Notable Differences Between Salem’s Proposed Constitution and the Current Constitution

    1. The proposed constitution assumes membership in the ELCA. The current constitution assumes membership in the old ALC. Presumably, references to the former ALC District now mean the ELCA synod, but this is not spelled out.
    2. The current constitution (Articles II and III) and bylaws (Part II) refer to the Old and New Testaments as "inerrant" and "infallible" authority, require all members to "subscribe" to the three creeds and certain Lutheran writings, require all variations from the authorized hymnal to be approved by the congregation, prohibit fellowship with any religious organizations that teach salvation by works, prohibit such organizations, and lodges, from holding ceremonies on church premises, and prohibit church pastors from participating in such ceremonies either on or off premises. The proposed constitution does not contain these provisions.
    3. The proposed constitution (Chapter 5) requires only a majority vote to buy, sell, or mortgage real property, not two-thirds as in the current constitution (Article IX).
    4. The proposed constitution (Chapter 7) spells out in detail what happens to church property if the congregation leaves the ELCA for various reasons.
    5. The proposed constitution (Chapter 9) allows a pastoral call to be terminated only for certain specific reasons, and requires review and recommendation by the bishop and a review committee, followed by a two-thirds vote of the congregation. This is more restrictive than the current constitution (Article VIII) and bylaws (Part V), which allow the congregation to terminate a call if in its judgment (presumably majority) the pastor is not performing satisfactorily. (The council, however, must first consider the matter and consult the synod.) It is also somewhat more restrictive than the ELCA model constitution, which allows a call to be terminated by majority vote if the bishop and review committee have recommended termination, and by two-thirds vote if they have not.
    6. The current constitution (Article X) allows any ten members to call a special meeting of the congregation, while the proposed constitution (Chapter 10) requires 10% of the congregation. Both constitutions allow a pastor, the president, or the council to call a special meeting.
    7. Under the proposed constitution (Chapter 12), pastors are automatically voting members of the council, while under the current constitution (Article XI), they are nonvoting advisory members.
    8. Under the proposed constitution (Chapter 13), the congregation elects each call committee. Under the current bylaws (Part VII), the council elects call committees.
    9. The proposed constitution (Chapters 16 and 17) requires that the congregation’s constitution and bylaws, and all amendments, be approved by the synod, and requires that any amendments to the ELCA model constitution be added to the congregation’s constitution by majority vote. These requirements do not appear in the current constitution.