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The ( Rules and
Constitution 1. The Church shall be called "The
Cedars Spiritualist Church". The object of the Church shall be to spread the truth of
survival after death, of spiritual communion of healing by the powers of
spirit and to teach and demonstrate the exercise of spiritual gifts. The discussion and study of matters arising from psychical
research. The wider recognition of spiritual realities and of
religion as vital perception of those realities. 2. The church shall base its work upon spiritual teachings, shall
cause the teachings to be read regularly and all services shall be well
organised and conducted in a spiritual manner. Members desiring to attend Special Circles and
Demonstrations, for which Mediums are engaged, shall be invited to contribute
to the expense of such demonstration. 3.
The Church premises shall
be used as a place of Public Worship and has been duly registered with the proper Local Authorities as a
place of worship and for the solemnisation of marriages. 4. The Church premises are to be safeguarded by the appointed
Trustees whose powers and duties are defined in the 1925 Trustee Act and
Amended Trustee Act 2006. The contents and Church funds are to be managed by the
committee. The property of the Church shall be adequately covered
against fire and public liability etc by taking out suitable insurance
policies this being the responsibility of the Trustees. The Church shall be vacated by 10pm. 5. The
management of the church to be vested in a Committee consisting not less than
ten, and no more than seventeen members. Within this number there will be six
‘Officer’ posts; a President, One Vice President , one Hon
General Secretary, one Hon Medium Secretary, one Hon. Membership Secretary
and one Hon Treasurer. All committee members shall be elected at the A.G.M. In the event of a committee member leaving mid term, a
full member may be co-opted to fill the vacancy for the remaining part of the
year. Candidates for officer posts
should have completed a full year’s term on the committee prior to
being nominated. In the event of there being difficulty in filling an officer
post (EXCEPT that of President) the committee may waive the ‘one year
on committee’ requirement. Three officers and a majority of the serving committee
shall form a quorum; the Chairperson has a casting vote in the case of equal
division of voting. 6.
Every resolution shall be put to the vote by a show of hands, any
discussion may be closed by a resolution "That the question now put
" being moved, seconded, and carried, such resolution being put to the
vote without further discussion. No motion to suspend the standing orders for
the purpose of altering the order of business shall be put to the meeting
unless supported by five members. 7.
Nominations The nomination list for the election of officers and
committee members shall be closed seven days prior to the A.G.M and taken
down from display. The nomination list must be displayed four weeks prior to
the A.G.M. No member may be nominated for election unless a full
member and shows regular attendance and interest in the affairs of the
church. Full members only may vote by ballot or postal proxy vote
at the A.G.M, Proxy vote to be received seven days prior to the A.G.M. placed
in a sealed envelope and passed to the President. The Agenda will be as follows:-
THE CEDARS AGENDA 1. The President’s Report. 2. The Secretary’s Report. 3. The Medium Secretary’s Report. 4. The Treasurer’s Report. 5. Matters Arising. 6. Election of President and One Vice President for the
ensuing year. 7. Election of Secretary, Mediums Secretary, Membership
Secretary, Treasurer and Committee. 8. Any Other Business 8 A Special General Meeting may be
called at any time by the President, Secretary or by the committee, or upon
receipt by the Secretary of a written requisition stating the purpose for which
it is to be summoned and signed by not less than seven full members. No business except that for which the meeting was called
shall be transacted at a Special Meeting. 9. The Committee shall meet regularly during their term of
office at set intervals to be fixed for the purpose of dealing with Church
matters. At these meetings the Treasurer shall report on the income
and expenditure, assets and liabilities of the Church. Matters on the Agenda to be discussed by committee as
usual. Members who are wishing to express opinions should do so
by a signed request being placed in the suggestion box and not verbally to
Church Officers or Committee Members. At all meetings members intending to speak shall address
the Chair, be brief and speak not more than once on any particular business
discussed except by permission of the Chair Joint meetings of Trustees and Committee can be arranged
if necessary. 10. The Secretary. The Secretary shall undertake correspondence and shall
enter the Minutes in a proper Minute Book. These shall be read by the Committee at all meetings and
then signed by the Chairman as a correct record of those meetings. 11. Medium Secretary The Mediums` Secretary shall undertake bookings of future
mediums and confirm one week prior to date of booking, shall discuss with the
Committee the mediums` abilities and if poor, whether to book for a future
date. 12. The
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall keep an account book, enter all monies
received and paid out. He/She shall be responsible for preparing a statement of
income and expenditure suitable for presentation to audit, before being
presented at the Annual General Meeting. The President, Vice President, Secretary and Trustees,
have the right to see the books at any time, by giving notice. 13. Church Funds A banking account shall be kept in the name of the Church
into which must be paid as early as possible all monies received by the
Church except such as required to meet current expenses. The Treasurer and Secretary shall jointly operate the
account and shall report at the Committee Meetings as to the financial
position. All Church funds shall be devoted to the purpose for the
benefit of the church and to other charitable causes as the Committee may
decide. 14. Competent Church workers are encouraged and welcomed by the
Church Committee to undertake activities for or on behalf of the church. 15. Membership. Each application for Associate Members/Full membership of
the Church must to be proposed by two full Committee Members. Anyone who wishes to be proposed from Associate Member to
Full Member must be accepted by a majority vote of the Committee for each
member requesting Full Membership. Each member to receive a Membership Card and be entered
into the Membership Book. Membership to be paid annually in advance covering
period from April to April. A proposed Full Member must have been an Associate Member
for one full year. Associate members automatically become full members after
two years unless declined by the committee. The final decision as to the acceptance or refusal of
membership applications, or membership renewal applications, will rest with
the Committee 16. Library. A Library of works, tape cassettes and CD`S upon the
subject of spiritual matters to be compiled for the use of members. The borrowers will be held responsible for and shall be
held liable for any damage caused. Hiring fees per week shall be agreed by the Committee. Any voluntary donations will be accepted by the Church to
purchase new books or tapes for the Church Library. 17. Healers. Healers are only allowed to give spiritual healing. Healers that give healing in the Church must be covered by
insurance. Future healers to be invited into the Church must be put
forward to the Committee and agreed by a majority vote prior to starting
healing. They will automatically become full members of the Church on being
accepted by the committee. Future healers should have completed a healing course and also
be covered by healing insurance. Any other healing in the Church for any specific function
has to be agreed by the Committee. 18. Rules No new rules may be instituted or existing rules rescinded
except at an Annual General Meeting, an Extraordinary Meeting or by the
Trustees.
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