The Constitution of

Ruthfred Lutheran Church

Amended: January 20, 2002

PREAMBLE
In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

We, the undersigned members of The Ruthfred Lutheran Church, sensible of our spiritual needs,
and mindful of our Christian duties, in Jesus' Name, and with the hope of His Blessing,
adopt the following Constitution:

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I

Name of Incorporation

1. The name and title of this Congregation shall be, The Ruthfred Lutheran Church,
Patterson and South Park Roads, Ruthfred Acres, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
2. This Congregation is incorporated in its own name, as a corporation not for profit,
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

ARTICLE II*

1. This Congregation accepts the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testaments as
the inspired Word of God and the only infallible authority in all matters of faith and life,
and subscribes to the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures that is laid down in the Augsburg
Confession and Small Catechism of Luther.

2. This Congregation regards unity in doctrine and practice the necessary prerequisite
for church fellowship.

ARTICLE III*

Object

The object and purpose of this Congregation shall be to glorify God and to help in the
extension of His Kingdom among men for their salvation by promoting and disseminating
the Christian religion as expressed in the doctrine and practice of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church.

ARTICLE IV*

Church Affiliation

1. For the better attainment of its object and purpose, this Congregation and its Pastor shall
hold membership in the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations. Should the Congregation
at any time see fit to sever this connection, this shall be effected in an orderly and
Christian manner as follows:

2. A two-thirds majority vote of all voting members present at a regularly called meeting shall
be required to dissolve such church affiliation, the action to take effect, however, only after
the President of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations has been notified and
a subsequent meeting of the Congregation has ratified the previous action by a two-thirds
majority vote.

ARTICLE V*

Power of Congregation

1. In all matters of Christian faith and life, the Word of God is the highest authority.

2. In all matters left undecided in Holy Writ and not subject to civil laws, the Congregation
itself, and not any individual or group within it, or the Association of Free Lutheran
Congregations, shall have the right of ultimate decision.

3. All schools, societies and other organizations within the church must be organized with the
consent of the Congregation and labor under its control.

ARTICLE VI

Membership

1. All baptized children and adults in this Congregation and all baptized by the pastor
in this Congregation shall be Baptized Members of the Congregation.

2. All adults and children who have been baptized in the Name of the Triune God; who have been
received into this Congregation by confirmation, baptism of adults, and/or profession
of faith; who by God's Grace strive to remain true to their baptismal covenant and therefore,
make diligent use of the means of grace; and who lead a Christian life, who submit
to this Constitution and support the Congregation with their means
and talents, shall be COMMUNICANT MEMBERS of this Congregation.

3. All communicant members of this Congregation shall be voting members, entitled to active
participation in all Congregational meetings and to vote at all elections.

ARTICLE VII

The Church Council

1. The pastors) and the following officers of the Congregation shall constitute its
Church Council:

President              Recording Secretary
Vice President    Financial Secretary
     6 Elders                Treasurer
                 4 Deacons            Sunday School Superintendent
4 Trustees

2. By virtue of his office, the pastor(s) shall be regarded as the leader(s) of this
Congregation and shall have the responsibility to ensure that all preaching and teaching in
the Congregation shall conform to Article II, (1) of the Constitution. The President
of the Congregation shall be the chairman of the Church Council.

3. The duties of the Church Council shall be: to counsel and assist the pastor(s)
in the spiritual oversight of the Congregation; to see that all of the rules and regulations
of the Congregation are rightly executed; and to assure that discipline is properly
exercised in all cases in which offense is given to the Congregation and its members.

4. A majority of the members of the Church Council shall constitute a quorum at its meetings.

5. The Church Council shall have the oversight of the benevolence works of the church.

ARTICLE VIII*

Indoctrination of Children

1. We recognize our duty to rear our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord
and to have them carefully and conscientiously instructed in the articles of our
holy Christian faith as they are set forth in the Catechisms of Luther.

2. In order that the children may be adequately taught in the faith of the church and trained
in the fear and love of God, thorough instruction to prepare them for their confirmation
shall be given by the pastor with all diligence and faithfulness.

ARTICLE IX*

1. The Congregation alone shall have the power to call its pastor(s). Before doing so, the
officers of the Congregation shall seek the advice and help of the President of the
Association of Free Lutheran Congregations.

2. Only such pastor(s) shall be called as is or will become a member and a rostered pastor,
in good standing, of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations.

