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Constitutions

Each of this church's expressions—congregations, synods and the churchwide organization—has a constitution.

Synods

Congregations

If you have difficulty downloading the 2022 Model Constitution for Congregations, please try downloading the document using the Chrome browser. If this does not work, please email SEC@elca.org to receive a copy by email. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Amendments
Each churchwide assembly has amended the constitutions.

It is recommended that ELCA congregations and synods review the adopted amendments for their constitutions as soon as possible after each churchwide assembly to incorporate the required changes and to consider the recommended changes.

The churchwide assembly meets every three years. Amendments to any synod constitution are approved by the synod assembly. Amendments to any congregation constitution are approved by the congregation at its regular meeting. These meetings are governed by parliamentary procedure. Basic information on parliamentary procedure can be found here.

Resources

 

Congregation Constitutional Amendments

Select archived Congregation
Constitutional Amendments
from the list below.

Office of the Secretary

 

Questions?

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This is Christ's church.

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We are the church that shares a living, daring confidence in God's grace. Liberated by our faith, we embrace you as a whole person--questions, complexities and all. Join us as we do God's work in Christ's name for the life of the world.

Contact Information

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
8765 W Higgins Road
Chicago, IL 60631

  • Toll-Free: 800-638-3522
  • Phone: 773-380-2700
  • Fax: 773-380-1465

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