Proposed Covenant Relationship

COVENANT RELATIONSHIP

 

BETWEEN THE PRESBYTERY OF CHICAGO AND

 

LAKESHORE CHRISTIAN CAMPING

 

 

  1. I.                 The Legal Institutions

 

  1. A.    Lakeshore Christian Camping

 

Lakeshore Christian Camping serves the Presbyterian community, in covenant relation with the Presbytery of Chicago, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), by providing a facility for conferences, church camping and spiritual retreats, and a meeting place for religious education and worship.

 

The purpose for which Lakeshore Christian Camping is formed is the establishment and maintenance of a center of religious worship, to advance the cause of Christian education by providing leadership, program and facilities for conferences, religious worship, lectures and Bible study. 

 

 

  1. Presbytery of Chicago

 

 

II.         The Mission of Each Covenant Partner

                                                                                                                                     

  1. Covenant Mission of Lakeshore Christian Camping

 

Lakeshore Christian Camping (LCC) is a non-profit religious corporation related, through a covenant agreement, to the Presbytery of Chicago, PC(USA).  The LCC will operate the Camps in Saugatuck, Michigan under the name “Presbyterian Camps”.  LCC is dedicated to the glory of God.  Their mission is centered in God’s sovereign word, sustained by God’s grace, nurtured in Christ’s reconciling love, and empowered by the Holy Spirit’s living presence.  As a covenant partner with Chicago Presbytery, LCC provides a bountiful resource for Christ’s mission to create caring community among diverse believers, promote faithful stewardship of God’s creation, discern and develop spiritual gifts, nurture children and youth, equip church leaders, strengthen congregational life, and build more just and compassionate societies.  Further the LCC is a resource for the Presbytery in its commitment to be a responsive partner with governing bodies and institutions throughout the Presbyterian Church (USA), with other Christian communions, and with people of other faiths.

      All property of the corporation is irrevocably dedicated to religious purposes.  No part of the net income or assets of the corporation, upon dissolution or otherwise, shall ever inure to the benefit of any Director, officer, or member thereof, or to the benefit of any private person, individual or private group

 

 

Examples of LCC’s activities to fulfill its mission;

 

  1. Leading, directing, organizing, and hosting camps, conferences, retreats and events.

 

  1. Outdoor education programs and events for youth, adults, schools, and other non-profit and charitable organizations.

 

  1. Outdoor education, Christian education and recreation events for families.

 

  1. Programs that promote environmental preservation and appreciation for God’s creation.

 

  1. Outreach to financially, socially or developmentally challenged children, youth and adults to provide camps, conferences, retreats, programs and events for education, recreation and spiritual development.

 

  1. Training, experiential education, environmental education and leadership development programs and events.

 

  1. To serve as a mission outreach to the diverse communities served by or near Presbyterian churches in the Presbytery of Chicago.

 

  1. To serve the Presbytery of Chicago by offering spiritual development, faith understanding, Bible study and leadership development programs, events and opportunities.

 

  1. Developing mission partnerships with groups that are in accord with LCC’s mission statement.

 

10.  Teaching and training mission teams “green solutions” (e.g. providing solar power, water purification, health aide and other forms of mission support to partners in developing or redeveloping nations).

 

  1. Mission of the Presbytery of Chicago

 

The Presbytery of Chicago is proud to serve and support nearly 40,000 members and more than 100 diverse, dynamic congregations and worshipping fellowships throughout Chicago and the surrounding area. We are a Christian community and a regional governing body of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Our congregations are urban and suburban, representing a variety of theological perspectives and varying in size from 14 members to more than 5,000 members.

Our congregations and fellowships identify themselves as Caucasian, African American, Hispanic, Korean, Filipino, Taiwanese, Japanese, Ghanaian, South Asian, Oromo-speaking Sudanese/Ethiopian, and racially mixed.

We are diverse, with unique talents and strengths, but share a common thread of advancing the common good.

We encourage members to seek and provide opportunities outside of their church walls to partner with the Presbytery and with other congregations, as well as with members of their communities—in their neighborhoods, across the country or around the world. We lead and encourage congregations to pursue meaningful mission and to serve others with their hands, hearts, minds and ministries. Our tools are hammers, nails and paintbrushes, along with smiles, friendship and Christian fellowship. We donate clothing, food and money, but also share our time, advice, compassion and love. We are a beacon of hope, guiding leaders, congregations and communities.

 

 

  1. III.              The Relationship of Lakeshore Christian Camping and the Presbytery of Chicago

 

This covenant is an agreement between the Presbytery of Chicago, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and LCC to affirm a present and historic relationship in which there is mutuality of purpose.  To fulfill its role in its relation to the Presbytery of Chicago, LCC operates under the sole direction of a Board of Directors who operate according to its Bylaws. This Board is responsible for the Presbyterian Camps in Saugatuck, Michigan and, as Directors, is carrying forward and caring for this “trust” on behalf of the Presbytery of Chicago, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). In the event of dissolution of Presbyterian Camps Inc., the residue of assets would revert to the Presbytery of Chicago, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) or its successor(s) to be used for a like purpose.  If it becomes necessary to sell the property, the Presbytery of Chicago will be given the right of first refusal.

 

 

  1. IV.             The Promise of Lakeshore Christian Camping to the Presbytery of Chicago

 

A.         This Board of Directors covenants with the Presbytery of Chicago to offer staff leadership and physical facilities for appropriate training events, inspirational programs, seminars, and a host of related activities, including at least two conferences each year specifically designed to meet needs of the Presbytery of

            Chicago.  The staff of LCC will be sensitive to the diverse needs of the Presbyterian congregations as well as to the Presbytery of Chicago as an agent of ministry and mission.

