CALC’s Governance Structure
This page contains more detailed information on
The General Convention
The National Council
The Executive
The Board of Elders
The Board of Trustees
The General Convention.
The highest constitutional authority delegated by the congregations to the Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations (CALC) is vested in the General Convention.
Annual Meeting
The General Convention meets annually by call of the President in consultation with the National Council. The convention typically takes place on a weekend in April or May of each year. The venue for the convention is chosen by the previous General Convention. It is typically held over two days, the Friday and a Saturday. An all day learning event and opening worship are held on Friday. The learning event typically includes presentations by a keynote speaker and may include breakout sessions. Saturday morning is reserved for the business of the Association. Saturday afternoon is reserved for a keynote address and closing worship.
Classes of Membership:
There are three classes of membership in CALC:
Member Congregations: These congregations have subscribed to CALC’s governing documents and have agreed to participate in CALC’s programs.
Associate Congregations: These congregations have subscribed to CALC’s governing documents.
Individual Associate Members: These are individuals who have subscribed to CALC’s governing documents.
Make-up of the Convention.
The General Convention is composed of:
Voting Delegates,
Advisory Members, and
Official visitors.
Voting Delegates: The voting delegates sent by a Member Congregation include:
One pastor, on CALC’s roster of Pastors, serving the Member Congregation (serving at least part time on the staff of a congregation of this Association); plus,
A number of delegates elected or appointed from the membership of a Member Congregation which is based on the number of Confirmed members of the Member Congregation: one delegate per 50 confirmed members or greater fraction thereof to a maximum of three (3) representatives. A greater fraction of 50 is defined as: fifty percent of 50 (or 25) plus 1. Section 2 of PART TWO of CALC’s bylaws states that a congregation with membership of less than 50 Confirmed members is entitled to elect or appoint one delegate.
These principles are illustrated as follows: a congregation with 70 Confirmed members could only elect or appoint one (1) delegate; a congregation with 76 Confirmed members could elect or appoint two (2) delegates; a congregation with 150 Confirmed members could elect or appoint three (3) delegates; and a congregation with 250 Confirmed members could only elect or appoint three (3) delegates. Congregations with more than 600 Confirmed members may elect or appoint 4 delegates.
Advisory Members: Advisory Members have voice at the General Convention but no vote. Advisory members include:
The President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Individual Associate Members of CALC.
Delegates elected or appointed by Associate Member congregations (Associate Member congregations may elect or appoint at least one delegate).
Pastors other than Parish Pastors, specifically Pastors Emeriti and Pastors in Extended Ministry.
Official Visitors: Official visitors include:
Official Visitors, whose presence and participation are desired, are invited by the President and seated by vote of the Convention. They shall have voice but no vote.
Congregations in the process of withdrawing from another Lutheran judicature, mission fellowships, unincorporated mission congregations, and congregations in the process of forming and incorporating shall be termed “Observer Groups “ with voice but no vote.
Challenges to make-up or Representation: Challenges to representation or election shall be referred to the National Council and decided by the approved delegates to the General Convention.
Authority/Responsibilities.
Authority: The General Convention has the authority to:
Adopt or approve its own rules of order and agenda.
Adopt a program of activity for this Association, and take the steps necessary to provide for its accomplishment.
Elect officers, councils, boards, committees, etc. in accordance with this Constitution.
Hear reports of the work of its officers, councils, boards, jurisdictional units, commissions, committees, etc., review their works, and act on matters presented by them.
Adopt a budget for the work of this Association.
Establish disciplinary procedures not otherwise provided for in CALC’s Constitution and its Bylaws.
Recommend or suggest, upon the National Council’s advice, hymnals, forms of worship, and forms for performance of pastoral acts, etc.
Approve proposed amendments to this Constitution and Bylaws for submission to the Member Congregations for ratification. The vote on any such amendments should be taken after a short recess.
Appoint a nominating committee.
