New Bylaws and Constitution documents now available

CANADA – Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) has released the new versions of its Statutory Bylaws, Synodical Bylaws, and Synodical Constitution which were adopted by the 2017 synodical convention.

The amendments to these documents were previously released in the official convention proceedings, but the finalized version of the documents are now available to download.

Amendments to the statutory bylaws were passed by a 77.3% majority during the convention (a 2/3 majority was required). Download LCC’s new Statutory Bylaws here.

The Synodical Bylaws passed at convention without opposition. Download LCC’s new Synodical Bylaws here.

Amendments to the Synodical Constitution passed at convention with 92 votes in favour and 2 against. Changes to the Synodical Constitution also require ratification by LCC congregations before they are put into effect (congregational resources for that vote are now available). Download the Synodical Constitution here.

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LCC releases materials for congregational vote on Synodical Constitution amendments

CANADA – Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) has released a package of resource materials for congregations as they prepare to vote on changes to the synodical constitution adopted at the 2017 synodical convention.

“These proposed changes in structure were all adopted by the 2017 LCC Convention by a strong majority,” explains LCC First Vice President Nolan Astley in an executive summary on the congregational ratification process. “Because some of these changes require amendment of the Constitution of LCC, a congregational ratification vote is necessary to approve the changes to the constitution. In order to be adopted the constitutional amendments must be approved by two-thirds of the congregations participating in the ratification vote.”

The resource package now released by LCC provides congregations with the tools they need to participate in the ratification process. The package includes:

“The Board of Directors of LCC, together with the Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure, urges member congregations to give prayerful consideration of these amendments to our Constitution and exercise their right to vote,” writes Vice President Astley in his Executive Summary.

Congregational votes on the proposed changes must take place on or before April 16, 2018. Ballots may be submitted electronically or by mail, but those sent by mail must be postmarked no later than April 17, 2018.

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Convention Proceedings now available

CANADA – The Proceedings from Lutheran Church–Canada’s eleventh synodical convention have now been published. The convention took place October 13-16, 2017 in Kitchener, Ontario.

“The official Proceedings… are provided as the official record of the decisions, elections, and activities of the Convention,” notes Rev. Paul Schallhorn, outgoing Synod Secretary. “I encourage all members of the Synod who receives these Proceedings to make them available to the members of their respective congregations and others so that the information contained herein may reach as many as possible.”

The Proceedings are available as a pdf download here. Physical copies of the Proceedings are also available upon request from Lutheran Church–Canada’s synodical office in Winnipeg.

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