the first ballot, except those who have asked that their names not be considered, but members may still vote for any eligible person even if that person did not receive legal votes on the first ballot. On the second ballot, three-quarters of the legal votes cast shall be required for election, and the results shall be reported in written form. Beginning with the third ballot, only those who have received 5% of the legal votes on the previous ballot shall be listed; but through the fifth ballot members may cast a write-in vote for any eligible person, even if not listed on the ballot. All persons receiving legal votes shall be reported in written form to the Assembly, together with the number of legal votes each received. On the third ballot, 2/3 of the legal votes cast shall be required for election. On the fourth ballot, 60% of the legal votes cast shall be required for election. On the fifth and subsequent ballots, a majority of the legal votes cast shall be required for election. If no one is elected through five ballots, the sixth ballot shall be limited to the three persons (plus ties) who received the greatest number of legal votes on the fifth ballot and no votes for other persons shall be considered legal; the seventh and subsequent ballots, if necessary, shall be limited to the two persons (plus ties) who received the greatest number of legal votes on the immediately preceding ballot and no votes for other persons shall be considered legal.
SB9.04.01. In the year prior to an election for bishop, the Nominating Committee shall establish a process for providing this synod with information about potential candidates for bishop. The process shall be reviewed and approved by the Synod Council prior to its beginning, and shall include the following elements:
a. Each Conference within this synod shall be invited to suggest names of those eligible persons on the clergy roster of the ELCA whom they believe to have the gifts and graces necessary for holding the office of bishop. Each conference shall submit no more than five names, no later than January 15 (or another date approved by the Synod Council). The name of each person submitted, together with the conference or conferences which submitted that name, shall be made known by the Nominating Committee to each person whose name has been submitted, as well as to the congregations and rostered professionals of the synod, through any appropriate media. Each conference may make its own decision as to the process it uses to determine the names it will submit, but that process shall include an opportunity for congregations and individuals within the conference to suggest names for consideration.
b. Persons so suggested shall be invited to submit brief biographical material, and to respond to questions regarding their view of the office of bishop and its role in the mission of the church. The specific questions asked shall be approved by the Synod Council.
c. The responses to this invitation shall be distributed to members of the Assembly along with the pre-assembly reports. They shall also be posted on the Synod’s website.
d. Any persons receiving votes on the first ballot who did not previously submit written material shall be invited to do so immediately, and those responses shall be duplicated and made available to the voting members of the Assembly.
SB9.04.02. When the Synod Assembly begins the process of balloting for bishop, that process shall take priority over all other business.
S9.05. The Nominating Committee shall nominate at least two persons for vice-president; additional nominations may be made from the floor.
S9.06. The Nominating Committee shall nominate two persons for secretary; additional nominations may be made from the floor.
S9.07. The Synod Council shall nominate two persons for treasurer; additional nominations may be made from the floor.
S9.08. In all elections, except for the election of the bishop, the names of the persons receiving the highest number of legal votes, but not elected by a majority of the legal votes cast on a preceding ballot, shall be entered on the next ballot to the number of two for each vacancy unfilled. On any ballot when only two names appear, a majority of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election.
S9.09. The result of each ballot in every election shall be announced in detail to the assembly.
†S10.01. a. The Synod Council consisting of the four officers of this synod, 10 to 24 other members, and at least one youth shall be elected by the Synod Assembly. Each person elected to the Synod Council shall be a voting member of a congregation of this synod, with the exception of ordained ministers on the roster of this synod who reside outside the territory of this synod. The process for election and the term of office when not otherwise provided shall be specified in the bylaws. A member of the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America from this synod, unless otherwise elected as a voting member of the Synod Council, may serve as an advisory member of the Synod Council with voice but not vote.
b. The term of office of members of the Synod Council, with the exception of the officers and the youth member, shall be three years.
SB10.01.01. The Synod Council shall consist of the four officers of this synod, fifteen members elected from five geographical electoral districts, three members elected at-large, and one youth. The fifteen electoral district members shall be elected by the Synod Assembly from nominations made by the Electoral District Caucus to be held at the Synod Assembly. The Electoral District Caucus shall consist of all voting members of the Synod Assembly who are members of a congregation in that particular Electoral District. Each nominee shall be a voting member of a congregation in that Electoral District. The officers, members at large, and the youth representative to the Synod Council will be elected on an at-large basis at the Synod Assembly. Unless otherwise provided by the constitution and bylaws, those to be elected at-large will be chosen from among nominees of the Nominating Committee and nominations from the floor.
