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tidying up the background
author Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
date Mon, 01 Apr 2024 13:18:48 +0100
parents fb26c48a880a
children e516458a4f69
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355:fb26c48a880a 356:770d1724b680
177 <div> 177 <div>
178 <title>Some extensive background, which has informed my thinking.</title> 178 <title>Some extensive background, which has informed my thinking.</title>
179 <p>Thanks to Jackie Noltingk, Erica Thomas and Lesley Richards for 179 <p>Thanks to Jackie Noltingk, Erica Thomas and Lesley Richards for
180 helpful answers to my questions, and to Kathryn Gulliver and Piers Voysey for sending 180 helpful answers to my questions, and to Kathryn Gulliver and Piers Voysey for sending
181 me copies of their AM's governing documents.</p> 181 me copies of their AM's governing documents.</p>
182 <p>The General Meeting for Scotland (GM) mailing list were told 182 <div>
183 <title>Mostly about QiS</title>
184 <p>The General Meeting for Scotland (GM) mailing list were told
183 (2023-11-17), in regard to</p> 185 (2023-11-17), in regard to</p>
184 <p> "(1) The possibility of merging our existing 6 charities into a 186 <p> "(1) The possibility of merging our existing 6 charities into a
185 single body, Quakers in Scotland.</p> 187 single body, Quakers in Scotland.</p>
186 <p> "(2) How we might organise all our concerns and worship more 188 <p> "(2) How we might organise all our concerns and worship more
187 effectively as a single charity."</p> 189 effectively as a single charity."</p>
210 "Quakers in Scotland" in what I found to be confusing ways.</p> 212 "Quakers in Scotland" in what I found to be confusing ways.</p>
211 <p>A new draft (Draft of 2024 03 21.docx) has just been made available, 213 <p>A new draft (Draft of 2024 03 21.docx) has just been made available,
212 with only modest changes from the earlier draft. I'll take it as 214 with only modest changes from the earlier draft. I'll take it as
213 definitive with respect to what we will have before us on 6 April. 215 definitive with respect to what we will have before us on 6 April.
214 It hasn't changed much, if anything, of what I've found that makes me 216 It hasn't changed much, if anything, of what I've found that makes me
215 uneasy about agreeing to adopt it.</p> 217 uneasy about agreeing to adopt it.</p></div>
216 <p>More background: What do we already have as models for how charities 218 <div>
217 and their trustees work. I'm reasonably familiar with two examples, 219 <title>Existing models of church and charity structures</title>
218 which guide my thinking in this matter.</p> 220 <div>
219 <p>1. The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain, and Britain 221 <title>Britain Yearly Meeting</title>
222 <p>The charity is Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain, and Britain
220 Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), 223 Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers),
221 Charity number: 1127633</p> 224 Charity number: 1127633</p>
222 <p>The governing document for the latter charity 225 <p>The governing document for this
223 (<link href="https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/bym-governing-document-revised-min34-bym2014">https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/bym-governing-document-revised-min34-bym2014</link>) 226 (<link href="https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/bym-governing-document-revised-min34-bym2014">https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/bym-governing-document-revised-min34-bym2014</link>)
224 begins with the following definitions:</p> 227 begins with the following definitions:</p>
225 <list type="enum" class="alpha"> 228 <list type="enum" class="alpha">
226 <item>The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain refers to 229 <item>The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain refers to
227 the church in England, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands and 230 the church in England, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands and
241 <item><emph>Quaker faith &amp; practice</emph> is the current edition of the Book of 244 <item><emph>Quaker faith &amp; practice</emph> is the current edition of the Book of
242 Christian discipline of the Religious Society of Friends 245 Christian discipline of the Religious Society of Friends
243 (Quakers) in Britain</item> 246 (Quakers) in Britain</item>
244 <item>Meeting for Sufferings is the standing representative body of the Society.</item> 247 <item>Meeting for Sufferings is the standing representative body of the Society.</item>
245 <item>The term Friend refers to a member of the Society.</item> 248 <item>The term Friend refers to a member of the Society.</item>
246 </list><p>* Highlighting added</p> 249 </list>
247 <p>Note that there are two clearly distinguished entities, "the church" 250 <p>Note that there are two clearly distinguished entities, "the church"
248 and "the charity". The charity is governed by the above referenced 251 and "the charity". The charity is governed by the above referenced
