Constitution and By-laws

The Society for Pastoral Counselling Research

Article I- Organization and Aims

A. The Society for Pastoral Counselling Research, hereafter known as the Society, is a Canadian bilingual organization dedicated to study the discipline and practice of Pastoral Counselling.

B. The objectives of the Society are (1) to encourage the development of research on pastoral counselling in North America, (2) to foster the communication of research findings, their interpretation and application, and (3) to enhance the theological, social and scientific foundations of pastoral counselling research.

Article II - Membership

A. Persons holding a graduate degree or equivalent in Pastoral Counselling, students of Pastoral Counselling, or faculty members of University Institutions of Pastoral Counselling are eligible for membership.

Article III - Meetings

A. The Society shall hold annual conferences planned by its Executive Committee which decides the time and place of these meetings. These annual conferences will include the business meetings of the Society, the General Assembly, and a program of research presentations. The Executive committee will be responsible for the business meetings of the General Assembly and the program committee will be responsible to plan the academic and professional portion of the meeting.

Article IV - Governance

A. The governing body of the Society shall be the Annual business meeting of the General Assembly which is constituted from all members of the Society. The Conference shall meet once each year, (1) to hear a report on the state of the Society from the President, (2) to discuss the activities and affairs of the Society; (3) to receive the annual financial report of the Society, (4) to set the budget for the following year and (5) to consider all other affairs.

B. The President shall act as Chair of the Conference.

C. Two-thirds of the Society membership present at the annual conference shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of Society business.

D. Each member has one vote, to be exercised in person, or as foreseen by the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society.

E. At the General Assembly of the Society, a simple majority of those present who have a right to vote, constitutes a valid vote providing that it does not contravene other statutes and regulations of this constitution.

F. Apart from the annual General Assembly, votes on issues may be conducted by mail ballot upon the recommendation of the Society Executive Committee. A simple majority., with at least 25% of the membership voting, shall be required to pass the motion, providing that it does not contravene other statutes and regulations of this constitution. If less than 25% voted but the majority of voters supported the motion, the matter shall be decided by the Executive Committee.

G. All amendments to this constitution shall be proposed by notice of motion to the executive at least 3 months prior to the annual conference, and circulated to the membership for consideration.

Article V - Officers and Executive Committee

A. The officers of the Society are the following: (1) President, (2) President-elect, (3) Past-president, (4) Treasurer, (5) Secretary, (6) Program Committee Coordinator, (7) Membership Committee Coordinator, (8) student enrolled in an English language Graduate Pastoral Counselling Program, and (9) student enrolled in the French language Graduate Counselling Program.

B. The officers of the Society constitute the Society's Executive Committee.

C. The Executive committee shall: (1) organize and convene the annual Conference in collaboration with the Program Committee, (2) notify active pastoral counsellor of the Society and the benefits of membership, and (3) promote other activities to serve the general objectives of the Society.

D. The Executive committee shall meet monthly at a convenient time and place, or as often as is necessary, in order (1) to discuss the organizational business of the Society, (2) to prepare an agenda for the annual session of the Society's Conference, and (3) to exercise other functions specified elsewhere in these by-laws. The Executive may invite any person relevant to SPCR business to meet with the Executive Committee.

Article VI - Election of Officers

A. The officers of the Society are normally elected for a mandate of two years, renewable once. The graduate students shall be elected for a mandate of one year.

B. The officers shall be elected at the annual General Assembly. (1) To be eligible, candidates must be members of good standing and have not served in the vacant executive position for at least two years. (2) The executive will present to the members at the annual General Assembly a slate of candidates to fill the vacant position. (3) Candidates may be nominated and seconded from the floor of the General Assembly. (4) The total slate is to consist of not more than three candidates for each office to be filled.

C. Those elected will assume their office within two weeks after their election.

D. When an officer submits his/her resignation or is incapacitated to fulfill his/her responsibilities, the other officers will assume these responsibilities. Officers who miss two consecutive meetings without just cause will be replaced Nominations and elections to the vacant position will be held at the following annual General Assembly.

Article VII - Duties Of Officers

A. The President shall (1) serve as chair of the annual Conference in the year following his/her election, (2) represent the Society in relations with professional bodies, or appoint a Representative to do so, (3) chair the annual business meeting of the General Assembly, (4) convocate and chair the Executive Committee meetings, (5) make an annual report to the General Assembly on the Society's activities and affairs, and, (6) in consultation with the executive committee, appoint coordinators and members of Standing and Ad Hoe committees.

B. The President-elect shall (1) serve in the capacity of the President as necessary, and (2) assume other duties as assigned by the Executive Committee.

C. The Secretary shall (1) process all routine correspondence of the Society; (2) take minutes of all Executive Committee Meetings, and (3) take minutes of the annual General Assemblies of the Society.

D. The Treasurer shall (1) keep accurate accounts of all financial dealings of the society; (2) maintain bank accounts in the name of the Society; (3) present an annual statement to the annual General Assembly of the Society, (4) present a monthly statement to executive committee meetings, and (5) present an annual financial statement to an outside auditor named by the membership at the Annual conference.

E. The Program Committee Coordinator and committee members shall (1) organize the academic program of the annual conference, (2) set the agenda and theme of annual conferences, (3) collect and select applications for presentations, and (4) establish a sub-committee to be responsible for the logistics and hospitality of the annual conference.

F. The Membership Committee Coordinator and committee members shall receive, review and approve applications for membership in accordance with the standards inherent in the philosophy and bylaws of the Society.

G. The student member of the Executive shall (1) be a liaison between the executive and graduate students of pastoral counselling programs, (2) present the views and concerns of graduate students to the executive, (3) inform graduate students of the monthly meetings, and (4) encourage student participation in the Society by attendance at or input to the monthly and annual meetings, and by presenting papers at the annual conference.

Article VIII - Dissolution of the Society

A In the event of dissolution, all remaining assets will be given to a registered Canadian Charity."

The Constitution and By-Laws were approved on May 14, 1999, by the General Assembly. The English version is the offical Constitution and By-Laws of the Society for Pastoral Counselling Research.

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