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RTA is a Registered Charity: No.327029
1. The organisation' shall be called 'Rural Theology Association'.
2. The objects of the association shall be:
The advancement of the Christian Religion in rural areas within Great Britain
by:
(a) Educating people in order to develop an appropriate theology in rural areas;
(b) Publishing occasional papers and arranging periodic conferences to encourage
the development of patterns of ministry and mission appropriate to the
countryside;
(c) Initiating research in order to discover ways of living in the countryside
which embody a Christian response to the world; and disseminating the useful
results of such research;
(d) Enabling people to believe and practice their faith in rural areas;
(e) Such other lawful means for the attainment of the said objects.
3. Powers of the Association.
In furtherance of the objectives in clause 2 and not otherwise the Association
shall have the following powers:
(a) To fix what subscription shall be paid by members from time to time;
(b) To collect donations (whether periodical or otherwise);
(c) To issue appeals for donations and periodical reports of the activities of
the Association;
(d) To accept donations on any special trust in connection with the Association
so that every donation so accepted shall be held subject to the terms and
conditions of the gift;
(d) To organise or cause to be organised events for the purpose of raising money
for the Association provided that the Association shall not enter into any trade
of a permanent nature;
(f) To borrow money, subject to any consents as may be required by law;
(g) To invest any monies of the Association not needed as a balance for working
purposes;
(h) To open a bank account in the name of the Association, provided that all
cheques drawn on the said account shall be signed by two members of the
Executive Committee.
4. Membership of the Association
Membership of the Association shall be open to any person or organisation
wishing to further the advancement of Christian religion in rural areas.
5. Other Appointments
(a) The members, at the Annual Meeting, may, at their discretion, after
nomination by the Executive Committee, appoint a President and up to five
Vice-Presidents who shall be members of the Association.
(b) Any member may propose a name, in writing to the Administrative Secretary,
for consideration for nomination by the Executive Committee under 5.(a) above.
(c) The President and any Vice-Presidents shall be appointed for a period of
three years only. They may be elected for a further three years. There must then
be at least a year before they can be eligible for re-election after due
nomination.
(d) The members, at the Annual Meeting, may, at their discretion, offer Honorary
Life Membership to any members duly nominated by the Executive Committee.
Honorary Life Members would be entitled to receive such mailings as subscribing
members receive.
(e) Honorary Life Members would not be eligible for nomination to the Executive
Committee.
6. Meetings of the Association
(a) An Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held each year at
which all members of the Association shall be entitled to attend and vote.
(b) Special meetings of the Association shall be held at such times as shall be
appointed by the Executive Committee or by any twelve members of the
Association.
7. Executive Committee of the Association
(a) The Executive Committee of the Association shall be made up of elected and
co-opted members, all of whom will be entitled to vote, as follows:
(i) Elected Members: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Groups
Liaison Officer, and four further ordinary members, at least one of which latter
four shall be a lay person;
(ii) Co-opted Members: The Editor of Rural Theology; a representative of the
Arthur Rank Centre; and up to two further, at the discretion of those already on
the Executive Committee.
(b) The following shall be entitled to receive notification of meetings,
agendas, and minutes, and to attend meetings, but may not vote at them: The
President; the Vice-Presidents; and (should the Executive choose to appoint one)
the Financial Adviser.
(c) Elected Members of the Executive Committee shall be members of the
Association elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Association. The term
of office will be for three years. They may be elected for a further three
years. There must then be at least one year before they can be eligible for
re-election after due nomination.
(d) The Editor of Rural Theology shall be appointed by the Executive Committee
as and when occasion arises. Membership of the Executive Committee shall lapse
immediately on the cessation of the appointment to the editorship.
(e) The Representative of the Arthur Rank Centre shall be appointed by the
Arthur Rank Centre as occasion arises, and shall not already be an Executive
Committee member by dint of holding other office in the Association.
(f) The term of office of other co-opted members of the Executive Committee runs
until the subsequent Annual General Meeting.
(g) The proceedings of the Executive Committee shall not be invalidated by any
defect in the election or qualification of any member.
(h) Any member of the Executive Committee who is adjudged bankrupt or who makes
a composition or arrangement with his creditors or who is incapacitated from
acting or communicating in writing to the Executive Committee a wish to resign
shall thereupon cease to be a member.
(i) The Executive Committee shall hold at least two ordinary meetings in each
year and may hold such other meetings as may be required and a special meeting
may be summoned at any time by the Chairman or any two members upon at least
seven clear days' notice being given to all other members of the matters to be
discussed.
(j) There shall be a quorum when any six members of the Executive Committee are
present at the meeting thereof.
(k) At meetings of the Executive Committee every matter shall be determined by
the majority of the members present voting on the question provided that in the
case of equality of votes the Chairman of the meeting shall have a second or
casting vote.
(l) Any resolution of the Executive Committee may be rescinded or varied from
time to time by the Executive Committee.
(m) The Executive Committee shall provide and keep a minute book in which shall
be entered the proceedings of the Executive Committee and which shall be signed
by the Chairman of the meeting at the conclusion of such meeting or at some
future meeting if the minutes shall have been duly confirmed.
(n) (i) Proper books of account shall be kept by or on behalf of the Executive
Committee and entries made therein of all receipts and payments and such
accounts shall be independently examined annually by a suitable person who shall
be elected at the Annual General Meeting;
(ii) The Executive Committee shall present to the Annual General Meeting of the
Association the report for the preceding year and the accounts of the
Association for the preceding calendar year.
(o) Within the limits prescribed by this Constitution the Executive Committee
shall have full power from time to time to make alter and rescind regulations
for the conduct of their business.
8. Amendment of Constitution/Dissolution of Association
(a) Any proposal to amend this Constitution will require the approval of a
two-thirds majority of members present and voting at an Annual General Meeting
or Special Meeting of the Association. Notice of such meeting must have been
given in accordance with normal procedure but not less than fourteen days prior
to the meeting in question and giving the wording of the proposed amendment,
provided that no amendments shall be made which would have the effect of the
Association ceasing to be a Charity in law.
(b) The Association may be dissolved at any time by a resolution passed by a
two-thirds majority of members present and voting at a Special Meeting provided
that if any property held by or in the name of the Association remains after the
satisfaction of all debts and liabilities such property shall be given or
transferred to some other charitable institution or institutions having objects
similar to those of the Association as the Executive Committee with the approval
of the Charity Commissioners determine.
Revised to incorporate changes made at the Annual General Meeting held on
14th November 2001
H.G.Platt Administrative Secretary 22/12/2001