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Office of the Secretary > Duties and
Responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities of the secretary
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, as specified in the
governing documents of this church, are diverse and numerous (see
Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America 13.41., 13.41.01-13.42.02., and 11.33.). A
brief summary, however, may be expressed in this way.
The Office of the Secretary shall:
- Prepare records for this church in as
accurate, thorough, up-to-date, useable, and prompt a way as possible;
- Preserve the records of this church; and
- Provide service and assistance to this
church and others in a punctual, friendly, and courteous manner.
The Secretary shall:
13.41.01. The
secretary, as the recording officer of this church, shall keep the
minutes, have responsibility for rosters, records, and reporting of
parochial statistics, oversee the archives, attest to all documents
that require such signature, be the custodian of the seal, and perform
other duties as prescribed by the Constitutions, Bylaws, and
Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
13.41.02. The secretary shall:
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Be responsible for the
minutes and records of the Churchwide Assembly, Church Council,
Executive Committee, Conference of Bishops, and Cabinet of Executives,
and shall receive complete minutes for permanent record of all boards
and committees of the churchwide organization.
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Maintain the rosters of ordained ministers, all other
rostered persons, congregations, and synods.
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Provide for the publication of official documents and
policies of this church, pre-assembly reports, assembly minutes, a
directory of congregations, rostered persons, and entities of this
church, and other informational and statistical material.
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Receive the annual report of the congregations in a
form devised by the secretary, summarize the information, and make the
summary available to this church.
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Coordinate the use of legal services by the churchwide
organization.
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Be responsible for the archives of this church.
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Implement and operate a records management system for
the churchwide organization.
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Arrange for and manage meetings of the Churchwide
Assembly and Church Council.
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Have custody of the seal, maintain a necrology, and
attest documents.
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Provide library and reference services for the
churchwide office.
13.41.03. The secretary, in consultation with the
presiding bishop, shall be responsible for preparation and research of
amendments to the Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, as well as the
Constitution for Synods and the Model Constitution for
Congregations, to be proposed by the Church Council for action by
the Churchwide Assembly in accordance with provisions of Chapter 22.
13.41.04. The secretary shall prepare
interpretations, as necessary, of the Constitutions, Bylaws, and
Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
If a board, committee, or synod disagrees with the interpretations, as
rendered, the objecting entity may appeal the secretary’s interpretation
to the Church Council.
13.41.05. The secretary shall provide staff services
to the Nominating Committee of the Churchwide Assembly and the
nomination process of the Church Council; shall be responsible for
declaring an interim vacancy resulting from the resignation, death, or
disability of a member of a board, committee, or council; and shall
arrange for an election by the Church Council to fill the vacancy
consistent with Chapter 19.
13.41.A03. Responsibilities of the Office of the
Secretary The Office of
the Secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in
collaboration with the treasurer of this church, shall provide and
manage insurance (exclusive of life and health) programs for the
churchwide organization and shall make available insurance programs to
congregations, synods, regions, and related institutions, agencies, and
organizations. Recommendations on standards for adequate, continuous
insurance coverage to be maintained by synods, as required in
constitutional provision 10.74., shall be provided. |
