Constitution

Constitution

The following is the constitution of the University of York Christian Union as ammended at the AGM on the 11th December 2010

Constitutional Items

The following are the constitutionally binding items of the constitution of the UYCU, and are to be adhered to as such.

  1. The Society

    The Society shall be called The University of York Christian Union.

  2. Affiliation

    The Society shall be affiliated to the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF)

  3. Aims

    Our aim is to love God and reflect His glory by:

    1. Individually and corporately proclaiming the Gospel of our Lord Jesus to our fellow students and living lives consistent with the Gospel.
    2. Challenging and deepening the faith of members by teaching, prayer, Bible study and worship.
    3. Stimulating interest and active involvement in missionary work at home and abroad.
    4. Encouraging members to be committed to a local church.

  4. Membership

    1. Membership shall be open to all members of the University who can honestly sign the Statement of Faith which is: "In joining this society I declare that I accept Jesus Christ as my Redeemer, Saviour, Mediator, Lord and God and I will seek in thought and action to be ruled by His teaching as written in the Bible; and give my active support to the aims of the society."
    2. Membership shall be renewable annually. Nobody can join the society at a general meeting or during the seven days before it.
    3. The main meetings, prayer meetings and small groups organised by the Christian Union shall be open to all members of the University irrespective of membership to the society.

  5. Doctrinal Basis

    1. The society agrees with and will defend the truths set out in the Doctrinal Basis here.

  6. Committee and Official Positions

    1. The society shall have an Executive committee (Exec) which shall consist of a joint presidency of one male and one female member, a treasurer, prayer secretary, general secretary, small groups co-ordinator, evangelism secretary and international secretary.
    2. Each college shall have an appropriate number of Small Group Leaders (SGLs), College Reps (CReps), and College Evangelism Coordinators (CECs). Other posts may be deemed desirable for the situation in a given college. These additional posts shall be confirmed and filled by a meeting of the CRep(s), the CEC(s), and the SGLs of the given college with one member of the Exec.
    3. The membership of all postholders shall hold office for one year, and may be re-accepted if still eligible to hold such a position.
    4. A new Exec shall be accepted if 75% of those voting at the AGM indicate their approval of all the nominations. All other postholders shall be accepted if the new Exec is accepted.
    5. The Exec shall publish in whatever format(s) they deem most suitable: details of each term's meetings, the basis of membership, the aims of the society and names of all members holding official positions.
    6. Exec meetings shall be held at least once a fortnight. Minutes will be taken and will be available on request to all members of the society.

  7. Main Meetings and Speakers

    1. The Society shall meet on at least seven evenings during term time to praise God and learn more about Him. Teachings will be based on biblical exposition. There shall be at least one weekly prayer meeting.
    2. Sung and spoken worship in the main CU meetings shall reflect a broad range of traditions and tastes such that all members may worship freely and equally.
    3. All speakers invited to address the society shall be required to sign their agreement with the Doctrinal Basis of the Society.
    4. The Exec shall not invite a speaker to address the society on any issue of faith or conduct if, no matter how pressing the issue, they cannot find a suitably qualified speaker (decided at the discretion of the Exec) willing to sign honestly the Doctrinal Basis.

  8. General Meetings (GMs)

    1. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held during the last three weeks of the Autumn term.
    2. Any other general meeting may be called at the discretion of the Exec or by a petition of 20% of the members.
    3. At least seven days notice of a general meeting and its agenda shall be given to all members of the society.
    4. No person shall join the society at a general meeting or during the seven days preceding it. Only members will be entitled to vote at a general meeting or propose amendments to the constitution of the society.
    5. Additions to the agenda must be submitted to the Chairperson, who shall be one of the presidents, at least four days before such a meeting.
    6. Notice shall be given to all members, by written or electronic means, of the nature and content of all proposed constitutional amendments at least seven days in advance of the general meeting in which those amendments are to be discussed.
    7. Revisions of proposed amendments (either before or during a general meeting) may be accepted, even after members have been notified of those amendments. Any such revisions must:
      • clarify the amendment,
      • rectify an anomaly or make an improvement;
      • preserve the original intention of the amendment;
      • be the smallest revisions which can reasonably achieve the first two goals.
    8. The quorum for general meetings shall be 30% of the membership.
    9. All voting at GMs for official posts shall be by secret ballot.