SB10.01.02. Conferences (Chapter 12) shall be grouped in five electoral districts as follows:
Electoral District A: Redwood, The Vineyard, Gateway, and Delta Diablo Conferences
Electoral District B: Northern Mountain Valley, Sierra, Foothill, and Sacramento Conferences
Electoral District C: San Francisco, East Bay, and Southern Alameda Conferences
Electoral District D: Peninsula and Monterey Bay Conferences and the Santa Clara Valley Lutheran Parish
Electoral District E: Sierra San Joaquin, Central Valley, Central San Joaquin, and South Valley Conferences
SB10.01.03. The Synod Assembly shall elect to the Council one ordained minister on the roster of this Synod, one lay man, and one lay woman from each Electoral District. These Council members shall be elected for three year terms, arranged in three classes so that the term of one Council position in each Electoral District expires each year. Preliminary nominations for these positions may be made by the conferences; additional nominations may be made from the floor at the Electoral District Caucus with the consent of the nominee. Each Caucus shall select two persons from among those nominated by the Conferences of the Electoral District or from the floor at the time of the Caucus. The two nominees selected by the Caucus shall be presented to the Synod Assembly; no additional nominations shall be permitted. The Assembly shall elect one of the two nominees of each Electoral District to serve on the Synod Council. A member elected as a representative of an Electoral District who subsequently moves out of that district may continue to hold office until the end of that term, provided he or she continues to meet all other qualifications for office.
SB10.01.04. One youth member shall be elected by the Synod Assembly for a two-year term from nominations made by the Nominating Committee. The youth member shall be eighteen years of age or younger at the time of election.
SB10.01.05. The three members-at-large shall be elected from nominations made by the Nominating Committee. They shall be elected for three-year terms, arranged in three classes so that one at-large position is elected each year. The election of the at-large Council member at each Assembly shall take place after the elections for any other Council positions are completed.
SB10.01.06. In the election of Council members, all relevant provisions of Chapters 9 and 10 of the Synod Constitution shall apply.
SB10.01.07. Unless otherwise provided, Council members may serve no more than two consecutive terms. A partial term of two years or less shall not be considered in applying this restriction.
SB10.01.08. Unless otherwise provided, a vacancy on the Council shall be filled by the Council itself. A person elected by the Council to fill a vacancy shall serve until the completion of the unexpired term, and may be re-elected under the provisions of SB10.01.07. Persons so elected shall meet the qualifications for the position they are filling.
SB10.01.09. Council members shall take office upon the adjournment of the Assembly at which they are elected. If elected by the Council to fill a vacancy, a Council member shall take office immediately upon election.
SB10.01.10. The Council shall meet at least four times each year.
SB10.01.11. Unless otherwise specified in the Synod Constitution or Bylaws, the Council shall determine its own organization and may establish any committees necessary to do its work.
SB10.01.12. A majority of the members of the Synod Council shall constitute a quorum.
SB10.01.13. Robert's Rules of Order, latest edition, shall govern parliamentary procedure of the Synod Council.
SB10.01.14. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Synod Council may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Council shall individually or collectively consent in writing to such action. Such written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the Council. Such action by written consent shall have the same force and effect as the unanimous vote of the members of the Council. Any certificate or other document which relates to action so taken shall state that the action was taken by unanimous written consent of the Synod Council without a meeting and that the Bylaws of this corporation authorize the members of the Synod Council to so act.
SB10.01.15. The Synod Council shall elect or appoint from its members one person to serve with the bishop (or his/her appointee) on the Region 2 Steering Committee.
