Constitution

SOUTHERN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION

CONSTITUTION.


Adopted on the eighteenth day of November 2017


  1. Name.

The name of the Association is The Southern Unitarian Association (“the Charity”).  For the purposes of this constitution the word “Southern” shall be taken to include:

  • the whole of the County of Hampshire,
  • the whole of the County of the Isle of Wight,
  • the whole of the County of Dorset with the exception of those parts of the District of West Dorset which lie to the west of Dorchester (see Appendix 1),
  • the part of the County of Wiltshire known, prior to the 2009 re-organization, as the District of Salisbury (see Appendix 2),
  • the part of the County of West Sussex known as the District of Chichester (see Appendix 3),
  • the Channel Islands,
  • and the Unitary Authorities of Portsmouth, Southampton, Bournemouth and Poole.


  1. Administration.

Subject to the matters set out below the Charity and its property shall be administered and managed in accordance with this constitution by the members of the Executive Committee constituted by Clause G of this constitution (“the Executive Committee”).


  1. Objects.

The object of the Association shall be the promotion of religion, among or on behalf of those Congregations who shall be members of the Association for the time being, in accordance with the principles of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, as stated in the Handbook which is issued periodically to member Congregations.


  1. Powers.

In furtherance of the object but not otherwise the Executive Committee may exercise the following powers:

  1. power to raise funds and to invite and receive contributions provided that in raising funds the Executive Committee shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall conform to any relevant requirements of the law;
  2. power to buy, take on lease or in exchange any property necessary for the achievement of the object and to maintain and equip it for use;
  3. power subject to any consents required by law to sell, lease or dispose of all or any part of the property of the Charity;
  4. power subject to any consents required by law to borrow money and to charge all or any part of the property of the Charity with repayment of the money so borrowed;
  5. power to employ such staff (who shall not be members of the Executive Committee) as are necessary for the proper pursuit of the object and to make all reasonable and necessary provision for the payment of pensions and superannuation for staff and their dependants;
  6. power to co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the object or of similar charitable purposes and to exchange information and advice with them;
  7. power to establish or support any charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for the object;
  8. power to appoint and constitute such advisory committees as the Executive Committee may think fit;
  9. power to do all such lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the object;
  10. the management of financial resources so as to maintain the work of member congregations by various methods for example to include the making of grants to support ministry, the printing and distribution of religious publications and the promotion of religious education.


  1. Membership.
  1. Membership of the Charity shall consist of the constituent congregations meeting in the geographical area described in A above, and currently comprising:-

Isle of Wight Unitarians, centred on Newport Meeting House;

John Pounds Memorial Church (Unitarian) Portsmouth;

Edmund Kell Unitarian Church, Southampton;

The society of Unitarians in Ringwood operating as “Didymus (Ringwood)”;

and also any congregation or fellowship within the geographical area referred to above which applies to and is accepted by the Executive Committee of the Southern Unitarian Association for inclusion in the Southern Unitarian Association and which subsequently is officially admitted to the Roll of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches according to the provisions and procedures enumerated in the Handbook.


  1. Each member congregation shall appoint a minimum of one voting representative, and a maximum of two voting representatives, plus its minister, lay pastor or lay leader, if such persons are in post, making a maximum of three in all.  Each voting representative will have one vote at Annual General Meetings and all meetings held subsequently during the ensuing year.  If the appointment of a minister, lay pastor or lay leader is shared among two or more congregations, he or she shall be nominated by each of the congregations served, but will have only one vote.




  1. Honorary Officers.
  1. At the Annual General Meeting of the Charity the voting members shall elect a President, who shall act as Chair Person, and a Secretary and a Treasurer, who shall hold office from the conclusion of that meeting.  These officers may be, but need not be, chosen by the elected representatives from among their own number.  Upon assumption of office all officers automatically become voting members of the Executive Committee.
  2. In additions to the requirements applicable to all Executive Committee members contained in Clauses G, H and I below, any officer of the Association must have, prior to assuming office, at least one year’s completed membership of a recognised congregation or fellowship within the area of the Southern Unitarian Association.


