The ELCA Churchwide Assembly held July 28 – Aug 2, adopted a new Model Constitution for Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Link: 2025 Model Constitution for Congregations
Important highlights from the Introduction paragraph of the updated constitution regarding expectations of each congregation and the review process.
ELCA bylaw 9.53.03.
Each congregation of this church is to provide a copy of its governing documents, and any amendments thereto, to its synod.
All proposed changes in the constitution or incorporation documents of a congregation shall be referred to the synod with which the congregation is affiliated. The synod shall notify the congregation of its decision to approve or disapprove the proposed changes; the changes shall go into effect upon notification that the synod has approved them.
Model Constitution for Congregations
Chapter 16 - Amendments: Once approved by congregation, amendment(s) sent to Synod for approval. Once approved by Synod the amendment(s) go into effect.
Chapter 17 – Bylaws: Once approved by congregation and do not conflict with constitution, congregation will send adopted bylaw(s) to the Synod.
Chapter 18 - Continuing Resolutions: Once approved by congregation and do not conflict with constitution, congregation will send adopted continuing resolution(s) to the Synod.
Closing paragraph of Review by Synod section of the introduction of the updated ELCA congregational constitution:
In order to be sure that amendments meet constitutional requirements and avoid potential problems, congregations are strongly urged to submit all proposed amendments to a congregation’s constitutional provisions, bylaws, and continuing resolutions to the synod for review before voting on them.
Your Constitution Review Team has a few requests to make the review process go smoothly.
Congregations should add to cover page to their constitution to include their congregation’s full name, city, and state to differentiate between named congregations.
All documents to be reviewed will be sent in as Word documents with changes highlighted/denoted. Showing all edits will make less guess work for the reviewer, and for a quicker turn-around-time.
Please allow enough time for the review process.
Once a governing document has been reviewed, approved, voted on by the congregation, the congregation is responsible for emailing a clean word document file to the NWIM Synod office.
Please contact the synod office: office@nwimsynod.org