DRAFT
CONSTITUTION OF ADVENT (UK)
1. NAME
The name of the association shall be "Advent (UK), hereafter referred to as "Advent".
2. AIMS
The aims of Advent are:
To promote the welfare of priests and religious who have left the active ministry and their partners;
To assist, advise and counsel priests and religious who are taking decisions about their future ministry;
To support those who are emotionally involved with priests and religious;
To promote dialogue about ministry and celibacy within the Roman Catholic Church.
3. POWERS
In furtherance of these aims, bit not otherwise, ADVENT shall have the power to:
Hold regular meetings of its members;
Publicise its aims and objectives;
Make available appropriate practical, emotional and spiritual support;
Raise funds from its embers and supporters.
ADVENT shall have the power to do all things necessary for the fulfilment of its aims.
4. MEMBERSHIP
Membership of ADVENT shall be open to people facing issues of ministry and celibacy - encompassing those taking decisions about their ministry and those affected by those decisions.
5. THE COMMITTEE
The affairs of ADVENT shall be managed by a committee, which shall meet not less than two (2) times per calendar year.
The committee shall be made up of not less than four and not more than eight members of ADVENT who will be elected by members at each Annual General Meeting (AGM) to serve for a period of one year.
Any member shall serve only until the next AGM.
Minutes shall be kept of committee meetings.
The quorum for meetings shall be three members.
6. HONORARY OFFICERS
At the AGM the members shall elect a chairperson, a Treasurer and a Secretary who shall serve until the next AGM.
7. ANNUAL GENERAL METING
Once in every year (preferably the Saturday preceding the first Sunday in Advent) the AGM shall be held.
The meting will:
Consider a report by the committee on the activities of the previous year;
Approve the accounts;
Elect the committee of officers;
Deal with any other business notified in advance.
Two weeks notice shall be given of the date of the AGM to all members. This notice will make clear the time, date and place of the meeting; invite nominations for membership to the committee and to inform members how to submit nominations or motions for the meetings.
The quorum for the AGM shall be one third of the membership or ten members whichever is the fewer.
Votings at AGMs shall be by simple majority vote.
Each member shall have one vote. However, in the case of a split decision, the chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.
8. FINANCES
All money raised by ADVENT shall be used to further the aims of ADVENT and for no other purpose.
The Chairperson, the Secretary and one other committee member (not being the Treasurer) shall be the signatories for any bank account or building society account held by ADVENT. All authorisations for financial transactions shall be signed by two of the three signatories.
The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of ADVENT.
At the end of each financial year the Treasurer shall prepare accounts which shall be presented to the AGM.
9. ALTERATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION
This constitution may be altered at an AGM of all members called for that purpose, provided that a majority of those present vote for the amendment.
10. WINDING UP OF ADVENT
The group may be wound up at an AGM or at a special meeting of all members called for that purpose, provided that a majority of those present vote for the amendment.
Any assets remaining after the group is wound up (once any outstanding liabilities have been met) shall be used in accordance with the aims of the group.
CONSTITUTION OF ADVENT (UK)
1. NAME
The name of the association shall be "Advent (UK), hereafter referred to as "Advent".
2. AIMS
The aims of Advent are:
To promote the welfare of priests and religious who have left the active ministry and their partners;
To assist, advise and counsel priests and religious who are taking decisions about their future ministry;
To support those who are emotionally involved with priests and religious;
To promote dialogue about ministry and celibacy within the Roman Catholic Church.
3. POWERS
In furtherance of these aims, bit not otherwise, ADVENT shall have the power to:
Hold regular meetings of its members;
Publicise its aims and objectives;
Make available appropriate practical, emotional and spiritual support;
Raise funds from its embers and supporters.
ADVENT shall have the power to do all things necessary for the fulfilment of its aims.
4. MEMBERSHIP
Membership of ADVENT shall be open to people facing issues of ministry and celibacy - encompassing those taking decisions about their ministry and those affected by those decisions.
5. THE COMMITTEE
The affairs of ADVENT shall be managed by a committee, which shall meet not less than two (2) times per calendar year.
The committee shall be made up of not less than four and not more than eight members of ADVENT who will be elected by members at each Annual General Meeting (AGM) to serve for a period of one year.
Any member shall serve only until the next AGM.
Minutes shall be kept of committee meetings.
The quorum for meetings shall be three members.
6. HONORARY OFFICERS
At the AGM the members shall elect a chairperson, a Treasurer and a Secretary who shall serve until the next AGM.
7. ANNUAL GENERAL METING
Once in every year (preferably the Saturday preceding the first Sunday in Advent) the AGM shall be held.
The meting will:
Consider a report by the committee on the activities of the previous year;
Approve the accounts;
Elect the committee of officers;
Deal with any other business notified in advance.
Two weeks notice shall be given of the date of the AGM to all members. This notice will make clear the time, date and place of the meeting; invite nominations for membership to the committee and to inform members how to submit nominations or motions for the meetings.
The quorum for the AGM shall be one third of the membership or ten members whichever is the fewer.
Votings at AGMs shall be by simple majority vote.
Each member shall have one vote. However, in the case of a split decision, the chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.
8. FINANCES
All money raised by ADVENT shall be used to further the aims of ADVENT and for no other purpose.
The Chairperson, the Secretary and one other committee member (not being the Treasurer) shall be the signatories for any bank account or building society account held by ADVENT. All authorisations for financial transactions shall be signed by two of the three signatories.
The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of ADVENT.
At the end of each financial year the Treasurer shall prepare accounts which shall be presented to the AGM.
9. ALTERATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION
This constitution may be altered at an AGM of all members called for that purpose, provided that a majority of those present vote for the amendment.
10. WINDING UP OF ADVENT
The group may be wound up at an AGM or at a special meeting of all members called for that purpose, provided that a majority of those present vote for the amendment.
Any assets remaining after the group is wound up (once any outstanding liabilities have been met) shall be used in accordance with the aims of the group.