MINUTES BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING INTERNATIONAL LUTHERAN LAYMEN'S LEAGUE

Transcription

1 BOD /2015 MINUTES BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING INTERNATIONAL LUTHERAN LAYMEN'S LEAGUE DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel St. Louis-Westport Saint Louis, Missouri Friday-Saturday, October 17-18, 2014 In attendance: Chairman Philip Krauss II, Vice-Chairman Phillip Johnson, Treasurer Paul Pettit, Secretary Janice Wendorf, Londa Borer-Skov, Michael Brown, Jack Ficken, Richard Gast, Kay Meyer, Weldon Schwiebert, Richard Sindlinger, William Snow; LHM Executive Director Kurt Buchholz, Ex Officio; Pastor Advisor Rev. Timothy Klinkenberg, Ex Officio; LLL Canada Managing Director Stephen Klinck, Advisory. Absent: Leonard Pranschke; Andreas Schwabe; LCMS Liaison Rev. Timothy Scharr, Advisory; LCC Liaison Mathew Block, Advisory. Staff of Lutheran Hour Ministries attended portions of the meeting at the request of the Executive Director. On Thursday, October 16, Board members who were in town and available participated in a live taping of The Lutheran Hour in the Lutheran Hour Ministries chapel in the morning. The Board Development Committee, Budget and Finance Committee, Nominations Committee, Compensation and Evaluation Committee, and Fund Development Committee met in the afternoon. At 9:00 AM on Friday, October 17, Rev. Timothy Klinkenberg, Pastoral Advisor, led the Board in a Bible study based on Philippians 1:1-22 and 2 Corinthians 5: 11-21, inviting Board members to share who in their life had a positive spiritual impact and influence on them. 01 Philip Krauss II, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 9:33AM. 02 Chairman Krauss encouraged Board members to participate in self-evaluation of the meeting; time at the end of the agenda will be devoted to this. Motion 2014/15-21 Motion was made to approve the printed agenda allowing the Chairman to make changes as he deems necessary to conduct and complete the business of the Board. Motion 2014/15-22 Motion was made to accept the Minutes from the July 2014 meeting. 03 Janice Wendorf, Secretary, requested a minutes review committee. Richard Sindlinger and William Snow volunteered.

2 BOD / Chairman Krauss informed the Board that the name of Paul Pettit, Treasurer, was added to the signatory cards at the bank. 05 Snow, Chair of the Audit Committee, reported that their committee met via teleconference on September 18, A written copy of their minutes is attached. The committee expressed gratitude for the staff in their preparation and cooperation in the audit process. 06 Wendorf, Chair of the Board Development Committee, presented the following recommendations of the committee. Motion 2014/15-23 Motion was made to accept the following changes to the Board Policy Manual: Policy Insert new bullet point, after Preliminaries, Consent Agenda, with subpoints Agenda Approval, Minutes Approval, and Policy Based Approvals New Policy The Board shall use a consent agenda item for items requiring Board Approval for which no discussion or changes are needed Items listed on the consent agenda shall be declared approved by the Chairman after Board members have been given an opportunity to move an item off the consent agenda Items listed on the consent agenda may be moved to the action agenda for discussion and amending by the request of any member of the Board. A Board member may request an item be removed from the consent agenda by contacting the Chairman. The request may be made prior to the meeting or at the meeting prior to declaring the consent agenda approved. A request by a single member of the Board automatically moves the items off the consent agenda. (The balance of policy would be renumbered to incorporate the new policy becomes , etc) Motion carried by voice vote. Motion 2014/15-24 Motion was made to change how the Board activity calendar is listed in Policy to follow the fiscal calendar rather than the yearly calendar. (The listing would be June-May, rather than January-December.) Motion carried by voice vote. Motion 2014/15-25 Motion was made to edit the Board activity calendar and move the item, Compensation and Evaluation Committee, Executive Director performance and background work, currently listed in April, to October. This was at the request of the Compensation and Evaluation Committee, to allow ample time and input for the Annual Financial Plan.

