Article VIII. Ministers

Article VIII. Ministers

Sec. 1. Ministerfum \

a. The ordained ministers of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, whether in service or retired, who are on the clergy roll of a synod as defined in the.e by-laws shall constitute the ministerium of that synod, of which body thie president of the synod shall be the chairman.

b. One half of the number of such ministers shall constitute a quorum of the ministerium,

c. Itshall bé the duty of the ministerjum:

1. To receive from the theological colleges the report and recommendations concerning prospective' candidates for the ministry, and to make recommendation to the Executive Council of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church through its Committee on Syhods concerning the seleciion of candidates for theplogical study (A.E.L. Church By-laws. Art. Il, Sec. I. Gc.)

2. To afford an opportunity for the ministers to confer together on ecclesiastical and spiritual matters.

3. To perform any other task committed to it by thé synod or by the A. E. L. Church. ' '

CONSTITUTION FOR THE SYNQDS ART. Vill 118

Sec. 2. Relatlonships.

a. Every mifisterial member assigned to this synod shall hold his ministerial membership directly in the Andhra Evangehical Lutheran Church

b. Ordained mimisters of the A. E. L Church shall be amenable to the faith and Practice of the A. E.L. Church serving under the administration of the synod to which they are assigned.

C. A minister shall serve as pastor of the parish to which he is assigned by the synod, residing with family in the parish headquarters or in such other place as the synod executive committee may permit.

d. A minister is a member of the congregation in the place of his residence.

A minister who leaves the work of the ministry and engages in secular puisuits without the ass'gnment or call of the Church shall cease to be a minister of this Church during the Period of such business or employment. The Executive Council. by proper action, mav restore his name in the clergy rol if he gives satisfactory evidence of desire to return to the ministry and request éssignment as a pastor and is assigned or called by the Executive Council,

f. A minister may demit the ministry voluntarily by giving. written nouce of that fact to the president of the AE. L Church, subject to the hmitations of item (g) below. The name of such a minister shall be removed from the clergy roll of the synod and A E. L. Church.

g. A minister ofthe A. E.L Church shall serve this Church for a period of §pven ydars in order to discharge his theological training bond. Failyre so to serve shail make him liable 10 repdy to the Church one.- seventh of the stated cost of:such training for each yea r less than seyen which he serves,.

h. A minister may be removed from the ministerial office, have his ordination revoked and his name removed from the clergy roll of this Church by action of the Executive Council in accordance with the procedures laid down in the constitution and by - laws of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of e minister of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church:

a. Tobe diligent in private study and prayer. *

b. To accept and adhere to the Confession of Faith of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church.

c. To conduct his life and work in a manner that is above reproach,.

d. To care for God"s people individually and as congregations, preaching the Word to Christians and to men of other faiths. striving to bring men to Christ; administering the sacraments and conducting public worship in accordance with the faith and practice' of the A.E.L. Chyrch: giving catechetical instruction, confirming, marrying in accordance with the laws of God and of the state; cultivating piety in individual and family life, visiting the flock, especially the sick, the distressed and the erring; striving to bring sinners to repentance and forgiveness both by public and private exercise of his mihistry; encouraging all efforts directed to the establishment of righteousness and the removal of wrong in the area; encouraging and giving full scope for the exercise by church members of their various ministries in the ghurch; endeavouring to increase the liberality of his parishoners in suppert of the work of the parish, of the synod, of the A.E.L:. Church and of work beyond the borders of this Church" and~burying the dead. 2

I. Tobe in charge of -the finances of the parish unless the synod or the A.E L. Church makes some other provision.

m. To direct the lay ministry of the church within his parish,

0. To perform such other duties as may be determined by the synod or the A. E, L. Church.

Sec. 4. Discipline -

a. Responsibility for the discipline of ministers of this Church is vested in the A E. L. Church and procedure for cases of such discipline snall be as laid down in the constitution and by-laws of the A, E. L. Church.

b. In cases of alleged neglect of duty or of local difficulties which imperil the efficient conduct of the parish. the synod president shall seek to set right the matter by counselling. Should thjs fail in its purpose, he shall constitute an advisory committee of five members, viz, two experienced ministers of the synod, one missionary and two confirmed lay members of congregations of the synod This committee, together with the president of the synod, shall hear those making the allegations, as well as the pastor himself, and shall decide on a course of action to be recommended to the pastor and the congregation. If both agree to carty out such recommendations, no further action shall be taken; but if either party fails to assent, or if after assenting fails to carry out the recommendations, the matter shall be reported to the president of the A. E. L. Church who shall follow the procedure for disciplinary action, If the synod president himself finds it necessary to make allegations under this section, the president of the A, E. L. Church shall act in place of the synod president in carrying out the above procedure. The foregoing procedure shall not be followed in cases in which any of the following are involved: preaching or teaching contrary to the Church's Confession of Faith, condtct incompatible with moral purity or with thd chatacter of the

ministerial office or wilful disregard and violation of the constitution and enactments of the A E. L. Church or of this synod. Such cases shall be treated as disciplinary matters and shall be reported to the president of the church for disposition according to the constitution and by laws of the A, E. LL Church,

C. In cases of suspected physical or mental disability the matter shall be reported to the president of the A. E. L. Church who shall secure competent medical advice and report the matter to the Executive Council for disposition, e.g.; extended medical leave for treatment or partial or full retirement.