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Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
author Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
date Fri, 29 Mar 2024 20:50:45 +0000
parents
children f94493498cc6
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c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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1 <?xml version='1.0'?>
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2 <?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../../../lib/xml/doc.xsl" ?>
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3 <!DOCTYPE doc SYSTEM "../../../lib/xml/doc.dtd" >
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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4 <doc>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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5 <head>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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6 <title>SESAM and QiS</title>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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7 <author>Henry S. Thompson</author>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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8 <date>29 Mar 2024</date>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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9 </head>
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10 <body>
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11 <div>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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12 <title>Introduction</title>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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13 <p>I have struggled at the last two threshing meetings about the proposed
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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14 governing document (the version of 2024-03-21, hereafter GD) for
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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15 Quakers in Scotland (QiS) to adequately convey my concerns. In
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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16 writing this I'm attempting to do better, not only with respect to
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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17 what I think is wrong, but also by suggesting how it could be fixed.</p>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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18 <p>It's not short, and there's an even longer appendix of background
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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19 detail, so here's a summary:</p>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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20 <blockquote>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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21 <p>SESAM Trustees should advise SESAM that SESAM <emph>should not</emph> agree to
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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22 joining QiS without substantial changes to the governing document,
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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23 distinguishing between the charity and the church and making their
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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24 relationship explicit, following the model of the governing document
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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25 for Britain Yearly Meeting (the charity).</p>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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26 <p>An updated GD needs to make explicit provision for the possibility
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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27 of SESAM-the-church continuing <emph>as</emph> an Area Meeting while laying
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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28 down SESAM-the-charity, drawing on the proposed approach to
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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29 preserving AMs in Wales. There must be clarity on SESAM-the-church's
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30 status with respect to QiS-the-church and thus with respect to the
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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31 trustees of QiS-the-charity.</p>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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32 </blockquote>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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33 <p>I'll start by identifying the problems I see with the GD, and go on to
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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34 outline the kind of changes I think would improve it, to the point
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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35 where SESAM would support the creation of the QiS-the-charity and
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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36 would join QiS-the-church.</p>
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37 </div>
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38 <div>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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39 <title>A note on terminology</title>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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40 <p>In their cover letter for the draft GD sent to SESAM Trustees on
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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41 2024-01-06, the QiS-CG says</p>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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42 <blockquote>"The Options for Scotland group [proposes] that we form a <emph>single
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43 charity</emph> and that we form a <emph>single body</emph>. The idea of a single
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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44 body clearly needs more work to discern what this might look
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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45 like. It will take time. That idea is not part of what we are
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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46 asking you about here." (emphasis added)</blockquote>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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47 <p>Above I used "QiS-the-charity" to refer to such a charity and
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48 "QiS-the-church" to refer to such a body. For simplicity, hereafter
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49 I'll call the former "the SCIO", short for "the Scottish Charitable
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50 Incorporated Organisation" and the latter "the RSFS", short for "the
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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51 Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Scotland".</p>
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52 </div>
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53 <div>
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54 <title>Problems with the GD</title>
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55 <div>
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56 <title>The church and the charity</title>
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57 <p>Making a distinction between the SCIO and the RSFS is explicitly
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58 modelled on the distinction found in the governing document of
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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59 "Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
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60 (Britain Yearly Meeting)" as registered with the Charity Commission
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61 (charity no. 1127633). Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) is (an English)
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62 Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Its governing document defines
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63 that lengthy name as the charity and "The Religious Society of Friends
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64 (Quakers) in Britain" as the church.</p>
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65 <p>The GD uses "Quakers in Scotland" (QiS) for both of these, without
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66 ever explicitly acknowledging that they are distinct. Sometimes
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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67 context makes clear which they are referring to, but not always.</p>
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68 <p>There are two problems here:</p>
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69 <p> a) The lack of a clear distinction between the two, exemplified
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70 further by the calling letter for GM on 6 April 2024, which
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71 describes the matter before the Meeting once as "a single Quaker
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72 body" and once as "a single Quaker charity / body";</p>