  1. Executive Committee.
  1. Each congregation or fellowship in membership of the Southern Unitarian Association shall notify the Secretary of the Association at the time, in writing, of the names of its voting representatives for the coming year at least seven calendar days before the date fixed for the Annual General Meeting.
  2. The Executive Committee may, as an addition to the membership stipulated in E(2) above, appoint not more than two co-opted members.  Co-opted members must not constitute more than one-third of the membership of the Executive Committee.  Each appointment of a co-opted member shall be made at a special meeting of the Executive Committee called under Clause J and shall take effect from the end of that meeting unless the appointment is to fill a place which has not then been vacated in which case the appointment shall run from the date when the post becomes vacant.
  3. All the members of the Executive Committee shall retire from office together at the end of the Annual general Meeting next after the date on which they came into office but they may be re-elected or re-appointed.
  4. The proceedings of the Executive Committee shall not be invalidated by any vacancy among their number or by any failure to appoint or by any defect in the appointment or qualification of a member.
  5. No person shall be entitled to act as a member of the Executive Committee whether on a first or subsequent entry into office until after signing in the minute book of the Executive Committee a declaration of acceptance and willingness to act in the trusts of the Charity.
  6. No person shall be entitled to act as a member of the Executive Committee if he or she shall be under 18 years of age at the date of appointment.


  1. Determination of Membership of Executive Committee.

A member of the Executive Committee shall cease to hold office if he or she:

  1. be disqualified from acting as a member of the Executive Committee by virtue of Section 45 of the Charities Act 1992 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of this provision).
  2. becomes incapable by reason of mental disorder, illness or injury of managing and administering his or her own affairs.
  3. is absent without the permission of the Executive Committee from all their meetings held within one year and the Executive Committee resolve that his or her office be vacated.
  4. notifies to the Executive Committee a wish to resign (but only if at least five members of the Executive will remain in office when the notice of resignation is to take effect).


  1. Executive Committee Members not to be Personally Interested.

No member of the Executive shall hold or acquire any interest in property belonging to the Charity (otherwise than as a trustee for the Charity) or receive remuneration or be interested (otherwise than as a member of the Executive Committee) in any contract entered into by the Executive Committee.


  1. Meetings and Proceedings of the Executive Committee.
  1. The Executive Committee shall hold at least two ordinary meetings each year.  A special meeting may be called at any time by the President or by any three members of the Executive Committee upon not less than ten days’ notice being given to the other members of the Executive of the matters to be discussed but if the matters include the appointment of a co-opted member then not less than twenty-one days’ notice must be given.
  2. The President shall act as Chair Person at meetings of the Executive Committee.  If the President is absent from any meeting, the members present shall choose one of their number to be Chair Person of the meeting before any other business is transacted.
  3. There shall be a quorum when not less than five voting members representing at least three congregations are present at the meeting.
  4. Any other full member of a congregation or fellowship in membership of the Southern Unitarian Association shall be entitled to attend any ordinary or special Executive Committee meeting.  He or she may speak on any issue on the agenda of the meeting, but may not vote, and his or her presence will not count towards the fulfilment of the quorum referred to in sub-clause (3) of this clause, above.
  5. Every matter shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members of the Executive Committee present and voting on the question but in the case of equality of votes the Chair Person of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
  6. The Executive Committee shall keep minutes, in books kept for the purpose, of the proceedings at meetings of the Executive Committee and any sub-committee.
  7. The Executive Committee may from time to time make and alter rules for the conduct of their business, the summoning and conduct of their meetings and the custody of documents. No rule may be made which is inconsistent with this constitution.
  8. The Executive Committee may appoint one or more sub-committees consisting of three or more members of the Executive Committee for the purpose of making any enquiry or supervising or performing any function or duty which in the opinion of the Executive Committee would be more conveniently undertaken or carried out by a sub-committee: provided that all acts and proceedings of any such sub-committee shall be fully and promptly reported to the Executive Committee.


  1. Receipts and Expenditure.
  1. The funds of the Charity, including all donations, contributions and bequests, shall be paid into an account operated by the Executive Committee in the name of the Charity at such banks as the Executive Committee shall from time to time decide.  All cheques drawn on the account of the Executive Committee must be signed by at least two members of the Executive Committee.
  2. The funds belonging to the Charity shall be applied only to furthering the object.


