All Your Base Are Belong To Us – Part 1

In 1992 Mega Drive ported a version of the 1989 arcade video game Zero Wing  to english. As can happen when translating from one language to another the results can be rather amusing. In this case an attacking captain contacts the defending captain and states “All your base are belong to us” – a warning of the dire consequences to come. In 1998 a clip from this game was posted to an on-line forum, and the internet took it from there. This phrase not only spawned an entire class of memes, it also entered the not-so-common vernacular.

In the context of LCC Restructuring, the proposal is to do away with all the Districts in the name of eliminating personnel, fund collection and distribution, planning, financial management, and transfer responsibility for all their administrative and ecclesiastical supervision to the Synod BOD.

In essence, the restructuring proposal will put all the LCC “bases” under the direct or ultimate control of the SP and/or BOD.  And since the SP is on the BOD, the previous statement is also somewhat redundant…

This document covers the proposed duties, responsibilities, powers, and accountability structures pertaining to the BOD under the proposed structure. The citations are grouped by document and place in the document. Where appropriate there is a (reference) that details where the citation is placed.

This document was produced by doing a search for “board” in the proposed structure document.

I’ll discuss some of the implications of these – and other changes – in the next post.

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Statutory Bylaws – The Board of Directors

• (Article I) determines which congregations go in which circuits, congregations do not have a voice,
• can approve a congregation becoming a member congregation to be received at the Convention,
• can approve a deacon or pastor becoming an individual member to be received at the Convention,
• must approve the formation of parishes (ie two or more churches served by the same pastor),
• (Article II) prescribes LCC’s seal,
• (Article III) determines Synod’s head office location,
• (Article IV) sets the fiscal year end,
• (Article V) can fill any vacancy that may arise in the office of auditor,
• (Article VI) can establish and terminate Memorandums of Understanding with 3rd party organizations which support LCC’s mission and ministry. (The Convention is not mentioned as having any voice in the matter, nor is there any due process established for cases when an MOU’s establishment or termination is being considered)
• (Article IX) sets the time and place for the Convention,
• does not have to send a notice of the Convention to member congregations and individuals, only publish it in the official periodical,
• shall report to the Convention,
• can call a special convention,
• (Article X) can suspend a SP or VP’s power of duty
• appoints the Secretary from BOD members,
• determines which matters the SP is and is not the chief spokesman and representative of LCC,
• determines resolutions to be implemented by the SP,
• sets any additional powers and duties for the SP,
• sets duties for the BOD Secretary,
• fill any vacancy in the office of VP, Secretary, or Treasurer,
• Appoints an administrator to handle all non-ecclesiastical duties,
• (Article XI) is composed of the SP, VP, one deacon, plus four pastors and four lay persons for a total of six (6) pastors, one (1) deacon, and (4) laity,
• (Article XII) manages the affairs of LCC,
• possesses and exercises the power of Synod in Convention unless otherwise limited by the Convention,
• reports their activity to the next Convention,
• (Article XIII) can hold meetings without giving prior notice to BOD members,
• can participate in a meeting via electronic or other means,
• can pass resolutions in writing without having to meet in person,
• can select a chair, vice-chair, recording secretary, and other officers as it deems necessary,
• (Article XIV) has an Executive consisting of the SP, VP, Secretary, BOD Chair,and BOD Vice Chair for a total of five (5) of the eleven (11) BOD members (no provision is made for a balance of clergy an laity and all these positions could be held by clergy),
• the Executive has all the powers of the BOD in the management and direction of LCC’s day to day operation,
• the Executive’s actions are reported to the BOD at the next meeting and is subject to revision or alteration by the BOD of the whole
• shall establish various committees to support its work,
• shall establish and receive reports and recommendations from the Governance Committee (the Governance Committee, however, has no power to amend are alter the BOD’s actions, nor can it make an official report to the Convention)
• shall appoint other committees as it sees fit,
• (Article XVII) establishes regional and circuit boundaries, congregations have no voice in the arrangement,
• (Article XVIII) signs contracts and can assign power of attorney,
• (Article XIX) responsible for maintaining all required books and records,

Synodical Constitution:

• (Article V) New member congregations can be received by the BOD or SIC,
• A community of believers cannot be received until their constitution has been vetted and approved by the BOD or SIC,
• (Article VIII) A 2/3rd majority of the BOD can call a special convention,

Synodical Bylaws:

• 1.15a: BOD to examine constitutions
• 1.15b:Congregations not to become members until their constitution has been approved by the BOD,
• 1.35c: BOD serves LCC in accordance with the establishing documents,
• 2.190 a-1: BOD et al can submit reports to SIC,
• 2.35b: Convention assessment to be approved by the BOD,
• 2.39: BOD to be the channel to tell the SIC story to the public,
• 2.501d: When tabulating nominations, the BOD approves appointment of an outside auditor by the Secretary,
• 5.65: BOD approves applications of missionaries during non-convention years,
• 8.05: Every Member shall, … serve in accord with decisions of the LCC … Boards
• 8.21a: BOD appoints members of a reconciliation committee
• 8.21c: BOD pays for reconciliation committee training expenses
• 8.25: BOD to approve Rules of Procedure for the reconciliation process,
• 8.45: BOD can rule on venue of adjudication commission ,
• 8.47a: BOD approves rules of Procedure for adjudication,
• 8.47a.8: BOD to maintain a record of all decisions by Commission of Adjudication,
• 8.47b:  Rules of Procedure take effect on approval by the BOD,
• 8.47d: BOD approves all changes to Rules of Procedure,
• 11.21c: BOD supervises the editing and publishing of official periodicals,
• 12.03b: BOD can recommend recognition of a synodical mission on approval of the CTCR,
• 13.01a: Application for auxiliary status can be made to SIC via the BOD,
• 13.01.b.6: establish that auxiliaries will maintain a separate identity and structure as determined by the BOD,
• 13.01.d.1: BOD to evaluate if an auxiliary will continue to be recognized,
• 13.03a: auxiliary can apply to the BOD for listing in the Canadian Lutheran Annual,
• 13.03.b: BOD to determine form of relationship with LSO
• 13.03.b.2: BOD to receive annual report and audited financial statement from LSO,
• 13.03.b.4: establish that LSO will maintain a separate identity and structure as determined by the BOD,
• 13.03.c.1: LSO (Listed Service Organization) can solicit funds in LCC’s name on approval by the BOD,
• 13.03.d.1: LSO listing status to be reviewed by the BOD,