  9. Constitution

    1. All activities in the societies shall be consistent with the constitution and doctrinal basis. Responsibility for ensuring this rests with the Exec
    2. A change in the constitution shall be made when 75% of those voting at a GM vote to that end.
    3. The constitution shall, when necessary, be interpreted by the exec.
    4. Any change of the constitution shall come into effect at the close of the GM at which it is accepted.
    5. Members shall be encouraged to seek an understanding of the terms of the constitution. The constitution shall be made available to all CU members at least seven days before every AGM or GM, by email and/or on the CU website. If the constitution is revised or amended, the amended constitution shall be made available to every member, by email and/or on the CU website. The Exec shall be responsible for this.
    6. The Statement of Faith and the Doctrinal Basis shall be available on the CU website.

  10. Selection and Appointment

    1. The new Exec shall be chosen by a selection meeting open to the present Exec and those members of the society who will not be eligible to hold office (those who will not be present in the next academic year i.e. finalists and those approaching a year out)
    2. After a minimum of 5 days a second selection meeting will be held. This will be held to reselect unaccepted Exec Posts and select CReps, CECs and SGLs and other non-collegiate posts as listed in section 10.12.
    3. After a minimum of 5 days a third selection meeting will be held, if necessary. This will be held to reselect unaccepted Exec, CReps, CECs, SGLs and other non-collegiate posts as listed in section 10.12.
    4. A collegiate selection meeting will be held in each college. This will take place before or during the second selection meeting. It will be open to members of the CU within that college not eligible to hold office. One member of the present Exec must also be in attendance.
    5. Every member of the society may submit nominations to the selection body, who shall consider all nominations. At least one week's notice of the selection meeting shall be given to all members.
    6. Members occupying official positions in the society must be students studying at the University of York for the duration of their office and shall indicate their agreement with the Doctrinal Basis by signing (see section 5).
    7. The names of the proposed new postholders shall be published seven days before the AGM on the agenda. Any member having grave doubts as to the suitability of any proposed person should approach the presidents in the seven days preceding the AGM. The Presidents shall be responsible for any subsequent actions.
    8. Retiring postholders shall retain their positions until the end of the Autumn Term, at which point the new postholders shall take office
    9. If the nominated Exec are rejected, the selecting body meets again to propose new nominees, which can then be proposed to a subsequent GM.
    10. If an Exec post becomes vacant during the term of office, the Exec shall select a member to fill the vacancy.
      1. If a SGL/CEC post becomes vacant, a new postholder shall be chosen by the remainder of the college team in agreement with the Exec.
      2. If a CREP post becomes vacant, a new postholder shall be chosen by the remainder of the college team and any members of the college who are ineligible, in agreement with the Exec.
      3. If a non-collegiate post becomes vacant, the Exec shall choose a new postholder
    12. The following are the non-collegiate posts to be selected at the second selection meeting:
      • International Team
      • International Evangelism Co-ordinator (IEC)
      • Music Co-ordinator/s
      • PA Co-ordinators
      • Welcome Team Co-ordinators
      • Web Co-ordinator/s
      • Publicity Co-ordinator/s and Team
      • Social Action Rep/s
      • Any other posts the present Exec deem necessary.

  11. Accounts

    1. There shall be no subscription.
    2. The treasurer shall keep accounts which shall be audited annually and, after being signed by the presidents and treasurer, shall be presented to the society at the next AGM.
    3. The society shall have a bank current account in the name of "UYCU General Account"
    4. The signatories of the UYCU account shall be the treasurer, the female president and the male president. The signatures of at least two of these postholders will be required to carry out any financial transactions

  12. Wentworth College

    1. Wentworth College, as the graduate college, comprises members whose studies are often one year in duration. Wentworth SGLs may therefore hold office for less than three academic terms. In cases where there is no-one suitable to fulfil the role of Wentworth CREP, it is the responsibility of the Exec to address concerns of successions and continuity within Wentworth CU, and thereby ensure that it remains available to Christian postgraduates as an avenue of spiritual support, and maintains an evangelistic presence within the greater postgraduate community at the university.