Constitutions

Updating Congregational Constitutions

There are many steps to the process of updating a congregational constitution, which ensures that the review process is thorough and complete. The final document should reflect the needs of the church and the will of the people. Questions about updating congregational consitutions can be directed to Pastor Julie Monnard via email or by calling the Northern Illinois Synod Office.

Here is the general outline of the process. Please note that all referenced resources are linked below this outline.

• Congregational Draft.
  • The council decides which details in the constitution need revising. The NIS Constitution Preparation Workbook provides a list of questions to consider. If desired, the council can review their answers with a member of the synod’s Constitution Review Committee.
  • A congregation forms a constitution review task force. Ideally, this group will have 3 – 5 members, of which there are members who are proficient with word processing, good with details, and understand the structure of the congregation.
  • This group gathers 4 resources to create a new constitution draft:
    • The NIS Constitution Preparation Workbook with the council’s answers
    • The Model Constitution for Congregations with Notes. This resource shares the wisdom of the Synod’s Constitution Review Committee, including sample bylaw language.
    • The congregation’s current constitution.
    • The Model Constitution for Congregations from the ELCA website.
  • Working from the current model constitution and incorporating suggested bylaws and continuing resolutions, the task force creates a draft of the constitution.
  • The congregational council approves this draft.
• Synod Review.
  • The working draft of the congregational constitution is emailed to Pastor Julie Monnard at constitutions@nisynod.org.
  • Pastor Julie looks at the constitution and passes it along to the NIS Constitution Review Committee.
  • A member of this committee makes a thorough review of the constitution, ensuring that the constitution incorporates the current model constitution language and that all other changes are in line with current standards.
  • Any suggested or required changes are shared with the congregation’s task force by the NIS Constitution Review Committee chair, Ms. Denise Norman.
  • Conversation between the congregation task force and the synod Constitution Review Committee continues until a draft is formed that both groups approve.
• Final Approvals. Once the draft of the constitution is approved by the synod Constitution Review Committee and the congregational constitution task force, then it needs to be approved in this order:
  • Congregational Council
  • Synod Council
  • Special Congregational Meeting (1^st Vote – simple majority to approve)
  • Congregation Annual Meeting (2^nd Vote – 2/3 vote to ratify)
  • Final draft is submitted to the synod for record keeping. Email the final version to Pastor Julie Monnard at constitutions@nisynod.org
• Usually, the constitution is approved at a specially called congregational meeting and then ratified at the next annual meeting, so it takes 3-6 months before the constitution is the official legal document of the congregation.
• The constitution is not legally binding until it is ratified by the congregation AND submitted to the synod office.