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Legal
Counsel > For Synods
Synods have responsibility to provide for the pastoral care of
congregations, ordained ministers, and other rostered persons in the
geographical territory of the Synod and for planning the mission of
the ELCA in that territory. (Constitutions,
Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America 10.01. - 10.21.) All 65 Synods are
separately incorporated and are legally distinct from each other and
any other expression of the ELCA. (CBCR 10.01. - 10.11.) As with
congregations, the relationship between Synods and the other
expressions of this Church is principally ecclesiastical, not legal.
(CBCR 8.17.)
The ELCA has adopted a standard
Constitution for Synods, which
each synod has adopted. (See: Constitution for Synods; See also CBCR
10.10. -10.13.) The Constitution for Synods includes required
provisions designed principally to express the nature and purpose of
the entire church and the ecclesiastical relationship between synods
and the other expressions of the church. Other provisions may be
adopted so long as such provisions are not in conflict with the
required provisions or the Constitution, Bylaws and Continuing
Resolutions of the ELCA and are adopted pursuant to the required
provisions. (†S18.13. et. seq.)
The Synod Assembly is the highest legislative authority in the
Synod, serves as the corporate membership for the Synod, and is
required to meet at least once every two years. (CBCR 10.41.; †S7.01
et. seq.) The members of the Synod Assembly include, all ordained
ministers, associates in ministry, deaconesses, and diaconal
ministers in the Synod under call attending the Synod Assembly; lay
members elected by each congregation; and the officers of the Synod.7
(CBCR 10.41.01.; †S7.21.) Among other actions, the Synod Assembly
elects the Synod Council which functions as the Synod's board of
directors and the interim legislative authority between meetings of
the Synod Assembly. (†S10.01.) The officers of the Synod are the
Bishop (president), vice president, secretary and treasurer who are
also elected by the Synod Assembly. (†S8.11., †S8.21., †S8.31.,
and †S8.41.)
7In addition, some synods
extend voting privileges to retired ordained ministers, ordained
ministers on leave from call, associates in ministry, deaconesses,
and diaconal ministers on leave from call, ordained ministers on
leave from call serving under contract in an interim ministry, and
ordained ministers from a partnership denomination serving an ELCA
congregation. In all circumstances, when faced with a question
regarding who is entitled to voting privileges, the synod's
constitution should be consulted.
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