Our Redeemer Lutheran Church

What’s Church Council?

Our Redeemer’s Church Council is made up of volunteer members of the congregation that are elected as officers by the congregation to serve in Our Redeemer in specific roles, such as:

• President
• Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Elders
• Trustees
• Board of Parish Education Board Members
• Board of Discipleship Board Members
• Sioux Falls Lutheran School (SFLS) School Board Members

What do the different officers do?

In general, here’s what the Church Council Officers do:

• President
  • Work with the congregation to establish priorities and goals for the the physical and spiritual needs of the congregation; Assist in implementing plans to meet these goals and in monitoring the results of those plans
  • Prepare an agenda for and preside over Voters’ Assemblies
  • Provide assistance/support to all Boards and Committees as needed
• Vice President
  • Preside over Church Council meetings
  • Work with the Treasurer
  • Lead the Annual Financial Review Committee
  • Appoint and oversee the Financial Endowments and Tuition Assistance Committee
• Secretary
  • Keep accurate minutes for Voters’ Assemblies and Church Council meetings
  • Ensure official records of the congregation are preserved
• Treasurer
  • Work with the Church Office to pay all bills authorized by the congregation
  • Appoint and oversee the Financial Secretary, who is in charge of deposited funds contributed for the congregation
  • Provide information regarding the financial status of the congregation
  • Prepare the annual proposed budget for submission to the Voters’ Assembly
• Elders/Board of Elders
  • Assist the Pastor and the congregation in all matters pertaining to the spiritual welfare of the congregation
  • Make every effort to encourage members who have been negligent in their attendance of services, in the use of the Sacraments, and the financial support of the church, to amend their sinful ways and fully enjoy the rights and privileges of their membership
  • See to it that all services are conducted in such a manner so as to avoid needless disturbance and to foster an attitude conducive to worship among those in attendance.
  • Assist the pastor in arranging for pulpit assistance, special services, and guest speakers
  • Supervise the ushers
  • Prepare a list of candidates when the congregation is to call a Professional Church Worker
• Trustees/Board of Trustees
  • Annually, or as often as required, inspect the property of the congregation and make recommendations to the Church Council and to the congregation concerning maintenance and improvement
  • Provide maintenance, repairs, and improvements to the physical aspects of our church building or determine if we need to hire someone to provide these services
• Board of Parish Education
  • This board is responsible for nurturing all aspects of Christian education within the congregation, establishing goals, developing policy and supervising the total education for the congregation
  • Set objectives for educational units and encourage the development of Christian attitudes and skills, such as regular devotions and home Bible study, prayer, stewardship, witnessing, and Christian family living
  • Provide leadership education for teachers, officers and other program workers. Develop a teacher training and leadership program to service the needs of the congregation now and in the future
  • Select curricula and teaching materials for each age group or educational unit. The curricula shall be Christian, in full harmony with Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, comprehensive, and functional. The Board may recommend certain texts and other educational material for approval of the Voters’ Assembly
  • Bring to the attention of the Voters’ Assembly the needs for facilities and equipment for all educational units. Prepare an annual budget that properly finances all phases of Christian education in the congregation
• Board of Discipleship
  • This board is responsible for overseeing and encouraging outreach, fellowship, and stewardship.
  • Train our membership to be more effective witnesses for the Gospel
  • Build up and strengthen our connections to one another through scheduled Fellowship activities
  • Inform and train our membership of the blessings of Christian stewardship
• Sioux Falls Lutheran School (SFLS) School Board Members
  • Work directly with the administration of SFLS, as well as the other school board members from the other churches associated with SFLS
  • Provide input related to SFLS to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, so that we can support SFLS with the best practices possible

Resources

Below are the Bylaws of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, which are regularly reviewed and updated as needed.

How do I get involved?

There are so many talents that you might be able to utilize for the benefit of others that we don’t know about, or maybe you hadn’t previously considered. We need you! Our congregation thrives when we work together and expand the opportunities to include more of our members.

We have annual elections in November, and sometimes positions are available outside of those elections. If you have any questions/concerns/interest, please contact the Church Office, and they will get you in touch with the appropriate person(s) to learn more.