†S10.02. The Synod Council shall be the board of directors of this synod and shall serve as its interim legislative authority between meetings of the Synod Assembly. It may make decisions which are not in conflict with actions taken by the Synod Assembly or which are not precluded by provisions of this constitution or the constitution and bylaws of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
S10.03. The functions of the Synod Council shall be to:
a. Exercise trusteeship responsibilities on behalf of this synod.
b. Recommend program goals and budgets to the regular meetings of the Synod Assembly.
c. Carry out the resolutions of the Synod Assembly.
d. Provide for an annual review of the roster of ordained ministers and of other official rosters, receive and act upon appropriate recommendations regarding those persons whose status is subject to reconsideration and action under the constitution and bylaws of ELCA, and make a report to the Synod Assembly of the Synod Council’s actions in this regard.
e. Issue letters of call to ordained ministers and letters of call to associates in ministry, deaconesses of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and diaconal ministers as authorized by Chapter 7 of the constitution and bylaws of ELCA.
f. Fill vacancies until the next regular meeting of the Synod Assembly except as may otherwise be provided in the constitution or bylaws of this synod, and determine the fact of the incapacity of an officer of this synod.
g. Report its actions to the regular meeting of the Synod Assembly.
h. Perform such other functions as are set forth in the bylaws of this synod, or as may be delegated to it by the Synod Assembly.
i. Arrange to have an annual audit of synod financial records conducted by a certified public accountant firm and submit the audited annual financial report to the Synod Assembly and to the churchwide Office of the Treasurer.
j. Elect members of synod boards, committees, or other organizational units unless otherwise specified in the bylaws.
k. Elect members of boards of affiliated institutions and agencies unless otherwise specified in the institution or agency bylaws or the bylaws of this synod.
l. Receive, review, and approve amendments to the constitutions of congregations of this synod, in accordance with provisions of those constitutions and the provisions of the ELCA.
m. Incur indebtedness, for terms not to exceed five years, when necessary to fund short-term needs of existing programs previously adopted by the Synod Assembly. The terms and amount of each such indebtedness shall be entered on the minutes of the Council and reported to each meeting of the Synod Assembly. The note or obligation given for such indebtedness, signed by the bishop and the secretary, shall be binding on this synod.
S10.04. Any proposal to appropriate funds which is presented to a meeting of the Synod Assembly without the approval of the Synod Council shall require a two-thirds vote for adoption, except that amendments to the proposed budget which do not change the budget total may be approved by a simple majority of the Synod Assembly.
S10.05. No elected member of the Synod Council shall receive compensation for such service. Synod Council members shall be entitled to reimbursement for approved expenses incurred in the exercise of their responsibilities as Council members.
S10.06. The office of a member of the Synod Council shall at once become vacant when:
a. the member, if ordained, is removed from the clergy roster of this synod;
b. the member, if a layperson, ceases to be a voting member of a congregation of this synod.
S10.07. The composition of the Synod Council, the number of its members, and the manner of their selection, as well as the organization of the Synod Council, its additional duties and responsibilities, and the number of meetings to be held each year shall be as set forth in the bylaws.
SB10.07.01. No officer or member of the Synod Council shall, during their term of office, serve as a member of the Board of Directors of any agency affiliated with the Synod under the provisions of Chapter 19 of this constitution, except as otherwise provided by this constitution or by the governing documents of said agency.
Chapter 11 COMMITTEES, DIVISIONS, AND COMMISSIONS
†S11.01. There shall be an Executive Committee, a Consultation Committee, a Committee on Discipline, a Mutual Ministry Committee, and such other committees as this synod may from time to time determine. The duties and functions of such committees, or any other organizational units created by this synod, and the composition and organizational structure of such units, shall be as set forth in this constitution or in the bylaws or continuing resolutions, and shall be subject to any applicable provisions or requirements of the constitution and bylaws of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
SB11.01.01. There shall be an Executive Committee, which shall consist of the officers of this synod and three other Council members, elected annually by the Council. The Executive Committee shall perform those functions of the Council assigned to it by the Council. Minutes of all Executive Committee meetings shall be distributed to the full Council. The Executive Committee shall determine its own organization.
