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author Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
date Fri, 29 Mar 2024 21:17:31 +0000
parents c82441465fa2
children e40a88f7113e
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1 <?xml version='1.0'?> 1 <?xml version='1.0'?>
2 <?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../../../lib/xml/doc.xsl" ?> 2 <?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../../../lib/xml/doc.xsl" ?>
3 <!DOCTYPE doc SYSTEM "../../../lib/xml/doc.dtd" > 3 <!DOCTYPE doc SYSTEM "../../../lib/xml/doc.dtd" >
4 <doc> 4 <doc>
5 <head> 5 <head>
6 <title>SESAM and QiS</title> 6 <title>SESAM and the Quakers in Scotland proposal</title>
7 <author>Henry S. Thompson</author> 7 <author>Henry S. Thompson</author>
8 <date>29 Mar 2024</date> 8 <date>29 Mar 2024</date>
9 <style>.alpha {list-style-type: lower-alpha}</style>
9 </head> 10 </head>
10 <body> 11 <body>
11 <div> 12 <div>
12 <title>Introduction</title> 13 <title>Introduction</title>
13 <p>I have struggled at the last two threshing meetings about the proposed 14 <p>I have struggled at the last two threshing meetings about the proposed
14 governing document (the version of 2024-03-21, hereafter GD) for 15 governing document (the version of 2024-03-21, hereafter GD) for
15 Quakers in Scotland (QiS) to adequately convey my concerns. In 16 Quakers in Scotland (<name>QiS</name>) to adequately convey my concerns. In
16 writing this I'm attempting to do better, not only with respect to 17 writing this I'm attempting to do better, not only with respect to
17 what I think is wrong, but also by suggesting how it could be fixed.</p> 18 what I think is wrong, but also by suggesting how it could be fixed.</p>
18 <p>It's not short, and there's an even longer appendix of background 19 <p>It's not short, and there's an even longer appendix of background
19 detail, so here's a summary:</p> 20 detail, so here's a summary:</p>
20 <blockquote> 21 <blockquote>
21 <p>SESAM Trustees should advise SESAM that SESAM <emph>should not</emph> agree to 22 <p>SESAM Trustees should advise SESAM that SESAM <emph>should not</emph> agree to
22 joining QiS without substantial changes to the governing document, 23 joining <name>QiS</name> without substantial changes to the governing document,
23 distinguishing between the charity and the church and making their 24 distinguishing between the charity and the church and making their
24 relationship explicit, following the model of the governing document 25 relationship explicit, following the model of the governing document
25 for Britain Yearly Meeting (the charity).</p> 26 for Britain Yearly Meeting (the charity).</p>
26 <p>An updated GD needs to make explicit provision for the possibility 27 <p>An updated GD needs to make explicit provision for the possibility
27 of SESAM-the-church continuing <emph>as</emph> an Area Meeting while laying 28 of SESAM-the-church continuing <emph>as</emph> an Area Meeting while laying
28 down SESAM-the-charity, drawing on the proposed approach to 29 down SESAM-the-charity, drawing on the proposed approach to
29 preserving AMs in Wales. There must be clarity on SESAM-the-church's 30 preserving AMs in Wales. There must be clarity on SESAM-the-church's
30 status with respect to QiS-the-church and thus with respect to the 31 status with respect to <name>QiS-the-church</name> and thus with respect to the
31 trustees of QiS-the-charity.</p> 32 trustees of <name>QiS-the-charity</name>.</p>
32 </blockquote> 33 </blockquote>
33 <p>I'll start by identifying the problems I see with the GD, and go on to 34 <p>I'll start by identifying the problems I see with the GD, and go on to
34 outline the kind of changes I think would improve it, to the point 35 outline the kind of changes I think would improve it, to the point
35 where SESAM would support the creation of the QiS-the-charity and 36 where SESAM would support the creation of the <name>QiS-the-charity</name> and
36 would join QiS-the-church.</p> 37 would join <name>QiS-the-church</name>.</p>
37 </div> 38 </div>
38 <div> 39 <div>
39 <title>A note on terminology</title> 40 <title>A note on terminology</title>
40 <p>In their cover letter for the draft GD sent to SESAM Trustees on 41 <p>In their cover letter for the draft GD sent to SESAM Trustees on
41 2024-01-06, the QiS-CG says</p> 42 2024-01-06, the <name>QiS</name>-CG says</p>
42 <blockquote>"The Options for Scotland group [proposes] that we form a <emph>single 43 <blockquote>"The Options for Scotland group [proposes] that we form a <emph>single
43 charity</emph> and that we form a <emph>single body</emph>. The idea of a single 44 charity</emph> and that we form a <emph>single body</emph>. The idea of a single
44 body clearly needs more work to discern what this might look 45 body clearly needs more work to discern what this might look
45 like. It will take time. That idea is not part of what we are 46 like. It will take time. That idea is not part of what we are
46 asking you about here." (emphasis added)</blockquote> 47 asking you about here." (emphasis added)</blockquote>
47 <p>Above I used "QiS-the-charity" to refer to such a charity and 48 <p>Above I used "<name>QiS-the-charity</name>" to refer to such a charity and