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73 <p> b) The very limited nature of what is said, or more often implied,
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74 about the RSFS. This is acknowledged in the quote above: "the
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75 body is not part of what we are asking you about here".</p>
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76 <p>These problems arise in large part because, perfectly understandably,
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77 QiS-CG evidently started with the template for governing documents for
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78 (English/Welsh) CIOs made available by Quaker Life
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79 (https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/cio-constitution-template-agreed-2014),
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80 which embodies the same confusion.</p>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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81 <p>Indeed SESAM-the-charity's own governing document is also based on a
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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82 similar, more recent, template for non-incorporated Area Meetings from
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83 Quaker Life
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84 (https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/governing-document-for-am-cc-approved-11-2022-final),
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85 and so also suffers from these problems [footnote: East of Scotland AM
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86 and North of Scotland AM's governing documents are also based on the
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87 non-incorporated Area Meeting template. Stewardship of North of
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88 Scotland Quaker Trust is identified as a responsibility of NSAM
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89 Trustees in their Terms of Reference. West of Scotland's document is
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90 shorter, and perhaps based on an early template, compared to the
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91 others.]</p>
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92 <p>But <emph>why</emph> are these problems, and even granted that they are, why do
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93 they need to be fixed <emph>now</emph>?</p>
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94 <p>They are problems because the existing Area Meetings' responsibilities
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95 and activities as a worshiping body, governed by Meetings for Worship
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96 for Church Affairs of their membership defined in QF&amp;P, are largely
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97 distinct from their responsibilities and activities as a charity,
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98 governed by trustees. The former consist of, for example, the spiritual and
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99 pastoral care of their members and their witness, grounded in our
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100 testimonies, to their communities, whereas the latter focus on
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101 maitaining the Area Meeting's legal status and financial well-being.
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102 As for Britain Yearly Meeting, whose succinct self-characterisation
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103 recently has been "A simple church supported by a simple charity", so
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104 it should be for Area Meetings. Quaker Faith and Practice has useful
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105 guidance on this relationship throughout section 15. 15.03 is
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106 particularly relevant:</p>
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107 <p> "The law may assume that authority for determining action
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108 passes to the trustees and the meeting may choose to do
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109 this. However, under Gospel Order, the ultimate authority will
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110 still lie with the gathered meeting."</p>
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111 <p>This needs to be fixed <emph>now</emph> because it is laid on Area Meeting
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112 trustees to manage the assets of the Area Meeting in such a was as to
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113 support the charitable objects of the Area Meeting, and without a
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114 clear understanding of how that will continue to be true once those
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115 assets are transferred to the SCIO, they would fail in that
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116 responsibility, which the law expresses as "[they must] seek, in good
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117 faith, to ensure that the charity acts in a manner which is consistent
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118 with its purposes".</p>
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119 </div>
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120 <div>
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121 <title>The future of the Area Meeting(s)</title>
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122 </div>
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123 </div>
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124 <div>
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125 <title>Some extensive background, which has informed my thinking.</title>
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126 <p>Thanks to Jackie Noltingk, Erica Thomas and Lesley Richards for
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127 helpful answers to my questions, and to Kathryn Gulliver and Piers Voysey for sending
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
128 me copies of their AM's governing documents.</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
129 <p>The General Meeting for Scotland (GM) mailing list were told
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
130 (2023-11-17), in regard to</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
131 <p> "(1) The possibility of merging our existing 6 charities into a
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
132 single body, Quakers in Scotland.</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
133 <p> "(2) How we might organise all our concerns and worship more
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
134 effectively as a single charity."</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
135 <p>that</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
136 <p> "The first step for (1) is to agree a governing document to replace
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
137 the six comparable documents that apply to our existing charities."</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
138 <p>and</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
139 <p> "Friends will hear more requests soon to join in important
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
140 discussions relating to (2)."</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
141 <p>I've searched my inbox without success for any request to "join in
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
142 important discussions relating to (2)" until, possibly, the invitation
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
143 from QiS-CG (2024-03-11) to two "information and discussion sessions
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
144 on progress with work towards having a single body and charity for
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
145 Quakers in Scotland".</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
146 <p>However the cover letter from QiS (2024-01-06) sent to SESAM Trustees
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
147 says</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
148 <p> "The Options for Scotland group [proposes] that we form a single
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
149 charity and that we form a single body. The idea of a single body
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
150 clearly needs more work to discern what this might look like. It
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
151 will take time. That idea is not part of what we are asking you
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
152 about here."</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
153 <p>In fact the document laid before us in the special Area Meeting on
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
154 15 January (Draft of 2023 12 29c.docx) had a lot to say about the
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
155 body. Or did it? As I read it at the time it did't clearly
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
156 distinguish between the charity and the body, using the phrase
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
157 "Quakers in Scotland" in what I found to be confusing ways.</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
158 <p>A new draft (Draft of 2024 03 21.docx) has just been made available,
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
159 with only modest changes from the earlier draft. I'll take it as
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
160 definitive with respect to what we will have before us on 6 April.