SB11.01.02. There shall be a Committee on the Synod Assembly, which shall have responsibility for planning and organizing sessions of the Synod Assembly, including program, business, entertainment, worship, registration procedures, and any other matters relating to the meetings of the Synod Assembly. The Committee shall be composed of two members of the Synod Council; such members of the synod staff as may be appointed by the bishop; and four additional persons appointed by the Council to three-year staggered terms. Attention shall be given to the provisions of S6.04.A87. During the year preceding the Synod Assembly, this Committee may appoint to its membership additional people from the city area where the Synod Assembly will be meeting. The chairperson of the Committee on the Synod Assembly shall be designated by the Synod Council.
The date, place, time, registration fees, delegate formula, and agenda of each Assembly shall be recommended to the Synod Council, to which the Committee shall be responsible.
SB11.01.03. There shall be a Committee on Synod Documents, composed of the secretary of this synod and five other members appointed by the Synod Council for staggered three-year terms. The Committee shall choose its own chair and such other officers as it may deem necessary. The Committee's responsibilities shall include ongoing review of the Constitution, Bylaws, and such other Rules of Procedure as this synod may adopt; editing of those documents for clarity and consistency; assisting the Council or other groups within this synod in preparing legislation for Synod consideration; and such other related tasks that the Council or Assembly may assign to it.
SB11.01.04. There shall be a Finance Committee, which shall consist of the synod treasurer and five other persons who are voting members of congregations of this synod, who may be members of the Synod Council, and who are appointed annually by the Synod Council to staggered three-year terms. The Finance Committee shall:
a. Assist the treasurer in the development of policies governing the management and investment of the financial assets of this synod.
b. Develop and recommend to the Synod Council the operating budget of this synod, including estimates of income and expense for all the parts of this synod's ministry, and present its budget recommendation to the Council at least three months before the Synod Assembly that will consider the budget for adoption. Preparation of the Committee's recommendation to the Council shall include opportunities for participation by the conferences, by the institutions and agencies related to this synod, by the church-wide agencies, and by each organizational unit that will carry out parts of the program to be recommended to the Synod Assembly.
c. Prepare and recommend a spending plan to the Synod Council in the first quarter of each fiscal year. The spending plan shall propose means to accomplish the financial program adopted by the Synod Assembly in the light of the most recent estimates of Synod income.
d. Provide continuing review of this synod's program of casualty insurance and make timely recommendations for changes in insurance coverage to the Synod Council.
S11.01.A02. The Synod Treasurer shall be the chairperson of the Finance Committee.
SB11.01.05. The Mutual Ministry Committee shall be composed of six members, who shall serve a term of six years, concurrent with that of the bishop. One ordained minister on the roster of this synod, one lay man, and one lay woman shall be appointed by the bishop and confirmed by the Synod Council. One ordained minister on the roster of this synod, one lay man, and one lay woman shall be elected by the Synod Council after approval by the bishop. The committee shall choose its own chair and meet at least twice a year; it shall meet additionally at the call of the bishop. The Committee shall:
a. provide support and counsel to the bishop.
b. annually review and evaluate the ministry of the bishop, and share with the bishop a summary of their evaluation. This evaluation shall remain confidential.
SB11.01.06. A Council of Deans, including the dean from each conference of this synod, shall serve as an advisory resource for the bishop. The deans are available to the bishop, at the bishop's request, for advice and counsel regarding such concerns as clergy awaiting call, congregations without pastor, congregations in the call process, and the general pastoral care of clergy and congregation.
SB11.01.07. There shall be a Committee on Archives and History, composed of three members appointed by the Synod Council for staggered three-year terms; the Archivist of the Synod (who shall be appointed by the Bishop), the Secretary of the Synod, and the Curator of the Region 2 Archives shall be ex officio members of the Committee. The Committee shall have the following responsibilities:
a. Work with the ELCA’s designated Region 2 archives to ensure that all significant archival material is collected and preserved.
b. Encourage and promote adequate archival and historical activity in the congregations of the synod.
c. Cooperate with the Lutheran History Center of the West and other societies concerned about the history of Lutheranism in the West.
d. Perform such other tasks as may be assigned by the Synod.
†S11.02. The Consultation Committee of this synod shall consist of at least 6 persons and not more than 12 persons, of whom half shall be ordained ministers and half shall be lay persons, who shall each be elected by the Synod Assembly for a term of six years without consecutive reelection. The functions of the Consultation Committee are set forth in Chapter 20 of the Constitution, Bylaws and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and in Chapter 17 of this constitution. The size of the Consultation Committee, in accord with this provision, shall be defined in this synod’s bylaws.
