The 2016 Churchwide Assembly made several changes to the Model Constitution for Congregations. Among those changes was the addition of a new class of members, namely, "seasonal members." That change can be found in *C8.02e of the Model Constitution, as follows:
"e. Seasonal members are voting members of other ELCA congregations who wish to retain such membership but desire to participate in the life and mission of this congregation, including exercising limited voting rights in this congregation.
The Congregation Council may grant seasonal membership to such persons provided that this congregation is a member of a synod where the Synod Council has approved seasonal member voting on its territory. Such seasonal members shall have all the privileges and duties of voting members except that:
1) they shall not be eligible for elected office in, or for membership on the Congregation Council or on a call committee of, this congregation;
2) they shall not have the right to vote on any matter concerning or affecting the call or termination of call of any minister of this congregation;
3) they shall not have the right to vote on any matter concerning or affecting the affiliation of this congregation with the ELCA;
4) they shall not be eligible to serve as voting members from this congregation of the Synod Assembly or the Churchwide Assembly;
5) they shall not, even if otherwise permitted by this congregation, vote by proxy or by absentee ballot; and
6) they shall not, within any two calendar month period, exercise voting rights in this congregation and in the congregation where they remain voting members."
(Emphasis added)
Thus, whether a Congregation Council in our Synod may grant seasonal membership initially depends on whether the Synod Council "approved seasonal member voting on its territory." At its meeting on November 11, 2017, the Council approved such seasonal member voting. Therefore, all of our Congregation Councils are free to grant such membership status as they see fit.
John Turnquist
Synod Secretary |