The Committee recommends that congregations should submit any changes that they make to their constitutions or bylaws for the sake of order.   You don’t have to submit policy statements. Here is the process for submitting:

A. Congregations should send their new or amended constitutions to Mrs. Lisa Rachul, District CFO, via the mail at P.O. Box 38277, Olmsted Falls, OH 44138 or you may e-mail your constitution to her. Be sure to include the name of a contact person and his/her e-mail.

B. Lisa will register the constitution and send it to the Committee.

C. The Committee will examine your constitution/bylaws and make their recommendations, if necessary, for any changes. If the Committee approves your constitution, they will recommend that the Board of Directors ratify it. If your congregation must make changes, you must return the amended constitution to Rev. Hoffman.   Then your constitution will be approved and recommended for ratification by the Board.  

D. Once the Board ratifies your constitution, the District Secretary will advise you of the Board’s approval.

E. Then you should send a clean copy of your approved constitution / by-laws to the District office by mail P.O. Box 38277, Olmsted Falls, OH 44138 or email Lisa Rachul.  Now it is the official constitution of your congregation.  

Yes, the Synod’s Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM) provides a template that you can use when revising your constitution. They also provide a template for mission congregations to use. Here is the link to the CCM page.  From there you will find the Section that reads 'Resources" then go to "Helpful Documents" and you'll find the document, "Guidelines for the Constitution and Bylaws of a Lutheran Congregations."  

Yes, one of our main responsibilities is to make sure that each congregational constitution includes a statement on division and dissolution. The Synod's Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM) provides a very helpful template about this. Here is the link to the CCM page. From there you will find the Section that reads 'Resources" then go to "Helpful Documents" and you'll find the document, "Guidelines for the Constitution and Bylaws of a Lutheran Congregations." Refer to page 10, 10.0 Division.

Please note that congregation must name the District or a valid, comparable 501(c)(3) organization; individuals cannot be named.

According to the CCM, congregations do not have to include a statement about the sanctity of marriage, but they may establish a policy statement about this issue. Here is the LINK for congregations to use for help with their policy statement. Scroll down to "Statements".