The By-Laws
of Christ the Victor Lutheran Church
of Florence, AZ
A church of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ

 

By-Laws
OF
Christ the Victor Lutheran Church, Inc.
FLORENCE, AZ.


ARTICLE I
THE CONGREGATION

Every Full-Time and Part-Time communicant member of Christ the Victor Lutheran Church, Inc., Florence, AZ (the "Congregation") who is eighteen (18) years of age or older shall have the right to vote on the following matters: 

1. When Issuing a Divine Call:  The following procedure shall be observed:

a. A divine call will only be issued to ordained or commissioned workers, as directed by the Congregation and on the recommendation of the staff.

b. A Call Committee will be appointed by the Church Council.  The Call Committee will consist of two (2) members of the Church Council, as elected by the Church Council, and three (3) other voting members of the Congregation as appointed by the Church Council.  The Call Committee shall be responsible for electing the Chairman of the Call Committee.  In the event of a vacancy on the Call Committee the Church Council will appoint a replacement.  The Call Committee is in place until a Call is accepted or the Call Committee is dissolved by the Church Council.

c. Every member of the Congregation shall have the privilege of making one or more nominations.  The Call Committee shall submit the Congregation’s candidates to the LCMC Ministry Board for their feedback and for the LCMC Ministry Board to add any other candidates they might recommend for consideration. 

d. The responsibility of the Call Committee is to:

    • Determine skills and gifts needed to serve the Congregation.
    • Research and review all available information on each candidate.
    • Determine the best qualified nominees and conduct interviews.
    • Present their recommendations for one or more candidates to the Church Council,
    • who upon their approval, will schedule a special voter’s meeting of the Congregation.
    • Present to the Congregation, at the special voters’ meeting, one or more candidates to fill the position.


e. The Congregation shall have the sole authority to issue a Divine Call. Voting at the voters’ meeting shall be by ballot.  There will be no absentee voting when issuing a Divine Call.

    • On the first ballot, if any one candidate receives two-thirds or more of the votes, that candidate shall be issued the Divine Call.
    • If there are more than two candidates and no candidate receives two-thirds of the votes on the first ballot, the candidate receiving the least amount of votes will be eliminated. If there are only one or two candidates, they must receive two thirds of the vote to be issued the call. 
    • Such procedure will continue until one candidate receives a two-thirds majority or the congregation decides to instruct the Call Committee to provide them with new candidates. 
    • Members of the Call Committee will call the elected candidate to inform them of the Congregation’s decision to issue them a Divine Call. When the Call Committee receives the candidate’s decision, they will report back to the Congregation.

2. Revoking a Divine Call:  Sufficient grounds for revoking a Divine Call shall be: 

a. Rejection of any or all of the confessions of this Congregation as set forth in Article II and Article III of the Constitution,
b. Persistent adherence to false doctrine, 
c. Scandalous life, 
d. Willful neglect of official duties, 
e. Evident and protracted incapacity to perform the functions of the office to which the individual has been called.   

Christ the Victor’s Church Council shall carefully investigate charges on any of these counts. The Church Council, after consultation with the LCMC Ministry Board, shall notify the Congregation of the matter and shall submit the matter for action at a special voters’ meeting of the Congregation.  The revocation of a Divine Call will be by a two-thirds majority of the voting members present.  

3. The Acquisition or Disposition of Real Estate: The acquisition or disposition of real estate. 

4. The Incurrence of Indebtedness:  The incurrence of indebtedness secured by real estate or the incurrence of indebtedness beyond 5% of the annual budget for any other real property.   

5. The Election or Removal of Members of the Church Council:
The following procedure for the election of the Church Council shall be observed:

The Church Council shall be comprised of seven (7) elected members, one (1) of whom may be a Part-Time Member.  The Senior Pastor shall serve as an ex-officio member.  The members of the Church Council shall:

  • Be voting members of the Congregation.
  • Have been communicant members of Christ the Victor Lutheran Church for at least two (2) years prior to assuming a position on the Church Council.
  • Not be ministry staff members or employees of Christ the Victor Lutheran Church (other than the Senior Pastor).
  • Not be a spouse, child, parent, in-law or sibling of another Church Council member.

At least two members of the Church Council shall be elected annually at the Congregational meeting.  Each member’s term of office shall be for three years and shall commence on the Sunday immediately following the meeting at which they were elected. (See Article IV, Section 4) 

A Nominating Committee shall consist of five (5) voting members selected by the President and approved by the Church Council.  The Nominating Committee will have the responsibility of submitting to the Congregation at the Annual Meeting a list of nominees for the vacant positions on the Church Council prior to the annual elections and after the approval of the Church Council. The Senior Pastor and President shall serve as ex-officio members of the Nominating Committee.

The Nominating Committee shall present the slate to the Congregation at least two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting.  

The removal of a member of the Church Council may occur for persistent adherence to false doctrine, scandalous life, willful neglect of official duties, or evident and protracted incapacity to perform their duties. 

6. The Ratification of the Annual Budget: Annually review and ratify the Annual Budget as approved and recommended by the Church Council.

