Article I. Conventions

Article I. Conventions

Sec. 1. 'Andhra Evangelical Church congregations, including. ministers, within the area of each synod shall be entitled to fepresentation in the conventions of the 'Andhra Evabgelical Lutheran Church by the following, who need not be delegates to synod cqnventions:

a. One ordained Indian for every thirty-five congregations in the synod. or remaining 'major fraction thereof, with _the proviso thut at fhe time of election of delegates by thee synod there shall be atleast ne such clerical delegate from each field. The president of the synod shall be one of these Clerical delegates. Pastors on transfer from synod /to.synod « * shall be eligible for election from the synod to which they are transferred. )

For tha purpose of the section a congregation shall be defined as a group of not less than twenty baptized Christians, having been recognized as a Congregation by action of the Executive Council. The last printea statistical report prior to the synod convention at which such clerical delegates are to be elected, together with subsequent relevant actions of the Executive * Council, shall be taken as authoritative and final in the matter ofdetermining the number of congregations.

b. One Indian {ay.person for every 3,000 baptized Christians in every synod, as shown in the last ptinted statistical report prior to the synod convention at which such lay delegates are -10 be elected or for'any major remaining fraction thereot, with rf oe, er ebay 7 vo hy.

36 © BY: AWS OF THE A. £.-L. Cuffy ART. I the Pig that at tisitime 4 pithlaotion of delegates by the synod therg.sh jibe ila: 4 oti ch lay delegate from each field and % XT CI: least two lay persons in administrative charge OF Work If available,

c. Five missionaries working in the area of the A.E.L. church, one from each synod if avaifable, to be elected by the Executive Council to the convention of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church,

Sec. 2. a. Upon report by the Committee on Nominations and Credentials of the Executive Council of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Executive Council shall send to the synods information concerning the number of delegates to be ¢lected in each category for each biennjal convention.

b. These delegates shall be elected at the last regular 'convention of the synod before the biennial convention of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church by ballot on nomination by the Committee on Nominations and Credentials of the synod. More than half of the votes cast shall be required for election. '

c. The names of duly fected delegates shall be certified to the president of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church and to the chairman of the Committee on Nominations and Credentials of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church by the president of the synod and the official representative of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church to the synod, in the following form: ' *\Wo do hereby certify that the duly notified and convened convention of the ————— synod held at (place)-on (date) (name of elected®person) was elected as (clerical or lay) delegate from ———— synod to the convention of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church. We also certify that a + quonitn of the'delegates to the convention were:present and patticipdted in the 'lection. AY 18d.) Por eee bbImTes 0s vod sue oes nounan (8d) vib ash me mews WHEE sad ebiage vor oo Synod President A. E. L. C. Representative

I do further certifyiéthat (namp of electpd- pirson) is a confirmed member "==iny dif Sy hn standing in ———— congregation 'of A i.e., within the last one year has received Holy"Conimunion, and has made a contribution of record 10 the congregation.

Synod President. Paster of the parish of which the delegate Is a member.

Similar certificates concerning alternates shall be sont.

d. Approximately six weeks before the regiiar convention of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, unless some other time is permitted by the Executive council, all of the certified credentials of the elected delegates and alternates shall be in the hands of the president of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, along with any appeals against the validity of any election or against the eligibility of any elected delegate or alternate. Appeals or challenges, if any, 'shall be made to the president of this Church with g Copy to the chairman of the Committee on Nominations and Credentials of the convention and shall be made only on the basis of alleged violation o¢ constitutional provisions. Appeals or challenges on bases other than alleged violation; of constitutional Provisions shall not be considered. The president shall then draw up a.list of all the delegates and alternates against Whose election there has been no appeal or challenge and who appear to be eligible to serve. He shall also draw up a second list containing the names of persons whose eligibility or election has been contested or who appear ineligible to serve.

c. Approximately five weeks before the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church convention, unless some other time is permitted by the Executive Council, the Committea on Nominations and Credentials of the convention, shall raceive from the president of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church the list of incbntestéd delegates and alternates (see d. above)

together with the certificates from synod presidents and shall consider their conformity to the constitution, by-laws and enactments of this Church. The Committee on Nominations and Credentias of the convention shall prepare a list of uncontested delegates, and on each contested, ineligible'or doubtful case shall make its recommendation with constitutional reasons regarding the validity of the election or the eligibility of the individual.

f. The Executive Council of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Committee on Nominations and Credentials of the convention sitting in joint sessions, shall be the body for making final decision concerning the roll of delegates to the convention of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church. The president of the church, who shall be the chairman of this joint body, shall give to each member at least one week's notice of its meeting. which he shall convene approximately four weeks before the convention of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church. This joint body shall consider the delegates one at a time, taking into consideration the report of the Committee on Nominations and Credentials of the convention concerning uncontested delegates, as well as that committee's recommendations on each contested, ineligible or doubtful case, and a vote shall be taken on the seating of each delegate. Only violation of constitutiond! provisions shall constitute grounds for a decision against seating a delegate. Such a decision not to seat a delegate shall require a two-thirds majority vote of the members present. An appeal may be made to this body to reconsider its decision in any case but such reconsideration shall be final and binding. If dacision is made against seating a delegate, his alternate, if eligible, shall bacome the delegate; the president of the concerned synod shall be notified forth. with and Executive Committ of the synod instructed to elect an eligible alternate. If both the delegate and the alternate are declared ineligible, the Executive Committee of the synod shall elect both a delegate and an alternate. The names of such delegates and alternates shall be scrutinized "by the

Committee on Nominations and credentials of the synod and by the above mentioned joint body, which shall meet approximately one week before the convention. In case of any election not having been completed by the time of this meeting of the joint body that place shall remain vacant untllafter the convention. when it may be filled in accordance with, the provisions of these by-laws The above provisions concerning the scrutiny of delegates shall apply equally to alternates.

g. At the tims of the convention of the Andhra Evangelical Lutherar Church, the president of the Chuich shall lay upon the table the certificates which he has received from the synod presidents, in accordance with (c) above, containing the names and certifications of those who have been approved as delegates and alternates by the joint body, consisting of the Executive Council and the Committee on Nominations and Credentials of the convention. He shall then instruct the Committee on Nominations and Credentials of the convertion to take a roll call by signatures. )

Sec. 3. ALTERNATES For each delegate an alternate delegate shall be chosen by the synod at the same time. Certificates for delegates and for alternatés shall be officially forwarded to the president of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church and shall contain the names and addresses of the alternates; in the roll call of the corivention, listed in the official minutes, the name and address of tHe alternate- shall be,set down opposite the name and address of the delegate. If a deligate 1s unable to attend any convention for any temporary cause, the alternate shall attend that convention only. If the delegate for any reason loses his delegateship of is "declared ineligible to serve, the alternate shall become the regllaf delegate for the rest of that term and another alternate shdll be éléctéd by'thé concerned synod.

Sec. 4. DETERMINATION OF BIENNIUM AND TERM A biennium shall begin With a regular convention, shall include a period of approximately two years and shall come to an end immediately before the opening of the next regular convention. The term of an Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church delegate shall include two such bienniums. There shall be no limit to the number of terms for which a person may serve as long as he is otherwise eligible.