The Dominican Lectio Centre Newry has been established for the promotion of the Lectio Divina Movement. The Lectio Centre and its activities are a joint project of the Dominican Friars and the wider Dominican lay community, and it is owned by and operates under the Dominican Fathers Newry Charitable Trust.
1. MISSION STATEMENT
Experiencing together the Word of God alive and active today.
2. VALUES
The Values of the Dominican Lectio Centre, Newry (hereafter referred to as the Lectio Centre) are guided by the Christian Gospel values of:
· Fraternity: a welcome and inclusiveness for all especially, those on
the fringes of society.
· Reverence: for the Word of God and for each other
·
· Respect: everyone is treated equally, and we respect diversity
·
· Justice: Guided by God’s Word we will work together for “a new springtime” in His church and a morecompassionate and caring world for all .
3. AIMS
The aims of the Dominican Newry Lectio Divina Community shall be:
· Facilitate a deepening relationship with the “Word”, by
o Bringing people into direct and immediate contact with the written word of God
So as to:
o Nurture a deeper appreciation of the dignity, beauty and wonder of human life, of the environment, and of the cosmos
o Inspire active compassion for those on the fringes of our society
o Nurture Personal transformation leading to the creation of a more humane, caring, just, and dignified life experience for all.
· The Lectio Centre seeks to promote the emergence and growth of as many Lectio communities as possible both within the centre itself and in the wider local and regional context.
· Keep safe the assets of the Lectio Centre on behalf of the Dominican Priory, Newry; and ensure they are used in accordance with the values of the Dominican Order and the objectives of Lectio Divina
4. LECTIO COMMUNITIES
· Encounter with the Word of God, in the Scriptures is most enriching within a small community (10-12 people at most)
· Communities meet for agreed periods in the year. Advent, Lent, Pentecost series, Michaelmas series and outside of these times members of the communities meet around the written word of God on an informal basis.
· Each community is served by a ‘Guide’- formed and nourished in the Lectio method and principles who seek to guide others on the Lectio journey of Reading, Recognising, Responding, Resting-in and Reflecting on the Word of God in scripture
· The community experience fostered and nourished around the Word of God in scripture spills over into ordinary, everyday fellowship, support and solidarity.
5. DIRECTOR
A Director will be nominated by the Dominican Prior and Community, Newry.
The role of the Director shall include:
· Formation, guidance, direction and support of Lectio Communities
· Leadership of Lectio Communities
· Formation of Lectio Guides
· Development of introductory programme for newcomers
· Development of Lectio outreach programme
· Day to day management of centre including office, library, meeting rooms, guest rooms etc
· The Director is accountable to the Prior of St Catherine’s Dominican Priory, Newry
6. LECTIO MANAAGEMENT BOARD
6.1 Membership, Elections, Attendance
The management, governance, and associated business of the Lectio Centre and its activities will be carried out by the Lectio Management Board, elected at the Annual General Meeting.
The Lectio Management Board shall consist of a maximum of Nine members; the Prior and the Director will be ex officio members of the Board and the Prior in consultation with the Director will nominate a third person (a non Lectio Community member) to be ratified by the Board.
Remaining positions on the Lectio Management Board will be elected from nominations received by the Secretary in advance of the AGM.
The term of office for all elected and nominated members of the Lectio Management Board shall be three years.
With the exception of the Director and the Prior no member of the Lectio Management Board can serve more than two consecutive terms.
There will be a rolling programme of elections to two positions on the Lectio Management Board each year. This is to ensure continuity.
In the event of a Lectio Management Board member standing down during their
term, a replacement will be co-opted by agreement of the remaining
members of the Lectio Management Board and ratified at the next Annual
General Meeting.
Consecutive non-attendance at three Lectio Management Board meetings without apology or explanation will be a grounds for dismissal.
What is deemed to be inappropriate behaviour by any board member, in relation to the values and objectives of Lectio Centre will be addressed by the board, and appropriate disciplinary action taken when necessary.
The Dominican Priory Bursar may attend any meeting as an observer but will have no voting rights.
6.2 Officers and Officials of the Lectio Management
President : Prior of St.Catherines or
Dominican Priest standing in for him
Chair: who shall chair Lectio Management Board meetings, Special General Meetings and Annual General Meetings
Vice-Chair: who will deputise for the Chair in his or her absence.
Secretary: who shall be responsible for distribution of all papers and agenda for meetings and for taking notes.
Treasurer: who shall be responsible for maintaining accounts and liaison with the Bursar of the Dominican Priory, Newry.
The Treasurer, in consultation with the Director,
will also be responsible for the appointment
of any Fundraising sub-groups
Director: who shall be responsible for Lectio Programmes, Outreach activities, and day to day running of the Lectio Centre.
7. MEETINGS
7.1 Lectio Management Board Meetings
The Lectio Management Board will meet bi-monthly.
Additional meetings may be held as and when required to ensure the effective management and governance of the Lectio Centre. Such meetings will be agreed in advance by the Lectio Management Board.
