Committee on Constitutions & Bylaws
Keeping Your Congregation’s Governing Documents Healthy and Current
A congregation’s constitution and bylaws are more than just formal documents—they are living guides that support faithful governance, clarity in decision-making, and alignment with churchwide standards. Regular review and thoughtful updates help ensure that your congregation can respond to changing needs while remaining rooted in its mission.
Why Updates Matter
Clarity and consistency in leadership roles and decision-making
Alignment with Synod and Churchwide expectations
Legal and organizational integrity
Support for healthy ministry and future planning
If it has been several years since your congregation last reviewed its constitution, now is a good time to begin.
Where to Start
Before making any changes, your first step should always be to connect with the Committee on Constitutions and Bylaws. Please contact:
Pastor Larry Kemp
Chair, Constitutions & Bylaws Committee
pastor125kemp2@verizon.net
Pastor Kemp and the committee are available to guide you through the process, help interpret requirements, and ensure that updates are done correctly and efficiently.
How the Committee Supports You
The Committee on Constitutions & Bylaws can assist with:
Reviewing proposed updates
Providing approved language
Ensuring compliance with Synod and Churchwide standards
Answering questions throughout the process
Offering feedback before formal adoption
Working with the committee early helps avoid delays and ensures a smoother approval process.
Recommended Process for Congregations
Contact the Committee Chair (see above)
Form a small constitution review team
Begin with the current Model Constitution, read the instructions and compare your current constitution.
Draft proposed revisions
Submit drafts to the committee for review
Make revisions as needed
The committee will provide guidance on approval schedule.
Solutions in Constitutions
Wayfarer Article, September 26, 2022
Brandon James
Member of Oak Grove Lutheran Church & Synod Constitutions & Bylaw Committee
Several years ago, my daughter gave me a t-shirt that says, “I love meetings.” Over the years, two important meetings I have been attending are Oak Grove Lutheran Church council and the synod council. In the positions I have held on those bodies, I have been exposed to the problems of congregational constitutions.
One problem recently emerged when a congregation wanted to transact business but could not produce a quorum because their constitution gives a specific number of members needed and they no longer have that many members.
Every three years, the ELCA holds its Churchwide Assembly. One item of business is amendments to the national constitution as well as the one for congregations. Many congregations have not seen the necessity of going through the process of updating their document. I have been involved several times in revising the Oak Grove constitution. I also currently serve on the synod constitutions and bylaw committee.
The process to update a congregation’s constitution is not hard but does require some close attention. The synod committee makes it easier by producing a sample revised edition of the model constitution. This year is the year for the Churchwide Assembly and our version from the committee is now available.
The ELCA model constitution has 20 chapters. Some are required exactly as printed, some give options, and some allow the congregation to write what is needed for their particular ministry setting. The process for the triennial revisions begins with a group in each congregation matching up the new model constitution with their constitution. Where there are required changes, simply cut-and-paste. The group may also propose changes in the non-required sections. Once the process is completed, the revised constitution, any continuing resolutions and the bylaws are sent to the synod constitutions and bylaw committee. A member of the committee repeats the process of a word for word review, reviews the continuing resolutions and sends a response that the congregation can take official action to adopt the changes. It sounds tedious but is worth the effort when problems occur. My council referred to our constitution last meeting because our pastor left and we needed to be sure whether a pastor was required for a quorum for a meeting. Good luck in keeping up with the times!