48 "QiS-the-church" to refer to such a body. For simplicity, hereafter 49 "<name>QiS-the-church</name>" to refer to such a body. For simplicity, hereafter
49 I'll call the former "the SCIO", short for "the Scottish Charitable 50 I'll call the former the <name>SCIO</name>, short for the (proposed) "Scottish Charitable
50 Incorporated Organisation" and the latter "the RSFS", short for "the 51 Incorporated Organisation" and the latter the <name>RSFS</name>, short
51 Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Scotland".</p> 52 for the "Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Scotland".</p>
52 </div> 53 </div>
53 <div> 54 <div>
54 <title>Problems with the GD</title> 55 <title>Problems with the GD</title>
55 <div> 56 <div>
56 <title>The church and the charity</title> 57 <title>The church and the charity</title>
57 <p>Making a distinction between the SCIO and the RSFS is explicitly 58 <p>Making a distinction between the <name>SCIO</name> and the <name>RSFS</name> is explicitly
58 modelled on the distinction found in the governing document of 59 modelled on the distinction found in the governing document of
59 "Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) 60 "Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
60 (Britain Yearly Meeting)" as registered with the Charity Commission 61 (Britain Yearly Meeting)" as registered with the Charity Commission
61 (charity no. 1127633). Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) is (an English) 62 (charity no. 1127633). Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) is (an English)
62 Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Its governing document defines 63 Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Its governing document defines
63 that lengthy name as the charity and "The Religious Society of Friends 64 that lengthy name as the charity and "The Religious Society of Friends
64 (Quakers) in Britain" as the church.</p> 65 (Quakers) in Britain" as the church.</p>
65 <p>The GD uses "Quakers in Scotland" (QiS) for both of these, without 66 <p>The GD uses "Quakers in Scotland" for both of these, without
66 ever explicitly acknowledging that they are distinct. Sometimes 67 ever explicitly acknowledging that they are distinct. Sometimes
67 context makes clear which they are referring to, but not always.</p> 68 context makes clear which they are referring to, but not always.</p>
68 <p>There are two problems here:</p> 69 <p>There are two problems here:</p>
69 <p> a) The lack of a clear distinction between the two, exemplified 70 <list class="alpha" type="enum">
71 <item>The lack of a clear distinction between the two, exemplified
70 further by the calling letter for GM on 6 April 2024, which 72 further by the calling letter for GM on 6 April 2024, which
71 describes the matter before the Meeting once as "a single Quaker 73 describes the matter before the Meeting once as "a single Quaker
72 body" and once as "a single Quaker charity / body";</p> 74 body" and once as "a single Quaker charity / body";</item>
73 <p> b) The very limited nature of what is said, or more often implied, 75 <item>The very limited nature of what is said, or more often implied,
74 about the RSFS. This is acknowledged in the quote above: "the 76 about the <name>RSFS</name>. This is acknowledged in the quote above: "the
75 body is not part of what we are asking you about here".</p> 77 body is not part of what we are asking you about here".</item>
78 </list>
76 <p>These problems arise in large part because, perfectly understandably, 79 <p>These problems arise in large part because, perfectly understandably,
77 QiS-CG evidently started with the template for governing documents for 80 <name>QiS</name>-CG evidently started with the template for governing documents for
78 (English/Welsh) CIOs made available by Quaker Life 81 (English/Welsh) CIOs made available by Quaker Life
79 (https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/cio-constitution-template-agreed-2014), 82 (https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/cio-constitution-template-agreed-2014),
80 which embodies the same confusion.</p> 83 which embodies the same confusion.</p>
81 <p>Indeed SESAM-the-charity's own governing document is also based on a 84 <p>Indeed SESAM-the-charity's own governing document is also based on a
82 similar, more recent, template for non-incorporated Area Meetings from 85 similar, more recent, template for non-incorporated Area Meetings from
110 still lie with the gathered meeting."</p> 113 still lie with the gathered meeting."</p>
111 <p>This needs to be fixed <emph>now</emph> because it is laid on Area Meeting 114 <p>This needs to be fixed <emph>now</emph> because it is laid on Area Meeting
112 trustees to manage the assets of the Area Meeting in such a was as to 115 trustees to manage the assets of the Area Meeting in such a was as to
113 support the charitable objects of the Area Meeting, and without a 116 support the charitable objects of the Area Meeting, and without a
114 clear understanding of how that will continue to be true once those 117 clear understanding of how that will continue to be true once those