3. The pastor(s) of this Congregation must preach and teach purely Lutheran doctrine, which is
in full accord with the Word of God and with the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church.**

4. The pastor(s) shall lead a Christian life and possess the qualifications required by St. Paul
in 1 Timothy 3:2-7 and Titus 1:7-9.

ARTICLE X*

Legal Ownership in Case of Division

Should disagreement among the members bring about a separation in this Congregation, which God forbid, all property shall revert to those who adhere to this Constitution.

ARTICLE XI*

Unalterable Articles

In order to preserve and maintain intact the doctrinal and confessional position of this
Congregation, to bind its pastor, likewise, to faithfulness thereto in the administration
of his sacred office, and to secure and preserve the rightful possession and use of the church
property unto all those of the Congregation who remain faithful to this Constitution,
Articles II, III, IV, V, VIII, IX, X and XI cannot be repealed or altered.

ARTICLE XII

By-Laws and articles of this Constitution, except those that are made unchangeable in Article
XI of this Constitution, may be changed or repealed, or new ones may be added, at the annual
meeting of the Congregation, or at a special meeting of the Congregation called for and approved
at the annual meeting, by a vote of no less than two-thirds (2/3rds) of the voting members
present; provided, however, that the subject matter of said By-Laws or Articles (or By-Laws
and Articles) be published to the Congregation at the regular services on two Sundays preceding
the annual or special meeting of the Congregation at which said subject matter is to be voted
upon and by mail to each voting member at least two weeks prior to said meeting.

* Articles II, III, IV, V, VIII, IX, X, XI, cannot be repealed or altered.

** The Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, referenced in
ARTICLE IX (3), include: The Schmalcaldic Articles; The Catechisms of Luther; The Formula of
Concord and the Augsburg Confession.

BY-LAWS

SECTION I

The Pastoral Call

(a) After the Congregation has elected a pastor by a majority of at least two-thirds of the
votes cast, a written call, signed by the members of the Church Council and attested
by the chairman of the meeting or the President of the Association of Free
Lutheran Congregations, or both, shall be transmitted to the pastor-elect.

(b) By this call the pastor shall be held to teach, reprove and comfort in accordance with the
confession of faith and the regulations of this Congregation.

(c) In the call, the Congregation shall bind itself, in accordance with the Word of God, to
receive the pastor-elect as its pastor and spiritual advisor, to tender him Christian
respect and obedience, to pray for him and to show him all manner of good will. It shall
also supply his temporal wants in such a manner that he may be able as much as possible
to devote all his time and talent to the performance of his official duties

(d) The pastor of the Congregation shall neither arbitrarily leave nor shall he be arbitrarily
dismissed.

(aa) If the pastor deems it advisable to accept a call to another pastorate, he shall
seek to gain the consent of the Congregation at a properly convened meeting.

(bb) If the Congregation deems a change of pastor advisable, the matter shall first be
discussed with the pastor at a meeting of the Church Council. If this fails to result
in a peaceable adjustment of the situation to the satisfaction of the Congregation
and of the pastor, they shall consult with proper officials of the Association
of Free Lutheran Congregations.

(e) Sufficient cause for a pastor's removal shall be: (a) persistent adherence to false doctrine
and practice; (b) immoral behavior; (c) inability to fulfill his pastoral duties; or
(d) unfaithfulness in his office.

SECTION II

Membership

Persons who wish to be received into this Congregation shall make their desire known to the
pastor. Thereupon the name of such applicant shall be submitted to the Church Council.

SECTION III

Business Meetings

(a) The Annual Congregational Meeting shall be held the third Sunday of January.

(b) Special Congregational meetings may be held at the call of the pastor or the Church Council,
or may be called at the written request of twenty-five (25) or more voting
members of the Congregation.

(c) Ten percent (10%) of the voting membership determined as of December 31 of the
previous year shall be considered a quorum at any Congregational Meeting.

(d) The time, place, and agenda of Congregational meetings shall be announced in
one or more regular Sunday services immediately preceding the meeting and by written
notice to the members of the Congregation.

SECTION IV

(a) The officers of the Congregation shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast by
written ballot at the annual Congregation meeting. Their term of office shall be for
a period of two years.

(b) All voting members, who meet the requirements of Section V (a) below and have been a member
for at least 2 years and are at least 18 years of age, are eligible to hold office.

