Victoria congregation violates constitution, placed under admonition, censure

 By John Dellis
       A Victoria congregation has been placed under public admonition and censure by Bishop Ray Tiemann for willfully disregarding the provisions of its constitution.
      First English, Victoria held a congregational meeting Oct. 16 where it voted 175-89 to affiliate with two additional Lutheran Church bodies – Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ and the North American Lutheran Church – while still being a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
      ELCA Secretary David Swartling, as part of the secretary’s official responsibility for interpreting the Constitution, Bylaws and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has stated that it is unconstitutional for a congregation that is a member of the ELCA to affiliate with another church body at the same time.
      Tiemann called the congregation’s action “out of order” in an Oct. 24 letter sent to congregational president Dalton Metting, First English’s pastors, its council, and to the congregation.  A copy of the letter was shared with rostered leaders in the synod on    Oct. 27.
      “First English Evangelical Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is recognized as such by its articles of incorporation, its constitution, and its inclusion in the ELCA’s group ruling for the IRS,” Tiemann stated in the letter.  “…Robert’s Rules of Order, which is to be used in congregational meetings (First English constitutional bylaw B6.15), states:  ‘Motions that conflict with the corporate charter, constitution or bylaws of a society, or with procedural rules prescribed by national, state, or local laws, are out of order, and if any motion of this kind is adopted, it is null and void.’”
      The constitutional interpretation from the ELCA secretary had been provided to congregational leaders by First English’s senior pastor, the Rev. Jerry Wirtley, prior to the Oct. 16 congregational meeting.
      Both of First English’s pastors, Wirtley and the Rev. Paul Muehlbrad, oppose the congregation withdrawing from the ELCA and oppose it affiliating with another church body while still a part of the ELCA.  A congregational meeting to consider withdrawing from the ELCA was held July 25.  The motion failed 109-128.
      “Also of concern is that the president unilaterally called this congregational meeting, in full knowledge of its violation.  The integrity of the president’s office requires that he apologize to the congregation and give serious personal consideration of resignation from the office of president,” Tiemann said.
      The bishop exercised a provision in First English’s constitution that states “…The President of the Church Council shall call a special meeting upon request of the bishop…”  Tiemann met with the congregation on Nov. 28 and explained the constitutional provisions that cause the action taken at the Oct. 16 congregational meeting to be null and void.

      John Dellis, an associate in ministry, is editor of TheVistaOnline.org and The Vista.