Ad Hoc Subcommittee Report

We met on several occasions as the ad hoc subcommittee of the Association Council that was struck to consider the issue of whether Kingswood Camp should be governed by the Association through a Committee or Board. We consulted a lawyer and two CABC staff, Dr. Bruce Fawcett and Dr. Harry Gardner, who are knowledgeable about camps and incorporation, respectively.

As we deliberated and came to our recommendation, we kept in mind three matters: 
1.	The EVUBA founded, and has run and maintained Kingswood Camp as a Christian camping ministry since its inception, and what presently exists is the result of the donations of property, time, and money of the EVUBA, many Baptist congregations, and many individuals in those congregations; 
2.	That our goal is to ensure that Kingswood Camp continue as a Christian Camp that reflects the ministry interests of the EVUBA and its member churches; and
3.	That whatever is done about the matter of committee or board be done in the best long-term interests of both Kingswood Camp and the EVUBA.

RECOMMENDATION: that the EVUBA’s Kingswood Camp committee become the board of an incorporated society, Kingswood Camp.  Under incorporation, the EVUBA should ensure that the Association’s interests are maintained by retaining the sole right to appoint all directors of the incorporated society, having the Camp continue to report to the Association, as well as by developing parameters for the continued operation of the Kingswood Camp ministry, to be set out in the documents of incorporation.

Our reasons for this recommendation are:
•	That it provides added protection for those who manage the assets and programs of the camp.
•	That it limits the tentacles of possible lawsuit attempts, which at present could reach beyond the camp’s Trustees, Director, and staff, to the Association, the Moderator of Association, and the Congregations of Association. (Whether such an attempt would be successful does not lessen the anxiety, wasted time, and legal costs incurred when such a wide net is cast in a law suit)
•	To give those governing the assets and programs of the camp greater flexibility.
•	To better place the Camp, as an incorporated entity, for receiving government grants.

Further recommendations:
•	Take time to carefully draft the By-laws and Memorandum of Association of the incorporated society to ensure that the interests of the Association are maintained.
•	Have a lawyer who is knowledgeable about our Baptist work and structures look over the wording of the incorporation documents.

John Beers,
Marilyn Herber
Glenn Wooden