Constitution
Illowa Lutheran Coalition

As amended on February 21, 1998

Chapter 1.  NAME AND INCORPORATION

1.01 The name of this organization shall be Illowa Lutheran Coalition.
1.02 For the purposes of this constitution and the accompanying bylaws, Illowa Lutheran Coalition is hereafter designated as "this coalition."
1.11 This coalition shall be incorporated.

Chapter 2.  MISSION STATEMENT

2.01 We, as Lutherans in the Greater Quad City area related through this coalition, believe that God - who creates the world, heals brokenness, and renews life - calls us to work together in mutual trust as the embodiment of God's love for our entire community.

Chapter 3.  MISSION GOAL

3.01 To foster cooperative ministry among Lutheran congregations, agencies, and institutions of the Greater Quad City area, linking these bodies in ministry and projects which may be done better in cooperation.

Chapter 4.  MISSION PRINCIPLES

4.01 Empowered by God in our unity and diversity, this coalition will faithfully seek:
  a. To celebrate and enjoy our life together in Christ.
  b. To nurture growth in Christian faith.
  c. To be inclusive of all persons.
  d. To be servants of and witness for Christ in meeting the needs of our community and all its people.
  e. To work with all who seek the common good for our community.
  f. To recognize as one with us all who confess Jesus Christ as divine Lord and Savior.
  g. To cooperate in the development and use of our various resources.
  h. To be accountable to each other and regularly examine our shared ministry to ensure faithfulness and commitment to our mission statement, mission goal, and these principles.

Chapter 5.  MEMBERSHIP

5.01 The members of this coalition shall be, but not limited to, those congregations, agencies, and institutions in Scott County, Iowa and Henry, Mercer, and Rock Island Counties, Illinois which are related to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and which are in agreement with the mission statement, mission goal, mission principles, and ministries of this coalition.
5.11 Member agreements shall be established annually in a consultation between representatives of this coalition and member organizations.
5.12 Consultations shall include a review of the member's present and anticipated participation, and financial support of, the ministries of this coalition.

Chapter 6.  COALITION ASSEMBLY

6.01 This coalition shall have a Coalition Assembly, which shall be its highest legislative authority.
6.11 Three multi-purpose meetings of the Coalition Assembly shall be convened each year at which Coalition, Conference, and Cluster business can be addressed. These meetings may be scheduled in February, May, and October, beginning with worship and then moving on to other business items as needed. Coalition concerns could be addressed first with Conference and Cluster caucuses to follow as necessary. The annual meeting of the Coalition Assembly shall be held in February, with Synod Assembly and Conference issues addressed at the close of this meeting and at the May meeting. The October meeting could provide an opportunity for an overview of all Coalition, Conference/Synod, and Cluster activities scheduled for the program year.
6.12 Special meetings of the Coalition Assembly may be called by the president with the consent of the Coalition Council, and shall be called by the president at the request of one-third of the members of this coalition. The purpose for a special meeting shall be stated in the notice.
6.13 Notice of the time and place of all meetings of the Coalition Assembly shall be given to each member by the secretary in writing at least thirty days prior to each meeting.
6.14 The presence of one-fourth of the voting members of the Coalition Assembly shall constitute a quorum.
6.21 The Coalition Assembly delegation, of which at least 60% of the voting members shall be composed of lay persons who are members of member congregations of this coalition, (ordained pastors not under call to member congregations shall be regarded as lay persons) shall be constituted as follows:
  a. Each congregation shall send the same number and gender of voting members to these meetings as they are allowed for Synod Assemblies.
  b. All ordained pastors and associates in ministry under call to member congregations shall be voting members.
  c. Congregations shall be encouraged to use Synod voting members or their alternates as Coalition voting members whenever possible.
  d. The representatives of the Northern Illinois and Southeastern Iowa Synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to the Coalition Council shall be voting members.
  e. Agencies and institutions related to this coalition shall each be represented by two voting members, one of whom shall be male and one of whom shall be female.
6.31 Robert's Rules of Order, latest edition, shall govern parliamentary procedure of the Coalition Assembly.

Chapter 7.  NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

7.01 The Coalition Assembly shall elect the members of the Coalition Council, as provided for in 10.21.
7.02 There shall be a nominating committee appointed by the Coalition Council. The nominating committee shall consist of three persons, one of whom shall be a current member of the Coalition Council not eligible for re-election, two of whom shall be current voting members of the Coalition Assembly.
7.03 Each nominee for the Coalition Council shall be a confirmed, communing, and contributing member of a congregation related to this coalition.
7.04 The nominating committee shall nominate at least one nominee for each vacant position on the Coalition Council.
7.05 In all elections by the Coalition Assembly, a simple majority shall be necessary for election.

