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ATLANTIC ECUMENICAL COUNCIL |
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Welcome to the AEC |
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Constitution |
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Role of representatives |
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The President's Page |
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Orientation to AEC |
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Heads of Churches |
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FAQ |
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Beginnings |
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Officers - 2009-2010 |
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Executive Minutes |
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Annual - 2008 |
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Conferences |
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Member Councils |
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Member Denominations |
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Prayer Calendar |
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AST events |
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THE ATLANTIC ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
C O N S T I T U T I O N * * As Approved May 6,2006
Article 1 - Name The name of this organization shall be “The Atlantic Ecumenical Council”.
Article 11 - Area The area to be served by this Council shall be the four Atlantic Provinces of Canada.
Article 111 - Mission The Atlantic Ecumenical Council is “a fellowship of churches which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the Scriptures and, therefore, seek to fulfill together their common calling to the glory of one God, father, Son, and Holy Spirit”
Article 1V - Objects This Council exists: 1. To give expression to that fundamental unity of the Christian Churches which is the outcome of their faith in Jesus Christ, their common Master, Lord, and Saviour, and of their allegiance to Him as Head of the Church; 2. (a) to provide an agency for conference, consultation and common planning by the Churches of the area specified above in 11; to facilitate common action insofar as the members may determine; and to give direction to just joint co-operative or co-ordinated enterprises as may be agreed upon form time to time; (b) specifically: (i) to encourage the formation of local interdenominational groups to work on such subjects as Bible Study and Faith and Order; (ii) to promote the formation of local Councils of churches in agreement with the basis of this Council; (iii) to arrange for and organize the visitation of specialists who are available to the Atlantic area who will promote ecumenical study, action and dialogue through a tour of lectures and addresses; (iv) to serve as a study and report commission from time to time with reference to certain Atlantic problems, e.g. radio work, penology, rural life, industry, university ministry, and report to the appropriate body in order to stimulate action on these matters; (v) to seek representation in such organizations as the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council, the Religion and Labour Council, etc.; (vi) to foster greater understanding and co-operation with Churches and Christian groups in accord with the ecumenical spirit.
Article V - Authority 1. This Council has no legislative or administrative authority over any of its Supporting Bodies, or power to limit their autonomy in any way. 2. The Council shall take action by the general vote of the representatives of the member Bodies, except in the case of the approving of applications for membership when action shall be by vote of two-thirds of the representatives present and voting at the annual meeting. 3. The representatives of any Supporting Body of the Council may dissociate themselves and their Body from any particular action of the Council.
Article VI - Member- Communions and Councils of Churches and Theological Colleges ship and other ecumenical coalitions or networks in the Atlantic region adhering to ARTICLE 111 of this Constitution and which accept the objects of THIS Council as set forth in this Constitution are eligible for membership. A Communion or Local Council of Churches, or a Theological College or an ecumenical coalition or network seeking membership in this Council shall submit its application for approval along with a statement of its acceptance of the basis and objects of this Council. In addition, the Council may name up to a maximum of three persons as members for a two year term.
- Associate Whereas ministerials are interdenominational groups who gather Membership for joint co-operative or coordinated responses, though normally clergy, the Council shall offer associate membership to ministerials. Associate membership shall be granted upon application for associate membership, stating the acceptance of the basis and objects of the Council. Associate Membership shall be at one half of the cost of full membership. Associate membership shall entitle the ministerial to (i) attend annual meetings; (ii) have a voice but not a vote at annual meetings; (iii) receive Council mailings including minutes of annual meetings and the newsletter; (iv) contribute to the work of the Council.
Article V11 - Representative Churches and non-member Communions may participate in the work of the Council as the Council may determine. Member Churches, Local Councils of Churches and Theological Colleges shall appoint representatives to the Council according to a schedule approved by the annual general business meeting of the Council, such schedule being subjected to the Presidency.
Article V111 - Officers The Officers of this Council shall be the Past President, a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, each of whom shall be elected for a term of two years by the annual meeting from among the representatives of the Supporting Bodies. The Officers shall not be eligible for immediate re-election in offices held, except the Secretary and the Treasurer. It is assumed that the Vice- President will succeed to the Presidency.
Article 1X - Meetings 1. The Council shall meet annually and at such other times as the Executive may deem advisable. 2. The vote of member bodies at all properly constituted meetings of the Council shall be exercised by their appointed Representatives unless an Alternate shall be named in writing to the Secretary prior to the meeting. 3. The Executive shall meet at the call of the President. 4. The Council or its Executive shall be responsible for the organizing of a Biennial Conference for study, discussion, and review of the ecumenical work. 5. Biennial Conference representatives shall be appointed by the Supporting bodies.
Article X - Executive 1. The governing body of this Council between its meetings shall be Committee an Executive which shall have the full power of the annual meeting except the power to amend this Constitution or to receive Bodies into membership in the Council (see ARTICLE V, # 2) 2. The Executive shall consist of the five Officers, plus not less than and not more than eight members at large, to be elected at the annual meeting, maintaining denominational representation as far as possible. The members shall include representation of (1) colleges and (2) ecumenical justice interests as far as possible.
Article X1 - Other Other committees may be authorized by the annual meeting or by Committees the Executive. The membership of each such committee shall be drawn from among the representatives of the Supporting Bodies as far as possible. Each such standing or special committee shall be responsible to the Executive Committee.
Article X11- Finances 1. The Council shall be carried on without purpose of gain for its members, and any profits or other accretions to the organization shall be used in promoting its objects. 2. Each member Body shall be responsible for the expenses incurred by its representatives. 3. The annual membership fee per representative shall be fixed for the year at the annual meeting. 4. The Executive shall prepare the annual budget to be presented to the annual meeting and shall arrange for the necessary audit of the Council’s funds. 5. Expenses of the members of the Executive Committee attending Executive Committee meetings may be subsidized. 6. The fee for Associate Membership shall be half that of the fee for full membership.
Article X111 - Amend- This Constitution may be amended at any general annual meeting ments or special meeting by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting, provided that a notice of such amendment be sent in writing to the members at least one month prior to the date of the meeting
*As Approved May 6, 2006
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