CONTACT PAGE
My E-mail
rtrevdrleblanc@hotmail.com
My Address
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Bruce D. LeBlanc
Transformational Catholic Church
Holy Spirit Catholic Faith Community
P.O. Box 192
East Moline, Il. 61244Telephone Number: 630-278-9460
Articles of Incorporation
of Transformational Catholic Church
A Nonprofit Corporation
Pursuant to the provision of the Nonprofit Corporation Act of the State of Iowa, the undersigned incorporates hereby adopt the following Articles of Incorporation:
Article 1
The name of this corporation is Transformational Catholic Church.
Article 2
The name and address of the registered agent and registered office of this corporation is:
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Bruce D. LeBlanc
2512 N. Harrison St. #3L
Davenport, Iowa 52803
Article 3
The purposes for which this corporation is organized are to be a religious denomination/church within the Catholic tradition to celebrate and expand the sacraments and sacramental rites of this tradition; Eucharist, Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, Reconciliation, and Anointing and Healing of the Sick.
This corporation is organized and operated exclusively as a church within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Article 4
The number of initial directors of this corporation shall be four (4) and the names and addresses of the initial directors are as follows:
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Bruce D. LeBlanc
Davenport, Iowa 52803
Tam Frembgen Kesner
West Branch, Iowa 52803
Clayton Johnson
East Moline, Illinois 61244
Eric Sturgeon
East Moline, Illinois 61244
Article 5
The name(s) and address(es) of the incorporator(s) of this corporation is/are:
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Bruce D. LeBlanc
2512 North Harrison Street #3L
Davenport, Iowa 52803
Tam Frembgen Kesner
West Branch, Iowa 52803
Clayton Johnson
East Moline, Illinois 61244
Eric Sturgeon
East Moline, Illinois 61244
[Addresses are on file with the Iowa Secretary of State. They are removed here for privacy reasons.]
Article 6
The period of duration of this corporation is perpetual.
Article 7
The classes, rights, privileges, qualifications, and obligations of members of this corporation are as follows:
The Presiding Bishop of the denomination shall have exclusive authority regarding the determination for and the awarding, denying, and removal of faculties; that is the authority to celebrate the sacraments of the denomination/church, and for approving, denying, and suspending all pastoral ministries within the denomination.
Since the denomination is founded on celebrating the sacraments of the Catholic religious tradition, membership in the denomination will consist of those clergy who are awarded faculties to perform the sacraments within the denomination.
Individuals attending or receiving the sacraments of the denomination are considered "attendees" and are not considered members of the denomination. This status is maintained as parishes will be recognized by the denomination, but will be required to be legally incorporated separately; thus "attendees" will be members of the parishes.
All other matters regarding this article are as stated in the bylaws of the corporation.
Article 8
Additional Provisions:
1) The denomination/church shall not take any formal theological or doctrinal positions other than:
You shall love the Lord God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind.
You shall love your neighbors as yourself.
2) The initial Presiding Bishop of the denomination will be the Rt. Rev. Dr. Bruce D. LeBlanc, who will serve as the Presiding Bishop for the first ten (10) years of the church’s founding, unless he dies or resigns the position.
3) Any sacramental rite that is in use within any of the churches/denominations of the Catholic tradition may be used. Additional sacramental rites can be used only if approved by the Presiding Bishop.
4) The property of this corporation is irrevocably dedicated to religious purposes. Upon dissolution or winding up of the corporation, its assets remaining after payment, or provision for payment, of all debts and liabilities of this corporation shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, or corporation which is organized and operated for educational purposes and which has established its tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The undersigned incorporators hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the statements made in the foregoing Articles of Incorporation are true.
Signature
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Bruce D. LeBlanc, Incorporator
Signature
Tam Frembgen Kesner, Incorporator
Signature
Clayton Johnson, Incorporator
Signature
Eric Sturgeon, Incorporator
Transformational Catholic Church
A Home for the Catholic Home Church Movement
Granting of Faculties
The Presiding Bishop of the denomination has sole authority for the granting of faculties, that is the rights, to celebrate the sacraments of the denomination.
As the founding bishop, and thus presiding bishop of the denomination, I am establishing the following procedures for the issuing faculties within the denomination:
1) That all individuals must be ordained within the Catholic Apostolic tradition, establishing the validity of their orders. This can be accomplished by being ordained within the Transformational Catholic Church.
