--- a/QiS/What_are_QiS.txt	Thu Mar 28 19:34:37 2024 +0000
+++ b/QiS/What_are_QiS.txt	Fri Mar 29 14:05:47 2024 +0000
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@
 
   An updated GD needs to make explicit provision for the possibility
   of SESAM-the-church continuing _as_ an Area Meeting while laying
-  down SESAM-the-charity, drawing on the proposed structure for Wales
-  and the Southern Marches. There must be clarity on
-  SESAM-the-church's status with respect to QiS-the-church and thus
-  with respect to the trustees of QiS-the-charity.
+  down SESAM-the-charity, drawing on the proposed approach to
+  preserving AMs in Wales. There must be clarity on SESAM-the-church's
+  status with respect to QiS-the-church and thus with respect to the
+  trustees of QiS-the-charity.
 
 I'll start by identifying the problems I see with the GD, and go on to
 outline the kind of changes I think would improve it, to the point
@@ -60,28 +60,65 @@
 context makes clear which they are referring to, but not always.
 
 There are two problems here:
- a) The lack of a clear distinction between the two;
+
+ a) The lack of a clear distinction between the two, exemplified
+    further by the calling letter for GM on 6 April 2024, which
+    describes the matter before the Meeting once as "a single Quaker
+    body" and once as "a single Quaker charity / body";
+
  b) The very limited nature of what is said, or more often implied,
-    about the RSFS.  This is acknowledged by what in the quote above:
-    "[RSFS] is not part of what we are asking you about here".
+    about the RSFS.  This is acknowledged in the quote above: "the
+    body is not part of what we are asking you about here".
 
 These problems arise in large part because, perfectly understandably,
 QiS-CG evidently started with the template for governing documents for
 (English/Welsh) CIOs made available by Quaker Life
-(https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/cio-constitution-template-agreed-2014).
+(https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/cio-constitution-template-agreed-2014),
+which embodies the same confusion.
 
 Indeed SESAM-the-charity's own governing document is also based on a
 similar, more recent, template for non-incorporated Area Meetings from
 Quaker Life
 (https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/governing-document-for-am-cc-approved-11-2022-final),
-and so also suffers from these problems [footnote: East of Scotland
-AM's governing document is also based on the non-incorporated Area
-Meeting template.  North of Scotland Quaker Trust is evidently
-distinct from NSAM, but I haven't found a governing document, nor have
-I found one for West of Scotland]
+and so also suffers from these problems [footnote: East of Scotland AM
+and North of Scotland AM's governing documents are also based on the
+non-incorporated Area Meeting template.  Stewardship of North of
+Scotland Quaker Trust is identified as a responsibility of NSAM
+Trustees in their Terms of Reference. West of Scotland's document is
+shorter, and perhaps based on an early template, compared to the
+others.]
+
+But _why_ are these problems, and even granted that they are, why do
+they need to be fixed _now_?
 
-But _why_ is these problems, and even granted that they are, why do
-they need to be fixed _now_?
+They are problems because the existing Area Meetings' responsibilities
+and activities as a worshiping body, governed by Meetings for Worship
+for Church Affairs of their membership defined in QF&P, are largely
+distinct from their responsibilities and activities as a charity,
+governed by trustees.  The former consist of, for example, the spiritual and
+pastoral care of their members and their witness, grounded in our
+testimonies, to their communities, whereas the latter focus on
+maitaining the Area Meeting's legal status and financial well-being.
+As for Britain Yearly Meeting, whose succinct self-characterisation
+recently has been "A simple church supported by a simple charity", so
+it should be for Area Meetings.  Quaker Faith and Practice has useful
+guidance on this relationship throughout section 15. 15.03 is
+particularly relevant:
+
+  "The law may assume that authority for determining action
+   passes to the trustees and the meeting may choose to do
+   this. However, under Gospel Order, the ultimate authority will
+   still lie with the gathered meeting."
+
+This needs to be fixed _now_ because it is laid on Area Meeting
+trustees to manage the assets of the Area Meeting in such a was as to
+support the charitable objects of the Area Meeting, and without a
+clear understanding of how that will continue to be true once those
+assets are transferred to the SCIO, they would fail in that
+responsibility, which the law expresses as "[they must] seek, in good
+faith, to ensure that the charity acts in a manner which is consistent
+with its purposes".
+
 
 2. The future of the Area Meeting(s)
 
@@ -193,9 +230,6 @@
 
 2. Area meetings in Scotland governing documents
 
- * North of Scotland Quaker Trust is evidently distinct from NSAM, but
-   I haven't found a governing document.
-
  * The governing document for the Religious Society of Friends
    (Quakers) [in Britain] East Scotland Area Meeting (abbreviated as
    East Scotland Area Meeting) is based on the template provided by
@@ -235,9 +269,6 @@
    template, with the addition of GM for Scotland to the allowed
    dispositions.
 
- * I can't find a governing document for whatever charity is
-   associated with West of Scotland
-
  * Dundee Friends Property Trust was governed by a 130-odd-year-old deed
    of trust, now superseded in 2009 by a governing document, which I
    can't find online.  From the 2020 Annual Report:
@@ -248,6 +279,10 @@
      representative of Dundee Local Meeting. The majority of Trustees
      shall be drawn from Dundee Local Meeting."
 
+ * North of Scotland AM is also based on the Quaker Life template.
+   Stewardship of North of Scotland Quaker Trust is identified as a
+   responsibility of NSAM Trustees in their Terms of Reference.
+
  * General Meeting for Scotland
 
  * The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Wales and the Marches