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Article VII. Composition And Duties Of Standing Committees
Sec. 1. GENERAL
a. The Executive Council of the Church shalt appeint all standing committees. of the Church and designate their chairmen in accordance with the by-laws upen recommendation of the president of the Cnurch, unless otherwise provided in the constitution and by-laws, The Executive Council, however, shall have the right to nominate additional names. These appointments shall be made as soort as feasible after each regular convention of the Church except where otherwise provided in the by-laws. Care shall be taken-to provide for continuity of membership on each committee.
b. Members of standing committees-need not-be delegates to the convention of the Amdhra Evangelical Luthar Church, but shafl be confirmed members in good standing in congregations of this: Church and contributors to the Suvantha-Bhana Nidhi fund of the Church ard parishes as provided in the by-laws of the A, E, L. Church, synods.
c. Decisions ofstanding committees shal require acmajority vote of the members present and voting.
d. The chairman of every standing committee shall keep a correct and permanant record of all the committee's proceedings together with relevant information, which record end information shall be passed on to his suctessor.:
8. Arstanding committe may appoint temporary sub~ committees If necessary,the members of which need not be members of thesstanding committee.
f. All standing committess shall submit their reports for approval to the Executive Council. The chairman of the committee or his nominee shall present the report of the committee. If he is-not a member of the Executive Council he shall have the privilege of presenting the committee report and shall have seat and voice in the Executive Council when it is beihg discussed.
Sec. 2. COMMITTEE ON ASSIGNMENTS.
a. Composition: This committee shall be composed of ten persons as follows: President, Vice - president and Treasurer of this Church. One ordained Indian Three indian: laymen Ons Indian woman President of the Mission Council and its Secretary for Women's: Work. N.B. Provision shall be made for non-employees of the Church and for evangelistic, medical, educational and induateial work to be represented on this committee.
b. Duties:
1. to make recommendation to the Executive Council concerning all assignments to administrative charges of work. In connection with an assignment to charge of ) work connected with one of the boards of the Church, that board may make a recommendation to the Executive Council, which recommendation shall be given due consideration by the Assignments.Committes bat shall
not be binding upon it. Actual assignment shall be made by the Executive Council upon the recommendation of the Assignments Committee. The appointment of a headmaster or headmistress to an institution of the Church shall be made by the Executive Council upon recommendation by the concerned board or committee apd by the Assignments Committee, even though such appointments are not assignments to administrative charges of work:
2. to make recommendation to the Executive Council concerning all appointments of headmasters, headmistresses, wardens and matrons of secondary schools and hostels. A concerned committee or board may make recommendations in regard to such appointments.
3. to make recommendation to the Executive Council concerning a missionary's assignment to work, whether that work falls within-the list of administrative charges of work or not. In connection with such assignments the following shall ba observed:
a) Any assignment or change of assignment of a missionary shall be made after consultation with him by the president of the Church and/or this committee.
b) On receipt of information from the Mission Council concerning furloughs and retirements expected during the following two years, this committee and the Executive council shall plan the assignment of the missionary staff as far in advance as possible,
c) Before a missionary goes on furlough this committee shall consult with him and recommend to the Executive Council the type of work he is to do, and if possible the place of residence upon his return to the Church; and the *Board of World Missions shall be requested to arrange for any special work *Now called the Division of World Mission and Ecumenism
or atudy that will better equip the missionary for his assigned work.
d) This committee shall recommend to the Executive Council, in view of the needs of the work, as to the number of missionaries to be maintained on the field, replacement as needed and missionaries for special types and fields of work to be requested of the *Board of World Missions.
e) In the event that the Executive Council upon recommendation of the Committee on Assignments decides that the Church does not have work for a particular missionary after the completion of his term of service, the president of the Church shalt so advise the concerned missionary before he leaves the field and shall advise the *Board of World Missions that he should not bse returned after furlough, In the view of the Executive Councli, if the need for a missionary's service shall cease before the end of his normal term of duty, the president of the Church shall convey this advice to the missionary concérned and request the *Board of World Missions to recall the missionary.
Sec. 3. COMMITTEE ON AUDITS
a. Composition:
This committee shall consist of 7 members including the treasurer of the A. E.L. Church and at least one pastor.
