Midwest ILDA Constitution and Bylaws

 

Constitution and bylaws of the Midwest Region of the International Lutheran Deaf Association

Article 1 - Preamble

We desire to be faithful people of God, led by Him and our blessed Savior, Jesus Christ, and inspired by the Word of God as it is brought to us in the doctrines, teachings and confessions of the Lutheran Church­Missouri Synod (LCMS).

We are committed to our Lord Jesus Christ and dedicated to serving God, our Synod and deaf people all over the world in a fellowship of love, devotion, lay work, evangelism, and worship.

Our only common desire is to unite the efforts of deaf Lutherans and others in carrying out the programs, projects, and plans to achieve our purposes.

We do not and shall not engage in partisan controversies or politics.

Our primary and broad goal is to enrich the lives of deaf people through spiritual growth and develop Christian leadership among all the people with whom we associate.

Article II - Name

The name of this organization shall be: "The Midwest Region - International Lutheran Deaf Association. (Midwest ILDA)

Article III - Purpose

The Midwest Region of the International Lutheran Deaf Association shall cooperate with and function as part of the International Lutheran Deaf Association (ILDA). The Midwest ILDA uses same purposes of the ILDA as follows: The general and broad purposes of ILDA shall be to coordinate and strengthen the religious activities and services in our congregations/associations, helping promote their growth to the highest possible level in service to their Lord and Savior; and to promote the Christian faith and life of Lutheran deaf people, all deaf people, and others with whom we associate; and to carry on our ministry throughout the world.

The Association is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Article IV - Relationship to ILDA

The Midwest Region of the International Lutheran Deaf Association shall cooperate and function as part of the International Lutheran Deaf Association. The Midwest ILDA shall agree with the ILDA Constitution and follow the guidelines of the ILDA Handbook.

Article V - Membership

The Midwest Region of the International Lutheran Deaf Association is an association of the Lutheran Church­Missouri Synod. It is composed of members of the Lutheran Church­Missouri Synod who are deaf or interested in the Deaf in the states of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Western Missouri, Wyoming, and the province of Manitoba, Canada.

According to ILDA Constitution and bylaws, the Midwest Region of the International Lutheran Deaf Association shall be comprised of three classes of memberships: Active members, Associate members, and Supporting members. All are voluntary memberships, but are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Constitution. All members shall be dedicated towards carrying out the broad purposes of the ILDA.

Section A - Active Members

1. Active members shall be deaf Lutherans lay-people who are communicant members in good standing in a congregation/association and/or field of the Lutheran Church­Missouri Synod and/or its partner churches.

 

2. Only active members may hold office in the Midwest ILDA.

 

3. Only active members may propose and/or vote upon Constitution changes of Midwest ILDA.

 

4. In general, it shall be understood that the Midwest ILDA are governed entirely by active members.

Section B - Associate Members

1. Associate members shall be deaf or hearing people who are communicate members of a Lutheran congregation/associations and who are active in deaf Christian activities. There are divided into three classes:

a. Lutheran deaf lay-people who are not members of the Lutheran Church­Missouri Synod.

b. Lutheran deaf persons in pastoral ministry of a Lutheran congregation/associations.

c. Hearing Lutheran lay-people and persons involved in pastoral ministry.

 

2. Associate members may propose and/or vote on matters concerning candidates, programs, projects, and mission work of the Midwest ILDA.

Section C - Supporting Members

1. Supporting members shall be all active in deaf Christian activities who wish to take part in and give support to the purpose and programs of ILDA but do not qualify as active or associate members.

 

2. Supporting members may take proposals on matters concerning programs, projects, and mission work but are not permitted to vote or hold office in ILDA or its branches.

Article IV - Officers

The Board of the Conference shall consist of a President, an Immediate Past President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Regional Pastoral Advisor.

The President shall serve as a leader in the affairs and activities of the conference; preside at the meetings of the conference and counsel committees and individuals in their work in and for the conference. He/She shall serve as a Regional Vice-President of ILDA. He/She shall serve as the President of the Midwest Region of the International Lutheran Deaf Association on the ILDA Board of Directors.

The Vice-President shall assist the President in the general performance of his duties and shall perform the duties of President in his absence.