7. The Separation or Disbandment of the Congregation 

8. Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws


ARTICLE II 
CONGREGATION PROCEEDINGS

1. Annual Meeting: Proper notification for the Annual Meeting shall consist of a written announcement at Sunday worship services for at least two (2) consecutive Sundays prior to such meeting. Robert’s Rules of Order shall prevail, unless as otherwise provided. The Annual Meeting of the Congregation shall include:

a. Approval of the annual budget
b. Electing the members of the Church Council. Nominations from the floor shall be accepted only if the nominee has given his/her consent to serve and meets the Qualifications of Christ the Victor’s Church Council. Additionally, the nominee will be asked to agree to and sign the Church Council Prerequisites & Core Commitments document.

2. Special Meetings: The Church Council, the President or the Senior Pastor may call a special Voters’ meeting of Christ the Victor Lutheran Church.  The President will also call a special Voters’ meeting if a group of communicant members of Christ the Victor Lutheran Church numbering 10% of the average weekly worship attendance over the prior six (6) months submits a written request to the President.  Proper notification for any special voters meeting shall consist of a written announcement at Sunday worship services for at least two (2) consecutive Sundays prior to such meeting. In general, for purposes of order, Roberts' Rules of Order shall prevail. 

3. Quorum:  Whenever a meeting has been properly called, a quorum shall exist provided that at least 15% of the average weekly worship attendance over the last three (3) months are present.

4. Vote Required:  All decisions shall be by majority vote of the voting members present with the exception of:
Amendment of the Constitution as described in Article XI of the Constitution, 
Amendment of the By-laws as described in Article IX of this document.
Calling of a Pastor which shall be by two-thirds majority of the voting members present.
Removal of a Pastor which shall be by two-thirds majority of the voting members present. 
Removal of a member of the Church Council which shall be by two-thirds majority of the voting members present.
Separation or disbandment of Christ the Victor Lutheran Church as a corporation, which shall be by three-fourths majority vote of the voting members present.

5. Minutes:  Minutes shall be kept of all annual and special meetings of voters’ meetings by the Secretary of the Church Council or an appointed designee.


ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP

1. Membership

• Classification of Membership

i. Baptized members are those who have been baptized into the Christian faith.
ii. Communicant members are those baptized Christians who have received instruction in Christian doctrine via confirmation or the new member class.  
iii. Full-Time members are those who participate in the Congregation’s programs and whose primary membership resides at Christ the Victor. 
iv. Part-Time members are those who participate in the Congregation’s programs as their church home away from home for part of the calendar year.  They are also under the spiritual care of another congregation who subscribes to Articles II and III of the constitution of this Congregation. 
v. Voting members are those Full-Time and Part-Time members who are eighteen years of age or older.

•Applicants for membership shall be received into membership by letter of transfer, reaffirmation of faith, or confirmation.  Those not familiar with the teachings of the LCMC shall attend a course of instruction prior to acceptance into membership.


1. Expectations of Voting Members

It is the expectation for all voting members to sign the CTV Church Membership Policy.

2. Expectations of Communicant Membership:

  • When able, attends in-person worship services faithfully and partakes of the Lord’s Supper frequently, and in order to grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord, makes diligent use of the means offered, such as Bible classes, Bible study, and regular devotions at home.
  • Brings children to the Lord through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, rears them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, teaches them the Word of God in the home, endeavors with the help of God to enroll them in confirmation instruction classes, and in general makes use of educational agencies provided by the Congregation, such as Sunday School and Bible classes.
  • Declares their willingness to contribute and devote time, talents and treasures as the Lord has prospered them, towards the Desired Outcomes of Christ the Victor Lutheran Church.
  • Submits to the regulations already made or to be made by this body, provided they do not conflict with the Word of God.
  • Accepts admonition when having offended.

3. Termination of Membership: Communicant membership shall be terminated and the member removed from Christ the Victor Lutheran Church's membership roll, only for one of the following reasons:

  • Death
  • Request for Transfer:  Personal request of the member for transfer of membership to another church. 
  • Request for Release:  Personal request of the member for release from membership.
  • Location Unknown:  "Location unknown" for a period of one year or longer.
  • Self-exclusion:  Those individuals, who attend worship less than four (4) times per year, who voluntarily leave the church, also those who sever their connection without requesting a transfer or release, who do not express the sincere intention to retain their membership in this Congregation, shall be removed.  


ARTICLE IV 
THE CHURCH COUNCIL 

1. Vacancies:  The Church Council shall fill any Church Council vacancy through appointment.   The term of office of an appointed member shall commence on the first day following approval by the Church Council and shall fill the remaining term of the vacated position.

2. Officers:   The officers of the Church Council (President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer) shall be elected annually by the Church Council.

3. Responsibilities:   The Church Council shall:

  • Maintain a Church Council Policy Manual setting forth its responsibilities, governing policies, and its governing process.  
  • Have the authority to spend up to 5% in excess of the approved budget except when such purpose would be in violation of the Congregational rights. 
  • Call and/or revoke the call of any commissioned worker (such as Teachers, Directors of Christian Education, Directors of Christian Outreach, Directors of Parish Music, Deaconesses, Certified Lay Ministers, and Parish Assistants) on behalf of the Congregation and on the recommendation of the staff.
  • In the absence of the President and Vice-President, another member of the Church Council shall be delegated the authority by the Church Council to sign legal documents and preside over meetings.

