Jacobson, S. T.

English

Scholars Commons

President, Pastors, Parishes

Wilfrid Laurier University

ConsensusVolume 4 | Issue 4 Article 410-4-1978President, Pastors, ParishesS. T. JacobsonFollow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensusThis Articles is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationJacobson, S. T. (1978) "President, Pastors, Parishes," Consensus: Vol. 4 : Iss. 4 , Article 4.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol4/iss4/4PRESIDENT, PASTORS, PARISHESS.T. JacobsonThis article is to deal with the question of how the polity of the churchworks itself out in relationships between the church at large and the localcongregation, from the perspective of the rationale behind the polity of theEvangelical Lutheran Church of Canada.BASIC ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLESPurposeThe purpose of the congregation shall be to proclaim and propagate theChristian faith through the Means of Grace, and to cooperate in the programapproved by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada. ^The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada is a union of congregationsto serve God more effectively by focusing and coordinating the purposes andresources of the congregations of the church; to express, preserve and extendthe unity of the faith of the church; to proclaim in word and deed the Gospelof forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord, so that the Triune Godmay be more fully known; witnessing to, proclaiming and propagating theChristian faith in its fullness and purity; seeking the quickening andsanctification of the members of its congregations. Prominent in thestatements of purpose are the Means of Grace in word and sacrament, afaithful ministry of them, and the use of them by members of thecongregations. 2MembershipArticle Vll of the ELCC constitution states: “the membership of theEvangelical Lutheran Church of Canada shall consist of congregations.” Thearticle continues by describing the relationship of individual persons to thechurch: “Individuals, clergy and lay, belong to The Evangelical LutheranChurch of Canada by virtue of their membership in one of its constituentcongregations.” 3 These two brief sentences identify a very basic element inpolity, which has already been referred to in describing the purpose of theELCC. Similarly, in the model constitution for congregations, the sameview of membership is expressed: “For the better attainment of its purpose, thecongregation shall be a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church ofCanada or its successor...The congregation claims for itself all the rights and1. Model Constitution and Bylaws for Congregations of The ELCC, 1977. Published by and availablefrom the Office of the President, The ELCC. Hereafter referred to as "Model Constitution."2. Articles of Incorporation, Constitution and Bylaws of The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Carradcr,1977 edition, pp. 10-11. Published by and available from the Office of the President, The ELCC.Hereafter referred to as "Constitution ELCC."3. Ibid., p. 13.2526 Consensusprivileges and accepts all the duties and obligations connected with suchmembership.” ^ In the constitution of the church there is a sentence whichdiscloses the view of membership in the congregation which has animportance for questions of status of individuals vis a vis the church at large:‘The pastor and laity constitute the membership of the congregation, thepastor’s status differing as to office and function.” 5PowersBoth the ELCC constitution and the model for congretations devote severalparagraphs to questions relating to the powers which each has. For thecongregation, these powers are described in these terms: (a) all its authorityhas its source in the Word of God, to which all individuals, groups, activities,organizations and the life of the congregation shall submit; (b) the powers ofthe congregation shall be those necessary to fulBll its declared purpose; (c) thepowers of the congregation are vested in the congregational meeting; (d) thecongregation has clearly defined powers respecting the acquiring, holding anddisposing of property. 6The church’s powers are viewed not only from the perspective of theirauthority and their significance for the church itself, but particularly withrespect to the relationship of the thurch to the congregations. The local con-gregation has the right and duty to call its pastor, own its property and con-duct its program. Its members are free to work in God’s kingdom throughagencies and institutions outside of the ELCC. These may be established andmaintained for strengthening people in their faith, doing works of mercy or forcarrying on missionary activity. Examples of these would be societies orinstitutions for Christian nurture and training, institutions for the aged orinfirm, organizations for carrying on missionary work in Canada or abroad.With respect to these, however, the church does have the responsibility toevaluate them and recommend for support only those that have been approvedby the appropriate division boards and by the Church Council. On the otherhand, the congregation has its responsibilities toward the church, namely, tohonor and respect the recommendation of the church, to adhere faithfully tothe doctrines of the church, and to cooperate whole heartedly with theprogram which the church as a fellowship of congregations, has approved.The.church’s constitution defines what are called “basic principles of organ-ization and operation.” These are:(1) The representative character of legislative assemblies shall be preserved.