The Complete File
Policies, Charters, Decisions and Official Documents
of the
KCC Board
First Edition
January 9. 2009
Contents
Mission and Vision...... 3
Bylaws...... 4
Decisions...... 16
Charters...... 29
Urban Facilities Research Committee (Defunct)...... 30
Children’s Program...... 32
Finance Committee ...... 33
Scholarship Committee ...... 35
Website Committee ...... 36
Volunteer Support Committee ...... 37
Retreat Committee ...... 38
Urban Team (Bulding and Operations) ...... 39
Rural Operations ...... 40
Puja Committee...... 41
Website Editorial Oversight Committee ...... 42
Development Committee...... 43
Capital Campaign Leadership (Defunct) ...... 44
Construction Committee ...... 45
Design Committee (Obsolete) ...... 46
Design Committee (Current, Revised) ...... 49
Policies ...... 51
Programs ...... 52
Urban Operations ...... 53
Ser Chö Ösel Ling ...... 56
Financial ...... 59
Scholarship ...... 62
Board/General KCC ...... 64
Listserv ...... 68
Appendices
1. Policies Submitted to the Board ...... 70
2. Old Policies 1994-2002 ...... 75
3. Board Goals...... 87
4. Letters...... 94
5. Leadership Retreat Agendas...... 114
KCC Mission Statement
KCC is a Vajrayana Buddhist center founded by the venerable Kalu Rinpoche where the authentic teachings of the Karma and Shangpa Kagyu lineages are taught, practiced and supported.
The function of KCC as an institution is to support practitioners in their process of spiritual awakening.
The emphasis in the training is on the cultivation of insight and compassion in both formal practice and in daily life.
A Preamble for the KCC Vision Statement
Kagyu Changchub Chuling is currently experiencing the challenges of growth and evolution. Not only is interest and participation in the center growing, but the needs of the Sangha are evolving as new members join and long time practitioners explore new dimensions of Dharma practice. Existing facilities and current programs simply do not meet all the needs of our Sangha today. They also limit the ability of the center to accommodate any additional growth in the future. On top of this, the time pressures on our resident Lama continue to grow making it more difficult to provide appropriate personal guidance to practitioners. As the center evolves to meet these challenges we are faced on one hand with the inviting prospect of a richer environment to support our practice. On the other side, we share concerns that the current qualities of the center that we cherish may be compromised. This is the ground from which our vision arises.
A Statement of Vision for Kagyu Changchub Chuling
Kagyu Changchub Chuling will provide teachings, programs and facilities to make the Dharma accessible to individuals at all stages of life and all levels of practice and will cultivate a fertile ground for the emergence of teachers of the Dharma.
- To meet the diverse needs of the Sangha the Resident Lama and assistant teachers will provide a full spectrum of opportunities for study practice and personal guidance. There will be programs appropriate for different age groups, levels of understanding and a range of intensity of practice.
- To ensure the transmission of the heart of the Dharma KCC will continue to work with the masters of the lineage to bring the teachings to life in our culture.
- To maintain an atmosphere conducive to practice KCC will sustain an environment of dedication, integrity, warmth and good humor where all members of the Sangha feel connected and mutually supported.
- To bring the Dharma into the fabric of our lives KCC will commemorate major life transitions and will honor the Dharma with celebrations and ritual.
- To accommodate growth, KCC will acquire a new urban center which permits regular gathering of the entire Sangha.
- To support more intensive training and practice, KCC will acquire retreat facilities in a rural setting which can accommodate concurrent individual and group retreats of various lengths.
Bylaws for Kagyu Changchub Chuling
September 1, 2000
Article I: Purpose.
Article II: Nonmembership.
Article III: Spiritual Director and Lineage.
Section 1. Qualifications and Role.
Section 2. Authority.
Section 3. Confirmation.
Article IV: Resident Lama.
Section 1. Duties.
Section 2. Number and Qualifications.
Section 3. Selection and Term.
Section 4. Removal.
Article V: Program Council.
Section 1. Duties.
Section 2. Membership and Qualifications.
Section 3. Terms.
Article VI: Board of Directors.
Section 1. Duties.
Section 2. Number.
Section 3. Term and Selection.
Section 4. Removal.
Section 5. Vacancies.
Section 6. Quorum and Action.
Section 7. Regular Meetings.
Section 8. Executive Session.
Section 9. Special Meetings.
Section 10. Meeting by Telecommunication.
Section 11. No Salary.
Section 12. Action by Consent.
Article VII: Committees.
Section 1. Executive Committee.
Section 2. Other Committees.
Section 3. Limitations on Powers of Committees.
Article VIII: Officers.
Section 1. Titles.
Section 2. Election.
Section 3. Vacancy.
Section 4. Other Officers.
Section 5. President.
Section 6. Assistant President.
Section 7. Secretary.
Section 8. Treasurer
Article IX: Sangha
Section 1. Sangha List.
