ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

C O N S T I T U T I O N

PREAMBLE

It is the will of our Lord Jesus Christ that His disciples should preach the Gospel to the whole world (Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8). That Christ's mission for His Church might be carried out according to His will, He has commanded that Christians unite in worship (Hebrews 10:24-25), practice fellowship with one another (Acts 2:42), witness to all men (Acts 1:8), help each other grow in the Word (Ephesians 4:11-14), serve the needs of all men in Christian love (Ephesians 4:7-16, John 13:35, Galatians 6:10), administer the office of the Keys as His Church (John 20:21-23, Matthew 18:15-20), and maintain decency and order (I Corinthians 14:40) in the Church.

Therefore, we, a number of Lutheran Christians living in and near Charlotte, North Carolina, accept and subscribe to the following Constitution and Bylaws, in accordance with which all spiritual and material affairs of our congregation shall be governed.

ARTICLE I -- NAME

A. This congregation shall be called ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH.

B. The corporate name of this congregation is ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH.

ARTICLE II -- PURPOSES

The purposes of this congregation are:

1. To fulfill the Great Commission.
2. To provide pastoral care for its members.
3. To preach and teach the Word of God and administer the sacraments in accordance with the confessional standards of the Lutheran Church.
4. To preserve purity of doctrine.
5. To exercise and promote Christian love and fellowship and works of charity.
6. To provide religious instruction to persons of all ages.

ARTICLE III -- CONFESSION

This congregation believes, holds and accepts

1. All the canonical books of the Old Testament and the New Testament of the Bible to be the inspired Word of God and the sole rule for faith and life.
2. All the symbolical books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church contained in the Book of Concord, the Ecumenical Creeds (Apostolic, Nicene and Athanasian), the Unaltered Augsburg Confession of 1530, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Catechisms of Luther, the Smalcald Articles and the Formula of Concord as the correct and sound exposition of Christian doctrine taken from and in full accord with the Holy Scriptures.
3. That no doctrine which conflicts with or sets aside the foregoing norm of doctrine shall be taught or tolerated in this congregation.

ARTICLE IV -- SYNODICAL AFFILIATION

ARTICLE V -- THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE CONGREGATION

ARTICLE VI -- THE PASTORAL OFFICE AND CALLED PROFESSIONAL PERSONS

ARTICLE VII -- RIGHTS TO PROPERTY IN CASE OF SCHISM

If at any time a separation shall take place in this congregation, the real and personal properties of this congregation, its temporalities and revenues, and all rights and benefits thereof, shall be vested in those members who adhere to Article III and Article IV of this Constitution.

In the event of dissolution of this congregation, all assets and property of the congregation shall become the property of the Southeastern District of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod with which this congregation is affiliated.

Further, in the event this congregation is itself unable to make the decisions and/or determinations required by the two preceding paragraphs of this article, this congregation shall:

1. Request that the Southeastern District of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (or its successor) furnish a mediator to resolve the matter and make decisions and/or determinations mandated by the first two paragraphs of this article.
2. Should the mediator be unable to resolve the matter, the congregation will ask the Southeastern District of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (or its successor) to review the findings of the mediator and furnish the congregation with the District decision.
3. The result obtained by the District (specified in No. 2 above) may be appealed to the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (or its successor).

ARTICLE VIII -- CONFIRMED MEMBERSHIP

1. Confirmed membership in this congregation may be held only by those who:
   1. Are baptized in the Name of the Triune God.
   2. Have declared their acceptance of the confessions of this congregation as contained in Article III of this Constitution.
   3. Have been accepted into confirmed membership in accordance with the bylaws of this congregation and shall remain faithful to the responsibilities of membership contained in those bylaws.
   4. Do not live in manifest works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), but lead a Christian life.
   5. Are not members or adherents of any unchristian or ungodly society. (II Corinthians 6:14-18).
2. The membership and membership privileges of each confirmed member shall remain in force so long as each member shall maintain his eligibility according to the five points recited in Section A of this article and shall meet the requirements stated or implied in the disciplinary or other provisions of the bylaws. A member who voluntarily severs his connection with this congregation, or who has been released or transferred, or who has been excommunicated or excludes himself/herself according to the provisions of the bylaws, shall be deemed to have terminated his/her membership in this congregation along with all rights and privileges of such membership.

ARTICLE IX -- BAPTIZED MEMBERSHIP

ARTICLE X -- ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

Associate membership shall be granted to Lutheran people who are one with us in faith and share in the fellowship of this congregation, but who for good reasons have not joined with this congregation in other membership. This congregation recognizes a distinct responsibility by including them in the congregational activities--particularly those programs of education, service and fellowship.