SB11.02.01. There shall be a Consultation Committee consisting of 8 personswho shall be nominated by the bishop and elected by the Synod Assembly. The bishop shall be a member of the committee ex officio except in instances where the bishop brings charges against an ordained minister. The Consultation Committee's responsibilities and procedures shall be those listed in ELCA Bylaw 20.21.05.
†S11.03. The Committee on Discipline in this synod shall consist of 12 persons of whom six shall be ordained ministers and six shall be lay persons, who shall each be elected by the Synod Assembly for a term of six years without consecutive reelection.
a. The functions of the Committee on Discipline of this synod are set forth in Chapter 20 of the Constitution, Bylaws and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
b. The terms of committee members shall be staggered so that the terms of four committee members (two clergy and two lay) expire every two years.
c. The Synod Council shall fill vacancies on the Committee on Discipline for any unexpired term. (During the 1999-2001 biennium, in order to implement such staggered terms for a 12-member committee, the Synod Council may designate terms and may transfer members from the Consultation Committee to the Committee on Discipline consistent with models prepared by the secretary of this church. The parenthetical implementation sentence shall expire at the conclusion of the 2001 Churchwide Assembly.
SB11.03.01. Members of the Committee on Discipline shall be nominated by the bishop and elected by the Synod Assembly. Each biennium the Synod Council shall appoint the chair of the committee.
S11.05. The Committee on Candidacy of this Synod shall have the functions and responsibilities specified in the appropriate ELCA documents. The Committee shall consist of the following members:
a. One member of the Synod Council, appointed annually by the Council;
b. The Bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod;
c. One additional staff member appointed by the Bishop;
d. One representative of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, appointed by the Seminary;
e. Fifteen members appointed by the Synod Council, organized in three approximately equal classes and serving terms of three years. Persons appointed in this way shall serve no more than three consecutive terms, but a partial term of two years or less shall not be counted as a term for the
purposes of this provision. Appointments by the Council shall be made from nominations from the Nominating Committee. Terms shall expire December 31st of the stated year. Attention shall be given to the provisions of S6.04.A87.
S11.06. The committees and other organizational units of this synod shall be formed under the guidance of S6.04. With the exception of ordained ministers on the roster of this synod who reside outside the territory of this synod, each member of a committee of this synod, or any other organizational unit created by this synod, shall be a voting member of a congregation of this synod.
SB11.06.01 Except as otherwise provided by the Constitution and bylaws of this synod, no member of the Synod Council and no person employed by the Synod shall be a voting member of any Discipling Team or Committee of this Synod.
S11.06.A99. Except as otherwise provided by the Constitution, bylaws and continuing resolutions of this synod, the regular terms of service of members of committees and other organizational units of this synod shall end at the conclusion of the Synod Assembly in the final calendar year of the member’s term.
S11.07. This Synod shall develop an organizational structure to carry out the mission of this synod which shall be described in the bylaws. The Synod Council shall review the actions of all organizational units so described.
SB11.07.01. A Discipling Team is a unit of the synod organization to which is assigned responsibility for an identified portion of the mission of this synod. The Discipling Team, under the direction of the Synod Council, is responsible for the development, oversight, budget, implementation, and evaluation of programs approved by the Council.
SB11.07.02. Proposals or requests for action or response may come to a Team from individuals, Conferences, congregations, the Synod Council, or the office of the Bishop.
SB11.07.03. A total of nine persons shall constitute a Discipling Team. Each of the five Electoral Districts shall elect one member to each team; two members shall be appointed by the Synod Council one of whom may be a member of the Synod Council; one conference dean shall be appointed by the bishop of the Synod; and a chair shall be appointed by the Synod Council.
S11.07.A01. The Nominating Committee shall present as nominees for Council’s appointment to Discipling Teams persons who have been determined in consultation with the Discipling Teams and the Persons of Color Network.
