C13.01. The Executive Committee of this congregation shall consist of the officers and pastor(s). At the sole discretion of the president, the appointed officers may be accorded the privilege of voice without vote or may be excused or excluded from matters of the Executive Committee.

C13.01.01. The Executive Committee shall carry out tasks as assigned by the Congregation Council. It is responsible to the Congregation Council and can make decisions on behalf of the council when so directed.

C13.01.02. The Executive Committee can act for the Congregation Council in emergency circumstances in which the required timeliness of a decision precludes assembly of a majority of the council members. Actions by the Executive Committee in such circumstances must be submitted for ratification to the Congregation Council at its next meeting.

C13.02. A Nominating Committee of six members of this congregation shall be appointed by the president with the assistance of the pastor(s) and approved by the Congregation Council. Members of the Nominating Committee shall consist of the three outgoing adult members of the Congregation Council and three members of the congregation not serving as council members. The three at-large members of the Nominating Committee shall be appointed to staggered terms of three years, with one member appointed each year. Any member of the Nominating Committee who desires to seek nomination to an elected position shall resign from the committee, and the Congregation Council shall name a replacement at its next meeting. Members of the Nominating Committee are not eligible for appointment to consecutive terms but may serve a partial term immediately prior to being appointed to a full term.

C13.02.01 In order to maintain uninterrupted leadership of this congregation and ensure the input of all members, the Nominating Committee shall:

a. identify and secure the consent of one or more candidates for each position subject to election by this congregation, including the president, Congregation Council members, and Synod Assembly members;

b. present the slate of candidates for approval to the Congregation Council, which, in turn shall present the slate to members of the congregation in conjunction with the announcement of the Congregation Meeting at which the election is to take place;

c. add to the slate of candidates approved by the Congregation Council any additional nominations made by any voting member of this congregation; and

d. serve as steward of elections held at any Congregation Meeting.

C13.03. An Audit Committee of three members of this congregation shall be appointed by the Congregation Council. Audit Committee members shall not be members of the Congregation Council. The three members of the Audit Committee shall be appointed to staggered terms of three years, with one member appointed each year, and may serve for an unlimited number of terms.

C13.03.01 In order to maintain confidence in the integrity of this congregation’s finances, the Audit Committee shall assure that all financial records fairly represent the financial condition of this congregation, that all financial activity is properly recorded, and that established policies and procedures are adhered to by, no less than annually:

a. examining and reviewing all accounts and records;

b. examining all insurance policies and overall coverage;

c. examining and reviewing marketable securities and other investments; and

d. verifying that this congregation complies with Federal and state tax laws and regulations.

The Audit Committee shall report its findings, along with any recommendations for change and improvement, in writing to the Congregation Council and at the Congregation Meeting called for such purpose.

C13.04. A Mutual Ministry Committee shall be appointed jointly by the president and the pastor(s). The committee shall consist of the pastor(s), any associates in ministry, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers, any full-time non-rostered program staff, the president of the congregation, and six members of the congregation not serving as members of the Congregation Council or as chairpersons of any other congregation committee. The six at-large members of the Mutual Ministry Committee shall be appointed to staggered terms of three years, with two members appointed each year, and may serve no more than two consecutive terms. One of the at-large members shall be selected by the committee to serve as chairperson.

C13.04.01 The Mutual Ministry Committee strives to strengthen the ministry of this congregation by:

a. encouraging conversation among the members and professional program staff of this congregation and presenting itself as a sounding board for the ideas and concerns of both groups;

b. promoting open expression of feelings among the professional program staff in an atmosphere of mutual concern;

c. assisting in the establishment and evaluation of ministry goals, including continuing education;

d. preparing recommendations of annual compensation for the professional program staff; and

e. joining with the professional program staff to envision and imagine future ministry for this congregation.

C13.05. When a pastoral vacancy occurs, a Call Committee shall be appointed by the Congregation Council. The committee shall consist of seven adult members, two youth members, and a member of the Congregation Council. One of the adult members shall serve as an alternate member of the committee who, along with the member of the Congregation Council, shall be accorded the privilege of voice without vote. Upon appointing a Call Committee, the Congregation Council shall set forth the specific mission and tasks to be accomplished by the committee. The council shall then regularly monitor the committee’s progress and adjust its mission and tasks as necessary.

C13.05.01 The Call Committee shall seek out permanent pastoral leadership in accordance with the following guidelines:

a. At its first meeting, the committee shall select a chairperson and a recording secretary. The seven adult members of the committee shall select one of the adult members to serve as the alternate member.

b. A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of six voting members of the committee. All actions by the committee shall be in accordance with this constitution and bylaws, and decisions, if necessary, shall be by majority vote.

c. The committee shall provide regular reports to the council regarding the committee’s activities and progress in fulfilling its mission and tasks.

d. If an adult member is unable to continue to serve, the alternate member shall replace that member and become a voting member of the committee. If a youth member is unable to continue to serve, the Congregation Council shall appoint another youth member to fill the uncompleted term. The council shall replace its member on the Call Committee as necessary.

e. The committee’s term shall begin immediately upon appointment and shall terminate upon completion of its assigned mission and tasks.