Uphold the faith confessed by this Association (Article Three), pray for and promote peace and order in this Association, and seek to further the Purpose (Article Five) of this Association.
Upon motion, to give selective or full voting rights to Associate members and other Pastors. This vote would not be binding on subsequent General Conventions.
Limitation on Authority. The General Convention does not have the authority to:
Take actions in contravention of CALC’s Articles of Incorporation or Charter, Constitution and its Bylaws, and previous inconsistent resolutions of this Association’s General Conventions.
Decide questions involving doctrine. Questions of doctrine are based on the Word of God and the Confessions of the Church.
For amendments to CALC’s Constitution approved by the General Convention to be implemented and take effect, the following procedure must be followed:
a. The Board of Elders prepares a disclosure statement which clearly sets forth the proposed amendment to the constitution and/or bylaws and the reasons underlying the same and delivers a copy of the disclosure statement to each Member congregation eligible to vote.
b. The Board of Elders sends a ballot to each congregation eligible to vote which: sets forth the proposed amendments in resolution form so that the amendments may be properly brought before the congregation; provides an option for the congregation to either vote in favor of or in opposition to the proposed amendments; provides a date by which the ballots must be received by CALC’s Secretary; and provides for the execution of the ballot by authorized officers of the congregation.
c. Congregations vote on the resolutions at a duly called annual or special meeting of the congregation at which a quorum is present. The resolution is passed if a majority plus one, of the quorum of congregational members present vote in favor of the resolution.
d. The amendments pass and the constitution and/or bylaws are amended if three-quarters (3/4) of the ballots timely received vote in favor of the amendments. The results of the referendum are announced by the President in one of CALC’s official publications.
Quorum.
A majority of the registered and approved delegates shall constitute a quorum.
Special Convention.
If required, a Special Convention can be called by the National Council. Delegates shall be elected in the same way as that prescribed for the General Convention.
Business Sessions.
The President should order business on the agenda in such a way that issues relating solely to Member Congregations and pastors on the roster of this Association are separated from issues relating to Associate members.
National Council
CALC’s National Council
The National Council (NC) provides general oversight and management for CALC. The National Council consists of the Executive, the elected Elders and the elected Trustees. The Executive is made up of the President, Vice President, Secretary and the Treasurer.
Qualifications.
Each member of the National Council is elected from:
The Roster of Pastors of this Association;
A believing member of a member congregation; or
An associate member.
If elected from the Roster of Pastors of this Association, the member should first be a “pastor”. It is recommended that the pastor-member maintain contact with the parish ministry by serving at least part time on the staff of a congregation of this Association.
Candidates are chosen for: (a) their commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and to the divine inspiration, revelation, and inerrancy of the Scriptures; (b) evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in life suitable to the function of the office; (c) evidence of Spirit-bestowed gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and administrative ability; and (d) their full intention to uphold CALC’s Constitution, most especially, the Confession of Faith (Article Three), and the Statement of Purpose (Article Five).
Election/Term
Members of the NC are elected by the delegates to the Annual General Convention to four year terms. They are elected for staggered terms with about a third of its number elected each year.
CALC seeks to maintain a balance between clergy and laity on the National Council. To this end following an election: (a) either the President or the Vice President is a lay person; either the Vice-President or Treasurer is a lay person; a majority of the elected Trustees and a majority of the elected Elders are lay people. If President is unable to serve by reason of resignation, removal or death, the Vice-President shall serve as President until the next Annual General Convention, when a new President is elected. If any other member of the National Council dies, resigns, or is unable to serve, a temporary replacement shall be elected by the National Council to serve until the next General Convention. At the next General Convention the registered delegates shall elect a successor for the unexpired term of the National Council Member who died, resigned or was removed.
National Council’s Authority/Responsibilities.