SB11.07.04. Each Electoral District member of a Discipling Team shall be a member of a congregation within the district, and shall serve for a term of three years. Terms shall be staggered by the Synod Council and arranged in three classes so that approximately one-third of the terms expire each year. Team members shall serve no more that two consecutive terms; a partial term of less than two years shall not be considered a term for the purposes of this provision. The names of all committee members, as well as their designated terms of office, shall be reported by the Discipling Team chair to the Synod Secretary.
S11.07.B01. The terms of Discipling Team members appointed by the Synod Council, other than the team chairs, shall be three years in length. Term ending dates shall be staggered by Synod Council.
SB11.07.05. Each Discipling Team shall meet at least two times each year.
SB11.07.06. Each Discipling Team shall be responsible to the Synod Assembly and shall report to the Synod Council in the interim.
SB11.07.07. The Word and Sacrament Team shall be responsible for assisting congregations in equipping believers for baptismal life.
SB11.07.08. The Witness and Service Team shall be responsible for leading and assisting congregations and individuals in public affirmation of faith through word and deed.
SB11.07.09. The Leadership Team shall be responsible for supporting and nurturing pastors, associates in ministry, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers on the rosters of this synod and identifying and encouraging qualified persons to prepare for the ministry of the Gospel.
Chapter 12 CONFERENCES, CLUSTERS AND COALITIONS, OR OTHER AREA SUBDIVISIONS
†S12.01. This synod shall establish conferences, clusters, coalitions, or other area subdivisions within its territory as specified in the bylaws. The purpose of such groupings shall be to foster interdependent relationships among congregations, institutions, and synodical and churchwide units for mission purposes.
SB12.01.01. This synod shall establish conferences within its territory. Conference division shall take into account political and geographical factors. They shall be approximately equal in number of congregations and baptized members and be easily grouped into five approximately equal electoral districts. A congregation may petition the Synod Council to change the conference to which it is assigned; such a change takes effect immediately after approval by the Synod Council and shall be reported to the next Synod Assembly. The Synod Council shall maintain a current roster of conference alignments.
S12.01.A98. The following procedure shall be followed when a congregation considers petitioning to change conference assignments:
1.The congregation seeking a change in its conference alignment will consult with:
a. other ELCA congregations in its immediate area;
b. the two conferences involved;
c. the Synod’s Witness and Service Discipling Team; and
d. the Bishop’s Office.
2. If, after the above consultation, the congregation decides to proceed with its petition, it is, according to the synod’s bylaws, free to do so. The petition shall include a rationale for the change of conference affiliation, based on fulfillment of the purpose of the conference as expressed in SB12.01.02 and the mission needs of this church, and include documentation of the consultation with the partners noted in item #1 above.
3. When the Synod Council receives the petition, the Council may consult with the other partners noted in item #1 above and may seek their recommendation.
4. The recommendation and decision will be based on what, in the best judgment of the Synod Council, will best further the mission of this church.
SB12.01.02. The purpose of the Conferences shall be:
a. to deliver and support synodical and churchwide programs;
b. to develop mutually supportive clergy and congregational relationships.
c. to develop strategy for common mission;
d. to be a means to provide pastoral care for clergy and congregations;
e. to be a means for expressing needs and opinions of congregations and clergy to this synod; and
f. to nominate persons within each conference for synodical positions elected by the Assembly from the electoral districts, as specified in the bylaws.
SB12.01.03. Each conference shall hold an assembly at least annually, composed of such representation of the congregations as the conference shall determine. The annual assembly for each year shall be held at least 60 days prior to the meeting of that year's Synod Assembly. In instances where two or more conferences deem it useful, they may convene in a joint assembly, provided that any business (such as nominations or elections) requiring action by the conferences individually be handled separately by each conference's delegates.
SB12.01.04. Each conference shall elect its own officers, which shall include a Dean. The Dean shall be an ordained minister on the roster of this synod who is a member of one of the congregations of the Conference. The dean shall serve a term of three years, and may serve no more than two consecutive terms. The dean's responsibilities shall be to represent the conference on the Council of Deans; to assist the bishop in providing pastoral care to congregations and clergy of the conference; and to fulfill such other responsibilities as the bishop or Synod Assembly may assign. The dean may preside at meetings of the Conference Assembly and Cabinet.