  1. Property.
  1. Subject to the provision of sub-clause (2) of this clause L, the Executive Committee shall cause the title to:
    1. all land held by or in trust for the Charity which is not vested in the Official Custodian for Charities; and
    2. all investments held by or on behalf of the Charity

to be vested either in a corporation entitled to act as custodian trustee or in not less than three individuals appointed by them as holding trustees.  Holding trustees may be removed by the Executive Committee at their pleasure and shall act in accordance with the lawful directions of the Executive Committee.  Provided they act only in accordance with the lawful directions of the Executive Committee, the holding trustees shall not be liable for the acts and defaults of its members.

  1. If a corporation entitled to act as a custodian trustee has not been appointed to hold the property of the Charity, the Executive Committee may permit any investments held by or in trust for the Charity to be held in the name of a clearing bank, trust corporation or any stock broking company which is a member of the International Stock Exchange (or any subsidiary of any such stock broking company) as nominee for the Executive Committee and may pay such a nominee reasonable and proper remuneration for acting as such.


  1. Accounts.

The Executive Committee shall comply with their obligations under the Charities Act 1992 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that Act) with regard to:-

  1. the keeping of accounting records for the Charity;
  2. the preparation of annual statements of account for the Charity;
  3. the auditing or independent examination of the statements of account of the Charity; and
  4. the transmission of the statements of account of the Charity to the Commissioners.


  1. Annual Report.

The Executive Committee shall comply with their obligations under the Charities Act 1992 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that Act) with regard to the preparation of an annual report and its transmission to the Commissioners.


  1. Annual Return.

The Executive Committee shall comply with their obligations under the Charities Act 1992 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that Act) with regard to the preparation of an annual return and its transmission to the Commissioners.




  1. Annual General Meeting.
  1. There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the Charity which shall be held in the month of November of each year or as soon as practicable thereafter, the financial year being 1st October to 30th September the following year.
  2. The President shall take the Chair at every Annual General Meeting and in his or her absence the members present at the Annual General Meeting shall appoint one of their number to be Chair Person for that meeting.  In the case of equality of votes at an Annual General Meeting the Chair Person – the President or someone appointed to preside in his or her stead – shall have a second or casting vote.
  3. Every Annual General Meeting shall be called by the Executive Committee.  The Secretary shall give at least twenty-one days’ notice of the Annual General Meeting to all members of the Charity.  Any full members of a congregation or fellowship in membership of the Southern Unitarian Association shall be entitled to attend the Annual General Meeting.  He or she may speak on any issue on the agenda of the meeting, but may not vote.
  4. The Executive Committee shall present to each Annual General Meeting the report and accounts of the Charity for the preceding year.
  5. Nominations for election to any of the posts of honorary officer may be made by any member of the Charity (i.e. by any member congregation or recognised fellowship according to its usual constitutional procedures) or by any member of the Executive Committee during the year preceding the Annual General Meeting.  In the latter case they should be seconded by an individual from another congregation similarly so qualified.  Nominations must be in writing and should be in the hands of the Secretary of the Southern Unitarian Association at least twenty-one days before the date fixed for the Annual General Meeting.  Should there be more than one nomination for any post a ballot will be held at the Annual General Meeting.



  1. Special General Meetings.
  1. The honorary officers of the Association, acting jointly, may call a Special General Meeting of the Charity at any time.  In addition, if at least four of the duly appointed voting members of the Executive Committee request such a meeting in writing stating the business to be considered the Secretary shall call such a meeting.  In both cases at least twenty-one days’ notice must be given to members of the Charity and the notice must state the business to be discussed.
  2. As with an Annual General Meeting, any full member of a congregation or fellowship in membership with the Southern Unitarian Association shall be entitled to attend a Special General Meeting.  He or she may speak on the issue or issues on the agenda of the meeting, but may not vote.


  1. Procedure at General Meetings.
  1. The Secretary or other person specially appointed by the Executive Committee shall keep a full record of proceedings at every General Meeting of the Charity.
  2. There shall be a quorum when at least five of the duly appointed voting representatives of at least three of the member congregations are present at any Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting held in conjunction with an Annual General Meeting and where at least five members of the Executive Committee are present at any Special General Meeting held at other times during a year.


  1. Notices.

Any notice required to be served on any member of the Charity shall be in writing to the secretary of each constituent congregation or recognised fellowship whose responsibility it is to notify the members of his or her congregation.