4. Term of Office:  Each member of the Church Council shall serve a three-year term. At least two positions shall stand for reelection each year. Church Council Members may not serve more than two consecutive terms and, if appointed to fill a vacancy, may not stand for reelection if another term would extend their service to more than seven years. Church Council Members completing two consecutive terms, or serving up to seven years if a vacancy position was filled, will not be eligible to serve on the Church Council again until one year has elapsed. The Church Council officers shall serve one-year terms and may be reelected while serving their terms.  The term of office of each member of the Church Council shall commence on the Sunday immediately following the meeting at which they were elected.  


5. Meetings:   The Church Council shall establish regular monthly meetings, to be held at least ten (10) times a year.  Special meetings of the Church Council may be called by the President, the Senior Pastor, or at the request of any two (2) members of the Church Council.  All meetings of the Church Council shall be open to any communicant member of the Congregation, other than those executive sessions of any meeting where the purpose is to discuss personnel-related matters, to preserve the privacy of individuals, or any other issues or matters that the President determines that such meeting or portion thereof must be confidential. Minutes of all meetings of the Church Council shall be maintained. Portions of the meetings that are closed for the above reasons shall not be reflected in the minutes.

6. Quorum: A majority of the members of the Church Council shall constitute a quorum for any meeting.

7. Decisions:   Decisions of the Church Council will be made by a majority vote of those members present. 

 

ARTICLE V
DUTIES OF OFFICERS

1. President:    The President shall:

  • Preside at all meetings of the Church Council
  • Adheres to the Constitution and By-Laws of Christ the Victor Lutheran Church
  • Carry out the express will of Christ the Victor Lutheran Church as embodied in the resolutions of voters’ meetings
  • Work with the Senior Pastor to establish the agenda for all meetings of the Church Council and voters’ meetings
  • Preside at all voters’ meetings
  • Initiate counseling with any member of the Church Council who violates policy

 

2. Vice-President:  The Vice-President shall: 

  • Perform the duties of the President in the absence or at the request of the President
  • Initiate counsel with the President should the President violate policy
  • Act as the Congregation’s parliamentarian 
  • Oversee the selection of the annual audit committee

 

3. Secretary:   The Secretary shall:

  • Maintain the minutes of all meetings of the Church Council
  • Maintain the minutes of all voters’ meetings
  • Submit the minutes for approval at the next regular meeting
  • Be responsible for making all approved changes to the Policy Manual

4. Treasurer:  The Treasurer shall:

  • Present a copy of the financial report at all regular meetings of the Church Council 
  • Oversee the payment of all bills authorized by the Congregation, the prompt payment of salaries, and remittance of mission offerings 
  • Produce, present and answer questions concerning the annual financial report 

5. Members At Large (Not Officers): While Members At Large are not “officers” on the Church Council, they are “members” of the Church Council. Members at Large shall:

  • Function as a servant leader with his or her fellow Church Council members 
  • Represent the needs and best interest of the congregation
  • Have a willingness to serve on committees and task forces
  • Be willing to help with other duties as requested by the Church Council

 

ARTICLE VI 
MINISTRY STAFF

The Ministry staff shall include, but not be limited to, Ministers of Religion, ordained, and Ministers of Religion, commissioned.  One of the ordained Ministers shall be called by the Congregation to serve in the position of Senior Pastor.  

The duties of the ordained ministers shall include, but not be limited to: 

  • Preaching and teaching of the Word of God
  • Administration of the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Holy Baptism

All members of ministry staff shall administer areas of ministry as designated by their job descriptions and/or agreed to with the Senior Pastor. 


ARTICLE VII 
INDEMNIFICATION

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Christ the Victor Lutheran Church shall indemnify any individual who was or is a party, or threatened to be made a party, to any proceeding other than a proceeding by or in the right of Christ the Victor Lutheran Church, because he or she was a director, officer, called worker or employee of Christ the Victor Lutheran Church, against liability and/or expenses incurred in the proceeding if: 

a. He or she conducted himself or herself in good faith

b. He or she reasonably believed (i) in the case of conduct in his or her official capacity, that his or her conduct was in the best interests of Christ the Victor Lutheran Church, and (ii) in all other cases, that his or her conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the Congregation

c. In the case of any criminal proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful

 

ARTICLE VIII  
AMENDMENTS


These By-Laws may be amended by voting members of the Congregation at a regular or special meeting at which a quorum is present, by two-thirds of the votes cast.

The intention to amend the By-Laws, and the wording of the amendments proposed shall be available to the Congregation assembled for worship for two (2) consecutive weeks prior to the date upon which the amendment is presented for action.

These By-Laws were approved by the Voters of Christ the Victor Lutheran Church, Florence, AZ on the 9th day of February, 2025. 

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