SB12.01.05. In the event that the office of the dean should become vacant, the Conference Cabinet shall appoint an interim dean; the next session of the Conference Assembly shall elect a new dean.
SB12.01.06. There shall be a cabinet in each conference, consisting of the officers and other persons as the conference shall determine. The cabinet shall be responsible for planning the Conference Assembly and for fulfilling the purposes of the conference as listed in SB12.01.02.
SB12.01.07. A coalition is a ministry of this synod implementing a strategy for mission developed by congregations, conferences or other agencies in an identified geographic area. It shall have a governing board which shall report to the Witness and Service Discipling Team of this synod. A coalition may receive funds from congregations, this synod, and/or other agencies. A coalition may employ staff, requesting the Synod Council to issue letters of call to ordained ministers and letters of appointment to associates in ministry. A coalition shall operate under constitutions and bylaws which shall be ratified by the Synod Council. Coalitions and conferences are different entities and fulfill different functions. While a coalition may include congregations as members which are all or part of one or more conferences of this synod, provisions of SB12.01.03 and SB12.01.04 shall be fulfilled by each conference.
†S13.01. Each congregation, except those certified as congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America by the uniting churches, prior to being listed in the register of congregations of this synod, shall adopt the Model Constitution for Congregations or one acceptable to this synod, which is not in contradiction to the constitution and bylaws of the ELCA.
a. New congregations. A congregation newly formed by this church and any congregation seeking recognition and reception by this church shall:
1) Accept the criteria for recognition and reception as a congregation of this church, fulfill the functions of the congregation, and accept governance provisions as provided in Chapter 9 of the ELCA constitution and bylaws.
2) Adopt governing documents that include fully and without alterations the Preamble, Chapter 1, where applicable, and all required provisions of Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, and 18 in the Model Constitution for Congregations consistent with requirements of this constitution and the constitution of this church. Bylaws and continuing resolutions, appropriate for inclusion in these chapters and not in conflict with these required provisions in the Model Constitution for Congregations, the constitution of this synod, or the Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, may be adopted as described in Chapters 16 and 18 of the Model Constitution for Congregations.
3) Accept the commitments expected of all congregations of the ELCA as stated in C6.01., C6.02., and C6.03. of the Model Constitution for Congregations.
b. Congregations from another church body. If a congregation is a member of another church body, the leaders of the congregation first should consult with the appropriate authorities of that church body before taking action to leave its current church body. After such consultation, leaders of the congregation should make contact with the ELCA synod bishop or staff where the congregation is located.
c. Recognition and Reception. Recognition and reception into this church of transferring or independent congregations by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is based on the judgement of the synod and action by the synod through the Synod Council and Synod Assembly. The synod bishop shall provide for prompt reporting of such additions to the secretary of this church for addition to the register of congregations.
†S13.02. It shall be the responsibility of each congregation of this synod annually to choose from among its voting members laypersons to serve as members of the Synod Assembly as well as persons to represent it at meetings of any conference, cluster, coalition, or other area subdivision of which it is a member. The number of persons to be elected by each congregation and other qualifications shall be as prescribed in guidelines established by this synod.
S13.11. When a pastor or an associate in ministry resigns, the Congregation Council shall receive the letter of resignation, report it to the congregation, and at once notify the bishop of this synod.
S13.12. A congregation under financial obligation to its former pastor or associate in ministry shall make satisfactory settlement of the obligation before calling a successor.
S13.21. The alignment of congregations in pastoral charges, and all alterations in any alignment, shall be subject to approval by the Synod Assembly or by the Synod Council.
†S13.22. Each congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America within the territory of this synod, except those which are in partnership with the Slovak Zion Synod, shall establish and maintain a relationship with this synod.
S13.23. Provision 9.71. of the ELCA constitution shall govern the relationship of this synod and a congregation of this synod regarding the property of the congregation. This synod may transfer or convey property to a congregation of the synod, subject to restrictions accepted by the congregation, including provision that if the Synod Council, in its sole and exclusive discretion, determines (1) that the property is not being used to serve the mission and ministry needs of this church, or (2) that the congregation has transferred, encumbered, mortgaged, or in any way burdened or impaired any right, title, or interest in the property without the prior approval of the Synod Council, then title to the property shall revert to the synod, and the congregation, upon written demand, shall reconvey the property to the synod.
