ICSP Governance
The Islamic Center of the South Plains (ICSP) operates both as a religious community and as a
legally registered Texas nonprofit corporation, known as ICSP Inc.
The following section outlines how the organization is structured and governed under its bylaws.
- ICSP is a Texas nonprofit corporation (Inc.) with no members (Article IV – Membership). All powers that would normally belong to members rest entirely with the Board of Directors.
- Because ICSP has no members, Board members are not elected by the community. Instead, they are selected and voted on by the Board of Directors itself (Article V – Board of Directors).
- The process of selecting new Board members is controlled by the Board. Vacancies or new seats are filled by majority vote of the current Board (Article V, Section 9).
- The Board of Directors holds the authority to amend the bylaws, including how directors are selected (Article XI – Amendments).
- In summary: all governance power rests with the Board of Directors, and the Board alone manages its own succession and rules for selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to common questions about ICSP’s governance and operations.
No. ICSP Inc. is not a public company.
A public company is a corporation that offers its ownership shares to the general public,
allowing anyone to buy and sell stock on a stock exchange or over-the-counter market.
ICSP Inc. is a private, nonprofit corporation — it does not issue stock or have shareholders,
and its financial and governance matters are managed solely by its Board of Directors.
No. Paying a membership fee makes you a member of the religious community, not the corporate entity. This allows you to participate in ICSP’s religious, educational, and community activities, but it does not grant any rights in the nonprofit corporation.
In a private nonprofit corporation like ICSP Inc., only members or shareholders can change directors.
ICSP has no members under its bylaws, so only the Board of Directors can appoint or remove a board member by internal vote.
Only the Board of Directors may amend the bylaws, as outlined in Article XI of the ICSP bylaws.
No. A private nonprofit corporation is not legally required to make its bylaws public or file them with the state.
Unlike Articles of Incorporation, which are filed with the state, corporate bylaws are internal business records
and are typically not made public.
- Internal Management: Bylaws outline the internal rules for how a company operates, including the rights and responsibilities of directors, officers, and shareholders. This information is for the company’s internal use, not for public consumption.
- No Public Filing Requirement: Unlike Articles of Incorporation, which are filed publicly, bylaws are generally not required to be filed with the state. This reinforces their private nature.
- Protection of Sensitive Information: The bylaws may contain operational details, voting procedures, and other sensitive information the organization chooses to keep confidential.
The current official bylaws of the Islamic Center of the South Plains were ratified in 2011,
as evidenced by the signatures of four Board members on the official signature page.
Any other versions of the bylaws circulating within the community were never ratified
and should not be recognized as legitimate governing documents of ICSP Inc.
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