The National Council functions as CALC’s legislative agency in the interim between General Conventions in order to deal with situations which necessitate action before the next General Convention. Legislative acts by the National Council are affirmed by a the vote of a majority of all its members and must be presented to the next General Convention for review. This includes interpreting CALC’s Constitution and Bylaws. Any such interpretation shall be reported to the next General Convention for final decision.
The National Council meets at least once a year. Additional meetings may be called by the President and must be called when requested by at least one-third of the Board Elders or by at least one- third of the Board of Trustees. Meetings may be held by telephone conference or Internet conference. National Council receives reports and resolutions prepared by CALC’s various officers, jurisdictional units, councils, boards, and committees, and, after consideration, transmit them to the General Convention with their recommendations.
The National Council may consider disagreements which may arise and shall endeavour to resolve differences.
The National Council, after seeking proper counsel, can determine whether any officer is unable to serve. If such a decision is challenged, it shall be referred immediately to the Board of Appeals and Adjudication whose decision is final.
CALC’s Executive
CALC’s Executive is made up of the office of the President, Vice President, Secretary and the Treasurer. The duties and responsibilities of each position on the Executive is summarized below.
The President
CALC’s President is the spiritual leader of our Association; upholds the Constitution and Bylaws; and is responsible for the effective administration of our Association. The President chairs CALC’s Conventions, meetings of the National Council and the Board of Elders. The Presidents intervenes in conflict situations in congregations and assists congregations in the call process.
The Vice President
CALC’s Vice President assists the President in implementing resolutions and motions passed by the General Convention, National Council, Board of Trustees and Board of Elders. The Vice President chairs meetings of the Board of Trustees. Upon the vacancy of the President’s office, the Vice President serves as President until the next convention.
The Treasurer
CALC’s Treasurer keeps such financial records, including books of account, as are necessary to comply with Revenue Canada; and renders financial statements to National Council and General Convention.
The Secretary
CALC’s Secretary gives notices of meetings; keeps minutes of all meetings of the Association, National Council and Board of Elders; has custody of all records (excluding the Treasurer’s records); has custody of the common seal of the Association.
CALC’s Board of Elders
The Board of Elders (BOE) consists of the President, Secretary and a minimum of two (2) to a maximum of nine (9) Elders elected by the General Convention.
The BOE shall has the following authority and responsibility:
Maintain a roster of Pastors/Deacons.
Consider matters arising from relationships with other church bodies and extra-church bodies;
Oversee mentoring and the continuing education for pastors on CALC’s roster;
Appoint a Pastoral Review Panel who may be utilized by congregations in the process of the call into the Pastoral Ministry. The PRP is described below.
Provide leadership to Boards and Committees of our Association;
Oversee congregational referendums relating to the amendment of CALC’s constitution and/or bylaws, or any other matter which is placed before the congregations for vote.
Provide oversight through the PRP in the education and training of candidates for call and ordination as Pastors in CALC; and •
Hear and adjudicate cases of alleged pastoral misconduct if requested by a congregation.
The Board of Elders shall meet at least twice each year. Additional meetings shall be called by the President of the Association serving as chair as often as the business of the Association may require, or at the request of one-third members of the Board. Meetings may be held by telephone conference or Internet conference.
CALC’s Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees (BOT) consists of the Vice President, Treasurer and a minimum of two (2) to a maximum of nine (9) Trustees elected by the General Convention.
The BOT shall has the following authority and responsibility:
Purchase or otherwise acquire title to real estate.
Invest and manage investment funds of our Association.
Review the financial condition, policies, practices, and operations of all components of this Association.
Borrow money (must be approved by congregations).
Prepare a budget and monitor spending.
Appoint auditors, prepare job descriptions and recommend remuneration for officers and other employees.
The Board of Trustees shall meet at least once each year as called and publicized by the Vice President. Meetings may be held by telephone conference or internet conference. Additional meetings shall be called by the Vice President as often as the business of this Association may require, or at the request of the President of this Association or of one-third of the members of this Board.