Section 2. Participation.
Article X: Corporate Indemnity.
Article XI:Amendments to the Articles and Bylaws.
BYLAWS FOR NONMEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
Article I: Purpose
This corporation shall be organized and operated for religious, charitable and educational purposes. Subject to the limitations stated in the Articles of Incorporation, the purposes of this corporation shall be to engage in any lawful activities, none of which are for profit, for which corporations may be organized under Chapter 65 of the Oregon Revised Statues (or its corresponding future provision) and S501c(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or its corresponding future provisions).
Kagyu Changchub Chuling is a Vajrayana Buddhist church founded by the Venerable Kalu Rinpoche where the authentic teachings of the Shangpa and Karma Kagyu lineages are taught, practiced and supported.
The primary purposes of Kagyu Changchub Chuling are to support practitioners in their process of spiritual awakening and to ensure that the teachings of the Shangpa and Karma Kagyu lineages are sustained for the benefit of future generations.
Article II: Nonmembership
This corporation shall have no members as that term is defined by Oregon revised Statutes chapter 65, but shall have members for other purposes. These members shall have none of the rights or duties described in ORS Chapter 65 (or any corresponding future statute).
Article III: Spiritual Director and Lineage
Section 1: Qualifications and Role.
As our primary link to the lineage of past realized masters and the teachings (Dharma) which flow through this lineage to the present, the Spiritual Director is the primary person responsible for transmitting these teachings to the current generation of practitioners. The [1]first Spiritual Director of Kagyu Changchub Chuling (hereinafter referred to as KCC) was Kalu Rinpoche, head of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage, who founded the center in 1976. Being a renowned master in both the Shangpa Kagyu and Karma Kagyu lineages, he was like an ocean of authentic spiritual teachings and blessings. Based on his inspirational example, and without intending to create legal standards, we hold the qualifications and role of the Spiritual Director to be as follows.
First, the Spiritual Director is the source of the authentic, unadulterated teachings of the Shangpa Kagyu and Karma Kagyu lineages. The Spiritual Director competently provides the members of this community with all the teachings necessary to practice and accomplish the Dharma, and to ultimately attain enlightenment.
Second, the Spiritual Director of KCC is the source of inspiration and blessing for those who long to practice in this tradition. Ideally, the Spiritual Director is not just a repository and dispenser of the precious path, but visibly manifests the potential inherent in every being, demonstrating for all who might have an earnest desire to follow this path that the fruit is possible. These are the blessings which flow from the realization of the Spiritual Director, giving rise to confidence and faith in the minds of students and disciples.
Section 2: Authority.
The Spiritual Director is the final authority on all spiritualpractice and teaching policies at KCC, including but not necessarily limited to the following: (a) approving the appointment of a new Resident Lama; (b) having the final authority on matters related to the curriculum, empowerments, and spiritualpractices supported by the center; and (c) providing direction to the Resident Lama related to who will teach at KCC and what they will teach.
Section 3: Confirmation.
The head of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage will appoint his or her successor, who will be the Spiritual Director of KCC, subject to confirmation by the Resident Lama, in consultation with the Board of Directors. At this time in the year 2000, Yangsi Kalu Rinpoche, born at Sonada, India, in September of 1991, is the successor to the previous Kalu Rinpoche, who left his physical body in1989. [Deletion made here July 2008—unanimous Board approval.]
In the event that the Resident Lama, in consultation with the Board, finds that no clear successor is appointed as head of the lineage, that the appointed successor is not yet of appropriate age, or that the successor or current Spiritual Director does not meet the qualifications stated for Spiritual Director in Section 1 of this article, the Resident Lama in consultation with the Board of Directors may ask one of the current Shangpa Kagyu or Karma Kagyu Lineage Holders to act as Spiritual Director for an appropriate period. Alternatively, the Resident Lama in consultation with the Board of Directors may decide to continue functioning without an official Spiritual Director for an appropriate period.
Article IV: Resident Lama
Section 1: Duties.
In general, the duties of the Resident Lama are to assist students in their process of spiritual awakening and to locally shepherd transmission of the lineage. Subject to the limitations in these bylaws, the Resident Lama’s duties include, but are not limited to, providing teachings, conducting retreats, providing personal guidance, inviting lineage masters to the center, and either giving necessary empowerments or ensuring appropriate empowerments are made available. The Resident Lama is jointly responsible with the Board for developing and implementing the mission and vision of KCC.
The Resident Lama, in consultation with the Program Council, will be responsible for the curriculum of KCC including content and implementation. The Resident Lama will decide who will teach at KCC and what they will teach subject to the overriding authority of the Spiritual Director. The Resident Lama is responsible for communication with the Board and others regarding these matters.
The Resident Lama will be the spokesperson to the lineage and, in consultation with the President, will review and approve public communications made in KCC’s name. Invitations to, and requests of the lineage masters made on behalf of KCC, will be made through the Resident Lama.
