Constitution 101: New ELCA Webinar Simplifies Congregation Updates

The ELCA Office of the Secretary has released a recorded webinar and PowerPoint presentation to help congregation leaders better understand and update their constitutions. The hour-long session, “Congregation Constitution 101,” was designed especially for congregation councils and leaders across the ELCA and is now available for on-demand viewing.

Led by The Rev. Keith Fry, Executive for Office of the Secretary Administration, the session covers:

  • How constitutions serve and strengthen congregations

  • The structure of the Model Constitution for Congregations

  • Steps to amending and updating your own congregation’s constitution

This practical overview is a helpful companion to our synod’s recent guidance on the 2025 ELCA Model Constitution for Congregations, which includes an optional streamlined update process developed by Pastor David Brandfass. That resource—shared in our earlier post, Update Made Easy: New 2025 Constitution Guidance for Your Congregation—saves hours of administrative work and ensures compliance with Churchwide requirements.

Every congregation is encouraged to review and align its Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions following each Churchwide Assembly. These updates are not merely administrative; they help us remain faithful to our shared mission and accountable within our Lutheran polity.

As Rev. Fry notes, constitutions are tools that help us live out our calling together—clear structures that free us to focus on ministry, not paperwork.

Use these new ELCA and Grand Canyon Synod resources to make your next constitution update a simple, collaborative, and faithful process.

ELCA, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardComment