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Annex to the Constitution

Annex to the Constitution for Loughborough Council of Faiths
 

Loughborough Council of Faiths was formed in 1996 to create a forum in which different faith communities could meet and work in the interests of the whole community. The Council is not bound by one faith but within it people of different faiths seek high spiritual values together: peace, harmony and a spirit of unity are at the top of our agenda. The Council invites participation from people in and around Loughborough town and from across the Borough of Charnwood.
This annex is intended to guide the Council in conducting its activities in accordance with its constitution. In the event of any clarification being sought, the wording of the Constitution itself should take precedence.

We believe that

  • Expressing and exploring religious faith is an important part of human flourishing
  • Faith communities play a valuable part in building up the common good
  • Diversity and difference is to be respected and valued
  • Learning from one another comes through developing friendship and vice versa

We have four major roles

  • To show that people of different faiths can share peace
  • To challenge all people of faith to adopt values of respect, tolerance and co-operation
  • To allow people of different faiths to identify common areas of concern and action
  • To point to the significance of faith-issues and spirituality for today’s society

To fulfil those roles Loughborough Council of Faiths will

  • provide a body for consultation with statutory, voluntary, social and civic organisations
  • promote community harmony and cohesion through meetings / gatherings to increase understanding of faith / religion
  • promote good relations and understanding, tolerance and respect between the faiths through meeting and learning from each other
  • encourage individuals and communities to bridge any divides and link with each other (e.g. to have the confidence to meet and work with others)
  • encourage strong links across communities to enable peaceful responses in times of crisis (eg following the London bombing)
  • join with others to oppose prejudice or discrimination against any of our member faiths

Representatives
Each member organisation is responsible for appointing the agreed number of representatives to attend meetings of the Council. When the representatives go back to their communities they should pass on information, take matters for discussion and encourage participation in activities of the Council.
Where a fundamental issue is to be considered, the Council may decide, in exceptional circumstances, to offer proxy votes to faith representatives who are unable to attend that meeting.

Membership
Requests from further faith groups for membership may be submitted to the Council at any time.
The Council will consider the request and, if the Council agrees, the new group can be invited to provisional membership for one year. During this time the group and the Council will see whether their aims and values are compatible and whether they can live together.
After one year the Council will decide whether the group will be invited into full membership.

Meetings
During the year the Council may hold meetings for faith representatives only.
Open Council meetings can be attended by Friends, Associates and any invited visitors approved in advance by the Council.
There may also be activities open to the public and run in the name of the Council, provided the Council members have agreed them and at least one faith representative is involved in the working groups set up to organise them.

Friends of the Council
From time to time people who have made, or are making, a valuable contribution to the work of the Council may be invited to become Friends of the Council. Friends may attend open meetings of the Council but do not have a vote. They may be invited to take on a particular task for the Council when appropriate.

Associates
There are two categories of Associates:

  1. Associated organisations – from time to time an organisation which the Council feels can and will contribute to its aims can be invited to become affiliated to the council. As such, they may nominate up to two representatives to attend open Council meetings without a vote. Such persons may be invited to take on a particular task for the Council when appropriate.
  2. Individual associates – similarly, from time to time a person who the Council feels can and will contribute to its aims can be invited to become an individual associate. Such persons may attend open Council meetings without a vote and may be invited to take on a particular task for the Council when appropriate.

There are some tasks that should properly only be undertaken by faith representatives.

Agreed by the Council on: 26 June 2019