The Resident Lama may attend any regular or special meetings, including executive sessions, of the Board of Directors and all committees and may participate in discussion. The Resident Lama is jointly responsible with the Board for creating an appropriate grievance procedure.
All major financial transactions must be approved in advance by the Resident Lama.
The Resident Lama is encouraged to cultivate individual(s) suitable to assume the role of Resident Lama in the future. The Resident Lama shall deliver to the Board and members of the Program Council standing instructions on how the duties of the office are to be carried out in the event that the Resident Lama is absent or incapacitated.
Section 2: Number and Qualifications.
KCC will have one Resident Lama. There may be other teachers and/or lamas teaching at KCC, but they will do so under the supervision of the Resident Lama.
The Resident Lama of KCC should have completed a significant amount of retreat, be well versed in the methods of the Shangpa and Karma Kagyu traditions, be capable of dispensing these teachings, and exhibit the spirit of the Dharma in his or her actions.
Section 3: Selection and Term.
When it becomes necessary to fill the position of Resident Lama, the Board of Directors and the departing Resident Lama or the Program Council if there is no Resident Lama, in consultation with the Sangha, will create a list of potential candidates and conduct an appropriate investigation. The Spiritual Director shall be notified at the outset of this process.
During the investigation, potential candidates should be invited to teach at the center. Subsequently, at least one meeting will be held between the candidate and the Sangha for mutual questioning. Having gathered input from the Sangha, the Board of Directors and the departing Resident Lama will select a candidate and forward the name to the Spiritual Director for approval. If there is no Spiritual Director at the time of the decision or if the Spiritual Director does not respond within one year, then the decision of the departing Resident Lama and Board stands.
The new Resident Lama shall have a one year period of probation after the selection. During the probation period the Program Council will make all the decisions normally made by the Resident Lama. The newResident Lama will be a voting member of the Program Council during this period. At the end of the first year, the Board and Program Council will gather input from the Sangha and will review the appointment to decide if it is a working situation. If the Board approves, the newResident Lama will be given full responsibility as described in these bylaws.
After completion of the probation period, the term of the Resident Lama shall last until he or she retires, dies, steps down, or is removed pursuant to these bylaws.
Section 4: Removal.
In extreme circumstances, it may be necessary to remove a Resident Lama for serious misconduct or prolonged failure to perform his or her duties, in which case the following process will be followed. These steps do not preclude other skillful efforts to resolve the situation. The Spiritual Director shall be informed at each step in the process. If the Spiritual Director presents a solution at any point in the process, then this shall be implemented.
1.This process shall be initiated: a) by a petition specifying actions that amount to serious misconduct or describing a prolonged failure to perform his or her duties signed by sixty percent of the Sangha members who have been on the Sangha list for at least six months or b) by a vote of seventy-five percent of the active and inactiveDirectors in office.
In the event that this removal process is initiated, the Board of Directors may curtail any or all of the authority of the Resident Lama, subject to a veto by the Spiritual Director. In case of curtailed duties, Board decisions normally requiring approval by the Resident Lama shall instead be made final by approval of seventy-five percent of the active and inactive Directors in office. Program Council decisions shall be made by a majority vote of the members of the Program Council; the Resident Lama shall not vote.
The Board of Directors shall attempt to meet with the Resident Lama and any individuals who are involved with the issues to hear all perspectives in the situation in order to reach resolution.
2.If the situation is still unresolved, the Board will call a meeting of the Resident Lama, the Board of Directors, and the Sangha, where the issues at hand are to be openly discussed. All parties who wish to be heard should be given the opportunity to speak. A sincere effort should be made by all parties to unearth the most skillful solution to the situation. If it is clear after this meeting that the issue has not been resolved, a second meeting will be scheduled no sooner than three weeks from the date of the first meeting.
3.In the second meeting, the parties should again come together to find a reasonable solution to the situation. If there continues to be no resolution, the parties shall make a reasonable effort tomeet with the Spiritual Director in person to discuss the issues. If this is not possible, the Spiritual Director should be informed by other appropriate means.
4.If theseefforts failto resolve the situation, as a last resort a vote shall be cast. There will be two votes: one by the members of the Board of Directors, and one by the members of the Sangha. Sangha members eligible to vote will be those who have been on the Sangha list for at least six months prior to the initial Sangha meeting to discuss the issue.
If sixty percent of the votes cast by eligible Sangha and seventy-five percent of the active and inactive Directors in office vote for the removal, then the Resident Lama will be removed. This final vote must be taken within six months of the date of the petition or vote that initiated the process in order to support a formal removal of a Resident Lama through this process.
5.The results of any final vote shall be sent to the Spiritual Director. If the Spiritual Director does not respond within a period of two months, the actions of the Board and Sangha will stand.
Article V: Program Council