The Resolution to Dissolve the Congregation

I realized that I never posted the actual resolution that the council wrote. This was a lot of work. The synod gave us a very generic form that was very business like and really cold.

Then, I had another pastor that walked with a congregation through this process give me the resolution that her congregation used and I loved it. It was much more personal and meaningful. We borrowed some of the wording from that congregation, some of the wording was given by the synod for legal purposes, and a good part of it was written by me and adapted by the council.

Here is the resolution. It's a little chopped up because I am trying to keep this blog as anonymous as possible (as you have probably been able to tell):

WHEREAS we are to be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9); and

WHEREAS we were buried with Christ by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4); and

WHEREAS Our Congregation was founded on  _________ with 23 charter members; and

WHEREAS the congregation first held services in the pastor’s home, moved to a dance studio, moved to The Little Red School House, and the first cornerstone was laid on _________, 1939 on _________; and

WHEREAS the congregation outgrew the building and through the grace of God laid a second cornerstone for a building expansion on _________, 1959; and

WHEREAS in this place countless men, women, and children have shared God’s gifts of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion and heard the word of the Lord declared through ___ pastors; and

WHEREAS God has blessed this Congregation through worship and music, mission and education, service and fellowship; and

WHEREAS from this place members and friends of the Congregation have for 80 years given abundantly of their time, talent and resources toward the building of God’s kingdom; and

WHEREAS Our Congregation has fed thousands of families through the mission of the food pantry; and

WHEREAS hundreds of children received first communion, confirmation and learned they are beloved children of God; and

WHEREAS Our Congregation has been a Congregation of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA); and

WHEREAS the sanctuary, property and holy things are a rich legacy bequeathed to us by faithfulness of past generations, so we will in turn bequeath them to future generations to the glory of God; and

WHEREAS, the membership of this congregation has been in decline for 20 or more years, and

WHEREAS, the median age of members has increased, and

WHEREAS, the membership is unable to adequately staff council positions and needed committees, and

WHEREAS, we have been unable to adequately maintain the church property, and

WHEREAS, offerings are insufficient to maintain the congregation, and

WHEREAS, the Turnaround Team, after consultation with the Bishop’s staff and the congregation council, has discerned that the team will not be able to accomplish what is necessary for Turnaround and has discontinued its activities; and

WHEREAS after prayer, discernment and a series of conversations the Congregation Council has come to the conclusion that it is no longer possible for Our Congregation to sustain a viable ministry and that in the best interest of faithfully stewarding the Congregation’s legacy and property it is an opportune time to dissolve; and

WHEREAS Jesus is with us always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20); and,

WHEREAS the witness of God’s people will continue for we know that when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:4-7); therefore be it

RESOLVED that upon the recommendation of the Church Council, Legal Name of the Congregation shall disband as a worshiping community, completing its ministry on June 10, 2012; and be it further

RESOLVED that the following standing committees be commissioned to the tasks involved in the ministries of the church: Worship, Disbursements of Assets, Holy Things, Property and care for items in the building, Social, Archive, Personnel and Mission; and be it further

RESOLVED that the Congregation Council can assign other committees as needed; and be it further

RESOLVED that the Worship committee will give recommendations to the Church Council regarding weekly worship services, the Celebration Service and the Taking Leave Service; and be it further

RESOLVED that the Disbursement of Assets committee will make recommendations to the Council, which in turn will make recommendations to the Congregation for a vote regarding the gifting of the trust, capital improvement, memorial, and revitalization funds and the proceeds from the sale of the building; and be it further

RESOLVED that the Holy Things and Property committees will make recommendations to the Council regarding the gifting of holy things, furniture, fixtures and other assets; and be it further

RESOLVED that the Social and Mission committees will make recommendation to the Council regarding celebration and thanksgiving events and mission events and disbursement of weekly tithes; and be it further

RESOLVED that the Archive committee will prepare the congregation’s records for transfer to ELCA archives; and be it further

RESOLVED that the Personnel Committee will make recommendations to the Council regarding the staff; and be it further

RESOLVED that together with the bookkeeper, the Congregation Council will recommend and amend a budget to the Congregation for a vote; and be it further

RESOLVED that May 20, 2012 will be a day of thanksgiving for God’s abundance and a celebration of the ministry for the congregation, friends, neighbors, former pastors, former members, neighboring clergy and officials; and be it further

RESOLVED that June 10, 2012 will be a day of remembrance and hope in the resurrection of our Savior at the Taking of Leave service of this Congregation; and be it further

RESOLVED that at a called Congregation meeting before June 10, 2012, Council members will be elected by the Congregation to serve from June 10 through the sale of the property; and be it further

RESOLVED that property assets will be distributed in a way that is consistent with the principles and values articulated in the constitution of the congregation and the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the ELCA; and be it further 

RESOLVED that the sale be conducted by_____________ as its Designated Agent; and be it further

RESOLVED that upon the final sale or other disposition of the property and assets of this congregation, in accordance with the requirements of the applicable laws of the State of Illinois and the status of this corporation under section 501c (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and after the payment of all debts and other obligations of the Congregation, this Congregation shall be dissolved; and be it further

RESOLVED that in connection with the foregoing resolution, the real property owned by this Congregation and located at legal address of the congregation (the “Church Property”) shall be sold by this Congregation on such terms and conditions and for such a price and to such a purchaser(s) as that Congregational Council shall deem appropriate, or transferred to the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the ELCA, with no further approval or authorization required of the Voting Members of this Congregation; and be it further

RESOLVED that in connection with the sale of the Church Property the President and the Secretary of this Congregation are authorized, directed and empowered to execute, attest to, and deliver all documents which may reasonably be required to vest title to the Church Property in the purchaser(s) of the Church Property, or may reasonably be required by the title insurer and closing agent(s) involved in any sale of the Church Property, and to take all such actions as are deemed to be necessary or appropriate to complete the sale of the Church Property, without any additional approval or authorization required of the Voting members or Congregation Council of this Congregation. The actions of said Officers in signing the documents necessary to sell and convey title to the Church Property shall be conclusive evidence that said documents are appropriate with, and authorized by, these authorizing resolutions; and be it further

RESOLVED that if the escrow from the sale of the parsonage is not disbursed to this Congregation before this Congregation dissolves the Metropolitan Chicago Synod will be named beneficiary of the escrow; and be it further

RESOLVED that the people of Our Congregation, giving thanks for all the blessings received and the work accomplished here, will go forth as God’s own people to declare the wonderful deeds of Christ who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).