The Secretary shall keep records of all proceedings of the conference. carry on official correspondence and perform the usual duties of a secretary.

The Treasurer shall keep a careful and exact record of all monies received and paid-out by this organization, make a report to the organization and do other things usually done by the treasurer.

The Board of Conference shall meet once before the next Midwest ILDA conference every year with the mileage expenses paid following federal regulations by the Midwest ILDA. Any officers who live more than 100 miles will be paid for one night motel.

The Regional Pastoral Advisor shall be one of the pastors or lay ministers of the Lutheran Church of the Deaf in the Midwest Region who shall serve as a general advisor to the organization and encourage the conference to greater activity in the various phases of the Lord's work. He shall meet at least annually at the Midwest ILDA's expense with the Midwest ILDA president and the representative from each congregation/association and/or field for the purpose of coordinating efforts and planning programs and projects of raising funds for the Midwest ILDA.

Article VII - Elections and Terms of Office

The terms of the officers shall be for a period of two years. All newly elected officers shall be installed at the closing worship of the Midwest ILDA conference. Their terms shall begin at the time of the conference when elected.

1. No individual can serve more than one office in ILDA and its regional branches at the same time.

 

2. Officers must be twenty-one (21) years or age or older.

 

3. No officer may hold the same office for more than two (2) consecutive terms.

 

4. Any officer who has been removed from office shall not be permitted to run or hold office in Midwest ILDA for a period of five (5) years.

Nominations for the various offices may be made by the congregations/associations of the Region previous to the conference. Additional nominations may be made from the floor. Officers shall be elected by ballot at the meetings of the organization in the even numbered years.

Article VIII - Conferences

The conference shall meet in convention annually to conduct business. Time shall be arranged for the program which shall include spiritual inspiration and education through essays, workshops or other activities arranged by the program committee. The activity shall be banner contest in even year and skit contest in odd year. If possible, a camp or recreational facility shall be engaged for the convention conference. The host congregation/association shall have chief responsibility for arrangements and the program for the annual conference by sending a tentative program for the annual conference. They shall seek advice of the Board of the Conference by sending a tentative program at least three months prior to the conference.

Representatives from the various fields shall report on interesting conditions, special projects, plans and progress made in the respective fields during the year preceding the convention conference.

Voting in the convention business and elections shall be done by the delegates elected or appointed by the respective congregations/associations or fields. When voting on any issues concerning candidates, programs and/or projects, issues shall be decided by a simple majority vote of voting members present unless otherwise defined in the ILDA constitution. Annual conference sites hall be determined two years ahead of time by assembled conferences at their closing sessions. All meetings shall be governed by the Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, unless otherwise specified in the ILDA constitution.

Article IX - Finances

The host congregation shall determine the expenses of the annual conference and set the registration fee. The conference shall designate the recipient of the Sunday offering. Any leftover monies, after all the expenses are paid, shall be given over to the treasurer of the Midwest ILDA for accounting and the conference shall designate the recipient at the next year's conference. The host congregation in planning for the conferences, record books, and office supplies needed by officers in conducting organization business. In cases of financial emergency and when necessary for the proper conduct of conference affairs, the Board of the Conference may ask participating congregations/associations for a donation, but may not access congregations/associations unless such assessment is approved by the organization at its conference.

Article X - Committees and Appointments

In the opening session of the conference the President shall appoint a resolutions committee, a nominations and elections committee and a reporter for the conference.

Article XI - Changes in the Constitution

Changes in any article of this constitution may be made by a two-thirds vote at a conference, provided that the changes do not conflict with Biblical doctrine or Christian principles.

Article XII - Dissolution

The Midwest Region of the International Lutheran Deaf Association may be dissolved upon an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the active members present and voting at an official and legally called Midwest ILDA conference. All assets and property of the Midwest ILDA upon dissolution shall be given to the Board for Mission Services of the Lutheran Church­Missouri Synod for deaf ministry.

Article XIII - Liability

The Midwest Region of the International Lutheran Deaf Association shall not be liable for any accidents, injuries, illnesses or deaths to any members participating in Midwest ILDA activities or at its events. Members do so entirely at their own risk.

Dated June 2002
File received from Glenda Haefner 6/18/02
6/20/02 David G. Brown