The Secretary will provide Lectio Management Board members with at least two weeks’ notice of a meeting giving the venue, date, time, agenda and any Paper or Reports that have been prepared to support items on the agenda.
The quorum for Lectio Management Board meetings shall be 5.
The Chair will facilitate and manage meetings of the Lectio Management Board. In his or her absence this role will be performed by the Vice-Chair or by another member of the Lectio Management Board, agreed at the meeting.
7.2 Annual General Meeting
An Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held within 14 months of the previous AGM.
All Lectio Management Board members and members of Lectio Communities will be notified at least three weeks before the date of the AGM meeting, giving the venue, date and time. Notification may be in writing or through other agreed communication methods.
Nominations for positions falling vacant on the Lectio Management Board may be made to the Secretary at least three weeks before the AGM meeting. Such nominations should be endorsed by a member of a Lectio Community or the Lectio Management Board and signed by the nominee to indicate his or her agreement to be nominated for election to the Lectio Management Board.
The quorum for the AGM shall be 12.
At the AGM:
· The Secretary will present a Report on the work of the Lectio Centre over the previous year.
· The Treasurer shall present a Finance Report covering the previous financial year. The Treasurer will also provide a Report on all fundraising activities undertaken over the previous year.
· The Director shall present a Report on all Lectio Divina Programmes and Outreach undertaken over the previous year.
· Elections for positions falling vacant on the Lectio Management Board will be held.
· Any proposals previously submitted to the Secretary, at least 7 days in advance of the AGM, will be discussed.
7.3 Special General Meetings
The Secretary will call a Special General Meeting at the request of the majority of the Lectio Management Board or at least 8 other members of the Lectio
Communities giving a written request to the Chair or Secretary stating the
request for the meeting.
The meeting will take place within twenty-one days of the request.
All Lectio Management Board members and Lectio Community members will be given two weeks’ notice of such a meeting, giving the venue, date, time and agenda. Notice of the meeting may be given by telephone, email or post.
The quorum for the Special General Meeting shall be 12 with at least 25% representative of the Lectio Communities and 25% of the Lectio Management Board.
7. RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR MEETINGS
All questions that arise at a meeting will be discussed openly and the meeting will seek to find general consensus to the issues raised.
If a consensus cannot be reached a vote will be taken and a decision will be made by a simple majority of members present. If the number of votes cast on each side is equal, the President of the Board shall have an additional casting vote.
Minutes of all meetings will be prepared, presented and retained. Such minutes will be made available to Lectio Management Board members within 2 weeks from the date of the meeting. Where it is an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting the minutes will also be made available to Lectio Community members
A copy of the minutes from all meetings will be made available and retained by the Prior and Bursar of the Dominican Priory, Newry.
9. FINANCES
9.1 General
The accounts for the Lectio Centre will be managed by the Dominican Priory, Newry. In this regard and to assist with the day-to-day running of the Lectio Centre and its associated activities the Bursar in the Dominican Priory will advise the Treasurer of the estimated running costs of the Lectio Centre at the beginning of each financial year, with an update provided for each three month period.
The Lectio Management Board will be responsible for ensuring sufficient revenue is generated through the Lectio Centre and its activities to offset in so far as possible the estimated running costs.
The Treasurer, the Director, and the Dominican Priory Bursar will meet quarterly to review running costs and revenue raised.
The Treasurer will provide the Lectio Management Board with a Finance Report at each meeting. This will record estimated costs for running the Lectio Centre and its activities, payments made in respect of the Lectio Centre and its activities, receipts for income received through the Lectio Centre or from any of its activities, including fundraising activities.
Payments for expenses associated with the running costs of the Lectio Centre will be made by the Dominican Priory Bursar. Such running costs will be agreed with the Treasurer before payment is made.
Expenses incurred by Lectio Management Board members, or its outreach team doing work on behalf of the Lectio Centre Newry or its associated activities shall be recouped from the Dominican Priory, Newry. Such expenses shall be recorded as part of the running costs of the Lectio Centre and detailed in Finance Reports provided for the Dominican Priory Bursar by the Treasurer.
9.2 Fundraising
To assist in the financial management of the Lectio Centre the Treasurer in consultation with the Director may appoint a sub-group to be ratified by the board to assist with fundraising activities and other associated financial matters. This finance team would meet as required.
The Treasurer will advise the Lectio Management Board of all proposed fundraising activities. Proposed fundraising activities will be subject to agreement by the Lectio Management Board before they commence.
10. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Amendments to the Constitution may only be made at the Annual General Meeting, or a Special General Meeting.
Any proposal to amend the Constitution must be given to the Secretary in writing. The proposal must then be circulated with the Notice of the Meeting.
Any proposal to amend the Constitution will require a two thirds majority of those present and entitled to vote. Before adoption the agreed proposal will require ratification by the Dominican Order.
The Constitution was agreed by the Dominican Community Newry on …../…..2018
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And by the Prior of the Dominican Priory, Newry on ……./……/2018
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The Constitution was agreed by the Lectio Management Board on ……./……./2018
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