USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of East Pennsylvania : with brief sketches of its congregations > Part 30
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SEC. 4. Treasurer. [1] He shall receive from the Secretary all moneys, and hold them, together with all bonds, certificates and documents, subject to the order of the Synod.
[2] He shall keep, and present at each annual meeting of Synod, a detailed and faithful account of the state of the Treasury. He shall give a bond for the faithful performance of the duties of his office, the cost of the same to be paid by the Synod.
[3] Should he become disqualified for the discharge of his duties, the Presi- dent shall take charge of all the moneys, certificates, bonds, ctc., belonging to Synod, and retain them until a Treasurer is elected at the next meeting of Synod.
SEC. 5. In the interim of the meetings of Synod, the administration of its affairs shall be entrusted to its officers, whose action shall be authoritative
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and binding upon all parties owing allegiance thereto, subject, however, to appeal at the next ensuing meeting of Synod.
ARTICLE V.
MINISTERS.
SECTION 1. Pastoral Interference. No minister or licentiate shall preach or perform other ministerial acts in the pastorate of another except by his con- sent, or, in his absence, by that of the Church Council.
SEC. 2. Dismission. Any minister or licentiate, in good standing, who re- moves into the bounds of another Synod, shall, on application to the Presi- dent, receive a certificate of honorable dismission, and such a certificate shall be required by the Synod of those applying for admission into it.
SEC. 3. Admission. Any minister or licentiate of any Synod belonging to the General Synod, called to any of our churches, shall present to our Presi- dent a letter of honorable dismission within one month from the date of tak- ing charge; and upon so doing shall be regarded as a member of this body and under its jurisdiction. In the case of a licentiate, his ordination shall be performed by this Synod, unless for satisfactory reasons the President shall determine otherwise.
SEC. 4. Reception of Ministers from other Ecclesiastical Bodies. Ministers from other ecclesiastical bodies can only be received by a two-thirds vote of the Ministerium, upon recommendation of the Examining Committee, and by publicly subscribing to the doctrinal basis of the Synod.
SEC. 5. Notice to the President. Any minister resigning or accepting a pas- torate shall give due notice thereof to the President.
ARTICLE VI.
CONGREGATIONS AND PASTORATES.
SECTION I. The Council of a congregation, or the Joint Council of a charge, may consider and act on the resignation of a pastor.
SEC. 2. A pastor cannot resign a portion of his pastorate and continue to serve the remaining part, without consent of the Joint Council and the ap- proval of the President of Synod.
SEC. 3. No congregation or congregations shall withdraw from the pastor- ate with which it is connected, without the consent of the Joint Council and the approval of the President of Synod.
SEC. 4. If any members of the congregation desire for good cause to organ- ize themselves into a new congregation, they must first be dismissed for that purpose, and any organization formed without such dismission shall be re- garded irregular, and any minister of the General Synod participating in such organization shall make himself liable to charges.
SEC. 5. No congregation shall make any enactments in conflict with this Constitution or with the Formula of Government.
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SEC. 6. Any vacant congregation in arrears to a former pastor shall be re- quired to make satisfactory adjustment thereof before calling a successor.
SEC. 7. Vacant congregations shall report to the President of Synod at once, and are requested to confer with him with a view to being supplied with a pastor as soon as possible.
ARTICLE VII.
EDUCATION.
SECTION. I. Education Committee. There shall be an Education Committee of five, at least three of whom shall be ordained ministers, to which all appli- cations for beneficiary aid shall be made, and who shall obtain from the in- structors of beneficiaries the official report annually of their scholarship and deportment, and who shall make a detailed statement to the Synod annually.
SEC. 2. Qualifications of Applicants. The applicant shall have been a member of the Lutheran Church for at least one year, and must be qualified to enter the Freshman class in Pennsylvania College. He shall, if deemed ne- cessary, submit to a physical examination, and give evidence of industry, intel- lectual endowment, piety, and a call to the ministry.
SEC. 3. Obligations. Every beneficiary shall be required to take a full course in college and seminary, unless otherwise permitted by Synod, or by consent of the Committee. He shall be required to give promissory notes to the Treasurer of Synod for the amounts received by him, which notes shall be canceled when he shall have been in the ministry three years, provided he is in connection with some Synod belonging to the General Synod.
ARTICLE VIII. DELEGATES.
SECTION I. Delegates to General Synod. In the election of delegates to the General Synod, principals shall be first balloted for, and afterward alter- nates; and after the second ballot the persons having the lowest number of votes shall be dropped. No clerical member shall be eligible more than twice in succession, unless he be President or Secretary of the General Synod. When a delegate-elect shall remove beyond the bounds of the Synod, before the meeting of the General Synod, he shall not be entitled to represent the Synod, provided always, that ministers in the general service of the Church shall be exempt from this rule.
SEC. 2. Directors of the Theological Seminary. This Synod shall elect the required number of Directors of the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, for a term of five years, who are expected to be constant and faithful in attendance upon the meetings of the Board.
ARTICLE IX. CONFERENCES.
