WOMEN’S INTERFAITH NETWORK

CONSTITUTIION
(you may download a Word version HERE)

NAME

1. The name of the organisation shall be “Women’s Interfaith Network” (“WIN”).

AIM

2. The organisation shall have the aim of bringing together women of different religious traditions in order to promote harmony, understanding and respect among the followers of the various world religions, and as a sign of solidarity among people of faith.

PRINCIPLES

3. (a) Respect for other religions.

(b) Encouragement of mutual understanding and learning about the ideals of various religious groups, through personal relationships of co- operation and discussion.

(c) Rejection of all proselytising.

(d) Working to eliminate religious prejudice and discrimination.

(e) Encouragement of joint advocacy by representatives
of the different religious groups to address common social concerns.

(f) Spreading the ideal of harmony between religions as widely as possible by creating a network of women’s inter-faith groups with similar aims and programs.

MEMBERSHIP

4. The membership of the core group of the organization shall comprise the present members as at the date of this constitution, that is, representatives of the Aboriginal, Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian (Anglican, Catholic, Uniting Church, Quakers), Hindu, Jewish and Muslim religious groups, together with such additional members as are co-opted by the consensus of at least a quorum of the existing membership.


5. Each religious group may be represented by up to two members, or by three members if so represented at the date of this constitution.

6. The core group shall meet regularly at such times as it may determine.

7. The core group shall be the sole decision-making body of the organization and it shall determine the policies and activities of the organization by consensus.

OFFICE BEARERS

8. In each alternate year the core group shall by consensus appoint the Office Bearers, being a Convenor, a Treasurer and a Secretary, preferably from different faith groups. No person may hold any one Office for more than two consecutive terms.

AFFILIATED GROUPS

9. Affiliated groups may be formed on the initiative of the core group and a group may be accepted as an affiliated group and may use the name “Women’s Interfaith Network – [ ] Group” if it adopts the Aim and Principles of the organization, represents not less than three religious groups, and is approved by the core group.

10. Affiliated groups shall provide the core group with copies of the minutes of its meetings and seek and comply with the advice of the core group on matters of policy.

11. Affiliated groups shall adapt Article 13 (following) as appropriate to their situation.

AMENDMENTS

12. This constitution may be amended at any time by the core group by consensus provided that notice of the proposed amendment has been given at the previous meeting of the core group.

COMPLAINTS & DISMISSALS

13. a) If there are complaints that a core member is contravening the aim, principles and policies of the Network, a mediation group will be formed by the Core Group to discern the situation with the member and make recommendations to the Core Group.

b) If, after such discernment, the offending member is not willing to adhere to the aims, principles and policies of the Network, that member will be required to relinquish membership of WIN.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

“Quorum” The representation in the Core Group of at least three different faith groups.

“Consensus” General agreement reached by all participants, having examined the “fors” and “againsts” of the question. Consensus may be arrived at in a number of ways. If there is, after discussion and representation, an enduring difference of opinion, the following options may be explored:
• Participants are asked if they can live with the decision that is favoured by the majority.
• Participants explore a compromise.
• it is decided to suspend the final decision (if appropriate) until after further consideration.
• a part-decision may be arrived at by isolating the common ground of agreement and the differences treated in a different way (as above).

Sept 2001