NAME AND OBJECTS

1.          The Club is called the ORIEL COLLEGE METAPHYSICAL CLUB. The Club’s objects are the support, development, and promotion of TRADITIONAL CHRISTIAN METAPHYSICS in Oriel College, the University of Oxford, and elsewhere; and the income and property of the Club shall be applied solely to those objects.

COMPLIANCE

(a)        The Club shall be administered in accordance with the University’s Regulations for the Activities and Conduct of Student Members.

(b)        The activities of the Club will at all times be conducted in accordance with the University’s procedures, codes of practice and policies in force from time to time on equality, harassment, freedom of speech and safeguarding (which are available via the University Student Handbook on the University’s webpages).

(c)        Not less that 21 days before any event which is approved or advertised by the Club as an official event of the Club (other than events already included in the approved Code of Conduct of Safety Matters and procedure for risk assessment) the Club shall submit to the Proctors an event plan. The Club shall observe such conditions as the Proctors may then attach to the running of the event.

(d)        The Club shall maintain a dedicated website. The Club may apply to the University’s IT Services to use information technology (‘IT’) facilities in the name of the Club. Where relevant facilities are allocated by IT Services it is the responsibility of the Club:

                                  (i)    to designate a member of the Club entitled to a University e‑mail account (as defined by IT Services rules) to act as its IT Officer, whose duties shall include liaising with IT Services about the use of facilities allocated and passing on to the successor in office all records relating to the use of the facilities allocated;

                                 (ii)    to designate one of its members (who may be, but need not necessarily be, the same as its IT Officer) or, exceptionally, a member of Congregation, to act as its principal Webmaster, whose duties shall include maintaining an awareness of the University guidelines on web and social media publishing, and co‑ordinating and regulating access to the web facilities used by the Club;

                               (iii)    to comply with regulations and guidelines relating to the use of IT facilities published from time to time by IT Services;

                               (iv)    to ensure that everyone responsible under (i)-(iii) is competent to deal with the requirements, where necessary undertaking training under the guidance of IT Services.

MEMBERSHIP

2.          The members of the Club shall be those who are eligible and apply for membership of the Club, who are admitted to and maintained in membership by the Committee, and who have paid the relevant Club subscription.

3.          Subject to paragraphs 4 and 5, all student members of the University, and all persons whose names are on the University’s Register of Visiting Students, shall be eligible to become members of the Club. A member shall continue to be eligible until given permission to supplicate for a degree, diploma or certificate, regardless of any continuing liability to pay fees to the University.

4.          Since the Club’s objects relate directly to a protected characteristic as defined in section 4 of the Equality Act 2010, the Club will restrict membership to those persons supporting traditional Christian metaphysics as described in paragraphs 36 and 37. Furthermore, office holders will be restricted to Christians actively participating in a Christian church which upholds traditional Christian metaphysics.

5.          The Committee may also, at its discretion, admit to membership:-

(a)        students registered to read for diplomas and certificates in the University;

(b)        student members of Permanent Private Halls who are not student members of the University;

(c)        members of Ruskin College and Ripon College, Cuddesdon;

(d)        members of the Oxford Brookes University, provided that such members shall not constitute more than one-fifth of the total membership; and

(e)        legal spouses of members

(f)         other persons not falling within paragraph 4 above or paragraphs 5(a) to (e) above, provided that such members shall not constitute more than one-fifth of the total membership.

6.          The Committee, having specific regard to the Senior Member’s advice in relation to the relevant matter, may remove a person from membership if removal of such person from membership is deemed to be in the best interests of the Club. If the person concerned is an Oxford University student (i.e. within paragraphs 5(a), (b) or (c) above), that person may appeal against such removal to the Proctors.

MEETINGS OF THE MEMBERS

7.          There shall be an Annual General Meeting for all the members of the Club in Trinity Full Term, convened by the Secretary on not less than fourteen days’ notice.

8.          The Annual General Meeting will:

(a)        receive the annual report of the Committee for the previous year and the annual accounts of the Club for the previous year, the report and accounts having been approved by the Committee;

(b)        receive a report from the Committee on the Club’s compliance with paragraph 2 above;

(c)        elect Members of the Committee in accordance with paragraph 24 below: the Committee’s nominations for the Officers and the Senior Member shall be contained in the notice of the Meeting: any alternative nominations must be seconded and have the consent of the nominee, and must be received in writing by the Secretary not less than seven days before the date of the Meeting: nominations for the other Committee Members may be taken from the floor of the meeting;

(d)        consider any motions of which due notice (at least 48 hours) has been given, and any other relevant business.