 

B.         The Board of Directors will provide financial oversight and planning to keep the Presbyterian Camps in Saugatuck, Michigan  fiscally healthy, its facilities in repair, and its programs true to its mission.

 

  1. The Board of Directors and staff of the Presbyterian Camps will inform themselves about the mission of the Presbytery of Chicago.

 

D.        The number of directors shall be eighteen (18).  At least two thirds of the members of the Board of Directors shall be members in good standing of a Church in the Presbytery of Chicago, including clergy, elders, deacons, and general members.  The Board shall endeavor to maintain diversity of Board members, including racial, ethnic, and gender diversity, reflective of the diversity in the Churches of the Presbytery of Chicago.  The Executive Director is employed as the principal business administrator and he/she shall be an ex-officio non-voting director of the Board and shall be considered for purposes of notice but not for quorum and shall not be elected for a term of office.  The Board of Directors may from time to time, by amendment of these bylaws, change the minimum and maximum number of directors.  Each director shall hold office for a term of three (3) years unless the Board shall expressly resolve to elect a director for a shorter term.  A Director is eligible to serve two (2) consecutive terms, at which time the Director may not serve on the Board of Directors for a period of one (1) year.  During this time, however, the individual may continue to serve as a member of a working committee of the Board.  The Board is divided into three classes of six positions each, and the entire class will be reappointed when its term expires.

The Board of Directors maintains a nominations and selection process for prospective Board members.

 

 

  1.       LCC, through its Board of Directors, its President,  

            and through its programming and leadership will strive to uphold the historic and present focus of the Reformed tradition (ref. Book of Order, G-2.0500a):

 

“In its confessions, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) expresses the faith of the Reformed tradition. Central to this tradition is the affirmation of the majesty, holiness, and providence of God who creates, sustains, rules, and redeems the world in the freedom of sovereign righteousness and love.  Related to this central affirmation of God’s sovereignty are other great themes of the Reformed tradition:

 

(1) The election of the people of God for service as well as for salvation;

(2) Covenant life marked by a disciplined concern for order in the church according to the Word of God;

(3) A faithful stewardship that shuns ostentation and seeks proper use of the gifts of God’s creation;

(4) The recognition of the human tendency to idolatry and tyranny, which calls the people of God to work for the transformation of society by seeking justice and living in obedience to the Word of God.”

 

 

F.       LCC will continue its historic outreach to financially, socially or developmentally challenged children, youth and adults to provide camps, conferences, retreats, programs and events for education, recreation and spiritual development.

 

  1. LCC will fund activities through reasonable fees charged for camps, conferences, retreats, programs and events; by contributions from individuals, churches, Presbyteries, Synods, General Assembly and other mission partners; and by grants, bequests and gifts from individuals, organizations, foundations and corporations.

 

  1. LCC, when conducting fund-raising efforts, will work in cooperation and collaboration with other entities of the Presbyter of Chicago.

 

  1. Child Protection Policy and Certification of the Presbyterian Camps in Saugatuck, Michigan

 

The Presbyterian Camps in Saugatuck Michigan shall be members in good standing of the American Camping Association and the Presbyterian Camping Association and shall have a Child Protection Policy approved by the Board, provide a copy to all staff and, after having been provided an orientation to the policy, require that all staff sign an affidavit that they have read and will abide by the provisions of the policy.

 

J.         It shall make such reports to Presbytery as may be requested of it from time to time.

 

 

 

 

V.                     The Promise of the Presbytery of Chicago to Lakeshore Christian Camping

 

  1. The Presbytery of Chicago provides LCC an affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and recognizes LCC as an institution related to Presbytery of Chicago through this covenant.  The Presbytery of Chicago encourages the full use of the Camps in Saugatuck, Michigan by Presbyterian individuals and churches.  The Presbytery of Chicago recognizes LCC as one of its Presbyterian institutions where ecumenical programs with multiple denominations and/or interfaith endeavors may take place.

 

  1. The Presbytery of Chicago will give the Presbyterian Camps consideration as a site for its programs each year and will encourage congregations also to give the Presbyterian Camps consideration for their programs and conferences.

 

  1. The Presbytery of Chicago will collaborate with LCC in planning and sponsoring at least two conferences each year designed to meet the diverse needs of the churches of the Presbytery.

 

  1. The Presbytery of Chicago regularly will make space available in its newsletter, website and other media for news items and/or interpretive articles from the Presbyterian Camps.

 

  1. The Presbytery of Chicago staff and leaders will support and interpret the mission of the Presbyterian Camps by being well informed about programs and policies and providing frequent opportunities for camp promotion at stated meetings of the Presbytery.

 

  1. The Presbytery of Chicago will encourage the Presbytery staff members and other leaders to regularly visit the Presbyterian Camps and participate in its programs.

 

  1. The Presbytery of Chicago promises to cooperate with the LCC in fund-raising efforts and encourage Presbyterians to participate in the financial support of this ministry.

 

 

VI.        Review

 

The Presbytery of Chicago and LCC will renew this covenant every four years and review this covenant at the request of either party as needed.  One member of the Board of Directors and one member of the Presbytery of Chicago involved in the immediate past review should participate as part of the next review team.

 

 

    ­­­­­­­­­__________________________________               ________________________________                                                                                                                                                        

                        Date of Enactment                                                      Date of Enactment

 

 

    __________________________________               _________________________________                                                                                

            Executive Presbyter                                                    President, Board of Directors

           Presbytery of Chicago                                                     Lakeshore Christian Camping