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THE CHURCH OF IRELAND EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP
CONSTITUTION
The constitution was originally adopted on 22nd October 2001.
The constitution was revised and formally adopted by the Annual General Meeting of the organisation held on 29th January 2015.
Andrew Forster Chairman
Malcolm Kingston Secretary
1. NAME
The name of the organisation is the Church of Ireland Evangelical Fellowship (hereafter referred to as the organisation).
2 PURPOSE
2.1 The purpose of the organisation is to advance the Evangelical Christian Faith in the island of Ireland, particularly among members of the Church of Ireland.
3 MEMBERSHIP
3.1 There shall be three categories of membership available – Individual, Group and Associate.
3.2 Individuals seeking membership must be members of the Church of Ireland who accept the Basis of Membership of the organisation. Individual members shall have voting rights.
3.3 Group membership is open to any Parish, group or organisation within the Church of Ireland; eg individual Parish, men's or women's groups, youth fellowship etc., who accept the Basis of Membership of the organisation. Groups shall not have voting rights.
3.4 Associate membership shall be available to individuals who are not members of the Church of Ireland, who accept the Basis of Membership of the organisation. Associate members shall not have voting rights.
3.5 The committee shall determine the annual subscription appropriate to each category of membership.
3.6 The committee shall have the right for good and sufficient reason to terminate the membership of any member of the organisation, provided that the member concerned shall have the right to be heard by the organisation before a decision is made.
3.7 The Basis of Membership is contained in Appendix I.
The organisation affirms the Statement of Core Beliefs, contained in appendix 2.
4 MANAGEMENT
4.1 The organisation will be managed on a day to day basis by a Committee of twelve.
4.2 Individuals shall be elected to serve on the committee for a term of three years.
4.3 Committee members may serve for a maximum of six years. Following a break of at least one year they will again be eligible for nomination.
4.4 If an annual meeting fails to elect twelve people to the committee, those elected shall have the power to co-opt further members to fill the vacancy/ies.
4.5 If a committee member resigns or is unable to continue in post the committee shall have the power to co-opt an additional member to fill the vacancy.
4.6 Co-options as at 4.4 and 4.5 above may only be exercised as long as the total number of co-options does not exceed one-third of the total membership of the committee.
4.7 The committee shall have the power to co-opt a further three persons as consultants. These members shall not have voting rights at committee meetings.
4.8 The term of office of any persons co-opted shall expire at the next AGM.
4.9 The committee from within themselves shall elect a Chairman, Vice-chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and other Office Bearers as deemed necessary from time to time. In addition they may appoint members to specialised on-going roles.
4.10 Any member of the committee who fails to attend three consecutive committee meetings without satisfactory explanation shall lose their position on the committee. The vacancy may be filled by co-option in accordance with clause 4.5.
4.11 The committee shall meet not less than four times per annum.
5 FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
5.1 The Committee may make such regulations as they consider appropriate for the efficient conduct of the Committee and the organisation.
5.2 The Committee may appoint such sub-committees, advisory groups or working parties of their own members and other persons as they may from time to time consider necessary for the carrying out of their work and may determine their terms of reference, duration and composition. All such sub-committees shall make regular reports on their work to the Committee.
5.3 The Committee may appoint such staff as they consider necessary on such terms and conditions as they may determine. These members of staff shall not be members of the committee.
6 FINANCE
6.1 All monies raised by or on behalf of the organisation, shall be applied to further the objects of the Church of Ireland Fellowship and for no other purpose; provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment of legitimate out-of-pocket expenses to members of the organisation engaged upon approved business of the organisation.
6.2 The Honorary Treasurer shall keep proper account of the finances of the organisation.
6.3 The financial year shall run from 1st September to 31st August, or other such period of time as determined by the committee.
6.4 The Hon Treasurer shall submit a statement of accounts for the last financial year to the Annual General Meeting.
6.5 Such Bank accounts as are considered necessary from time to time, shall be opened and operated by the organisation. The committee shall authorise any two office bearers from an appropriate panel of signatories, to sign cheques together, for the main account. Signing arrangements on other occasional accounts may be determined according to individual circumstances.
7 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
7.1 The first Annual General Meeting of the Church of Ireland Evangelical Fellowship shall be held not later than 31st December 2002, and in each year thereafter an AGM shall be held at such place and time (not more than fifteen months after the holding of the preceding Annual General Meeting) as the Committee shall determine.
7.2 At each Annual General Meeting the business shall include the following:
Consideration of an annual report of the work done by, or under the auspices of the committee.
Consideration of the annual accounts
The appointment of an auditor/auditors.
The election of members to fill any vacancies on the committee
The transaction of such other matters as may from time to time be considered.
8 EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS
8.1 The Committee may, at any time at its discretion and shall, upon requisition by not less than ten members having the power to vote and giving reasons for the request, call an Extraordinary General Meeting of the organisation for the purpose of altering the constitution in accordance with clause 10, or of considering any matter which may be referred to them by the committee, or for any other purpose.
8.2 The Honorary Secretary shall give at least fourteen days written notice to all members of any such Extraordinary General meeting.
9 RULES OF PROCEDURE AT ALL MEETINGS
9.1 Voting
Subject to the provisions of clause 10 all questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote. In the case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
9.2 Minutes
A Minute book shall be kept by the committee and the Honorary Secretary shall enter therein a record of all proceedings and resolutions.
9.3 Quorum
The quorum at meetings of the committee shall be five voting members. The committee may from time to time re-determine the required number for a quorum.
10 ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION
10.1 No alterations to this constitution shall be made which would cause the organisation to cease to be a charity at law.
10.2 Any alterations to this constitution shall require the assent of not less than two-thirds of the members of the organisation present and voting at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting of the organisation.
10.3 Notice of any such alteration shall have been received in writing by the Hon Secretary not less than twenty one days before the meeting at which the alteration is to be brought forward.
10.4 The Honorary Secretary shall give at least fourteen days written notice of such meeting to each member, setting out the terms of the proposed alteration.
11 DISSOLUTION
11.1 If the committee, by a simple majority decide at any time that on the grounds of expense or otherwise it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the organisation they shall call a meeting of all members of the association who have the power to vote. Not less than twenty one days notice shall be given and the terms of the resolution to be proposed shall be stated.
11.2 If such decision shall be confirmed by a simple majority of those present and voting at this General Meeting, the committee shall have the power to dispose of any assets held by or in the name of the association.
11.3 Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to such other charitable evangelical group/s as the committee may decide.
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