Governance at Redeemer
Welcome to the central hub for Redeemer Lutheran Church and School’s governing documents and the ongoing work of our Governance Task Force.
"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. - Romans 12:3-8
Redeemer is reviewing and updating our governing documents to ensure effective operation and alignment with our mission to prepare, equip, and motivate adults and children to serve God while leading others to know and love Jesus Christ. This process aims to create a governance structure that responsibly manages the resources entrusted to us by the Lord and leads our congregation into its next chapter of service to Stuart and beyond.
Why the Change?
Our Constitution and Bylaws have not been substantially revisited in a number of years. During our vacancy period that began in 2023, our governance model became a stumbling block to attempts by lay leadership and staff to operate in good order in the absence of a Senior Pastor. Our governance structure came up as a challenge in every conversation and interview with prospective pastors during our four failed call cycles (2024-2025). When attempts were made to return to compliance – seeking to fill our 80+ vacancies on 10+ boards – we found a congregation eager to help but weary to lead.
To that end, the congregation engaged LCEF to conduct a structural review, which led to calling Pastors Jeff Moore (Senior) and Billy Brath (Executive) on an interim basis. Working closely with the lay leadership and staff, the Pastors are specifically tasked with guiding us through this season of transition.
Governance can be a barrier or a springboard for ministry. As God’s church, we are called to operate in good order, honoring the blessings He bestows and stewarding them for His good work. Our prayerful hope is building a governance model for today that is transparent, efficient, and supports God’s mission for Redeemer for many years to come.
Our Progress & Timeline
We believe in a transparent process. This page will be updated regularly as the task force hits key milestones.
Outline of Process
Phase 1: Discovery (Complete) – Assessing current pain points, legal requirements, governance models, and example documents.
Phase 2: Drafting – Developing a draft of the new governance model and document language.
Phase 3: Council Review – Presenting the first draft to the Council for comment and feedback.
→ Phase 4: Congregational Review – Hosting Town Hall Q&A sessions to gather your feedback. May 11 @ 6 pm (online meeting link here), May 14th @ 10:30 am, May 17th @ 12:30 pm.
Phase 5: Drafting – Revisiting draft in light of feedback
Phase 6: Council/District Review – Finalizing the draft and verifying compliance with District policy and state law
Phase 7: Formal Presentation – A congregational vote to ratify the new documents.
Updates
Latest Update (April 2026)
The Church Council has reviewed the Task Force's recommendations and approved the draft constitution and bylaws for presentation to the congregation at town hall meetings.
- May 11th online @ 6 pm
- May 14th @10:30 am
- May 17th @ 12:30 pm
We will review the documents, answer questions, discuss how this new governance model will move Redeemer forward, and invite feedback and comments.
Document Availability: As required by our current Constitution, copies of the proposed new Constitution and Bylaws will be easily accessible for review in the church office during regular hours, at the back of the sanctuary on Sundays, and on this page of the website.
Revision Period: The Church Council will thoughtfully consider all feedback from the Town Halls and other sources, make adjustments to the documents as needed, and clearly communicate any changes to the congregation before the vote is called.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
While the Task Force is taking the deepest dive into governance matters, we understand that the rest of the Redeemer family likely has many questions about this process. To that end, the Task Force is compiling those into a single space to address as they arise so that we are best prepared for a congregational meeting later this year. This is a living document and will be updated as necessary.
Looking Ahead
Once the new constitution and bylaws are ratified, this page will serve as the permanent home for those and supporting documents, like the annual ministry plan. Our goal is to create a "living" governance that empowers our congregation to do God’s work faithfully and efficiently.
Questions? If you have questions for the Governance Task Force, please contact Joy Banks, our task force chair: AED-Resources@rlcsrams.com.
Proposed Governing Documents
The documents linked below are proposed documents and explanatory resources. Paper versions and video transcripts are available at the church office.
The "Crosswalk" shows the connections between the current and proposed constitution and bylaws. Review it to see what stayed the same, was adjusted, and what will be discussed at the Town Halls.
Current Governing Documents
The document linked below currently guides our congregation.
The Governance Task Force
After soliciting volunteers and through prayerful consideration, the Church Council officially established the Governance Task Force (GTF) in January 2026. This team is focused on learning about governance models, reviewing the working framework of policy-based governance, and drafting a new constitution and bylaws for presentation to the Church Council and Redeemer voters.
- Joy Banks – chair
- Carolyn Shore
- Sally Foks
- Dave Shore
- Megan McChrystal
- Jen Snyder
- Tim Mirly
- George Spray
- Jenny Norman
- Jim Fitzgerald, ex officio
- Pastor Billy Brath, ex officio