  1. Alterations to the Constitution.
  1. Subject to the following provisions of this clause T the Constitution may be altered by a resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting at a General Meeting.  The notice of the General Meeting must include notice of the resolution, setting out the terms of the alteration proposed.
  2. No amendment may be made to clause A (the Name of Charity clause), clause C (the Objects clause), clause I (Executive Committee members not to be Personally Interested clause), clause U (the dissolution clause) or this clause T without the prior consent in writing of the Commissioners.
  3. No amendment may be made which would have the effect of making the Charity cease to be a Charity at law.
  4. The Executive Committee shall promptly send to the Commissioners a copy of any amendment made under this clause.


  1. Dissolution.

If the Executive Committee decides that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Charity it should call a meeting of all the members of the Charity, of which not less than twenty-one days’ notice (stating the terms of the resolution to be proposed) shall be given.  If the proposal is confirmed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting the Executive shall have the power to realize any assets held by or on behalf of the Charity.  Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be transferred to the British and Foreign Unitarian Association Incorporated.  A copy of the statement of account, or account and statement, for the final accounting period of the Charity must be sent to the Commissioners.


This constitution was adopted on the eighteenth day of November 2017 by the persons who are representative of each of the four congregations currently in membership of the Association, and whose signatures appear at the bottom of this document.





Name................................................... Signature.................................................... 

Date.....................................................

Isle of Wight Unitarians



Name................................................... Signature.................................................... 

Date.....................................................

John Pounds Memorial Church (Unitarian) Portsmouth 



Name................................................... Signature.................................................... 

Date.....................................................

Edmund Kell Unitarian Church, Southampton 



Name................................................... Signature.................................................... 

Date.....................................................

The society of Unitarians in Ringwood operating as “Didymus (Ringwood)”









APPENDIX 1


CIVIL PARISHES IN THE COUNTY OF DORSET, DISTRICT OF WEST DORSET


All the civil parishes in this list fall within the area of operation of Southern Unitarian Association, being within the District of West Dorset and east of Dorchester.


Researched from local government documents on the web



Athelhampton

Broadmayne

Burleston

Cheselbourne

Crossways

Dewlish

Melcombe Horsey

Osmington

Owermoigne

Poxwell

Puddletown

Tincleton

Tolpuddle

Warmwell

West Knighton

Woodsford




APPENDIX 2


CIVIL PARISHES IN SALISBURY DISTRICT PRIOR TO 2009 RE-ORGANIZATION

OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT – SUPERSEDED BY WILTSHIRE COUNCIL


All the civil parishes in this list fall within the area of operation of Southern Unitarian Association, being the parishes previously grouped as the District of Salisbury.


Researched from local government documents on the web


Alderbury

Allington

Alvediston

Amesbury

Ansty

Barford St. Martin

Berwick St. James

Berwick St. John

Berwick St. Leonard

Bishopstone

Bowerchalke

Britford

Broad Chalke

Bulford

Burcombe Without

Chicklade

Chilmark

Cholderton

Clarendon Park

Compton Chamberlayne

Coombe Bissett

Dinton

Donhead St. Andrew

Donhead St. Mary

Downton

Durnford

Durrington

East Knoyle

Ebbesbourne Wake

Figheldean

Firsdown

Fonthill Bishop

Fonthill Gifford

Fovant

Great Wishford

Grimstead

Hindon

Idmiston

Kilmington

Landford

Laverstock

Maiden Bradley with Yarnfield

Mere

Milston

Netherhampton

Newton Tony

Odstock

Orcheston

Pitton and Farley

Quidhampton

Redlynch

Salisbury

Sedgehill and Semley

Shrewton

South Newton

Stapleford

Steeple Langford

Stourton with Gasper

Stratford Tony

Sutton Mandeville

Swallowcliffe

Teffont

Tilshead

Tisbury

Tollard Royal

West Dean

West Knoyle

West Tisbury

Whiteparish

Wilsford cum Lake

Wilton

Winterbourne

Winterbourne Stoke

Winterslow

Woodford

Wylye

Zeals



APPENDIX 3


THE DISTRICT OF CHICHESTER IN THE COUNTY OF WEST SUSSEX

 






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Repository of public information

This is a read only blog that is the online repository of key parts of the Handbook of the Southern Unitarian Association. As such, this is ...

  • Repository of public information
    This is a read only blog that is the online repository of key parts of the Handbook of the Southern Unitarian Association. As such, this is ...