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
161 It hasn't changed much, if anything, of what I've found that makes me
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
162 uneasy about agreeing to adopt it.</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
163 <p>More background: What do we already have as models for how charities
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
164 and their trustees work. I'm reasonably familiar with two examples,
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
165 which guide my thinking in this matter.</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
166 <p>1. The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain, and Britain
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
167 Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers),
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
168 Charity number: 1127633</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
169 <p>The governing document for the latter charity
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
170 (https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/bym-governing-document-revised-min34-bym2014)
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
171 begins with the following definitions:</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
172 <list>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
173 <item>The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain refers to
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
174 the church in England, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands and
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
175 the Isle of Man, including all its local meetings for worship and
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
176 its constituent meetings for church affairs as well as all their
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
177 work [referred to below as <name>the Society</name>].</item>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
178 <item>Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
179 (Quakers) [<name>Britain Yearly Meeting</name>] refers to the centrally held
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
180 and managed policy, property, employment and work of the charity
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
181 constituted by this document.</item>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
182 <item>Yearly Meeting in session [<name>Yearly Meeting</name>] refers to the annual
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
183 assembly that is open to all members of the Society.</item>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
184 <item>Area Meetings are the main local meetings for church affairs and
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
185 these are the level of the Society at which individual membership
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
186 is held. Each Area Meeting is a separate charitable entity and
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
187 may be registered as such with the Charity Commission.</item>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
188 <item><emph>Quaker faith &amp; practice</emph> is the current edition of the Book of
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
189 Christian discipline of the Religious Society of Friends
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
190 (Quakers) in Britain</item>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
191 <item>Meeting for Sufferings is the standing representative body of the Society.</item>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
192 <item>The term Friend refers to a member of the Society.</item>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
193 </list><p>* Highlighting added</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
194 <p>Note that there are two clearly distinguished entities, "the church"
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
195 and "the charity". The charity is governed by the above referenced
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
196 governing document, the church by the Red Book.</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
197 <p>Subsequent articles make clear that the Society, embodied in Yearly
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
198 Meeting in session and Meeting for Sufferings, is responsible for
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
199 amending the governing document, appointing Britain Yearly Meeting
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
200 trustees, approving their terms of reference and appointing their
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
201 clerks, among them the BYM Treasurer.</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
202 <p>2. Area meetings in Scotland governing documents</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
203 <p> * The governing document for the Religious Society of Friends
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
204 (Quakers) [in Britain] East Scotland Area Meeting (abbreviated as
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
205 East Scotland Area Meeting) is based on the template provided by
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
206 Quaker Life
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
207 (https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/governing-document-for-am-cc-approved-11-2022-final).
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
208 The template does not make any overt distinction between the church
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
209 and the charity, to my embarassment. However the phrases "(East
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
210 Scotland) Area Meeting in session" clearly refer to the church, and
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
211 in "3. Object The object of East Scotland Area Meeting" it is
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
212 evidently the charity.</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
213 <p> This sentence, taken unchanged from the template, is of note: "If
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
214 at a meeting of East Scotland Area Meeting the members decide that
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
215 it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Area Meeting or to
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
216 amalgamate with another Area Meeting <emph>and this is agreed by Meeting
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
217 for Sufferings</emph>, the trustees shall have the power to realise any
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
218 assets held by or on behalf of the Area Meeting. Any assets
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
219 remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
220 liabilities shall, <emph>with the agreement of Meeting for Sufferings</emph>, be
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
221 given or transferred to another Area Meeting, to Britain Yearly
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
222 Meeting, or to some other charitable institution or institutions
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
223 having objects similar to that of the area meeting and failing that
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
224 for such other charitable purpose as Britain Yearly Meeting shall
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
225 direct." [Emphasis added]</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