3 BOD /2015 Motion carried by voice vote. 07 When changes are made to the Board Policy Manual, staff will electronic copies to the Board; anyone wishing to have a printed copy is asked to contact staff. 08 The Board requested that materials for each Board meeting be sent two weeks in advance to ensure time for preparation. 09 Paul Pettit, Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, guided the Board through an update on the financial status of the organization. Motion 2014/15-26 Motion was made by the Budget and Finance Committee to approve the attached Line of Credit with Lutheran Church Extension Fund. Paul Pettit, as an officer of LCEF, recused himself from the discussion and vote. Motion carried by voice vote. 10 Jack Ficken, Chair of the Compensation and Evaluation Committee, reported that the committee had two guest presentations at their meeting. Dr. John Eckrich, founder of Grace Place Wellness Ministries, was brought in for consultation on what the Int l LLL Board can do to support the Executive Director in his pursuit of wellness. He also did research into Executive Health Programs among other non-profits. Kalyn Brantley-McNeal, Chief Human Resources Officer, met with the committee to discuss the 360 evaluation that was completed. 11 Phil Johnson, Chair of the Fund Development Committee, reported the committee met with Jeff Craig-Meyer, Director of Constituent Services, to discuss the major funding initiative. 12 Dick Gast, Chair of the Nominations Committee, reported that the committee received and reviewed names of people willing to run for the Board. The final slate will be presented to the Board for approval at the January 2015 Board meeting. Motion 2014/15-27 Motion was made to change the date in Board Policy from October 1 to November 1. Motion 2014/15-28 Motion was made to change past Int l LLL practice and not designate the incumbents on the ballot. The biographies will still contain that information. 13 Kurt Buchholz, Executive Director, gave his director s report. He reported on his experience traveling to China with Douglas Rutt, Director of International Ministries, and Gunya Na Thalang, Regional Director for Asia, to mark 25 years of working with the Chinese Council of Churches, the Christian church in China.

4 BOD /2015 The top three positions within that organization also attended the celebration. They have found a trusted relationship with LHM. At least half of their resources exist because of the LHM printing press. In Beijing, they met with the Vice Minister for all religious affairs in China. The interpreters were impressed with the level of officials who attended, indicating great respect for LHM and confirmation of the work of LHM in China. As he travels in the United States, Executive Director Buchholz observes that LHM is considered the evangelistic arm of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. A key staff member is retiring at the end of October 2014, Harold Melser, Director of Ministry Advancement. Motion 2014/15-29 Motion was made to give gratitude to God for the staff of Lutheran Hour Ministries. Motion 2014/15-30 Motion was made to pass the following resolution: The Board hereby gives gratitude to God for the dedicated service of Mr. Harold Melser to Lutheran Hour Ministries and asks for continued blessings on him. Rev. Gregory Seltz, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour, addressed the Board, reminding all that we are a people of joy in the middle of life s challenges. Our task is to learn how to share that joy with others. LHM is in the business of proclamation. He reported on efforts of collaboration within the organization, using materials from the Footsteps of St. Paul tour, including sermons, lectures, and Bible study; all to equip churches to share. 14 The Board went into recess for the noon meal. Treasurer Pettit led the meal prayer. 15 The meeting reconvened at 1:00 PM. 16 Executive Director Buchholz continued with his report. He offered preliminary information and an update on restructuring. There are now three mission fields: International, US Ministries, and Digital/Online. This is core to who the Int l LLL has been as an organization and is also what the Church needs from the organization. He also shared a rough draft of an organizational chart. Craig-Meyer reported on the major funding initiative, sharing with the Board a draft copy of a case statement. This has been shared for input with high level stakeholders and constituents and is not for mass distribution at this point. Of first priority is to get the message correct, then engage constituents. Brad Neathery, Assistant Director of Constituent Services, and Lorri Hackett, Manager of Marketing, were commended for their work in preparing the draft materials. Craig-Meyer invited Board members to provide feedback to him. He also gave an update on the readiness study being done by Alan Zacharias; the goal is to meet with 50 giving units.

