Lesson 1
Academy of Iambe
IAM-301 — Governance, Stewardship & the Perpetual Feast
Prescribed course of study in governance, stewardship & the perpetual feast.
| Minimum time | 4 instructional hours + stewardship memorandum |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites | IAM-101; recommended after IAM-201 |
| Primary text | Canon Chapters XI, XX, XXIX–XXX; Church bylaws and financial policies |
| Purpose | To ensure clergy understand that religious authority does not create personal ownership of Church assets, and that stewardship requires governance, documentation, prudent investment, and conflict controls. |
Lessons
Lesson 2
Lesson 2. Private Benefit, Compensation, and Fair Value
Lesson 3
Lesson 3. Expenses, Reimbursements, and Church-Owned Assets
Lesson 4
Lesson 4. The Perpetual Feast
Lesson 5
Lesson 5. Records, Board Practice, and Institutional Memory
Course assessment
Write a 1,500–2,000 word Stewardship Memorandum analyzing four proposed transactions: ordinary ministry equipment, compensation to a Celebrant, a high-value Church-owned vehicle assigned to a worker, and a Perpetual Feast investment. For each, identify religious purpose, authorization, fair value, private-benefit risk, documentation, and any issue requiring professional advice.
Assessment rubric
| Criterion | Meets standard | Needs revision |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership principle | Consistently treats assets as Church property. | Treats Church assets as belonging to founders/members. |
| Private-benefit analysis | Identifies value flows and fair-value questions. | Assumes religious labels eliminate private-benefit concerns. |
| Expense controls | Uses contemporaneous purpose, approval, and documentation. | Relies on post-hoc narratives. |
| Investment understanding | Explains institutional endowment purpose and specialist triggers. | Treats Perpetual Feast as member investment vehicle. |
| Governance | Uses recusal, independent review, and records. | Permits self-approval or undocumented decisions. |
Course review questions
Why does Church authority not imply ownership?
What supports reasonable compensation?
How should a mixed-use asset be documented?
What is post-hoc sanctification?
What is the Perpetual Feast for?
Why are Board minutes part of both governance and religious history?