(2) Effective checks and balances between and within the agencies of thechurch shall be maintained.(3) The functions of the officers, conferences, councils, boards, commissions,and standing committees shall be clearly defined by the Constitution andBylaws, which shall also guarantee that responsibility and authority arecommensurate.(4) There shall at all times be clear and direct channels for all officers,4 . Model Constitution, p. 3.5 Constitution ELCC., p.l4.6. Model Constitution, p. 2.Presidents, Pastors, Parishes 27conferences, councils, boards, commissions, and standing committees ofthe Church to bring recommendations before the legislative assemblies.(5) The legislative authority shall rest in the conventions of the Church, andbetween conventions in the Church Council. Supervision ofadministration, including the determination of policy in the execution ofapproved legislation, shall rest in the councils, boards, commissions, andstanding committees of the Church. The administration of these policiesshall be carried out by the officers and the executives, elected by thecouncils, boards, commissions, and standing committees. The authorityfor final adjudication shall rest with the Board of Appeals andAdjudication. 7Most of the above quoted “basic principles” deal with the interaction andinterrelationships of the different parts of the organization of the church in itsongoing operation. The point at which the congregations enter into thisstructure is in the first principle: ‘The representative character of legislativeassemblies shall be preserved.” This asserts that the legislative assemblies orconventions of the church will be comprised of representatives from thecongregations. This is more clearly defined elsewhere in the constitution,specifically Article IX The General Convention, Section 4, (2):The voting membership of the Genral Convention shall consist of pastorsserving congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada anddelegates who represent congregations of the Church. Each congregationshall be entitled to at least one lay delegate. Congregations of more thanthree hundred confirmed members shall be entitled to one lay delegate foreach three hundred confirmed members or remaining major fraction thereof. ®PRESIDENTWhile it would be of interest to trace the roles, duties and responsibilities,freedoms and limitations of congregations, pastors, boards and committees,executive staff, and conferences, the specific subject matter for this paperrequires that attention be given to what is said about the president’s duties.In Article X, Section 1 (2) under the sub-heading, “Duties andResponsibilities of the President,” one finds these two brief but broadassignments:(a) He shall serve as spiritual leader of the Church and shall seek topreserve peace and order.(b) He shall serve as president of the corporation and shall convene andpreside over the conventions of the Church. ^As one goes through the ELCC constitution and bylaws, and the modelconstitution for congregations, watching particularly for duties of the generalpresident that have to do with pastors and congregations, one finds a7- Constitution ELCC, p. 13.8. Ibid., p. 16.9. Ibid., p. 17.28 Consensusconsiderable involvement. For instance, with respect to congregations, thepresident receives the application of the congregation for membership andrefers this to the Church Council for action and recommendation to the nextconvention. The president assists congregations to call a pastor and to obtaininterim pastoral service. He also has supervision of the congregations which isto include visitation, assistance in realignments, and mediation in times ofdisputes within or between congregations. If the congregation should wish towithdraw from the church, the president is involved in negotiations aimed atremoving the cause for withdrawal. In the event that the withdrawal iseffected, the president receives the official communication of the congregationto that effect. Also, in the event that a congregation is to be disciplined, it isthe president with the Church Council that is to administer it. The president’srole then is to take note of alleged inappropriate activities, investigate them,give counsel to the congregation and seek to remove the causes for complaint.If these fail, he is to request the Church Council to suspend the congregation.PASTORSAccording to the ELCC constitution 10 the pastors or clergy of the churchare those who have been ordained on the authority of a call from thecongregation or the church, who are committed to the faith confessed by thechurch and committed also to the constitution. To them is committed thepublic administration of the Means of Grace. All the clergy of the church arelisted on the clergy roster and come under the discipline of the church. Thechurch has authority to admit the pastors to its roster and to suspend ordismiss them. Continuation on the roster is possible as long as the pastorserves a parish or in a ministry approved by the church, or is retired.The relationship of the pastor to the congregation is one of leader andco-worker. Toward the church, he comes under the supervision of thepresident and is subject to the church’s discipline when necessary. Thisdisdpline is administered by the president and the Church Council, and theonly grounds mentioned are: “alleged deviation in doctrine” or “conductunbecoming a clergyman.” H The pastor also is assured the counsel, supportand