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Material for Review
Prior to Annual Congregational Meeting
of January 29, 2012

On January 29, 2012, we will gather at 12:45 pm (after the third service) for our Annual Congregational Meeting. In addition to the regular slate of reports, elections and budget approval, we will be considering the following items relating to our membership in the North American Lutheran Church:

• Revisions to the constitution and bylaws of St Timothy's Lutheran Church. These revision consist primarily of name changes (from Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to North American Lutheran Church (NALC)) as well as related institutional issues (change from language relating to "synod" to language relating to "Mission Districts"). Click the following links to review the proposed documents.
  • Constitution (proposed changes)
  • Bylaws (proposed changes)
• Proposed constitution of the North American Lutheran Church (NALC). In August 2010, a provisional constitution was put in place for this newly formed body at its first Convocation. In August 2011, a revised version of this constitution was adopted by the NALC Convocation. It now needs to be ratified by the congregations of the NALC. Click here to review that document.
• Proposed relationship between the NALC and the EECMY. The August 2011 NALC Convocation also voted to establish a formal relationship with the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY, the large and rapidly growing Lutheran Church in Ethiopia). This recommendation also requires approval by the congregations of the NALC. Click here to review the proposal.

Why are these actions necessary? The reason for changes to our constitution and bylaws is obvious -- we have moved from the ELCA to the NALC, and our documents need to be updated to reflect that fact.

The NALC ratifications are the result of giving congregations more oversight of what is approved by the national church body. One of the complaints within the ELCA was that decisions were made by the national church that sometimes did not reflect the opinions of the congregations. Thus, when the NALC was formed, it was decided that any major decisions made by a national Convocation would have to be ratified by the congregations of the NALC.

Adult forums are scheduled for Sunday morning, January 22, at 9:45 and 11:00 am for any who wish to discuss the above material. (There will also be opportunity to discuss the new Note program.)