249 governing document, the church by the Red Book.</p> 252 governing document, the church by the Red Book.</p>
250 <p>Subsequent articles make clear that the Society, embodied in Yearly 253 <p>Subsequent articles make clear that the Society, embodied in Yearly
251 Meeting in session and Meeting for Sufferings, is responsible for 254 Meeting in session and Meeting for Sufferings, is responsible for
252 amending the governing document, appointing Britain Yearly Meeting 255 amending the governing document, appointing Britain Yearly Meeting
253 trustees, approving their terms of reference and appointing their 256 trustees, approving their terms of reference and appointing their
254 clerks, among them the BYM Treasurer.</p> 257 clerks, among them the BYM Treasurer.</p>
255 <p>2. Area meetings in Scotland governing documents</p> 258 </div>
256 <p> * The governing document for the Religious Society of Friends 259 <div>
260 <title>East of Scotland</title>
261 <p>The governing document for the Religious Society of Friends
257 (Quakers) [in Britain] East Scotland Area Meeting (abbreviated as 262 (Quakers) [in Britain] East Scotland Area Meeting (abbreviated as
258 East Scotland Area Meeting) is based on the template provided by 263 East Scotland Area Meeting) is based on the template provided by
259 Quaker Life 264 Quaker Life
260 (<link href="https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/governing-document-for-am-cc-approved-11-2022-final">https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/governing-document-for-am-cc-approved-11-2022-final</link>). 265 (<link href="https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/governing-document-for-am-cc-approved-11-2022-final">https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/governing-document-for-am-cc-approved-11-2022-final</link>).
261 The template does not make any overt distinction between the church 266 The template does not make any overt distinction between the church
262 and the charity, to my embarassment. However the phrases "(East 267 and the charity, to my embarassment. However the phrases "(East
263 Scotland) Area Meeting in session" clearly refer to the church, and 268 Scotland) Area Meeting in session" clearly refer to the church, and
264 in "3. Object The object of East Scotland Area Meeting" it is 269 in "3. Object The object of East Scotland Area Meeting" it is
265 evidently the charity.</p> 270 evidently the charity.</p>
266 <p> This sentence, taken unchanged from the template, is of note: "If 271 <p>This sentence, taken unchanged from the template, is of note: "If
267 at a meeting of East Scotland Area Meeting the members decide that 272 at a meeting of East Scotland Area Meeting the members decide that
268 it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Area Meeting or to 273 it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Area Meeting or to
269 amalgamate with another Area Meeting <emph>and this is agreed by Meeting 274 amalgamate with another Area Meeting <emph>and this is agreed by Meeting
270 for Sufferings</emph>, the trustees shall have the power to realise any 275 for Sufferings</emph>, the trustees shall have the power to realise any
271 assets held by or on behalf of the Area Meeting. Any assets 276 assets held by or on behalf of the Area Meeting. Any assets
273 liabilities shall, <emph>with the agreement of Meeting for Sufferings</emph>, be 278 liabilities shall, <emph>with the agreement of Meeting for Sufferings</emph>, be
274 given or transferred to another Area Meeting, to Britain Yearly 279 given or transferred to another Area Meeting, to Britain Yearly
275 Meeting, or to some other charitable institution or institutions 280 Meeting, or to some other charitable institution or institutions
276 having objects similar to that of the area meeting and failing that 281 having objects similar to that of the area meeting and failing that
277 for such other charitable purpose as Britain Yearly Meeting shall 282 for such other charitable purpose as Britain Yearly Meeting shall
278 direct." [Emphasis added]</p> 283 direct." [Emphasis added]</p></div>
279 <p> * The governing document for the Religious Society of Friends 284 <div>
285 <title>South East Scotland</title>
286 <p>The governing document for the Religious Society of Friends
280 (Quakers) in Britain: South East Scotland Area Meeting [referred to 287 (Quakers) in Britain: South East Scotland Area Meeting [referred to
281 below as South East Scotland Area Meeting or the area meeting and 288 below as South East Scotland Area Meeting or the area meeting and
282 formerly known as South East Scotland Monthly Meeting] likewise is 289 formerly known as South East Scotland Monthly Meeting] likewise is
283 based on the Quaker Life template. "Subject to the matters set out 290 based on the Quaker Life template. "Subject to the matters set out
284 below the resources of the area meeting shall be administered in 291 below the resources of the area meeting shall be administered in
287 governing document shall be agreed by South East Scotland Area 294 governing document shall be agreed by South East Scotland Area
288 Meeting in session and recorded by minute of the area meeting." 295 Meeting in session and recorded by minute of the area meeting."