SECTION I. The Synod shall divide itself into Conference Districts for the purpose of holding Conference meetings.
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SEC. 2. The chief object of such meetings shall be the preaching of the Word, mutual consultation and encouragement in the work of the Lord, the promotion of the cause of religion among the churches represented, and the fuller development of the possibilities of the district.
SEC. 3. Conferences shall be entrusted with the organization of new churches, the supply of vacant congregations with preaching, the formation and maintenance of pastorates.
SEC. 4. The records of the proceedings of Conferences shall be submitted to Synod for examination and review, and an abstract thereof read by their Secretaries at the meeting of Synod.
ARTICLE X.
PROCESS AGAINST A MINISTER.
SECTION I. As the honor and success of the Gospel depend very much on the character of its ministers, Synod ought to guard with the utmost care and impartiality the conduct of its members.
SEC. 2. All Christians should be very cautious in giving credit or circulation to an evil report of any member of the church, and especially of a minister of the Gospel. If any member knows a minister to be guilty of a private censur- able fault, he should warn him in private; if this prove fruitless, he should apply to the Church Council, who shall proceed as specified in Chap. III., Sec. 5, of Formula of Government.
SEC. 3. If accusation be lodged, according to Chap. III., Sec. 5, with the President within two months of the next Synodical meeting, he shall defer the matter to said meeting; yet, if the charge be one of gross immorality, or circu- lating fundamental error in doctrine, he shall immediately direct the accused to suspend all his ministerial duties until his case is decided. If such accusa- tion be lodged with the President at an earlier date, he shall, if the charge be one of gross immorality, or circulating fundamental error in doctrine, im- mediately appoint a committee of five ordained ministers of the Synod, to meet without unnecessary delay at a suitable place, and institute a formal in- vestigation of the case, according to the principles of the Formula. The chairman of the committee shall give at least ten days' notice of the time and place of meeting to all parties concerned.
SEC. 4. The President may, at his discretion, intrust the matter to Confer- ence, and notify the members to meet and proceed as above.
SEC. 5. Any three members of the committee, or a majority of the Con- ference thus meeting, shall have power to proceed and hold a fair and impar- tial investigation of the case, and to take all such necessary measures as may be just and proper to determine the guilt or innocence of the accused.
SEC. 6. If the accused confess, and the matter be such as gross immorality, or circulating fundamental error, he shall be immediately suspended from the exercise of the office until the meeting of Synod.
SEC. 7. If a minister accused of gross offences, being duly notified, refuses to attend the investigation, he shall be immediately suspended from office.
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SEC. 8. If the accused deny the charge, and yet, on examination of the evi- dence, be found guilty, the committee or Conference shall nevertheless proceed to pass sentence on him.
SEC. 9. The highest punishment which can be inflicted by a committee or special Conference, appointed as above specified, is suspension from clerical functions; and this sentence is to be reported at the next meeting of the Synod, and remain in force until reversed by the Synod.
SEC. IO. Any minister intending to appeal from the decision of a com- mittee or Conference, shall give notice to the chairman of the committee or Conference, within three weeks after the decision was made, that both parties may be prepared for a new trial.
SEC. II. Conferences, not specially convened for the purpose, may attend to any charges of importance against a minister within their bounds, if all the parties concerned are prepared and willing to proceed.
SEC. 12. If at any time the accusation be lodged with the President, accord- ing to Chap. III., Sec. 5, for a less offence than those specified in Sec. 3 of this Article, he shall take no other steps in the case than to exhort accused and accusers to mutual forbearance, and to refer them to the next Synod.
SEC. 13. If accusation against a minister, present or absent, be made imme- diately to the Synod, and the Synod believe itself in possession of all the evi- dence necessary to a just decision, the case may be immediately examined and sentence passed, provided the accused shall have had fifteen days' notice, together with a written specification of the charges brought against him. But if the necessary evidence be not before Synod, and the offense be such as specified in Sec. 3, it shall be intrusted to a committee or Conference, to pro- ceed as above specified.
SEC. 14. If a minister be found guilty of gross immorality or circulating fun- damental error in doctrine, his sentence of suspension shall not be removed until he shall give satisfactory evidence of penitence and reformation, and his restoration shall be by the same judicatory which suspended him, or at its recommendation.
SEC. 15. If the common report of a minister's guilt of any of the charges above specified be such as seriously to injure the cause of religion, and his own church do not proceed against him, it shall be the duty of any other minister or layman, having obtained signatures of two other credible men, to report the case to the President.
ARTICLE XI.
MINISTERIUM.
SECTION I. The Ministerium is composed of the ordained ministers of Synod.
SEC. 2. Licensed candidates may be present, unless requested to withdraw, and may take part in the discussions, but have no vote.
SEC. 3. The Ministerium shall be the proper body, by whom all charges
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of heresy against a minister are to be examined and decided; as also all ap- peals from the decision of a church council on a charge of heresy against a layman, or from the decision of a special Conference on a similar charge against a minister.
SEC. 4. When ordained ministers of other religious denominations make application for admission into connection with the Synod, the Ministerium shall be the body to decide on the case.
