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Article VII. Composition And Duties Of Standing Committees
Sec. 1. Genera/
a. The executive cemmittee of the synod s hall appoint before each regular convention of the synod all standing com- Mittees of the Synod in accordance with by-laws, upon recommendation by the president of the synod, taking care that there is continuity of membership on each committee. '
b. Members of standing committees need hot be delegates to the synod convention. They shall be members who contribute at least Rs. 5 per month or Rs. 6¢ per year to the S.D.N. fund of the church in addition to g minimum of Rs. 5 per year offering of record to their patish. The membership ef any cych person already sppoirted te the committee shall automatically cease if the annual contyj-
bution is not givan ragularly within the calendar year or such other time specified by the Executive Council.
c. Decisions of standing committees shall require a majority vote of the members present and voting.
d. The chairman of each standing committee shall keep a correct and permanent record of all the committee proceedings, together with relevant information which record and information shall be passed on to his successor.
6. A standing committes may appoint temporary sub- commtttees if necessary, the members of which need not be members of the standing committee.
f. All standing committees shall submit their reports for approval to the executive committee or 8 convention of the synod.
Sec. 2. Committee on pastors
a. Composition The committee on pasters shall be composed of the following:
President of the synod as chairman fof the committee Two Indian ministers.
Three lay persons, one of whom shall be a woman. One missionary.
b. Duties
1. Torecommend to the executive committe of the synad the assignment of pastors te parishes of the synod in order to provide that;
a) a pastor shall ordinarily serve one parish for a term of five years and shall then be transferred.
b) a pastor shall not be transferred away from a parish within three years of his assignment to that parish except with the approval of this committee, of the executive committee ef the synod, and of the Exeoutive Council of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church. A pastor may be given one Year's extension only, after a five-year term upon recommendation of the P.C.C. and Pastors' committee and the synod executive committee, The action shall be reported to the Executive €ouncii. In the case of "A'* class parishes. the administrative body may give one year extension only, to their pastor after a term of five years and report the Executive Council.
c) transfer of pastors shall be made before June, and shall normally become effective on June 1.
2. To recommend to the executive committee of the synod the place of appointment of lay persons licensed to administer the sacraments.
3. To report to the executive committee of the synod when any pastor in active service has completed fourteen consecutive years on the clergy roll of the synod. With the following exceptions, the Executive Council or concerned board shall transfer the pastor to another synod at the time of pastors' transfers nearest the date of his completion of fifteen consecutive years on the clergy ro}! of the synod:.
a) -Apastor may complete his five-year term in a parish even though he cempletes fifteen years of service in that synod during that term,
b) A pastor may complete a five year term in special work under a board of the Andhra Evangelical ) Lutheran Church even fhough he completes fifteen years of service within the area of that synod during that term.
c) A pastor may complete a term in full-time elected of appointed office even though he completes fifteen years of service within the area of that synod during that term.
d) A pastor who, because of training or special ability, is called or assigned to a special ministry of the church, such as one of the following. shall be exempted from synod to synod transfer ds long as he is in that ministry: theological schools literature secretary inner mission parish * inter-church appointments A pastor in active service shall not return to service in a synod until at least five years have elapsed since he was transferred out of that synod.
4. To make recommendation to the executive committee of the synod concerning any other transfers of pastors from the synod to any other synod of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church.
6. To report annually to the executive committee of the synod the number of vacant parishes in the synod (without ordained or licensed persons in charge).
Sec. 3. Committee on evangelism and stewardship
a. Composition The committee shall be composed of seven members as follows: President of the synod. Two Indian ministers including the synod evangelistic pastor, who shall be chairman on the committee
Two Indian laymen One person in charge of Bible women's work One missionary
b. Duties )
1. To cooperate with the Board of Evangelism and Missions in carrying out its progiamme within the area of the synod.
2. To seek means of developing the work of establish. ment and extension of congregations by direct evangelistic efforts within the area of the synod. This may include the use of parish evangelistic bands, interparish bands the training of lyrical evangelistic, etc:
3. To seek to promote a fruitful stewardship in the life of the church within the area of the synod.
Sec. 4. Committees on bulldings
a. Composition Two Indien ministers Four lay persons One missionary (Any other persons may be called as temporary consultants to the committee)
b. Duties 1 Toreceive from the parish church councils reports of and requests for building construction and repairs, in accordance with the following policy and to report or make recommendation concerning them to the executive committee of the synod.
a) An expenditure of less than Rs. 100 need not be reported.
b) An expenditure of Rs. 100 to Rs. 300 shall be reported for record only.
c) An expenditure exceeding Rs. 300 shall require the recommendation of this committee and the sanction of the executive committee of the synod.
d) Any expenditure of money of the synod or of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be accounted for in detail.