While associate members are not eligible to vote in the Voters' Assembly meetings, they shall be encouraged to attend and have their voices heard. Associate members may also be appointed as advisory members of boards and committees.

ARTICLE XI -- ORGANIZATION

1. Voting membership

   This congregation shall be represented by, and administer all its affairs through, its Voting Membership.

   Only confirmed members, who have qualified according to the membership provisions of the bylaws shall be received as voting members of this congregation.

2. Administrative Boards

   Responsibility and authority for the daily administration of congregational affairs shall be delegated to the following boards:

   1. Board of Lay Ministry
   2. Board of Discipleship
   3. Board of Christian Education
   4. Board of Stewardship
   5. Board of Church Properties
   6. Board of Parish Fellowship
   7. Board of Youth Ministry
   8. Board of Caring Ministry
   9. Board of Finance

   All members of the administrative boards and their directors shall be elected by the Voters' Assembly.

3. Officers of this Congregation

   The officers of this congregation shall consist of:

   1. Executive Director
   2. Assistant Executive Director(s)
   3. Treasurer

   --all elected from among the voting membership in accordance with the bylaws of this congregation.

   A Secretary shall be appointed by the Executive Director and this Secretary shall have no vote on the Parish Planning Council.

   The Executive Director of this congregation (or the Assistant Executive Director(s) when acting as the Executive Director) shall have a voice on all administrative boards, but his/her right to vote shall be limited to such board(s) on which he/she may hold membership. The Pastor(s) and Assistant(s) to the Pastor(s) of this congregation shall be advisory members of all boards and their associated committees, and may at his/her discretion attend any or all meetings related to congregational activity of any kind.

4. Parish Planning Council

   The Parish Planning Council shall consist of the Pastor(s), the Assistant(s) to the Pastor(s), the Executive Director, the Assistant Executive Director(s) and the Treasurer of this congregation together with the Directors of the Administrative Boards listed in Section B of this article. They shall hold a position on the Parish Planning Council by virtue of their call or election by the voting members of this congregation so long as their terms of office continue. The Charlotte Lutheran Schools shall also be represented on the PPC by an Ascension member of the School Board.

5. Rights and Powers

   This congregation, subject to the limiting provisions and regulations of this Constitution and its associated Bylaws, shall have supreme power in the administration of its affairs. No duly elected officers of this congregation shall have any power or authority beyond that conferred upon them by the congregation acting through its voting membership. Each administrative board, along with the Parish Planning Council, shall be responsible for the performance of such duties as the voting membership may delegate to them by resolution. Such specially delegated right and powers, both of officers and administrative boards, shall be subject to revision or complete withdrawal by the voting membership at its discretion.

   ARTICLE XII -- PASTORS AND STAFF PERSONNEL

   Only such candidates shall be called and elected to serve as Pastor(s), or as Lay Pastoral Assistant(s), who profess acceptance of and pledge faithful adherence to the confessions of this congregation as set forth in Article III of this Constitution.

   In the absence of adequate cause for dismissal, as defined in the bylaws of this congregation, the tenure of office of called or elected Pastor(s), Lay Pastoral Assistants to the Pastor(s), or other called staff personnel shall be the remainder of their active life or until the Lord calls them to another field of service.

   However, nothing in this article shall operate to prevent the congregation from entering into a contract arrangement with other staff personnel. The purpose of this provision is to permit this congregation to contract for its staffing requirements.

   ARTICLE XIII -- SOCIETIES

   Societies may be organized within this congregation only with the expressed approval of the voting membership, and all such societies shall be under the supervision of the Pastor(s) and the appropriate administrative board. Only confirmed members of this congregation shall be officers of such societies or groups. Any decisions of or performance by societies or groups shall be invalid if they conflict with this Constitution and its associated Bylaws. The Pastor(s) by virtue of their office(s), shall be advisor(s) to such congregational societies or groups.

   ARTICLE XIV -- VALIDITY OF RESOLUTIONS

   All congregational matters shall be decided by a simple majority vote of the qualified voting members present and voting at a properly-called meeting of the voting membership, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution and its associated Bylaws.

   ARTICLE XV -- AMENDMENTS

   1. This Constitution may be changed or amended, with the exception of the articles listed in Section B of this Article, by a three-fourths majority of the votes cast in a regular meeting of the voting membership, provided that the intention to amend this Constitution and the wording of the proposed amendments shall be presented to the congregation in worship assembled on two different Sundays and shall be printed and mailed to all voting members of record ten days prior to the date upon which the amendment is presented to the Voters' Assembly for action.
   2. Articles II, III, V, VI, and VII of this Constitution are hereby made irrevocable.