BYLAWS

BYLAWS

Shepherd of the Hills Evangelical Lutheran Church

7740 W. St. Joseph Highway

Lansing, MI 48917

ARTICLE I

Meetings of the Congregation

Section 1 – Regular Meetings of the Voters’ Assembly

Regular meetings of the Voters' Assembly shall be held quarterly, usually on the last Sunday in June, October, January and April. Election of officers shall be done at the regular April meeting. The regular June meeting shall be designated as the annual meeting.

Section 2 – Attendance and Voting

Meetings of the Voters’ Assembly may be attended only by members of the Congregation and guests invited for the purpose of presenting information vital to the Voters’ Assembly. Only voting members present in person at the meeting shall have the right to vote or debate issues. Voting members shall be restricted to male communicant members who have reached the age of 18. (1 Cor 14:34-35 & 1 Timothy 2:12-14). All voting members shall sign the Constitution and Bylaws, indicating their acceptance of them.

Section 3 – Quorum

The voting members present at a properly announced meeting of the Voters’ Assembly shall constitute a quorum.

Section 4 – Order of Business

The order of business for the regular meetings may be as follows:

Opening devotion
Attendance
Presentation and approval of agenda
Reading and approval of minutes of previous regular and special meetings
Reception of new members; transfer, release or removal from membership
Elections (April Meeting)
Reports of officers and boards
Unfinished business
New business
Date and time of next meeting
Adjournment with prayer

Section 5 – Special Meetings of the Voters’ Assembly

Special Meetings of the Voters’ Assembly may be called by the Church Council, a Pastor of the Congregation, or upon the written request of at least three Voting Members of the Congregation.

Section 6 - Procedure

All meetings of the Voters’ Assembly shall be conducted according to good Christian order. Robert's Rules of Order may be followed for parliamentary procedure.

Section 7 – Notification

All meetings of the Voters’ Assembly shall be announced to the Congregation verbally and in writing at all regular worship services held during the two weeks prior to the meeting. The purpose and agenda of each meeting shall be clearly stated.

Section 8

No one shall bring to any meeting a charge or complaint against any member, or against the Pastor or against a teacher, unless he has first admonished him in a Christian manner in the spirit of

Matthew 18:15-20.

ARTICLE II

Officers - Terms & Requirements

Section 1 - Officers

All voting members holding an elected position are officers.

Section 2 – Terms

Officers will assume their office on July 1 of the year in which they are elected. All elected positions shall be of a three year term, with a maximum service of two consecutive terms. Officers serving two consecutive terms shall become eligible for re-election to the same office one year after the expiration of their final term of office. No voting member shall hold more than one elective office at any one time.

In the first year of the electoral rotation, the Voters’ Assembly shall elect the President and Vice-president, Financial Secretary, Outreach Board Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

In the second year of the electoral rotation, the Voters’ Assembly shall elect the Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Spiritual Growth Board Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

In the third year of the electoral rotation, the Voters’ Assembly shall elect the Stewardship Board Chairman and Vice-Chairman, Property and Maintenance Board Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

The Board of Elders shall consist of a minimum of four elected Elders. The total number of Elders shall be determined each year by the Board of Elders based on its ministry plan. Each year, approximately 1/3 of the Elders shall be elected to the Board of Elders.

Section 3 - Requirements

To be nominated for an elective office, other than Elder, a member must have been accepted as a voting member at a previous meeting of the Voters’ Assembly.

A candidate for the office of Elder must have been a voting member of the Congregation for at least one year prior to being nominated. Each year the Elders will elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman from the Elders who make up the Board of Elders. The selection of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman must be completed prior to the July meeting of the Church Council. The Board of Elders Chairman will serve as a voting member on the Church Council.

Section 4 – Installation of Officers

Newly-elected officers shall be installed during the worship services the weekend after the (June) annual meeting.

ARTICLE III

Election of the Church Officers

Section 1

The Church Council shall present to the January meeting of the Voters’ Assembly for ratification a committee of three voting members to serve as a Nominating Committee. The Pastor is an ex officio member of this committee. The members of this committee will be published and a request for nominations be made to the Congregation.

Section 2

Having received from the Recording Secretary a list of expired or vacated terms of office, the Nominating Committee shall proceed to select, from the voting membership, a slate of candidates at least twice the number of vacancies, if possible. Each candidate shall receive a letter, outlining the responsibilities of the office for which he is being nominated. His consent for such candidacy is required.

Section 3

The Nominating Committee shall present the slate of candidates at a Church Council meeting prior to the April meeting of the Voters’ Assembly. Additional recommendations for nominations may be made in writing to the Nominating Committee. The committee shall consider such written nominations and take appropriate action, posting any revisions. The candidates' names must be published at all regular worship services held during the two weeks prior to the Voters' Meeting.

