EASTERN SYNOD of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

TRANSFER OF CONGREGATIONAL RECORDS

Church records dated prior to 1950 may be transferred to the Synodical Archives from local parishes. This will be limited to records of baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths and may include Constitutions and other legal documents. The provincial marriage registers, Church Council minutes, histories, and historical booklets are also acceptable. Items excluded would include treasurers’ records, minutes of auxiliaries, choirs, Boy Scouts, etc. since the annual reports would contain summaries of all parish activities.

The Laurier Archivist must be consulted before any records are transferred to make sure they comply with the above stipulations. It is understood that after the transfer is made all records become property of the Eastern Synod Archives.

A list of records held in the Synodical Archives may be found on the Laurier Archives and Special Collections website (http://library.wlu.ca/archives/collections/eastern.htm). Records may be consulted by personal visit to the Laurier Archives.

Adopted: Eastern Synod Officers – November, 2007

Dear Friends,

I am writing to invite your congregation to become a signatory to the “Covenant Concerning the Life and Ministry of the Eastern Synod, ELCIC”

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Covenant Concerning the Life and Ministry of the Eastern Synod, ELCIC

The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. Jeremiah 31:31

Our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3: 5-6

Preamble

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, its synods and congregations have been engaged since 2011 in a process of structural renewal. During this same period our National Bishop, Susan Johnson, has called on members of our church to engage in a process of personal spiritual renewal.

This historic moment of regeneration in the life of our church provides a timely opportunity to renew the promises made when congregations first came together, more than 150 years ago, to create our synod.

The Synod and its congregations are committed to ministry together for the sake of God’s mission in the world. Our common purpose is the work that marks us as “a church in mission for others” – namely the things we do together that we could not do on our own.

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Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada Guidelines for Retired Rostered Ministers

Introduction

Throughout this document the terms “rostered ministers” and “ministers” refer to ministers on the ELCIC Roster of Ordained Ministers and the Roster of Diaconal Ministers.

Retired rostered ministers are honored in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada in appreciation of the years they have served in ordained or diaconal ministry under the call of God and church.

Retired rostered ministers are a valued resource to this church. Bishops and congregations rely on the assistance of many of them in a variety of situations from leading worship in congregations to providing full-time pastoral leadership on an interim or term basis by call or appointment. Synod officials and church related agencies and institutions have turned to them for specialized assistance or other services from time to time. In various ways, many retired ministers continue to serve under the mandate of their ordination or consecration.

The retirement of a rostered minister from service in a congregation raises some questions touching on relationships established in the course of active service before retirement. These guidelines are set forth in order to facilitate the continuation of good relationships and to avoid misunderstandings. Both the official documents of the church and accepted ministerial ethics apply. It is important for both congregations and rostered ministers to understand the need for good relationships in retirement and do everything to assure their continuation.

Cordiality and mutual affirmation are expected of the relationship between retired ministers, their successors and the pastors and congregations where they are members. Retired ministers contribute in many ways to the life of the congregation which, in turn, contributes a support of love and concern. The ministers involved are expected to do everything possible to assure this mutual affirmation.

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EASTERN SYNOD

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR PASTORS
IN THE EASTERN SYNOD
NOT UNDER CALL TO A CONGREGATION

No ordained minister shall preach or perform any ministerial act (including parish visitation) within the parish of another pastor except at the latter’s request or consent. Consent implies clear communication with the duly called pastor prior to any arrangements or commitments.

Requests to the duly called pastor for permission to perform ministerial acts should come from the party or parties to be served.

No ordained minister shall visit within the parish or perform ministerial acts at a time of pastoral vacancy without a clearly expressed invitation from the congregational council.

Wherever possible, retired pastors should transfer membership to another congregation upon retirement. Where this is not possible, arrangements between the retired pastor and the congregation served immediately prior to retirement should be worked out in consultation with the Bishop.

Retired pastors are expected to respect and be supportive of the office of the pastor currently under call in the congregation served immediately prior to retirement. In the event of situations requiring intervention, retired clergy, or any other clergy who are members of the congregation, are expected to follow appropriate constitutional procedures in consultation with the Bishop’s office.

Adopted: Eastern Synod Council – November 4, 1999

EASTERN SYNOD of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

SABBATICAL GUIDELINES for ROSTERED PERSONS OF THE EASTERN SYNOD

Preface:

Ezekiel 20:12

Moreover I gave them my Sabbath, as a sign between me and them, so that they might know that I the Lord sanctify them.

Leviticus 25:1-7

The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying: Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving you, the land shall observe a Sabbath for the Lord. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather in their yield; but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for the land, a Sabbath for the Lord; you shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. You shall not reap the after growth of your harvest or gather the grapes of your unpruned vine; it shall be a year of complete rest for the land. You may eat what the land yields during its Sabbath-you, your male and female slaves, your hired and your bound labourers who live with you; for your livestock also, and for the wild animals in your land all its yield shall be for food.

Matthew 14:23

And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.

Clergy are subject to many pressures and stresses which are unique to the ministry. The concept of wholeness and wellness in ministry is an important principle in the life of the church. A healthy and effective congregation requires a healthy pastor. To help promote health and wholeness in our Synod, we have developed (extended study leave) sabbatical guidelines which provide the opportunity for our rostered clergy to be refreshed bodily, socially, emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, and professionally.

A sabbatical provides an opportunity for the pastor to reflect on the call to ministry and her/his relationship with God and all of God’s creation. The sabbatical is expected to be of benefit to both the pastor and the congregation/institution which she/he serves, as well as to the Synod and the wider Church. While continuing education provides regular shorter opportunities for growth in learning, a sabbatical provides not only opportunities for more in-depth learning and renewal, but also rest from labour. A sabbatical should be holistic, in that it includes time for prayer, reflection, rest, and care of the body, as well as developing gifts for ministry.

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CANDIDACY MANUAL

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada Last amended March, 2015

PREAMBLE

The purpose of this manual is to provide guidance to those individual involved in a process of preparing, examining and approving candidates for ordination or consecration as rostered ministers by a synod or by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (the “National Church”).

The National Church has adopted certain principles in its Constitution and Administrative Bylaws which would apply to both the formal qualification and the appropriate conduct of individuals seeking to achieve or to maintain the status of ordained minister or diaconal minister and being listed on the roster of a synod or the national church. The monitoring and application of such provisions for individuals seeking to be listed on the roster of a synod are the responsibility of that synod. The Constitution and Administrative Bylaws of the National Church (and this manual) hold out certain expectations and suggest certain guidelines which synods are expected to follow in preparing, examining and approving candidates for the roster of ordained ministers or the roster of diaconal ministers in the synod.

This manual is intended as a guide. Where appropriate; legal advice should be sought in dealing with complaints, procedures and processes.

The Candidacy Manual is recommended for approval to the National Church Council.

Once approved, the manual shall become the responsibility of the office of the National Bishop to maintain and update.

Many thanks to the past members of the Working Group on Leadership for Ministry for their foresight in calling for the preparation of this manual, to the Rev. Richard Stetson, former Assistant to the National Bishop, for compiling and writing the manual, to Toni Walker for typing and desktop-publishing the manuscript, and to the members of synod committees for theological education, seminary faculties and synod bishops for their careful review of its contents.

Rev. Cindy Halmarson, Assistant to the Bishop and the ELCIC Program Committee for Leadership for Ministry: Rev. Doug Reble, Rev. Ken Kuhn, Rev. Patricia Simonson, Ms Janet Charlton, Rev. Jim Hill, Rev. Dr. Richard Crossman and Rev. Dr. Faith Rohrbough.

June 27, 2002

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