1. The Meeting will be known as York Interfaith.
2. Aims: York Interfaith will:
a) be a forum for communication between religious groups;
b) demonstrate the ability and desire to discuss matters pertaining to religion and
become a unified group through shared concerns;
c) foster positive attitudes (engendering trust, combating ignorance and prejudice),
within and between religious groups and in the wider, secular world;
d) enable people of different backgrounds, beliefs and cultures to meet, and, to
experience as far as is possible something of those backgrounds, beliefs and
cultures other than their own.
e) bring the aims of the Interfaith Network to a local level in the city of York and
surrounding area including developing respectful relationships which do not blur or
undermine the distinctiveness of different religious traditions.
f) work with other groups with similar aims.
3. Membership;
Membership of York Interfaith will be open to everyone of faith and those of no
faith, who wish to further the declared aims of York Interfaith
4. York Interfaith Committee:
Committee meetings should be held at least twice a year.
Committee meetings will be Chaired by a nominated Interfaith committee member,
notified in advance; in the case of their absence then by the Chair of York
Interfaith
Nominations for Chair Secretary Treasurer and Vice Chair(s) to be received before
each Annual General Meeting, taken from the total membership. Elections would then
take place at the AGM.
All paid-up members shall be notified of an AGM at least 14 days in advance and
shall be eligible to attend and to vote.
Committee members may represent one or more religious communities or be elected
officers or invited by York Interfaith in a special capacity. [Representation need
not necessarily be taken to mean a delegate of a religious community]. A quorum for
Committee meetings should be one half of its committee members.
5. Sub-Committees/Working Groups:
The Committee should, where necessary, set up a small working group and determine
its purpose, function, date for reporting back and duration. At least one third of
any such group should be drawn from the Committee, one third from York Interfaith
members, with some co-options from outside the membership if required.
6. Open Meetings:
York Interfaith regularly holds a number of open meetings each year, according to a
programme agreed by the Committee, with suggestions taken from York Interfaith
members and local religious communities. These Meetings will be Chaired by a
nominated York Interfaith member, notified in advance; in the case of their absence
then by a York Interfaith Committee member.
7. Finances:
York Interfaith has a bank account in its name, signatory for cheques to be the
Treasurer, and Chair and/ or one other member of the Committee.
Accounts are to be presented at the Annual General Meeting at the beginning of the
year.
York Interfaith Accounts should be independently examined every year, in advance of
the AGM.
Funding for a programme of meetings and events is to be agreed by the Committee.
Subscriptions from individual members will be required; the level of these to be
decided at the Annual General Meeting.
8. Changes in the Constitution:
Changes to be made only at the AGM or at a meeting called for the purpose (of making
changes), for which 21 days advance notice has been given of the meeting and the
proposed changes. The changes should be agreed by two thirds of members who vote,
before they can be written into the constitution.
9. Dissolution:
The Group may be wound up at any time if agreed by two thirds of the members present
and voting at a General Meeting. Should dissolution be necessary, the assets of York
Interfaith should pass to a group with closely similar objectives, and operating in
the York area. If this is not possible, due to no similar group existing, the assets
should pass to the Interfaith Network UK.
March 2007/ January 2008/ January 2009/ January 2012/ January 2015