Members shall be appointed by the Executive Council upon the ) recommendation of the Board of Finance with the Executive Council having the right to nominate additional names.
Care shall be taken that among the members thers shall be those with training and experience in accountancy or businéss administration. * Now called the Division of World Mission and Ecumenism'
b. Duties:
1. to recommend to the Executive Council the names of suitable persons to be appointed as auditors.
2. to direct and supervise the work of the auditors 3. to make detailed arrangement forthe auditing of alt accounts maintained under the administration of this Church and its subsidiary bodies and institutions, including the offices of the president, the treasurer, the synods, parishes, institutions etc. These audits shall be conducted annually or more frequently as arranged by this committee.
4. tosee that income is realized and expendjture is incurred in accordance with budget allotment and with the rules and policies of the Church, and immediately to report discrepancies. if any, to the Executive Council, to the traaaurer and to the concerned board,
6. to call at any time for an interim reconciliation of the accounts of any person in an administrative charge of work or of any other person handling church money.
6. to make a report to each meeting bf the Executive Council concerning the work of.each auditor during the interim.
Sec. 4. CHURCH STATION COMMITTEES A church station committee may be formed in each station In which there is more than one parigh of this church.
a. Composition: The committee shall consist of all ordained men in active service in the station; one lay representative of each station parish chosen by the parish church council, and the persons resident in the station who are assigned to administrative charges of work,
b. Duties:
1. to provide for co-operative work among the parishes and institutions in the station.
2. to consider matters in which the work or workers of more than one parish or institution are involved taking care that the jurisdiction of boards and of other bodies is not infringed.
3. to have the care and supervision of church properties, including cemeteries, which are being used by more than one congregation or institution.
4. to call to the attention of and make recommendations to the Executive Council concerning any church property lying in or near the stations, the care of which appears not to be within the jurisdiction of any subsidiary body of the church, and to have the care of that property until such time as itis assigned to some other body by the Executive Council.
5. to arrange for such joint services, in English or otherwise, as may be desired.
Sec. 5. COMMITTEE ON PENSION
a. Composition:
Treasurer of the Church—Ex-officio Two pastors Two other gospel workers, one man, one woman One other layman with experience in accounting or busi- / ness administration. - One expert with experience in finance and pension fund from another church.
b) Duties To work out the pension plan for gospel workera and to make recommendations to' the' Exécutive Council concerning the administration of the pension plan and raising of necessary funds to implement the pension plan, °
Sec. 6. COMMITTEE ON DISCIPLINE The composition and duties of this committee are set forth in the by-laws of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church Art. Il Sec. 4.0
Sec. 7. EXAMINING COMMITTEE )
a. Composition: This committee shall be composed of five persons as follows, learned in the faith and practice of the Church. 3 ordained 2 laymen
b. Duties: The duties of this committee are set forth in the by-laws of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, Art. Il. Sec. 2.a, b and¢
Sec. 8. FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITYEE
a. Composition: The treasurer of this Church Two membrs of the Executive Council.
b. Duties:
1. to examine all items for which special requests for money are being made to the* Board of World Missions and to recommend to the Executive Council an order of priority among these items. *Now called the Division of World Mission and" Ecumenism
2. to advise the Executive Council on any financial
matter but espacially on the financial implications of
any proposal and on the avajlability of money for the
execution of any proposal not included in the budget.
Sec. 9. COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS AND CREDENTIALS
a. Composition: A
I. There shall be a Committee 'on Nominations and
Credentials of the convention which shall be composed
of sixteen members, half of whom shall be lay and half
ordained. According to the following schedule two of
these sixteen members shall be oppointed to terms of four
Years each except in the first instance) by the executive
committee of each synod upon nomination by the
Committee on Nominations and Credentials of the synod
with the executive committee having the right to nomj-
nate additional names; except in the first instance terms
shall begin on October [ of the year indicated.
SYNOD
East Godavari
Ordained 1964-65; 1965-69 and similarly.
Lay 1964-67; 1967-71 providing for
four year terms
in each case.