2) Faculties will be granted once the application, and all supporting materials, have been received, evaluated by the advisory committee, including their recommendation, and being approved by the presiding bishop. Remember that the presiding bishop has sole discretion for the awarding of, suspending, or removal of faculties.
3) All individuals must agree to abide by the Articles of Incorporation of the Transformational Catholic Church.
4) All clergy within the denomination are non-stipendary, that is they are not employees of the denomination. Additionally they agree to administer all of the sacraments without charging a set fee for their celebration. Clergy within the denomination are free to accept donations for their celebration of the sacraments.
5) Faculties are given for a period of one year. Each year faculties must be renewed. This will involve an updated statement regarding your ministry and your good standing to remain active as an ordained member of the clergy (i.e. criminal record, moral scandal, etc.). There will be a yearly renewal fee of $100. This money will assist with the central office of the denomination to defer operating costs. Thus you are free to seek incarnation within another denomination each year, if you believe God is so calling you to towards that church and ministry.
6) Faculties will be given solely for the administering of the sacraments of the Catholic liturgical tradition. Any ministry outside of the this authority must be undertaken as a separate endeavor. This limitation includes counseling of any form and in any manner, including spiritual counseling. You can seek the "blessing" of the ministry if you provide the required documentation. This proper document would include the establishing of the endeavor, proper training, and insurance coverage. Although you can receive the blessing of the presiding bishop, these ministries will not be considered official ministries of the denomination. Ordained clergy are free to seek employment or volunteer opportunities outside of the denomination. They are free to use their ordained status and affiliation with the denomination when seeking such opportunities (i.e. hospice work, chaplaincy work, etc.).
7) Clergy will be expected, as best possible, to attend a yearly weekend convention. This convention will be held the weekend before Labor Day. The location may change within the continental United States. The principle location for the convention for the first few years will most likely be the Midwest. Failure to attend could result in the non-renewal of faculties, again at the sole discretion of the presiding bishop.
8) Since all clergy, including the presiding bishop, are non-stipendary clergy, if an individual wishes to be ordained in their home community, and not the parish of the presiding bishop, they are responsible for the travel expenses of the presiding bishop. Additionally, if a parish wishes to have the presiding bishop visit, pastorally or to administer the sacraments, the parish is responsible for the travel expenses of the presiding bishop. All clergy being ordained at the parish of the presiding bishop are responsible for their expenses to that location.
9) Each ordained member of the clergy is called upon to establish an active ministry within the faculties that they have been granted. In part, this is the purpose of the yearly convention, to provide the support of the ordained clergy for each other’s ministry.
10) If a parish ministry is established, the parish can seek recognition as being affiliated with the Transformational Catholic Church. Although recognized, they will not be official parishes of the denomination, as the Articles of Incorporation establish the purpose of the T.C.C. as the celebration of the sacraments. Thus each parish is charged with establishing itself as a non-profit entity if it wishes to conduct any business outside of celebrating the sacraments (i.e. owning a building, establishing assets, formally contracting for non-sacramental service with ordained clergy, etc.).
11) All clergy holding faculties within the denomination are required to provide individuals for whom they celebrate the sacraments information on how to contact the presiding bishop if there are concerns regarding the conduct of the ordained member of the clergy. This information shall be limited to conduct that is believe to be illegal or regarding such a serious moral matter that it could harm the ministry of the ordained clergy member or the reputation of the denomination. This is a protection for both the denomination and the ordained clergy member. Individuals thus have a responsibility to take action and to report behaviors of concern, making this an open transparent process. All complaints must be in writing before any action will be taken. If there are serious allegations, placed in writing, faculties could be suspended immediately, pending an investigation.
12) All clergy of the denomination, to maintain their facultes, agree to the develop and implementation of a educational plan that will be approved by the Presiding Bishop. Essentially there is either a commitment to obtained formal degrees or to continue professional developmental education. These studies are undertaken at the individual’s expense.
Educational Requirements for Potential Clergy
1) The normal minimal educational requriments to submit an application for ordination or incardination include:
a) Bachelor's degree from an acccredited college or university, with a desired major in the social or behavioral sciences. Graduate training in religious studies can be used as an alternative to this initial requirement. Depending on the college or university, state approved, non-accredited programs, may be acceptable.
b) Specialized studies in religious and/or theological studies. This can be accomplished through a number of alternatives, such as: completion of a novitiate, completion of certificate programs, completion of degree programs (both accredited and unaccredited) in religious, theological, or pastoral studies.