289 it's the church. The dissolution clause is again taken from the 296 it's the church. The dissolution clause is again taken from the
290 template, with the addition of GM for Scotland to the allowed 297 template, with the addition of GM for Scotland to the allowed
291 dispositions.</p> 298 dispositions.</p>
292 <p> * Dundee Friends Property Trust was governed by a 130-odd-year-old deed 299 </div>
293 of trust, now superseded in 2009 by a governing document, which I 300 <div>
301 <title>Dundee Friends Property Trust</title>
302 <p>This was governed by a 130-odd-year-old deed
303 of trust, superseded in 2009 by a governing document, which I
294 can't find online. From the 2020 Annual Report:</p> 304 can't find online. From the 2020 Annual Report:</p>
295 <p> "New trustees are appointed by the remaining trustees, who are 305 <p>"New trustees are appointed by the remaining trustees, who are
296 bound to select individuals in sympathy with the conditions of 306 bound to select individuals in sympathy with the conditions of
297 the original Trust Deed and who shall, if possible, be 307 the original Trust Deed and who shall, if possible, be
298 representative of Dundee Local Meeting. The majority of Trustees 308 representative of Dundee Local Meeting. The majority of Trustees
299 shall be drawn from Dundee Local Meeting."</p> 309 shall be drawn from Dundee Local Meeting."</p>
300 <p> * North of Scotland AM is also based on the Quaker Life template. 310 </div>
311 <div>
312 <title>North of Scotland</title>
313 <p>Their governing document is also based on the Quaker Life template.
301 Stewardship of North of Scotland Quaker Trust is identified as a 314 Stewardship of North of Scotland Quaker Trust is identified as a
302 responsibility of NSAM Trustees in their Terms of Reference.</p> 315 responsibility of NSAM Trustees in their Terms of Reference.</p>
303 <p> * General Meeting for Scotland</p> 316 </div>
304 <p> * The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Wales and the Marches 317 <div>
318 <title>General Meeting for Scotland</title>
319 </div>
320 </div>
321 <div>
322 <title>The new structure for Wales and the Southern Marches</title>
323 <p>The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Wales and the Marches
305 - Cymdeithas Grefyddol y Cyfeillion (Crynwyr) yng Nghymru a’r 324 - Cymdeithas Grefyddol y Cyfeillion (Crynwyr) yng Nghymru a’r
306 Gororau [know as Cynar] is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation 325 Gororau [know as Cynar] is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation
307 (CIO, comparable to an <name>SCIO</name>). Its constitution (Linked from 326 (CIO, comparable to an <name>SCIO</name>). Its constitution (Linked from
308 <link href="https://www.symudymlaen2.org/">https://www.symudymlaen2.org/</link>) says that the members of the CIO are 327 <link href="https://www.symudymlaen2.org/">https://www.symudymlaen2.org/</link>) says that the members of the CIO are
309 "all members of the Constituent Area Meetings". The constitution 328 "all members of the Constituent Area Meetings". The constitution
328 be registered as such with the relevant charity regulator. Area 347 be registered as such with the relevant charity regulator. Area
329 meetings which are registered or preparing for registration will 348 meetings which are registered or preparing for registration will
330 operate under a formal governing document, which amongst other 349 operate under a formal governing document, which amongst other
331 matters should set out the arrangements for trusteeship." 350 matters should set out the arrangements for trusteeship."
332 </p> 351 </p>
352 </div>
333 <p>Prison Chaplains</p> 353 <p>Prison Chaplains</p>
334 <p>QF&amp;P (13.54) gives area meetings responsibility for appointing prison 354 <p>QF&amp;P (13.54) gives area meetings responsibility for appointing prison
335 chaplains and "General Meeting for Scotland is responsible for 355 chaplains and "General Meeting for Scotland is responsible for
336 providing [their names] to the governors of all prison establishments 356 providing [their names] to the governors of all prison establishments
337 in the area meeting area".</p> 357 in the area meeting area".</p>