protection of the church.ORGANIZATIONAL CHARACTERIn taking note of the relationships between parishes, pastors and president,two points are to be noted and emphasized. One is the character of the churchas a fellowship. The ELCC constitution. Article VI speaks of the church as a“functioning fellowship,” which is similar to the way in which the preamble10. * Ibid., pp. 14f.1 1 . Ibid., p. 33.Presidents, Pastors, Parishes 29speaks of “this fellowship.” ^ ^ This emphasis on fellowship conveys the pictureof the church as consisting of all persons--regardless of function oroffice—being together on common ground, with common spiritual status, andfor a common purpose. Relationships of supervision and accountability arerecognized but are secondary to the primary concept of fellowship.The other characteristic of the church structure is its voluntary aspect.Congregations participate on a voluntary basis. Pastors serve congregationsnot only because they are called but because they choose to accept the call.The leadership of the president is accepted voluntarily; he has no authority toimpose it. If a congregation or a pastor comes to the conviction that they canno longer continue within the church, they are free to leave. The onlystipulation is that they give adequate consideration to their decision, and notmake it hastily on the impulse of the moment. When discipline becomesnecessary either toward the congregation or pastor, the grounds thereon arefew and simple, and the exercise of this discipline follows minimal procedures,with emphasis upon the good judgment of the president and the ChurchCouncil. In every instance, there is first of all to be consultation and everyeffort made to remove the alleged grounds for disciplinary action.RATIONALEAt this point, attention may be shifted from principles of organization andtheir expression, to the rationale behind them. This rationale is complex, anintertwining of factors theological and historical, cultural and political, andpersonal.Of the theological factor, it may be said that primary attention is given inthis polity to the Means of Grace in the congregation, reminding one of ArticleVII of the Augsburg Confession:It is also taught among us that one holy Christian church will be andremain forever. This is the assembly of all believers among whom thegospel is preached in its purity and the holy sacraments are administeredaccording to the gospel. 13This seems to have a subsequent importance in the polity which regards thecongregation as the basic unit of organization.Another aspect of the theological factor in the rationale is the concept of thepriesthood of all believers. This has reference not only to the privilege ofaccess to God through Jesus Christ by his grace through faith, but also to theresponsibility for sharing in the priestly functions of witnessing to the faith andbeing actively involved in the “quickening and sanctification of the members ofthe congregations through the use of the Means of Grace.” One might12. Ibid., pp. 11 & 9.13. Theodore G. Toppert, ed., Book of Concord (Philadelphia; AAuhlenburg Press, 1959), p.22.14 . Constitution ELCC, p. 10.30 Consensusdescribe this element of the theological factor in the ralionaje as comprising aconcept of “responsive Christianity.”It would be a stimulating exercise to look at the historical aspect of thisrationale, taking into note the seeds from the Reformation, the long memoriesamong settlers in this country of clergy abuses and dominant churches, theeffects of movements with characteristics of low church emphasis andevangelistic perspectives, the interplay of reactions and counter-reactionsbetween various groups both in Europe and in North America.Similarly, one could find it fascinating to consider the cultural and politicalforces that have helped to shape this rationale, such as those found in theUnited States and in Canada. Similarly, the educational opportunities, thepolitical processes, new frontier mentality, the influences from other churchesand from sects and movements, and the prominent philosophies of the daywhich have helped shape the views of people.Finally, one could give recognition to the influence upon a church’s rationalefor organization which has been wielded by those who have held positions ofleadership. For the ELCC many names come to mind, from the antecedentbodies, American Lutheran Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church, LutheranFree Church, and United Evangelical Lutheran Church.LIVING UNDER THESE PRINCIPLESAND WITH THIS RATIONALEIn the life of the church as in other organizations, circumstances andpersonalities influence the actual way in which principles are followed and arationale is expressed. Sometimes the church is reacting to situations in itsworld which are influenced or controlled by forces and persons outside of itsown spheres. Further, the particular personal perspectives of the leadership ofthe church, not only its officers but the members of its boards and theexecutives on its staff, will result in emphasis being placed upon some aspectsthat have to do with the church’s organization. Further, there are times whenwhat is deemed “practical” has its own influence in the way in whichprinciples are applied.DR. S.T. JACOBSON is President of The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada.

https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2262&amp;context=consensus

President, Pastors, Parishes

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Scholars Commons

Wilfrid Laurier University