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comparison QiS/What_are_QiS.txt @ 349:c9212f59d14e

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problem section complete (but not great)
author Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
date Fri, 29 Mar 2024 14:05:47 +0000
parents e1c9c9a581aa
children
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348:e1c9c9a581aa 349:c9212f59d14e
13 relationship explicit, following the model of the governing document 13 relationship explicit, following the model of the governing document
14 for Britain Yearly Meeting (the charity). 14 for Britain Yearly Meeting (the charity).
15 15
16 An updated GD needs to make explicit provision for the possibility 16 An updated GD needs to make explicit provision for the possibility
17 of SESAM-the-church continuing _as_ an Area Meeting while laying 17 of SESAM-the-church continuing _as_ an Area Meeting while laying
18 down SESAM-the-charity, drawing on the proposed structure for Wales 18 down SESAM-the-charity, drawing on the proposed approach to
19 and the Southern Marches. There must be clarity on 19 preserving AMs in Wales. There must be clarity on SESAM-the-church's
20 SESAM-the-church's status with respect to QiS-the-church and thus 20 status with respect to QiS-the-church and thus with respect to the
21 with respect to the trustees of QiS-the-charity. 21 trustees of QiS-the-charity.
22 22
23 I'll start by identifying the problems I see with the GD, and go on to 23 I'll start by identifying the problems I see with the GD, and go on to
24 outline the kind of changes I think would improve it, to the point 24 outline the kind of changes I think would improve it, to the point
25 where SESAM would support the creation of the QiS-the-charity and 25 where SESAM would support the creation of the QiS-the-charity and
26 would join QiS-the-church. 26 would join QiS-the-church.
58 The GD uses "Quakers in Scotland" (QiS) for both of these, without 58 The GD uses "Quakers in Scotland" (QiS) for both of these, without
59 ever explicitly acknowledging that they are distinct. Sometimes 59 ever explicitly acknowledging that they are distinct. Sometimes
60 context makes clear which they are referring to, but not always. 60 context makes clear which they are referring to, but not always.
61 61
62 There are two problems here: 62 There are two problems here:
63 a) The lack of a clear distinction between the two; 63
64 a) The lack of a clear distinction between the two, exemplified
65 further by the calling letter for GM on 6 April 2024, which
66 describes the matter before the Meeting once as "a single Quaker
67 body" and once as "a single Quaker charity / body";
68
64 b) The very limited nature of what is said, or more often implied, 69 b) The very limited nature of what is said, or more often implied,
65 about the RSFS. This is acknowledged by what in the quote above: 70 about the RSFS. This is acknowledged in the quote above: "the
66 "[RSFS] is not part of what we are asking you about here". 71 body is not part of what we are asking you about here".
67 72
68 These problems arise in large part because, perfectly understandably, 73 These problems arise in large part because, perfectly understandably,
69 QiS-CG evidently started with the template for governing documents for 74 QiS-CG evidently started with the template for governing documents for
70 (English/Welsh) CIOs made available by Quaker Life 75 (English/Welsh) CIOs made available by Quaker Life
71 (https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/cio-constitution-template-agreed-2014). 76 (https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/cio-constitution-template-agreed-2014),
77 which embodies the same confusion.
72 78
73 Indeed SESAM-the-charity's own governing document is also based on a 79 Indeed SESAM-the-charity's own governing document is also based on a
74 similar, more recent, template for non-incorporated Area Meetings from 80 similar, more recent, template for non-incorporated Area Meetings from
75 Quaker Life 81 Quaker Life
76 (https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/governing-document-for-am-cc-approved-11-2022-final), 82 (https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/governing-document-for-am-cc-approved-11-2022-final),
77 and so also suffers from these problems [footnote: East of Scotland 83 and so also suffers from these problems [footnote: East of Scotland AM
78 AM's governing document is also based on the non-incorporated Area 84 and North of Scotland AM's governing documents are also based on the
79 Meeting template. North of Scotland Quaker Trust is evidently 85 non-incorporated Area Meeting template. Stewardship of North of
80 distinct from NSAM, but I haven't found a governing document, nor have 86 Scotland Quaker Trust is identified as a responsibility of NSAM
81 I found one for West of Scotland] 87 Trustees in their Terms of Reference. West of Scotland's document is
82 88 shorter, and perhaps based on an early template, compared to the
83 But _why_ is these problems, and even granted that they are, why do 89 others.]
90
91 But _why_ are these problems, and even granted that they are, why do
84 they need to be fixed _now_? 92 they need to be fixed _now_?