SEC. 5. A two-thirds vote of the ordained ministers present shall be re- quired for the licensure of an applicant, the renewal of his license, the ordi- nation of a licensed candidate, or for the admission of an ordained minister of another denomination.
SEC. 6. All business not specifically entrusted to the Ministerium in this Constitution, shall belong to the Synod.
SEC. 7. The order of business of the Ministerium may be as follows :
(1) Opening with prayer.
(2) Communication by the President of any business he may have to report.
(3) Presentation of names of applicants for Licensure.
(4) Presentation of applications for Ordination.
(5) Presentation of applications for admission of ministers from other denominations.
(6) Reports of Examining or other Committees appointed by the Minis- terium.
(7) Promiscuous business relating to the ministry.
(8) Closing with prayer.
ARTICLE XII.
LICENSURE AND LICENTIATES.
SECTION I. All applications for licensure must be made to the President of Synod.
SEC. 2. Applicants must appear before the Examining Committee, which must always be composed of ordained ministers, and, upon satisfactory evi- dence of fitness by testimonials from the Faculty of a Lutheran Theological Seminary of the General Synod, may be recommended to the Ministerium for licensure without further examination. Cases not covered by the forego- ing rule must be referred by the President to the Ministerium for special action.
SEC. 3. A licentiate shall have power to perform all ministerial acts during the time specified in his license.
SEC. 4. A licentiate shall have the same rights and privileges in Synod as ordained ministers, except to hold office.
SEC. 5. A licentiate before accepting a call must obtain the consent of the President of Synod.
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SEC. 6. A licentiate, after he has taken a charge, shall not leave it without the sanction of the Synod, or of the President.
SEC. 7. All licenses shall extend to the time of the next annual meeting of the Ministerium.
SEC. 8. Every licentiate must keep a journal of his ministerial acts, which, with a few sermons and his certificate of licensure, he must deliver to the President annually at the opening ct Synod for the inspection of the Minis- terium.
ARTICLE XIII. ORDINATION.
SECTION I. All applicants for ordination must appear before the Examin- ing Committee and submit to a thorough examination in at least the following subjects : Personal Piety, and the motives of the applicant for seeking the holy office, Hebrew, New Testament Greek, English Bible, the Evidences of Christianity, Natural and Revealed Theology, Church History, the Augsburg Confession, Pastoral Theology, Homiletics and Church Government, and shall be recommended to the Synod for ordination upon favorable report of the Committee and by a two-thirds vote of the Ministerium.
SEC. 2. Whenever the Synod has decided that an individual shall be or- dained, the ceremony may be performed either at the meeting of Synod, or, if preferred, in the church by which he has been called, by the special Confer- ence, or by a Committee appointed for the purpose by the President of Synod.
ARTICLE XIV.
INSTALLATION.
SECTION I. When a minister is ordained in his own church, his installation, according to the usual form, should take place at the same service.
SEC. 2. Any minister called to labor in any of the congregations of this Synod, and duly accredited according to Sec. 3, Art. V., may at any time after the presentation and acceptance of his credentials be installed as pastor by a committee appointed by the President.
ARTICLE XV. AMENDMENTS.
This Constitution may be altered or amended by a two-thirds vote of the Synod, provided notice has been given one year previous.
ARTICLE XVI.
ORDER OF BUSINESS. I. General Order.
I. Opening Prayer.
2. Calling of the Roll.
3. Reading of the Minutes.
4. Unfinished Business.
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5. Reports.
6. New Business.
7. Closing Prayer.
II. Special Order.
I. Wednesday evening-Opening Sermon and Synodical Communion.
2. Thursday, 9 a. m .- Opening of Synod, with Singing, Reading of Scrip- tures and Prayer. Calling the Roll. Presentation of Certificates by Lay Delegates. Presentation of Credentials by Commissioners. Reception of New Members. President's Report. Election of Officers. Rules of Order. Annual Reports of Conference Secretaries.
3. Thursday, p. m .- Appointment of Committees. Admission of Applicants for Licensure and Ordination. Vacant for Committee Work.
4. Thursday evening-Sermon. Church Extension.
5. Friday, a. m .- Report of Treasurer. Education.
6. Friday, p. m .- Theological and Literary Institutions. Vacant for Com- mittee Work after 3.30.
7. Friday evening-Sermon. Education.
8. Saturday, a. m .- Parochial Reports.
9. Saturday, p. m .- Publication. Systematic Benevolence. Meeting of Ministerium.
IO. Saturday evening-Religious Services.
II. Sunday, a. m .- Preaching.
12. Sunday, p. m .- Sunday-school Service.
13. Sunday evening-Sermon.
14. Monday, a. m .- Home Missions. Church Extension. Vacant Congre- gations.
15. Monday, p. m .- Foreign Missions. Orphans' Home.
16. Monday evening-Sermons. Missions.
17. Tuesday, a. m .- Sunday-schools.
18. Tuesday, p. m .- Ministerium. Appointment of Speakers.
19. Tuesday evening-Licensure and Ordination.
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