Confirmed members are all baptized persons within the congregation who have completed a course of instruction in Christian doctrine that meets with the approval of the Lay Leadership Group.

Persons seeking to attain confirmed membership shall make that fact known to the Senior Pastor or any other delegated pastor. The pastor shall ascertain the understanding and commitment to the purpose and theological commitment contained in Article III. The pastor will determine if additional training is needed and the appropriate method for that training. The pastor is authorized to extend confirmed membership to the person and shall announce that in a public service.

In addition to the duties of baptized members, it is expected of all confirmed members that they:

• A. Accept the confessions of faith listed in Article III of the constitution.
• B. Familiarize themselves with the doctrines of the LCMS.
• C. Partake of the Lord's Supper.
• D. Participate in continuing Christian education.
• E. Provide for the Christian training of their children by making use of the educational agencies of the congregation.

Voting members are designated as all communicant members of Epiphany Lutheran Church, Greenville.

Article 4

Termination of Membership 

• A. Transfers

A member desiring transfer to another congregation shall make that fact known to the Senior Pastor. The Senior Pastor shall cause the creating and mailing of a letter of transfer to the receiving congregation.

• B. Whereabouts unknown or moved

The names of members whose whereabouts are unknown or who have moved from the area may be removed from membership after a period of one year. 

•  C. Discipline All discipline in this congregation shall be administered in accordance with Matthew 18:15-20. The purpose of any disciplinary action is to renew a member's relationship with the Lord and with the church. A member shall be considered self-excluded when unresponsive to the witness and ministry of the church.

  Article 5

  Voters’ Assembly

  • A. The Voters’ Assembly shall meet at least once a year. The day and hour of the annual meeting shall be set by the Lay Leadership Group and publicized at least one month in advance. The notification shall contain an agenda of items to be considered as well as the slate of nominees for election.
  • B. The Voters’ Assembly may meet at other times of the year subject to a call by the Lay Leadership Group or at the request of any three voting members of the congregation. Notice of any such special meeting shall be publicized as far in advance as possible but no less than one week in advance. The notice shall contain an agenda of items to be considered. No agenda items may be added once notification of any meeting is publicized. The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, or their designated Lay Leadership Group member shall preside at all Voters’ Assembly meetings.
  • C. To conduct business at Voters’ Assembly meetings, a quorum of 51% voting members is preferred. If a quorum is not present, the chairperson will suspend the meeting for a period of not less than one week. When the meeting is resumed, the quorum shall be all those in attendance at the resumed meeting.

  Article 6

  Called Workers

  • A. Called Workers
  • 1. Calls will only be issued to such candidates who are approved by the LCMS.
  • 2. After authorization is received from the Voters’ Assembly, the Lay Leadership Group shall appoint a Call Committee. No more than one-third of the Call Committee members may be members of the Lay Leadership Group.
  • 3. The Call Committee shall consult with those in the affected ministry area and with the LCMS District Leadership as part of their efforts to secure the names of candidates.
  • 4. The Call Committee will present a final list of candidates to the Voters’ Assembly for issuance of the Call.
  • B. Removal from Office of Called Workers Any Called Worker may be removed from office by the Voters’ Assembly by a three-fourths majority secret ballot vote because of: persistent adherence to false doctrine, scandalous life, neglect of duties, or inability to perform the duties of the office.

  Article 7

  Officers

  • A. Chairperson:
  • 1. Preside at all meetings of the Voters’ Assembly and the Lay Leadership Group.
  • 2. Enforce the constitution and bylaws.
  • 3. Perform the general duties as are common for the office, including such additional duties as may be directed by the Voters’ Assembly from time to time.
  • B. Vice Chairperson:
  • 1. Perform all of the duties of the Chairperson in the latter's absence and such other additional duties which may be directed by the Voters’ Assembly or by the Chairperson from time to time.
  • 2. Chair and appoint a Nominating Committee with the advice and consent of the Lay Leadership Group.
  • C. Secretary:
  • 1. The duties shall be those commonly required of that office, especially the keeping and preserving of accurate records of all Voters’ Assembly meetings, and handling such correspondence as the congregation may require.
  • 2. Keep and make available minutes of all Lay Leadership Group meetings.
  • D. Treasurer:

  • 1. Responsible for dissemination of funds of the Church.
  • 2. Responsible for the financial records of the congregation.
  • 3. Tracks finances as they relate to the annual budget and prepares reports to the Leadership Board. 
  • E. Financial Secretary:
  •     1. Responsible for receipt and deposits of contributions to the Church.
  •     2. Oversees the work of the Treasurer.
  •     3. Assure accuracy and propriety of all financial transactions of the congregation.
  •     4. Oversees the tellers/counters to insure accurate tracking of contributions and deposits.
  •     5. Is subject to oversight by an external auditor not affiliated with the Church.