115 assets are transferred to the SCIO, they would fail in that 118 assets are transferred to the <name>SCIO</name>, they would fail in that
116 responsibility, which the law expresses as "[they must] seek, in good 119 responsibility, which the law expresses as "[they must] seek, in good
117 faith, to ensure that the charity acts in a manner which is consistent 120 faith, to ensure that the charity acts in a manner which is consistent
118 with its purposes".</p> 121 with its purposes".</p>
119 </div> 122 </div>
120 <div> 123 <div>
138 <p>and</p> 141 <p>and</p>
139 <p> "Friends will hear more requests soon to join in important 142 <p> "Friends will hear more requests soon to join in important
140 discussions relating to (2)."</p> 143 discussions relating to (2)."</p>
141 <p>I've searched my inbox without success for any request to "join in 144 <p>I've searched my inbox without success for any request to "join in
142 important discussions relating to (2)" until, possibly, the invitation 145 important discussions relating to (2)" until, possibly, the invitation
143 from QiS-CG (2024-03-11) to two "information and discussion sessions 146 from <name>QiS</name>-CG (2024-03-11) to two "information and discussion sessions
144 on progress with work towards having a single body and charity for 147 on progress with work towards having a single body and charity for
145 Quakers in Scotland".</p> 148 Quakers in Scotland".</p>
146 <p>However the cover letter from QiS (2024-01-06) sent to SESAM Trustees 149 <p>However the cover letter from <name>QiS</name> (2024-01-06) sent to SESAM Trustees
147 says</p> 150 says</p>
148 <p> "The Options for Scotland group [proposes] that we form a single 151 <p> "The Options for Scotland group [proposes] that we form a single
149 charity and that we form a single body. The idea of a single body 152 charity and that we form a single body. The idea of a single body
150 clearly needs more work to discern what this might look like. It 153 clearly needs more work to discern what this might look like. It
151 will take time. That idea is not part of what we are asking you 154 will take time. That idea is not part of what we are asking you
167 Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), 170 Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers),
168 Charity number: 1127633</p> 171 Charity number: 1127633</p>
169 <p>The governing document for the latter charity 172 <p>The governing document for the latter charity
170 (https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/bym-governing-document-revised-min34-bym2014) 173 (https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/bym-governing-document-revised-min34-bym2014)
171 begins with the following definitions:</p> 174 begins with the following definitions:</p>
172 <list> 175 <list type="enum" class="alpha">
173 <item>The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain refers to 176 <item>The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain refers to
174 the church in England, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands and 177 the church in England, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands and
175 the Isle of Man, including all its local meetings for worship and 178 the Isle of Man, including all its local meetings for worship and
176 its constituent meetings for church affairs as well as all their 179 its constituent meetings for church affairs as well as all their
177 work [referred to below as <name>the Society</name>].</item> 180 work [referred to below as <name>the Society</name>].</item>
249 responsibility of NSAM Trustees in their Terms of Reference.</p> 252 responsibility of NSAM Trustees in their Terms of Reference.</p>
250 <p> * General Meeting for Scotland</p> 253 <p> * General Meeting for Scotland</p>
251 <p> * The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Wales and the Marches 254 <p> * The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Wales and the Marches
252 - Cymdeithas Grefyddol y Cyfeillion (Crynwyr) yng Nghymru a’r 255 - Cymdeithas Grefyddol y Cyfeillion (Crynwyr) yng Nghymru a’r
253 Gororau [know as Cynar] is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation 256 Gororau [know as Cynar] is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation
254 (CIO, comparable to an SCIO). Its constitution (Linked from 257 (CIO, comparable to an <name>SCIO</name>). Its constitution (Linked from
255 https://www.symudymlaen2.org/) says that the members of the CIO are 258 https://www.symudymlaen2.org/) says that the members of the CIO are
256 "all members of the Constituent Area Meetings". The constitution 259 "all members of the Constituent Area Meetings". The constitution
257 describes "General meetings of the members of the CIO", and 260 describes "General meetings of the members of the CIO", and
258 mandates at least an Annual General Meeting. The clerks of the 261 mandates at least an Annual General Meeting. The clerks of the
259 Constituent Bodies (the AMs and CCQW) constitute the "clerking 262 Constituent Bodies (the AMs and CCQW) constitute the "clerking