(c) Officers shall be nominated by Nominating Committee chosen by Council. Nominating Committee
shall report the first Sunday in January. Candidates may be recommended in writing to the
Nominating Committee by the first Sunday in November. Any person at present serving on
Church Council who has served consecutively four years or more can not be nominated for
re-election.

(d) Members shall be elected in this manner:

President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . every two years
Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . every two years
Financial Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . every two years
Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . every two years
Recording Secretary . . . . . . . . . . every two years
Sunday School Superintendent . . . . every two years
Elders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . three each year
Deacons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . two each year
Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . two each year

(e) The nominating committee shall serve as tellers for the annual Congregational meeting.

(f) Any vacancy occurring in the Church Council during the term of office shall be filled
by Council to serve the balance of the term.

SECTION V

Duties of Officers

(a) General Duties: The officers of this Congregation shall give a good and Christian
example to the other members of the Congregation by regular participation in the church
at worship and the church at study, by doing God's Word, and by doing God's Word, and by doing
God's Word, and by frequently partaking of the Lord's Supper.

(b) Specific duties of officers:

1. Elders: Shall be men who assist the pastor in the guidance of the Congregation, in church
discipline, in all worship services, in the maintenance of the pure preaching and teaching
of the Word of God, and in visitation among God's people in their hour of need.

2. Trustees: Shall have the oversight of the property of the Congregation.

3. Deacons: Shall provide ushers for all church services, shall be men charged with all
externals of worship insuring that all things are done decently and in order.

4. Recording Secretary: Shall keep the minutes of the Congregational and Church Council
meetings, and take care of the Congregational and Council correspondence.

5. Financial Secretary: Shall keep a record of the envelope contributions of the Congregation.

6. Treasurer: Shall receive, deposit and disburse all monies of the Congregation subject to
the approval of the Council.

7. President: Shall preside over the regular and special Church Council meetings and the
regular and special Congregational meetings.

8. Vice-President: Shall assume the duties of the President in his absence and also chair the
Personnel Committee.

9. Sunday School Superintendent: Shall oversee the operation of the Sunday School programs.

SECTION VI

The Church Organizations

(a) The Sunday School and all of its departments shall be under the supervision of the pastor
and Church Council.

(b) All other organizations now existing or hereafter to be organized by this Congregation
shall be under the supervision of the pastor and Church Council.

SECTION VII

Communion

(a) All persons partaking of Holy Communion shall announce their presence by properly
filling in a communion card. Communicants must be baptized and confirmed in
the Christian faith.

(b) Communion services shall be led by an ordained Lutheran pastor.

SECTION VIII

Finances

(a) The Church shall maintain a weekly envelope system for offerings covering current expenses,
regular benevolences, and building funds to be paid into the Church treasury.

(b) The Congregation shall adopt a budget each year for current, benevolence and building funds.
The procedure for adopting a budget shall be as follows:

(1) An initial draft of a budget shall be prepared by a Finance Committee. The Finance
Committee shall include the Church Treasurer, the Financial Secretary,
one Trustee, one Elder, one Deacon and three members of the Congregation at large,
appointed by the Church Council.

(2)The draft budget prepared by the Finance Committee shall be approved by the Church
Council for submission to the Congregation.

(3) The budget as approved by the Church Council shall be voted upon by the Congregation at a
meeting held on a Sunday at least one week prior to the Every Member Visitation. Copies
of the proposed budget shall be mailed to the Congregation prior to the Congregational
budget meeting.

(c) During any calendar year, the Church Council shall not make cumulative expenditures
in excess of 10% above the total annual budget for current and building fund expenses
without obtaining the prior approval
of the Congregation at a special meeting called for that purpose.

(d) All income earned on bank accounts and other assets owned by the Church shall be
expended solely for benevolences except for special fund accumulations whose interest
Church Council may designate to be retained in the special fund.

(e) Disbursement of Church funds shall be only through Church accounts that are directed and
supervised by Church Council.

(f) Any debt incurred must be approved at a Congregational meeting except for leases of personal
property not to exceed a term of 5 years.

SECTION IX

Church Discipline

(a) Members who live in open sin shall be disciplined according to Matthew 18 and
Article VII (3) of the Constitution.

(b) Open and impenitent transgressors, who are expelled from the Congregation, lose all rights
and privileges of a member except that of hearing the Word of God.

(c) Any member who refuses to receive Holy Communion at least once a year shall be placed
on an inactive list prepared by the Pastor and the Church Council.

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