We, the people who attended the conference at Sibiu, Romania 6-10 June 2012, agree the following guidelines
Preamble
IRCA-Europe is a network of people from Europe and its neighbours with a passion for ruralcommunities, based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We share our stories of struggle andour stories of hope, joined by our reliance on the land and sea for our livelihood and bydetermination and hope because of faith in the triune God.
The organisation’s name is International Rural Churches Association-Europe (IRCA-Europe).IRCA-Europe is affiliated to the International Rural Churches Association (IRCA).
IRCA-Europe is the successor to the Churches European Rural Network (CERN) andEvangelischeArbeitsgemeinschaft fur Landfragen(EAL).
1The Aims and purposes ofIRCA-Europe:-
(1) To encourage sustainable rural communities and practice.
(2) To be a voice for the rural community in Europe and its neighbours.
(3) To share stories and examples of good practice in rural churches and networks.
(4) To relate Christian faith and hope to rural life.
(5) To bring a European perspective to the worldwide work of IRCA.
2. Membership
Organisations and people who support the work of IRCA-Europe and are aged 18 or over can apply to the leadership group to become amember.Members may be required to pay a subscription.
Once accepted by the leadership group, membership lasts for 4 years and may be renewed.
Theleadership group will keep an up-to-date membership list.
The leadership group may remove a person’s membership if they believe it is in the best interests of IRCA-Europe. The member has the right to be heard by the leadership group before the decisionis made and can be accompanied by a friend.
3 Quadrennial General Meeting of Members (QGM)
(1) The QGM must be held every 4 years within the Conference, with 14 days’ noticegiven to all members telling them what is on the agenda. Minutes must be kept ofthe QGM.
(2) There must be at least 10% of members present at the QGM.
(3) Every member has one vote.
(4) The leadership group shall present their report and accounts.
(5) The meeting shall appoint an independent examiner for the accounts.
(6) Any member may stand for election to the leadership group.
(7) Members shall elect between 3 and 7 people to the leadership group to serve for the next 4 years.They will retire at the next Conference but may stand for re-election.
4Leadership group
IRCA-Europe shall be managed by theleadership group who are appointed at theGeneral Meeting (GM) of IRCA-Europe.
5 Carrying out the purposes
In order to carry out the purposes, the leadership group have the power to:
(1) Raise funds, receive grants and donations.
(2) Apply funds to carry out the work of IRCA-Europe.
(3) Co-operate with and support other organisations with similar purposes.
(4) Do anything which is lawful and necessary to achieve the purposes of IRCA-Europe.
6Meetings of the leadership group
(1) The leadership group must hold at least 2 meetings each year. At their first meeting after the QGMthey will elect a chair, treasurer and secretary. The leadership groupwill act by majoritydecision. Meetings may take place face to face, or utilising modern communicationmethods.
(2) At least 3 of the leadership group must be present at meetings to be able to take decisions.Minutes shall be kept for every meeting.
(3) If a member of the leadership group has a conflict of interest s/he must declare it and leave the meetingwhile this matter is being discussed or decided.
(4) During the term of office, the leadership group may appoint up to 2 additional members of the group. Theywill stand down at the next QGM.
(5) The leadership group may make reasonable additional rules to help to run IRCA-Europe. These rules must not conflict with these guidelines or the law.
7 Money and property
(1) Money and property must only be used for purposes of IRCA-Europe.
(2) The leadership group must keep accounts. The most recent annual accounts can be seen byanybody on request.
(3) Members of the leadership group cannot receive any money or property from IRCA-Europe, except torefund reasonable out of pocket expenses.
(4) Money must be held in IRCA-Europe’s bank account. All cheques must be signed by2 members of the leadership group.
(5) The financial year will be the calendar year.
8Changing the guidelines and dissolution
If the leadership group consider it is necessary to change theseguidelines, or wind up IRCA-Europe, they must call a General Meeting so that the membership can make thedecision.
The leadership group must also call a General Meeting if they receive a written request from themajority of members.
All members must be given 14 days’ notice and told the reason for the meeting. Alldecisions at a General Meeting require a two thirds majority of those present. Minutes must be kept.
(1) Winding up - any money or property remaining after payment of debts shall betransferred to IRCA and shall be used by IRCA only for work in the area of theformer IRCA-Europe.
(2) Changes to the Guidelines can only be made at General Meetings. No change can be made that goes against the preamble and the purposes of IRCA-Europe.
(3)The leadership group may also call a General Meeting to consult the membership.
9 Setting up IRCA-Europe
The guidelines were adopted on 8 June 2012 by the people whose signaturesappear below. They are the first members of IRCA-Europe.