  NOTE: There will be a yearly audit of all financial records which will be performed by an external, qualified individual not affiliated with the Church.

  • F. Term of Office

  Each officer shall serve for a term of 1 year and shall serve no more than 5 full successive terms in that position without a break of at least 1 year.

  Article 8

  Lay Leadership Group

   

            A. Membership

            The Lay Leadership Group shall consist of the officers specified in Article 7 and      additional at-large members who number at least 5% of the voting members, elected by the Voters’ Assembly. The Senior Pastor shall be a non-voting member.

  B. Term of Office

  The term of office shall be 1 year, with all members of the Lay Leadership Group being elected each year. Group members shall serve no more than 5 full successive terms in that position without a break of at least 1 year.

  C. Meetings

  The Lay Leadership Group shall meet at least quarterly and may be called more frequently at the request of the Chairperson or any three Lay Leadership Group members. An elected officer shall be present and preside with 51% members of the Lay Leadership Group to constitute a quorum for any meeting. If a quorum is not present, the chairperson will ask the members who are present to determine, by vote, whether a quorum of 51% is necessary for agenda items pertaining to that particular meeting. If a quorum is voted to be necessary, then the chairperson will postpone the meeting until a future date at which a quorum of 51% can be achieved. If not, the quorum shall be all those in attendance at the resumed meeting. Notice of each meeting shall be posted. The minutes shall fully disclose all actions taken and be signed by the Chairperson and Secretary. Minutes of the meetings shall be available to voting members upon request.

  Article 9

  Powers of the Lay Leadership Group

   

  The Lay Leadership Group shall have the power to develop policies as required to execute the goals approved by the Voters’ Assembly. Written policies shall be available upon request. The Group shall have no authority beyond that which has been conferred upon them by the constitution, its bylaws, or by the Voters’ Assembly.

   

  Article 10

  Duties of the Lay Leadership Group

   

  • A. The Lay Leadership Group, as the chief governing Council of the congregation, shall act in all matters pertaining to the legal and general welfare of the congregation, except those reserved for the Voters’ Assembly in Article VI.B. of the constitution.
  • B. The Lay Leadership Group shall see to it that all activities of the church reflect the purpose and faith of the congregation.
  • C. It shall concern itself with establishing all policies governing the activities of the congregation and with the implementation of the mission, vision, budget, and plans adopted by the Voters’ Assembly.
  • D. The Lay Leadership Group may appoint any entity needed. It shall oversee and have authority over all other boards, committees, task forces, action teams, or other entities of the congregation.

  Article 11

  Election, Removal from Office, and Vacancies

  • A. Nomination

  The Vice Chairperson of the Lay Leadership Group shall annually appoint a Nominating Committee whose responsibility will be to develop a slate of candidates for officers and Lay Leadership Group members to be elected each year. The committee shall function for one year only, and shall report their nominations to the election meeting of the Voters’ Assembly. The Senior Pastor shall be a non-voting member of the Nominating Committee.

  All nominees shall be voting members noted for their Christian knowledge, zeal, and experience in the spiritual work in the Kingdom. Specific criteria for elected officials shall be outlined by the Nominating Committee prior to accepting any nominations. In addition to the Nominating Committee's slate of candidates, any voting member may nominate candidates. A call for nominations will be distributed to the congregation no fewer than two months prior to the election meeting. The list of nominations will be closed at the time that the meeting agenda and slate of candidates is distributed.

  Those elected by the voters may not receive compensation from the congregation and may not lead any group that reports directly to the Lay Leadership Group, except a Call Committee or the Nominations Committee.

  • B. Election

  Nominees who receive a majority of the ballots cast at the Voters’ Assembly shall be the elected.

  • C. Taking office

  All elected officials will begin their term of office on the second Sunday of the month following election.

  • D. Vacancy The Lay Leadership Group shall be authorized to appoint a person to fill an unexpired term of an officer.
  • E. Removal from Office of Elected Officials

  Any elected official, who is unable or is willfully neglectful in the performance of his official duties, may be removed from office by two-thirds secret ballot vote of the Voters’ Assembly. Such action shall be initiated by the Lay Leadership Group.

  Article 12

  Board of Elders

  The primary role of the Board of Elders is to concern itself with the spiritual health of the congregation and members of the church. All rules and policies regarding the Board of Elders will be comprehensively outlined in the Policies and Procedures handbook of Epiphany, Greenville.

  Article 13

  Amendments

  The bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast in a meeting of the Voters’ Assembly. The wording of the amended constitution and bylaws shall be distributed to all members in a mailing as far in advance as possible, but no fewer that two Sundays in advance. In addition, the revisions will be distributed to the congregation assembled for worship on two different Sundays prior to the date upon which the amendment is presented for action.