West Godavari
Ordained 1964-66; 1966-70
Lay 1964-68; 1968-72
East Guntur
Ordained 1964-67: 1967-71
Lay 1964-65; 1965-64
Central Guntur
Ordained 1964-68; 1968-72
Lay 1964-66; 1966-70
West Guntur '
Ordained 1964-65; 1965-69
Lay 1964-67; 1967-71
According to the following schedule six of these sixteen members shall te appainted ta terms of four years each (except in tho fifst instance) By the Executive Council of the A, E. L. Church upon nomination by the Committee on Nominations and Credentials of the Executive Council with the Executive Council having the right to nominate additional names; except in the first instance terms shall begin on October of the year indicated. Ordained 1964-66; 1966-70 and similarly, Lay 1964-68; 1968.72 providing fer Ordained 1964-67: 1967-71 four year Lay 1964-65; 1965-69 terms in each Ordained 1964-68; 1968-72 case. Lay 1964.66; 1966-70 From among the total membership the Executive Council shall designate the chairman.
2. There shall also be a Committee on Nominations and Credentials of the Executive Council which shall pe composed of the ten members appointed by the executive committees of the synods as set forth above in paragraph 1 along with the chairman of the Committee on Nominations and Credentials of the'convention.
b. + Duties
1. The Committee on Nominations and Credentials of the convention shall perform the following duties in preparation for the A.E.L. Church convention:
a) to follow the brocedure laid down in these by-laws, Art. 1. Sec. 2 e. and following, in scrutinizing tha names of persons elected to the convention of the A.E.L. Church, considering their;onformity to the constitution, by-laws and enactments of this Church:
B) to scrutinize the names of persons nominated by synods, boards and other bodies for election by the convention of the A.E.L. Church to secure certificates of good standing for these nomifees and to report to the nominating body if any of the nominees are ineligible to serve in the posts to which they have been nominated.
(¢) to scrutinize the names of persons elected or appointed by synods to the Executive Council, boards and committees of the A.E.L. Church to terms which begin at the time of a regular convention of the church, to submit certificates of good standing for these and to report to the synods if any of the elected or appointed persons are ineligible to serve in the posts to which they have been elected or appointed
d) to present to the convention a panel of two suitable persons, if available, for each elective position to be filled by the convention, unless otherwise provided in the constitution or by-laws of this Church.
8) to scrutinize the names of any persons nominated from the floor of the convention and to report to that body concerning the eligibility of such persons to serve in the posts to.which they have been nominated.
t) to arrange, in consultation with the Executive Council and with the local church station committee for food and lodging for corivention delegates,
9) to arrange in consultation with the president of the Church for the printing of official convention badges,
h) to.check against the rolj of delegates the credentials of delegates as they are presented in person at the time of-the convention and ta issue an official badge hearing the name of the delegate.
i) to take a roll call by signatures soon after the seating of all delegates at each convention of the A.E.L. Church (See these by-laws, Art.~l. Sec. 2, g).
i) to receive all excuses for absence from any session of the convention and to make recommendation concerning them te the convention.
k) to provide official ballot papers, printed or, cyclostvled if possible, for all elections by the convention of the AE L. Church and to serve as tellers for such elections if possible, in accordance with Art, IV. Sec. 4. of these by-laws.
1) to arrange for the payments of travel and batta to delegates to the convention in accordance with the rules and enactments of this Church,
2. The Committee on Nominations and Credentials of the Executive Councif shall perform the following duties in the interim between convention of the Church:
a) to advise the synods the boards and other bodies. through the Executive Council, concerning elections to be conducted or nominations to be presented by them.
b) to scrutinize the names of persons nominated, elected or eppointed to vacancies in the membership of the convention, Executive Council, boards, committees and other bodies of the A E.'L, Church which vacancies occur between conventions of this Church, to secure certificates of good standing from these persons and to report io the Executive Coundil on the eligibility of such persons to serve in the posts to which they have been nominated, elected or appointed.
c) to present to the Executive Council a panel of names of two suitable persons; if available, far each elective position to be filled by the Executive Council unless othe-wise provided in the constitution or by-laws of this Church, \ (d) to scrutinize the names of any persons nominated from the floor of the Executive Council and to report tQ that body concerning the eligibility of such persons to
serve in the posts to which they have baen nominated,
e) to provide official ballot papers for all elections in the Executive Council and to serve as tellers for such elections if possible, in accordance with Art V Sec, 4 of these by-laws,
f) to arange for the payment of travel and batta to members attending meetings of the board and Executive Council of the A. E. L. Church in accordance with the rules and enactments of this Church.