At its April meeting, the Voters’ Assembly shall hear the recommendations of the Nominating Committee. Should further nominations be required, they may be made until three weeks prior to the (June) annual meeting. Nominations shall not be open to the floor at the election meeting. A majority of votes cast shall be necessary for election.

ARTICLE IV

Description and Duties of Officers and Boards

Section 1 - President

The President shall preside as Chairman of all meetings of the Voters’ Assembly and Church Council, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Congregation or Church Council. He shall have general supervision of the affairs of the corporation and conduct all its business affairs according to established good order. He shall sign all deeds, mortgages, notes, leases and/or all legal documents directed to be executed by the corporation and administered by the Church Council. The President is an ex officio member of all boards and committees.

Section 2- Vice-President

The Vice-President shall preside at all meetings of the Voters’ Assembly and/or the Church Council in the absence of the President. He shall function in the capacity of the President if for any reason the President cannot. The Vice-President shall serve as Chairman of the Nominating Committee, Budget Committee and the Audit Committee.

Section 3 - Recording Secretary

The Recording Secretary shall record accurately the proceedings of all meetings of the Voters’ Assembly and the Church Council. He shall be responsible for the legal records of the Congregation. He shall have the authority to countersign all deeds, notes, leases and/or legal documents executed by the corporation, and assist in the orderly conduct of its business affairs according to established good order. He shall ensure voting members have signed the Constitution and Bylaws. He shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Congregation.

Section 4 - Treasurer

The Treasurer shall receive from the Financial Secretary a report of all monies and credit the same to the proper accounts. He shall make all disbursements, consulting with the Church Council as necessary. He shall make monthly and quarterly financial reports and also special reports whenever the Church Council shall so request. He shall submit his records to the Church Council for audit annually, following the close of the fiscal year, or at any time the Congregation so desires. In the absence of the Recording Secretary, he shall have the authority to countersign legal documents. In the event the Treasurer is unable to carry out his duties, the President or Recording Secretary has the authority to carry out his obligations.

Section 5 – Financial Secretary

The Financial Secretary shall receive and deposit all contributions for the Congregation, shall keep an accurate account of the same and deliver a report of them to the Treasurer, indicating the proper accounts to be credited. He shall make a report for the regular meetings of the Voters’ Assembly and submit his books to the Church Council for an annual audit following the close of the fiscal year, or at any time the Congregation so desires. He shall submit a quarterly report to each member of their contributions.

Section 6 – Boards

A Board consists of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman. They will enlist others as needed to work under their authority.

A. The Board of Elders - The Board of Elders shall, in general, be responsible for the spiritual well-being of the Congregation. These responsibilities include the following: doctrine and practice in the church shall conform to all the provisions of the Constitution; regular worship services shall be conducted in good order; assistance shall be given to the Pastor in administering the spiritual affairs of the Congregation; annual review of the salary and benefits of the Congregation’s called workers to assure appropriate quality of life for them and their families.

B. Property and Maintenance Board - The Property and Maintenance Board shall supervise the repair and upkeep of the Congregation's property. It shall report annually all needs to the Church Council and carry out such work as is assigned to it by the Voters' Assembly and Church Council.

C. The Spiritual Growth Board - The Spiritual Growth Board shall formulate all policies to be followed in the educational phases of the Congregation's work, e.g. Lutheran Elementary School, Sunday school, Vacation Bible School and Bible Studies; subject to approval of the Church Council. The Spiritual Growth Board shall meet monthly to discuss all matters related to the Lutheran Elementary School and all WELS/ELS education agencies which the Congregation may maintain or have affiliation with. It shall advance in every way the cause of Christian education.

D. Outreach Board - The Outreach Board shall aid the Congregation in establishing and maintaining an active program of outreach to the neighborhood and community. It shall also, together with the Pastor, encourage and prepare the members of the Congregation for outreach.

E. Stewardship Board - The Stewardship Board shall aid the Congregation in maintaining God-pleasing and faithful management of our time, talents, and treasures.

Section 7 - Committees

There shall be three types of committees, defined as follows:

Standing Committees - permanent committees specified by these Bylaws. They shall report to the Church Council. All members of these committees shall be voting members.

a. Nominating Committee: This permanent committee is described in Article III, Section 1.

b. Auditing Committee: This permanent committee shall be appointed by the President of the Congregation in June of each year. It shall consist of at least three voting members charged to review the financial records of the Congregation. The Financial Secretary and Treasurer may not be part of this committee. The committee may enlist others with the approval of the Church Council.

c. Budget Committee: This committee shall consist of the Vice President, Treasurer and Financial Secretary. They will start to meet annually in February to begin planning. They must obtain input from the boards to create the budget for the next fiscal year.