Chapter 8.  OFFICERS

8.01 The officers of this coalition shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary, and a treasurer.
8.10 President.
8.11 The president shall be elected by the Coalition Council from its membership.
8.12 The president shall preside at all meetings of the Coalition Assembly and Coalition Council.
8.13 The president shall be the official representative of this coalition to all judicatories to which this coalition is related.
8.20 Vice-President.
8.21 The vice-president shall be elected by the Coalition Council from its membership.
8.22 The vice-president shall preside at meetings of the Coalition Assembly and Coalition Council in the absence of the president at the president's direction or, in the event of the president's death, disability, or resignation, at the direction of the Coalition Council until a successor to the president can be elected.
8.30 Secretary.
8.31 The secretary shall be elected by the Coalition Council from its membership.
8.32 The secretary shall:
  a. Keep the minutes of the Coalition Assembly and Coalition Council and all other official records of this coalition.
8.40 Treasurer.
8.41 The treasurer shall be elected by the Coalition Council, not necessarily from its membership. If elected from outside the membership of the Coalition Council, the treasurer shall become an ex officio member of the Coalition Council without vote.
8.42 The treasurer shall provide and be accountable for:
  a. Management of the monies and accounts of this coalition, holding the same at all times subject to the order of this coalition.
  b. Maintenance of a regular account with each member of this coalition and informing each member, at least biannually, of the status of this account.
  c. Rendering at the annual meeting of the Council Assembly a full, detailed, and duly audited report of receipts and disbursements in the several accounts of this coalition for the preceding fiscal year, together with the tabulation, for record and publication in the minutes, of the contributions from the members.
  d. Rendering at each regular meeting of the Coalition Council a current report of receipts, disbursements, and fund balances.
  e. Ensuring adequate fidelity coverage for all funds of this coalition.
8.50 General Provisions.
8.51 Each officer shall be elected for a term of one year and may be re-elected subject to limitations of term on the Coalition Council.

Chapter 9.  STEERING COMMITTEE

9.01 A five member Steering Committee composed of a Bishop's Assistant from both synods, the Dean of both conferences, and the President of the Coalition Council shall be formed.
9.02 Coalition staff shall have ex officio status on the Steering Committee.
9.10 This committee shall meet at least quarterly for the purpose of coordinating synod, conference, cluster, and coalition activities.
9.11 This committee shall provide input to the Coalition's Executive Committee, and shall be convened by the President of the Coalition Council.

Chapter 10.  COALITION COUNCIL

10.01 There shall be a Coalition Council.
10.11 The Coalition Council shall manage this coalition, subject to the Coalition Assembly.
10.12 Members of the Coalition Council shall be the legal trustees of this coalition.
10.13 The Coalition Council may enter into contracts in an aggregate not to exceed 2 1/2% of the Coalition budget for items not included in the Coalition budget.
10.14 The Coalition Council shall have two functional areas, Finance/Administration and Ministry/Program.
10.21 The Coalition Council shall consist of sixteen voting members. One shall be appointed by and be the representative of the Southeastern Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. One shall be appointed by and be the representative of the Northern Illinois Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Two shall be the Deans of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America synod conferences on the territory of this coalition. Twelve shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Coalition Assembly in such manner that:
  a. Eight shall be lay members of congregations related to this coalition. Of these, four shall be female, four shall be male.
  b. Four shall be ordained pastors under call to congregations, agencies, or institutions related this coalition.
10.22 The terms of elected Coalition Council members shall be for three years.
10.23 No elected member having served a full term shall be eligible for re-election until a full year has elapsed following the completion of the previous term.
10.31 The chairpersons of the Task Forces shall be members of the Coalition Council, without vote.
10.32 The Coalition Council may appoint other members as may be deemed necessary. These members shall be without vote.
10.41 In the case of a vacancy involving an elected member, the Coalition Council shall appoint a member pro tem who shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Coalition Assembly, at which time there shall be an election according to the provisions of this constitution and bylaws.
10.52 The Coalition Council shall appoint or endorse Task Forces as may be deemed necessary.
10.61 The Coalition Council may employ persons to serve this coalition, at the direction of the Coalition Assembly.
10.71 The Coalition Council shall have an Executive Committee, consisting of the officers of the Coalition Council and one other member of the Coalition Council. This committee shall act at the direction of the Coalition Council. Actions of this committee are subject to ratification by the Coalition.

Chapter 11.  TASK FORCES

11.01 Task Forces shall be developed as the need arises.
11.02 Task Forces shall be specific in nature, shall meet as necessary to accomplish a task, and shall be disbanded when the task is completed.
11.11 Membership on Task Forces shall include as many lay and clergy leaders as are interested.
11.21 The Coalition Council shall seek to have representation on each Task Force.
11.22 The responsibilities of Council persons on Task Forces shall include reporting to and from the Council, providing support, and interpreting funding possibilities.

Chapter 12.  FINANCIAL MATTERS

12.01 The fiscal year of this coalition shall be February 1 to January 31.
12.11 The members of this coalition share in the responsibility to develop, implement, and strengthen the financial support of this coalition.
12.12 The ministries of this coalition are to be supported by a proportionate share of each member's annual budget as each member determines.
12.22 There shall be an annual consultation between representatives of this coalition and each member for the purpose of determining annual member agreements with this coalition, including financial contributions (cf. 5.11, 5.12)
12.23 The annual consultations shall occur no later than October, with annual agreements reached by January 31.
12.31 The Coalition Council shall have oversight of the consultation process.

Chapter 13.  REVERSIONARY PRINCIPLES

13.01 The assets of this coalition, in the event of dissolution, shall be applied and distributed as follows:
  a. All liabilities and obligations of this coalition shall be paid, satisfied, and discharged or adequate provision made.
  b. Assets held by this coalition requiring return, transfer, or conveyance upon dissolution shall be returned, transferred or conveyed according to the requirements of the funders or donors.
  c. All assets that may be on hand in the form of grants-in-aid from judicatories of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America shall be returned to said judicatories.
  d. All remaining assets not held upon condition requiring return, transfer, or conveyance by reason of dissolution, shall be transferred or conveyed in approximately equal amounts to the Northern Illinois and Southeastern Iowa Synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Chapter 14.  BYLAWS AND AMENDMENTS

14.01 This coalition may adopt bylaws not in conflict with this constitution. Such bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Coalition Assembly by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present and voting.
14.11 Amendments to this constitution shall require two-thirds vote at a meeting of the Coalition Assembly after having been moved and presented in writing at the previous meeting of the Coalition Assembly by the Coalition Council or over the signature of at least one-fourth of the voting members.