C13.06. A Memorials and Dedicated Funds Committee of three members of this congregation shall be appointed by the Congregation Council. The three members of the Memorials and Dedicated Funds Committee shall be appointed to staggered terms of three years, with one member appointed each year, and may serve no more than two consecutive terms.

C13.06.01 The Memorials and Dedicated Funds Committee shall oversee the memorial funds and certain designated funds by:

a. ensuring that individual funds maintain the intent and purpose set forth upon formation;

b. establishing and maintaining contact with appropriate family members regarding the use of memorial funds; and

c. preparing and presenting proposals to the Congregation Council for the disbursement of monies from such funds.

C13.07. Other committees of this congregation may be formed, as the need arises, by decision of the Congregation Council. Initial chairpersons for those committees shall be sought from among the members of the congregation and so appointed by the council.

C13.07.01 Individual members of the Congregation Council shall serve as members of the various congregation committees and as liaisons for those committees to the council. Although members of the Congregation Council are not precluded from serving as chairpersons of congregation committees, committee chairs will be sought from among this congregation’s membership without regard to council membership. Although the Congregation Council has ultimate authority over committees of this congregation, once established, committees shall have general oversight of their own activities, subject to the following guidelines:

a. a chairperson shall be elected annually by the committee from among its members;

b. a quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of a majority of the members of the committee, and all actions by the committee requiring a vote shall be by simple majority of those members in attendance;

c. each committee shall work closely with its liaison to the Congregation Council to ensure effective communication and shall provide written reports of its activities as requested by the council;

d. committees shall submit in a timely fashion a proposed budget for each year and monitor the expenditure of funds within its approved budget; and

e. each committee shall develop its goals and objectives, evaluate its activities, and timely submit a report thereon to be included in the Annual Report to the Congregation.

C13.08. The president and the pastor(s) shall serve as advisory members of all committees of this congregation.

C13.09. Descriptions and duties of committees of this congregation shall be specified in continuing resolutions.

C13.09.A01 The Educational Ministry Committee shall plan and administer the Christian Education program and activities of this congregation. In cooperation with the pastor(s) and other program staff, the committee shall develop appropriate education programs and curricula for all ages, select teachers and other leaders, prepare the facilities, and provide required materials. The committee shall also bring the call to the ministry of the Gospel and to other Church vocations to the attention of the qualified youth of this congregation.

C13.09.B01 The Evangelism Committee shall foster caring and inclusiveness in the life of this congregation by promoting the proclamation of the Gospel among church members and through outreach efforts to the surrounding neighborhood and community. Through specific ministries, the committee shall welcome members and visitors into friendly surroundings and shall encourage both established and new members to become active participants in the life of the congregation.

C13.09.C01 The Finance Committee shall oversee the financial position and activities of this congregation. In cooperation with the Treasurer, the committee shall receive and review financial reports on a regular basis, direct the preparation of an annual budget, and keep the council and the congregation informed as to the financial status of the church. The committee is also responsible for monitoring the congregation’s investments and insurance coverage.

C13.09.D01 The Personnel Committee shall direct and maintain the support staff of this congregation. In cooperation with the pastor(s), the committee shall seek out, interview, and hire qualified individuals for staff positions, develop job descriptions, provide salary and benefit recommendations, evaluate performance, and enforce disciplinary actions and terminations.

C13.09.E01 The Property Committee shall look after the care, maintenance, and repair of the buildings, systems, grounds, and other property of this congregation. In order to provide effective and efficient property management, the committee shall maintain a schedule of necessary maintenance tasks and a roster of qualified individuals or organizations to provide property support services, encouraging and utilizing the voluntary efforts of church members when appropriate. The committee shall also participate in planning for and directing the construction of any additions or changes to the church’s property.

C13.09.F01 The Social Ministry Committee shall serve as a challenging voice within our diverse congregation in issues of healing, justice, and reconciliation in our church, our community, and our world. Through specific ministries, the committee shall educate the membership in the needs of the one and the many, mobilize this congregation’s potential for meeting those needs through individual and corporate action, and ensure that those needs which cannot be met by a single action will be advocated collectively. The committee shall strive to mold individual awareness of social ministry into action that meets human needs.

C13.09.G01 The Stewardship Committee shall inspire the expression of Christian faith in daily living by leading members to understand the value of giving their time and talents for the good of this congregation and the community, by communicating local, national, and worldwide ministries and encouraging involvement in those ministries, and by inspiring members to give funds to support the work of the church. Through various activities, functions, and solicitations, the committee shall encourage each member to participate in the life of this congregation through gifts of time, talent, and funds.

C13.09.H01 The Worship and Music Committee shall lead this congregation in fulfilling its purpose to worship God in proclamation of the Word and administration of the sacraments. Working with the pastor(s) and other program staff, the committee shall plan services of worship, including festival events, consistent with Lutheran liturgy, shall sustain and lift up worship through musical expression, and shall support worship by recruiting, training, and scheduling worship assistants, acolytes, ushers, and sacristy teams and by ensuring the provision and care of worship materials. The committee shall also regularly evaluate the worship life of this congregation from a long-range perspective and consider new, alternative, and diverse worship settings.