Sec. 10. COMMITTEE ON ORGANIZATION AND POLICY
a. Composition; Five members as follows President, vice-president and treasurer of this Church. Two others
b. Duties
1. To originate proposals, as well as to study and report on matters referred to it through the Executive Council concerning the policies or the functioning of the organization and administration of this Church or any of its subsidiary bodies and institutions.
2. to consider and report on any matter which has been referred to it for clarification or interpretation by any subsidiary body of the Church through the Execytive Council. - RX
Sec. 11. COMMITTEE ON PROPERTY AND CONSTRUCTION a: Composition, This committees shall be CGomposad of six members ag follows:
1. The property officer-ex-officio
2. One ordained
3. One lay employees with building or administrative experience 4-5 Non-employees with experience in building or administration 6 One woman in-charge of work.
b. DUTIES 1. to exercise general oversight over all property of the Church, including its subsidiary bodies and institutions, except that which is under the administration of the Mission Council.
2. to inspect periodically, through the chairman, all property under its general oversight except that under synods and to report to the Executive,Council, or through it to the concerned body on the use, care and upkeep of this property.
3. to administer the Church's programme of repair and construction of buildings in accordance with the following policies and procedures: '
i) NEW-WORK Except as provided in (c) and (d)below, the procedure relating to new work, which shall include not only completely new construction but also extensions and major improvements to existing facilities, shall include the following:
1) arequest by the concerned board or other body, forwarded to this committee through the Executive Council, with a copy sent directly to the chairman of this committee.
2) consultation between the chairman of this committees and the administrative authorities of the concerned Institution or body of the Church, resulting in a preliminary plan mutually acceptable.
3) arrangements by the building department for the preparation of detailed plans and estimates.
4) examination of these plans and estimates by this committee, which shall make its recommendations to the requesting body.
(6b) consideration of these plans, estimates and recommendations by the concerned body, followed by a definite request to the Executive Council for sanction of the project and provision of money (6) action by the Executive Council.
7) provision of money hy the * Board of World Missions or other agency.
8) calling for tenders by the Property Officer.
9) letting of the contract by the Property Officer after consultation with the administrative authorities of the concerned institution or body of the Church. Any unresolved differences of opinion shall be resolved by the Executive Council.
10) superintending of the construction by the Property Officer and the building department unless otherwise provided by the Executive Council.
ii) REPAIRS The procedure relating to repairs not provided in local budgets or which exceed Rs. 3,000 in cost, whichever is less, shall be as follows: ~* Now called the Division of World Mission and Esumenism
1) requests shall be made and arranged in an order of priority by the concerned board or other body.
2) consultation between the chairman of this committee and the administrative authorities of the concerned institution or body of this Church, resulting in a Preliminary plan mutually acceptable,
3) arrangements by the building department for the Preparation of detailed plans and estimates.
4) this committee shall examine these plans and estimates and include them in an order of priority along with similar requests from other boards and bodies, recommend-ng to the Executive Council the repairs to be made and that cost to be debited to the Property Upkeep account:
5) action by the Executive Council,
6) calling for tenders by the Property Officer if necessary (7) if necessary, letting of the contract by the Property Officer after consultation with the administrative authorities of the concerned institution or body of the Church. Any unresolved differences of opinion shall be resolved by the Executive Council,
8) Superintending of the repair by the Property Officer and the building department unless otherwise provided by the Executive Council.
iii) Repairs, improvements or construction within the budget. An institution, board or other body of the Church, except the synods, may spend its own budget specifically approved for repair, improvement or construction, unless such repair, improvement or construction exceeds its own approved budget item or Rs. 3,000 in cost, whichever is less, in which case the procedure laid down in (i) and (ii) above shall be followed.
iv) SYNODS. synod may sanction repairs, improvements and construction within its own budget; but if the repair, improvement and' construction involves more than Rs. 1,000 to any one building in any one 12-month period, such work shall be carried on under the supervision of the Property Officer, If the required repair, improvement or construction exceeds the budget of the synod, the procedure laid down in (i) and (ii) above shall be followed. In the case of construction of pastors' and workers houses and churches the Committee on Property and construction, when it deems wise, upon recommendation by the concerned pastor and synod president may entrust the work, which shall, conform to the specifications, on a contract basis to the local congregation, end which shall operate under the supervision of the building department. 4 to arrange for the purchase or sale of land and buildings in consultation with the treasurer of this Church after sanction by the Executive Council.
