SCA International is a not-for-profit, non-denominational Christian ministry. Ministry Centres and Field Missionaries depend upon the Lord and His people for prayer and financial support.

PRESIDENT’S ORGANIZATION REPORT 2008

June 2008

By Ken Godevenos, President

Introduction

In May 2008, two members of the SCA International Head Office staff had the privilege of traveling to one of our Ministry Centres (MCs) to meet with the pastors, leaders, and representatives of various supporting churches in that MC’s community. Sheldon Street and I also had the privilege of meeting with various business leaders and of course, our own staff at that MC. One of the things that became evident to us was the fact that we needed to communicate SCA’s organization better than we had in the past. We agreed to do some thinking on what that would look like, develop it, and then make it available to all interested parties. This document is the result of that initiative.

The Audience of One

At the very top of our organization and permeating throughout its structure, is the Lord Jesus Christ. It is on His behalf we minister and serve, and under whose authority and leadership we exist and operate, as He alone reigns Supreme. Isaiah 22 speaks of all the humanly possible preparations undertaken to fortify Jerusalem and prevent it from being captured. In verse 11, however, the writer says, “… but you have not looked unto the Maker thereof, neither had respect unto Him that fashioned it long ago.” It is our deep desire that every one involved in SCA approach his/her individual part, as well as our collective ministry, in such a way that this verse would never apply in our case.

We also believe that in our attempt to satisfy “the Audience of One”, God has given us a structure of authority, partly driven by our belief that He wants us to operate with order, and partly driven by the laws of the land that govern charitable organizations such as SCA. To this structure, we all must adhere.

What SCA International Is

SCA International is an incorporated charitable organization registered in both Canada and the United States. It currently operates only in Canada, but it is approved to grant Charitable Organization Tax Receipts to eligible donors for gifts received both in Canada and from the United States.

SCA International is an Evangelical Mission whose main purpose is to share the Good News (the Gospel) of Jesus Christ with those in Canada that do not have easy access to hearing such Good News. By definition then, we started in isolated areas and ministered to isolated individuals (such as loggers and fishermen) and related groups. In so doing, a good part of our ministry gravitated over time towards the needs of, and ministry among, Canada’s First Peoples, in particular the First Nations in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario (as compared to the Metis or the Inuits — the other two First Peoples groups of Canada.)

SCA International, formerly Shantymen Christian Association, began in 1906 and today has several Field Missionaries that continue to work alone in unique ministries, as well as many Missionaries that serve as part of a team at one of our four year-round MCs.

All of the various tiers of the SCA structure that will be explained in the pages that follow have as their primary responsibility the protection and promotion of SCA International, on behalf of its rightful and single Owner, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

SCA International Corporation

Article One of our Bylaws defines the Corporation of SCA as follows:

“The actual membership of the Association, incorporated without share capital under the Act by letters patent dated December 20, 1939, and named Shantymen’s Christian Association of North America [now SCA International].”

Other relevant articles go to say the following:

“The membership of the Association shall consist of such persons as are admitted to membership in the Corporation of the Association in accordance with this article.”

“The number of members of the Corporation shall be no less than 15 and no more than 30.”

As of June 23, 2008, the date before the Annual General Meeting, SCA had twenty-two (22) active Corporation members.

SCA Board of Directors

Our bylaws make the following references with respect to a Board of Directors:

“The affairs of the Association shall be managed by its board of directors. Until changed in accordance with the Act, the number of directors shall not exceed twelve (12) persons.”

“The directors of the Association may administer the affairs of the Association in all things and make or cause to be made for the Association, in its name, any kind of contract which the Association may lawfully enter into and save as hereinafter provided, generally, may exercise all such other powers and do all such other acts and things as the Association is by its charter or otherwise authorized to exercise and do.”

This Board of Directors has Officers — in particular, a Chair, Vice-chair, Treasurer, and Secretary. It has a Nominating Committee. It has the right to add additional officers and additional board committees. Currently, there are eight board members, as well as a nominating and an audit committee. The Board appoints the President.

SCA President

The President oversees the entire operation of SCA International and reports to the Board of Directors as a single entity. All missionaries, staff and contractors, consultants, and volunteers report either directly (or indirectly through others) to the President.

SCA Missionaries

Currently SCA has two groups of missionaries: Field Missionaries (FMs) and Ministry Centre Missionaries (MCMs). We have nine FMs and nineteen MCMs.

The nine FMs report directly to the President. Of the nineteen MCMs, three are MC Directors (plus one MC Director position that is vacant). These positions report directly to the President. The balance of the MCMs report to their respective MC Director and indirectly to the President.

SCA Staff and Contractors

There are currently six other individuals working out of Head Office reporting to the President. In alphabetical order, they are:

• Accountant
• Finance Administrator
• Office Administrator
• Partnership Officer
• Public Relations and Communications
• Senior Accountant

The total full-time equivalent of these six positions is 3.9 persons. Three of these positions are contract employees. One of those three returns all compensation received to SCA as a donation.

SCA Consultants

From time to time, SCA or the SCA Board may decide to engage the services of a consultant or consulting firm with very special expertise. These individuals, unless they are dealing with matters pertaining to the performance of the Executive Director, consider the Executive Director to be their direct client. Currently, SCA has engaged the services of a Fundraising Consulting firm and an independent Foundation Financing consultant for two short-term projects.

SCA Volunteers

From time to time, SCA is blessed with the work of volunteers. For example, individuals come in monthly to process our receipts to donors. Others work with our MCs across the country year-round and in particular during the summer camp programs. Technically these individuals are the responsibility of SCA and thus the President. In reality, however, SCA individuals for whom they are carrying out specific tasks, normally oversee such persons.

SCA Volunteer Committees

Some MCs have local volunteer committees or church liaison committees. These report to the individual MC Director and have no authoritative powers. They provide prayer support, human resources, financial and fundraising support, encouragement, and advice and guidance to the local MC Director and through him, the staff. Without these committees, the MCs that engage such members of the local Christian community would not be able to accomplish as much as they do for the Kingdom.

Should you have any questions regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact me at ken@scainternational.org or at 905-868-8004.

Ken Godevenos