5 BOD /2015 Executive Director Buchholz shared the following update on the 100 th anniversary celebration plans: o Overarching Theme: As stated in the funding initiative case statement, For 100 years God has used Lutheran Hour Ministries to bring the changeless Christ to a changing world. The communication methods have shifted but the message remains the same. Each milestone required a bold step of faith. This idea will be used as the launching pad for a celebration reflecting on where the Int l LLL has been and the vision for where the organization is going. The focus will be on how the organization, in the past and the future, takes bold measures and uses new media formats to proclaim the Gospel. o Timeline: The kickoff will begin with an evening celebration at the 2015 LCMS convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Regional events will be held in four cities from October 2016 through May of A culmination celebration will be held in Milwaukee June/July 2017, similar to National Outreach Conference Detroit o Numerous ongoing activities were outlined. Motion 2014/15-31 Motion was made to reimburse the expenses for two people from each LLL district (the District President, or his representative, plus another officer) to attend the 2016 Int l LLL national convention, October 20-23, Chairman Krauss reported that no written comments were received from Rev. Timothy Scharr, LCMS Liaison, or Mathew Block, LCC Liaison. 18 Stephen Klinck, LLL-Canada Managing Director, provided an update on LLL-Canada. A major concern is the availability of airtime. They use secular stations and are at their whim and desire; in one week, two stations cancelled all religious broadcasting. LLL-Canada purchases airtime on all stations except for one that is donated. They continue to translate selected LHM materials into French and Chinese. Motion 2014/15-32 Motion was made to go into Executive Session. Motion 2014/15-33 Motion was made to go out of Executive Session. 19 Londa Borer-Skov gave the closing prayer. 20 The Board went into recess for the day. 21 Chairman Krauss reconvened the meeting at 8:30 AM on Saturday, October 18.

6 BOD / Chairman Krauss led an LHM Bible study from the series Stuff They Didn t Teach Me in Sunday School, based on John 18 and 19. The overlying truth is that Jesus was in control of the events that unfolded leading to His death on the cross. 23 Excused from the Saturday session were Board members Jack Ficken and Kay Meyer. Motion 2014/15-34 Motion was made to accept the resolution presented to the Board of the following designations of housing allowances for the 2015 calendar year to Keith Peterson, 75%; Rev. Douglas Rutt 70%; Rev. Gregory Seltz 55%. 24 The January 9, 2015 Board of Directors meeting will be a GotoWebinar online meeting. Local Board members may choose to meet at LHM in the conference room. Board committees will have to meet prior to the online meeting; any information that committee chairs want on the screen has to be turned in well in advance of the meeting. One-on-one training in the technology is available to individual Board members as needed or requested. 25 Discussion ensued on discrepancies between the Bylaws and the Board Policy Manual, specifically in Bylaw Article III Board Composition and Functions, section F-Elections. 2. Procedures and terms of office. There was the suggestion that the Nominations Committee put together a calendar of duties from both the Bylaws and the Policy Manual. This would then be forwarded to the Board Development Committee to add to policy. Each committee chair is asked to compile his or her committee s duties from the Bylaws and the Policy Manual, developing a checklist and/or calendar. 26 The Board was encouraged to have a balance and order between Doing things right and doing the right thing. The Bylaws and Policy Manual exist to serve the organization and the Board, not the other way around. 27 A request was made from the Board for a minute video of LHM. The marketing department is working on this. A PowerPoint presentation is currently available, but does need a facilitator. The goal is to develop a minute self-contained video piece. 28 Board members partook in a self-evaluation of the meeting, providing feedback to Chairman Krauss for future meetings. 29 One item to consider would be to include a policy on international trips. Possibly two Board members per year could travel with the Executive Director to an international ministry site. This was assigned to the Board Development Committee to investigate and discuss. 30 The Board requested that items that require Board action be marked as such on meeting agendas. Motion 2014/15-35 Motion was made to adjourn.

7 BOD / Snow led the closing prayer. 32 The meeting was adjourned at 10:28 AM. Respectfully submitted, Janice Wendorf, Secretary Future Board Meetings: January 9, 2015; morning and afternoon session; electronic meeting April 24-25, 2015 (arrive April 23); St. Louis, Missouri Tentative: July 17-18, 2015 (arrive July 16) Tentative: October 23-24, 2015 (arrive October 22)

8 BOD A /2015

9 BOD A /2015

10 BOD A /2015

11 BOD A /2015