226 <p> * The governing document for the Religious Society of Friends
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
227 (Quakers) in Britain: South East Scotland Area Meeting [referred to
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
228 below as South East Scotland Area Meeting or the area meeting and
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
229 formerly known as South East Scotland Monthly Meeting] likewise is
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
230 based on the Quaker Life template. "Subject to the matters set out
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
231 below the resources of the area meeting shall be administered in
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
232 accordance with this governing document by the trustees..." is
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
233 clearly talking about the charity, whereas "Amendments to this
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
234 governing document shall be agreed by South East Scotland Area
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
235 Meeting in session and recorded by minute of the area meeting."
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
236 it's the church. The dissolution clause is again taken from the
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
237 template, with the addition of GM for Scotland to the allowed
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
238 dispositions.</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
239 <p> * Dundee Friends Property Trust was governed by a 130-odd-year-old deed
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
240 of trust, now superseded in 2009 by a governing document, which I
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
241 can't find online. From the 2020 Annual Report:</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
242 <p> "New trustees are appointed by the remaining trustees, who are
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
243 bound to select individuals in sympathy with the conditions of
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
244 the original Trust Deed and who shall, if possible, be
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
245 representative of Dundee Local Meeting. The majority of Trustees
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
246 shall be drawn from Dundee Local Meeting."</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
247 <p> * North of Scotland AM is also based on the Quaker Life template.
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
248 Stewardship of North of Scotland Quaker Trust is identified as a
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
249 responsibility of NSAM Trustees in their Terms of Reference.</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
250 <p> * General Meeting for Scotland</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
251 <p> * The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Wales and the Marches
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
252 - Cymdeithas Grefyddol y Cyfeillion (Crynwyr) yng Nghymru a’r
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
253 Gororau [know as Cynar] is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
254 (CIO, comparable to an SCIO). Its constitution (Linked from
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
255 https://www.symudymlaen2.org/) says that the members of the CIO are
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256 "all members of the Constituent Area Meetings". The constitution
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257 describes "General meetings of the members of the CIO", and
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258 mandates at least an Annual General Meeting. The clerks of the
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259 Constituent Bodies (the AMs and CCQW) constitute the "clerking
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260 team" who set the agenda for GMs and provide a clerk for each of
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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261 them from among their number. At least two members from each
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262 Constituent Body must be present for a GM to be quorate. The
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263 Convenors of the NomComms of the COnstituent bodies constitute a
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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264 NomComm for the CIO, and prepare nominations for the trustees and
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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265 the Treasurer. There must be at least one trustee from each
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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266 Constituent Body.</p>
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267 <p> I'm told that "AM trustees will cease to exist, Cymar trustees will
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268 fulfil the role of AM trustees, but for all 4 AMs and CCQW, so once
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269 the assets have been handed over, bank accounts closed down and
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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270 final report and accounts prepared, then they can be released by
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271 their respective AMs and leave the rest to [Cymar] to deal with."</p>
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272 <p> It's not clear to me how this accords with QF&amp;P 4.02
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273 (https://qfp.quaker.org.uk/passage/4-02/) which says "Each area
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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274 meeting is a separate charitable entity and it may be required to
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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275 be registered as such with the relevant charity regulator. Area
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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276 meetings which are registered or preparing for registration will
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277 operate under a formal governing document, which amongst other
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278 matters should set out the arrangements for trusteeship."
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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279 </p>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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280 <p>Prison Chaplains</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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281 <p>QF&amp;P (13.54) gives area meetings responsibility for appointing prison
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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282 chaplains and "General Meeting for Scotland is responsible for
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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283 providing [their names] to the governors of all prison establishments
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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284 in the area meeting area".</p>
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285 <p>Registering officers</p>
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
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286 <p>A similar story, without the involvement of GM, obtains for
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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287 registering officers. "Each area meeting shall appoint a suitable
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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288 Friend as registering officer ... the area meeting ... shall report
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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289 [the appointment] to the Recording Clerk without delay, by minute
c82441465fa2 Very rough port from .txt 349:c9212f
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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290 signed by the clerk ... The Recording Clerk is required to certify all
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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291 such appointments ... in Scotland, to the Registrar General for
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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292 Scotland"; "The registering officer, acting on behalf of the area
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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293 meeting, ..." (QF&amp;P 16.22,23)</p>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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294 </div>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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295 </body>
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Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
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296 </doc>