Congregational Committees and Organizations – committees or organizations made up of any adult members of the Congregation. If adult male members are on the committee, then the Chair of the committee must be appointed from amongst them. The Chair of these committees shall be appointed by the Congregation’s President or the Vice President in his absence

Board Committees and Organizations – committees or organizations appointed by a Board to accomplish specific tasks as defined by the Board. It will be made up of members of the Congregation. If adult male members are on the committee, then the Chair of the committee must be appointed from amongst them. A Board Committee may be responsible to the entire Board or to a specific member of the Board.

Other committees shall be appointed by the President as they are needed to conduct the business of the church. The Church Council must approve all appointments made by the President.

Section 8 - Ex officio Committee Members

The Pastor shall be an ex officio member of the Church Council, all Boards and all Committees. The President is an ex officio member of all Boards and Committees.

Section 9 - Mode of Procedure for Boards and Committees

Each Board and Committee shall develop its own objectives in the light of the Congregation's objectives, Constitution, Article III. Each Board and Committee shall also develop a detailed statement of its policies and procedures. The first statement of objectives, policies and procedures shall be approved by the Church Council and Voters' Assembly and reviewed annually thereafter by the Committee. If the annual review results in changes in objectives, policies and procedures, these changes must be submitted to the Church Council and Voters' Assembly for approval. Each Board and Committee shall annually establish its own goals and report them to the Church Council and Voters' Assembly; together with a report on the previous year's activities.

Each Board shall meet a minimum of six times annually, more as needed.

Each Committee will meet as directed.

The members present at a properly announced meeting of a Board or Committee shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE V

The Church Council

Section 1 - Organization

The Church Council shall consist of the following ten men: President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Chairman of the Board of Elders, Chairman of the Property and Maintenance Board, Chairman of the Outreach Board, Chairman of the Spiritual Growth Board, Chairman of the Stewardship Board.

Section 2 - Officer Vacancies

The President may appoint a person, subject to Church Council approval, to fill an officer vacancy until the next regular (June) election occurs, at which time the vacancy shall be filled by election as described in Article III of these bylaws, for the remainder of the original term.

Section 3 - Responsibilities

The church officers shall adorn their high office with an honest way of life and be good examples to the Congregation (1 Timothy 3:8-12). They shall aid the Pastor in the spiritual affairs of the church. They shall particularly care in love for the poor, the sick, the widows, and the orphans. (Galatians 6:9,10). The members of the Church Council shall consult together concerning the total spiritual and physical well-being of the Congregation, giving due attention also to the work of the Lord in the church at large. They shall implement resolutions of the Congregation and carry out such assignments as are directed to them by the Congregation.

The Church Council shall control the corporate property and manage the general business affairs of the Congregation according to the direction given by the Voters' Assembly.

The Church Council shall have the authority to expend funds equal to 1% of the General Fund budget per fiscal year for items or services not identified in the annual budget, but determined necessary by the Church Council. A report and approval of any such expenditure shall occur at the next meeting of Voter’s Assembly.

Section 4 - Meetings

The Church Council shall normally meet on the second Thursday of each month. Special meetings may be called by the Pastor or the President. The Church Council shall never convene to transact business without the knowledge of the Pastor.

ARTICLE VI

Reception Into Membership

Section 1

Anyone wishing to be received into membership in this Congregation other than through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism or the Rite of Confirmation, shall bring his/her request to the attention of the Pastor or the Church Council. The council shall honor the request when accompanied by a letter of transfer from a sister Congregation, a recommendation from a sister Congregation, or a profession of faith; providing qualification for membership as specified in Article V of this Constitution has been met. Such action of the council shall be submitted for ratification at a regular or special meeting of the Voter’s Assembly and notice of such receptions reported to the Congregation.

Section 2

Since reception into membership signifies acceptance of and submission to this Constitution and Bylaws, each member shall be given a copy of the same, prior to their reception, so that they may become familiar with its provisions.

ARTICLE VII

Transfer or Release from Membership

Section 1

Those desiring a transfer, or release from membership, shall bring their request to the attention of the Pastor or the Church Council. The Council's recommendation shall be acted upon at the next meeting of the Voters’ Assembly.

Section 2

Transfer of membership shall apply only to those who desire membership in a Congregation with which we are in doctrinal agreement. Release from membership shall apply when affiliation is sought with those denominations not in agreement with our Congregation in doctrine or practice.

Section 3

Members released or transferred relinquish all rights in this Congregation.