5. to make recommendation to the Executive Council concerning the employment, etc., of a staff of workers: (who, along with the Property Officer shall be known as the 'building department') whose salary scales shall be adopted by the Executive Council from time to time.
6. to prepare, submit directly to the Board of Finance and administer the annual budget for the building department.
7. to consider the audited statements of accounts for the building department and for work carried out by this committee and to refund to the treasurer any budget credit balance or recommend to the Executive Council the disposition of any budget debit balance at the end of the year,
8. to perform any other task entrusted to it by the Executive Council or convention of the Church.
Sec. 12. COMMITTEE ON REVIEW OF MINUTES
a. Composition This committee shall be Composed of five persons, one of whom shall be a member of the Executive Council. 14
b. Duties To review the minutes of each board, synod, Executive Coun- ¢il and the convention and to bring to the notice of the Executive Council such of its actions as are not impiemented and any action which is not in accordance with the constitution, by-laws and enactments of this Church and ot Its subsidiary bodies.
Sec. 13. COMMITTEE ON RULES
a. Composition: This committee shall be composed of five persons.
b. Duties:
1. tostudy atl proposed amendments to the Memorandum and Rules of Association (constitution), by-laws, standing rules and rules of procedure of this Church, including its subsidiary bodies and institutions, and to make recommendation concerning these to the convention of the A.E.L. Church or to the Executive Council, as the case may be. The Committee on Rules may begin its study of the proposed amendment before the expiry Of the notice period to the voncernaed 'body.
2. to initiate necessary proposed amendments to the Memorandum and Rules of Association {constitution), by-laws, standing rules and rules of procedure of this Church, including its subsidiary bodies 'and institutions.
3. to have epgneibility for the codification of the bylaws and rule 8% this Church, incTudtdg' its subsidiary bodies, and periodically to arrange for passed amendments to be printed in a form convenient for distribution and use. 4 to perform any other task entrusted to it by the convention or Executive Council.
Sec. 14. COMMITTEE ON ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOLS
Sec. 15. COMMITTEE ON SYNODS' This Committee shall bo composed of eight persons-as follows;
a. Composition, President of the church, chairman. ] Two missionaries, From among the members of the executive committees of the synods, the following, one of whom shaft represent eth synod, Two ordained Indians Thres lay perspns The president of a synod, if he is not a member of this committee, shall hdve seat and voice in this committee'during the presentation and discussion of the report from his synod.
b. Duties:
I. to serve as the channel through whigh ®acessary matters concerning the work of the Church in the synod hall 18oR9 to.the Executive Council.
2. to initiate proposals to the Executive Council concerning the work of the church In the synods.
3. to Rrovide for the cansidetation of inter-synodical matters. 4 to receive from the synods their recommendations concerning candidates for theological training and from the candidates a complete physical examination report from a church hospital; and to forward these with their recommendations to the Executive Council.
5. to recommend the assignment of graduates of the theological colleges to the various synods in accordance with the needs of the synods. except that a man shall not be assigned to his home synod during the first five yaars of his service; and to inform the Executive Council upon the receipt of information from the synods, that each candidate for ordination will be assigned to a particular parish if ordained. (These by-laws; Art. ll. Sec. 2. d.) 6. to receive from the executive committee of each synod an annual report of the pastors who have completed fourteen continuous years on the clergy roll of the synod and of any pastors recommended for synod-to-synod transfers; and to recommend to the Executive Council the transfer of such pastors'in accordance with the by-laws for synods, Art. V. Secs. 3-5,
7. to perform any other task entrusted to this committee by the convention or the Executive Coungil.
Sec. 16. COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY AMONG WOMEN
a. Composition:
This committee shall be composed of thirteen members as follows: Five presidents of synodical organizations.
Six. women appointed as far as possible from the various fields of work (education, evangslism. merciful and medical). Two pastors.
b. Duties.
1. to plan and Maintain a programme of work among women and girls in the church,
2. to advise the synods and boards of the Church through the Executive Council with regard to the development of this programme of work.
3. to have general oversight of the women's synodical organizations with responsibility to assist in the planning of their programme including their conventions,