93
94 They are problems because the existing Area Meetings' responsibilities
95 and activities as a worshiping body, governed by Meetings for Worship
96 for Church Affairs of their membership defined in QF&P, are largely
97 distinct from their responsibilities and activities as a charity,
98 governed by trustees. The former consist of, for example, the spiritual and
99 pastoral care of their members and their witness, grounded in our
100 testimonies, to their communities, whereas the latter focus on
101 maitaining the Area Meeting's legal status and financial well-being.
102 As for Britain Yearly Meeting, whose succinct self-characterisation
103 recently has been "A simple church supported by a simple charity", so
104 it should be for Area Meetings. Quaker Faith and Practice has useful
105 guidance on this relationship throughout section 15. 15.03 is
106 particularly relevant:
107
108 "The law may assume that authority for determining action
109 passes to the trustees and the meeting may choose to do
110 this. However, under Gospel Order, the ultimate authority will
111 still lie with the gathered meeting."
112
113 This needs to be fixed _now_ because it is laid on Area Meeting
114 trustees to manage the assets of the Area Meeting in such a was as to
115 support the charitable objects of the Area Meeting, and without a
116 clear understanding of how that will continue to be true once those
117 assets are transferred to the SCIO, they would fail in that
118 responsibility, which the law expresses as "[they must] seek, in good
119 faith, to ensure that the charity acts in a manner which is consistent
120 with its purposes".
121
85 122
86 2. The future of the Area Meeting(s) 123 2. The future of the Area Meeting(s)
87 124
88 125
89 --------------- 126 ---------------
190 amending the governing document, appointing Britain Yearly Meeting 227 amending the governing document, appointing Britain Yearly Meeting
191 trustees, approving their terms of reference and appointing their 228 trustees, approving their terms of reference and appointing their
192 clerks, among them the BYM Treasurer. 229 clerks, among them the BYM Treasurer.
193 230
194 2. Area meetings in Scotland governing documents 231 2. Area meetings in Scotland governing documents
195
196 * North of Scotland Quaker Trust is evidently distinct from NSAM, but
197 I haven't found a governing document.
198 232
199 * The governing document for the Religious Society of Friends 233 * The governing document for the Religious Society of Friends
200 (Quakers) [in Britain] East Scotland Area Meeting (abbreviated as 234 (Quakers) [in Britain] East Scotland Area Meeting (abbreviated as
201 East Scotland Area Meeting) is based on the template provided by 235 East Scotland Area Meeting) is based on the template provided by
202 Quaker Life 236 Quaker Life
233 Meeting in session and recorded by minute of the area meeting." 267 Meeting in session and recorded by minute of the area meeting."
234 it's the church. The dissolution clause is again taken from the 268 it's the church. The dissolution clause is again taken from the
235 template, with the addition of GM for Scotland to the allowed 269 template, with the addition of GM for Scotland to the allowed
236 dispositions. 270 dispositions.
237 271
238 * I can't find a governing document for whatever charity is
239 associated with West of Scotland
240
241 * Dundee Friends Property Trust was governed by a 130-odd-year-old deed 272 * Dundee Friends Property Trust was governed by a 130-odd-year-old deed
242 of trust, now superseded in 2009 by a governing document, which I 273 of trust, now superseded in 2009 by a governing document, which I
243 can't find online. From the 2020 Annual Report: 274 can't find online. From the 2020 Annual Report:
244 275
245 "New trustees are appointed by the remaining trustees, who are 276 "New trustees are appointed by the remaining trustees, who are
246 bound to select individuals in sympathy with the conditions of 277 bound to select individuals in sympathy with the conditions of
247 the original Trust Deed and who shall, if possible, be 278 the original Trust Deed and who shall, if possible, be
248 representative of Dundee Local Meeting. The majority of Trustees 279 representative of Dundee Local Meeting. The majority of Trustees
249 shall be drawn from Dundee Local Meeting." 280 shall be drawn from Dundee Local Meeting."
281
282 * North of Scotland AM is also based on the Quaker Life template.
283 Stewardship of North of Scotland Quaker Trust is identified as a
284 responsibility of NSAM Trustees in their Terms of Reference.
250 285
251 * General Meeting for Scotland 286 * General Meeting for Scotland
252 287
253 * The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Wales and the Marches 288 * The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Wales and the Marches
254 - Cymdeithas Grefyddol y Cyfeillion (Crynwyr) yng Nghymru a’r 289 - Cymdeithas Grefyddol y Cyfeillion (Crynwyr) yng Nghymru a’r