2. To scrutinize building plans and estimates of anticipated work in excess of Rs. 300, to make recommendations concerning them to the executive committee and to make arrangement for such as are estimated to cost Rs. 1000 or more to be done under the supervision of the Superintendent of Property and Construction. 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, and which shall operate under the supervision of the building department.
3. To exercise such oversight of synod building projects as may be required by the policies and enactments of the synod and of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church.
4. To make recommendation to the executive committee of the synod concerning the distribution of money for the repair of houses of worship, workers' houses, pastors' houses and other uhdesignated building money belonging tothe synod, exercising care that policies and enactments of the synod and of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church shall not be inffinged.
Sec. 5. Committee on nominations and credentlals
a. Composition The Committee on Nominations and Credentials shall be composed of eight persons. The Executive committee of the synod shall appoint each year two members for a term of four years each. There shall be at least one representative from each field, among whom there shall be 'four ordained men and four lay persons. - The Chairman shall be designated by the executive committee.
b. Duties
1. To receive from the president of the aynod prior to each convention of synod a certified roll of the delegates to the convention and to verify this roll to soe that all newly elected delegates are certified by the pastor, in the form prescribed in synod 'By-laws Art ll, Sec. 3. b 5, as having been duly elected by the parish church council in accordance with the schedule of rotation of terms determined by the executive committee of the synod, and to see that said delegates &re eligible to serve. The president of the synod shall also certify to the committee alj information concerning election appeals, if any. The commitiee shall also verify that among those who are continuing as delegates from a previous convention no vacancies have occurred through death, resignation, loss of qualification, expiry of term or any other cause. On each contested, ineligible or deubtful case this committee shall make its recommendation with constitutional reasons regarding the validity of the election or the eligibility of the individual. This committee, along with the executive committee of the synod, sitting in joint session shall, be the
body for making final decision concerning the roll of delegates to the synod convention. (For procedure relating to that joint body, see Synod by-laws Art. lI, Sec. 3. b. 6. (k).
2. To cheak against the roll of delegates the credentials of delegates as they are presented in person at the time of the convention and to issue an official badge bearing the name of the delegate.
3. To receive all excuses for absence from any convention of the synod and to make recommendation concerning then to the synod convention,
4. To take a roll by signatures soon after the seating of all delegates at each convention of the synod.
5. To make nomination of two suitable persons for each elective position, if available, or unless otherwise provided in the constitution and by-laws of the synod or of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church. A panel representing a certain constituency shall contain names from that constituency only. Names of eligible persons may also be added from the floor of the convention unless otherwise prohibited in the constitution and by-laws of the synod or of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Chugch but such names shall be from the same constituency as thie original nominees and shall be referred to the synod': Committee on Nominations and Credentials for scrutiny and report, The committee shall have no right to exclude any nominated name in making its report, but shatl only report on the eligibility of the nominee to serve, After this report no further nominations may be made.
6. To arrange for the counting of the ballots and to report to the convention the results of each ballot.
7. To follow the provisions of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church By-Laws Art. [Vin all synod elec-
tions unless otherwise provided in the constitution and by-laws of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church or of the synods.
Sec. 6. Committee on Christian Home Movement
8. Composition This Committee shall be composed of five persons ag fallows: One Indian Minister One laymap One Bible woman ' Two persons in charge of Bible women's work, (Any other Lersons may be called ag cosuitants)
B. Duties.
1. To arrange for and Supervise the work of the Christian Home movement in the synod.
2. To plan for and have general oversight of the wark of the Secretary and of the Christian Home movement in the synod.
3. To recommend, the annual budget to the Board of Chris. tian Education and Literature,
4. To make annual reports to the Synod on the Christian Home movement in the synod,
Sec. 7. Committee on Christian Education
a. Composition This committee shall be composed of five persons as follows:
Two Indian ministers Two lay persons, one of whom shall have congregational responsibility. One missionary (Any other persons may be called as consultants)
b. Duties
1. To co-operate with the department of Christian Education in developing and promoting the use of a total programme of parish education which is degigned to meet the needs of Sunday schools and other agencies of parish education in the synod and which includes all educational material required for this purpose, for the trailning of leaders and teachers and for use in the home,
2. To sponsor institutes, special classes and retreats in the field of Christian education. -