S13.24. If any congregation of this synod has disbanded, or if the members of a congregation agree that it is no longer possible for it to function as such, or if it is the opinion of the Synod Council that the membership of a congregation has become so scattered or so diminished in numbers as to make it impractical for such a congregation to fulfill the purposes for which it was organized or that it is necessary for this synod to protect the congregation’s property from waste and deterioration, the Synod Council, itself or through trustees appointed by it, may take charge and control of the property of the congregation to hold, manage, and convey the same on behalf of this synod. The congregation shall have the right to appeal the decision to the Synod Assembly.
S13.25. This synod may temporarily assume administration of a congregation upon the request of or with the concurrence of the Congregation Council, or upon the written petition of two-thirds of the voting members of the congregation.
S13.30. Discipline
†S13.31. Congregations and members of congregations are subject to discipline in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 20 of the ELCA constitution and bylaws.
Chapter 14 ORDAINED MINISTERS AND ASSOCIATES IN MINISTRY
†S14.01. The time and place of the ordination of those persons properly called to congregations or extraparish service of this synod shall be authorized by the bishop of this synod.
†14.02. Consistent with the faith and practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
a. Every ordained minister shall:
1) preach the Word;
2) administer the sacraments;
3) conduct public worship;
4) provide pastoral care; and
5) speak publicly to the world in solidarity with the poor and oppressed, calling for justice and proclaiming God's love for the world.
b. Each ordained minister with a congregational call shall, within the congregation:
1) offer instruction, confirm, marry, visit the sick and distressed, and bury the dead;
2) supervise all schools and organizations of the congregation;
3) install regularly elected members of the Congregation Council; and
4) with the council administer discipline.
c. Every pastor shall:
1) strive to extend the Kingdom of God in the community, in the nation, and abroad;
2) seek out and encourage qualified persons to prepare for the ministry of the Gospel;
3) impart knowledge of this church and its wider ministry through distribution of its periodicals and other publications; and
4) endeavor to increase the support given by the congregation to the work of the ELCA churchwide organization and of this ELCA synod.
SB14.02.01. Consistent with the biblical faith and practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, every ordained minister shall seek to exemplify a life of grace, seek healing for those who suffer in body, mind or spirit and work for reconciliation and peace in the world.
S14.03. The pastor shall keep accurate parochial records of all baptisms, confirmations, marriages, burials, communicants, members received, members dismissed, or members excluded from the congregation, and shall submit a summary of such statistics annually to this synod.
S14.04. Whenever members of a congregation move to such a distance that regular attendance at its services becomes impractical, it shall be the duty of the pastor to commend them, upon their consent, to the pastoral care of a Lutheran congregation nearer to their place of residence.
S14.05. Upon the request of the bishop as provided in S8.16, each ordained minister on the roll of this Synod shall give a report of his or her ministry.
S14.06. The pastor shall be a member of the congregation that has extended the letter of call. In a parish of multiple congregations, the pastor shall hold membership in one of the congregations.
†S14.11. When a congregation of this church desires to call a pastor or a candidate for the pastoral office in the ordained ministry of this church:
a. Each congregation of this synod shall consult the bishop of this synod before taking any steps leading to the extending of a call to a prospective pastor.
b. For the issuance of a letter of call to a pastor or pastoral candidate by a congregation of this synod in accordance with ELCA constitutional provision 7.41., a two-thirds majority ballot vote shall be required of members of the congregation present and voting at a meeting regularly called for the purpose of issuing such a call.
c. When the congregation has voted to issue a call to a prospective pastor, the letter of call shall be submitted to the bishop of this synod for the bishop's signature.
S14.12. Upon receiving a call, an ordained minister on this synod's roster shall consult with the bishop of this synod or the bishop's representative and shall notify the bishop of his or her intent to accept the call prior to that acceptance. An ordained minister shall respond with an answer of acceptance or declination to a letter of call within thirty days of receipt of such call. In exceptional circumstances with the approval of the bishop of this synod and the chair of the Congregation Council of the congregation issuing the call, an additional fifteen days may be granted to respond to a letter of call.
†S14.13. a. The call