9.          An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called in any Full Term; by the President, the Vice President, the Secretary or the Treasurer on not less than seven days’ notice; or on a written requisition by seven or more members, stating the reason for which the meeting is to be called, and delivered to the Secretary not less than fourteen days before the date of the Meeting.

10.       Prior to all General Meetings notice of the agenda shall be sent out with the notice of the Meeting.

11.       The quorum for a General Meeting shall be either 10 members or 25% of the total membership, whichever is the lesser number, present in person or by proxy, of whom three must be members of the Committee. When any financial business is to be transacted there must be present the Treasurer, or a member of the Committee deputed by the Treasurer to represent the Treasurer’s views to the Meeting (provided that where it is a case of a deputy, the only financial business transacted shall be that which was set out in the agenda accompanying the notice of the Meeting).

12.       Every matter, except where this Constitution provides otherwise, shall be determined by a majority of members present and voting.  In the case of equal votes the President of the Club shall have a casting vote.

13.       Minutes of all meetings shall be kept and formally adopted.  Copies of the minutes shall be made available to members and, upon request, to the Proctors.

14.       Any changes to the constitution will require a quorum of 60%, a 66% majority vote, and approval by the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

THE COMMITTEE

15.       The affairs of the Club shall be administered by a Committee consisting of not more than eight persons, which shall determine the subscriptions payable by the members of the Club, and have ultimate responsibility for the activities of the Club. Members of the University shall at all times make up the majority of the members of the Committee. The Committee shall have control of the funds and property of the Club, and of its administration.

16.       No member of the Committee (or the Club) shall enter into or purport to enter into any arrangement, contract or transaction on behalf of the Club with a value exceeding £1,000 unless the Committee has resolved to approve the relevant arrangement, contract or transaction at a Committee meeting.

17.       The quorum for a Committee meeting shall be four members present in person. When any financial business is to be transacted, there must be present either the Treasurer or a member of the Committee deputed by the Treasurer to represent the Treasurer’s views to the meeting.

18.       The Committee shall be made up of the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer (together, the “Office Holders”; and their offices are referred to as “the Offices”), the Senior Member. The President, the Vice President, Secretary and the Treasurer shall each be either a member of the Club whose eligibility stems from paragraph 4 above or paragraphs 6(a) to (c) above, or (with the approval of the Proctors) a member of Congregation.

19.       The President shall have the right to preside at all meetings of the members of the Club and at all meetings of the Committee. Should the President be absent, or decline to take the chair, the Vice President shall preside. If both are absent or decline then the Committee shall elect another member of the Committee to chair the meeting.

20.       Minutes of all meetings, including Committee meetings, shall be kept and formally adopted.  Copies of the minutes shall be made available to members and, upon request, to the Proctors.

21.       The Secretary shall:

(a)        maintain a register of the members of the Club, which shall be available for inspection by the Proctors

(b)        give notice of meetings of the members and the Committee;

(c)        draw up the agendas for and minutes of those meetings;

(d)        notify the Proctors promptly following the appointment and resignation or removal of Office Holders and other members of the Committee;

(e)        take responsibility for the operation and updating of a suitable club web-page displaying (at a minimum) current club contacts, and the constitution.

(f)         inform the Proctors if the Club ceases to operate, or is to be dissolved, and in doing so present a final statement of accounts.

22.       The Treasurer shall:

(a)        keep proper records of the Club’s financial transactions in accordance with current accepted accounting rules and practices;

(b)        develop and implement control procedures to minimise the risk of financial exposure;

(c)        ensure that bills are paid and cash is banked in accordance with the procedures developed under (b);

(d)        prepare an annual budget for the Club and regularly inform the Committee of progress against that budget;

(e)        ensure that all statutory returns are made including VAT, income tax and corporation tax if appropriate;

(f)         seek advice as necessary on tax matters from the University’s Finance Division;

(g)        develop and maintain a manual of written procedures for all aspects of the Treasurer’s responsibilities;

(h)        make all records, procedures and accounts available on request to the Senior Member, the Proctors

(i)         forward to the Proctors by the end of the second week of each Full Term in the Club’s first year of operation (1 August to 31 July) a copy of the accounts for the preceding term (the format of which the Proctors may prescribe) signed by the Senior Member, for retention on the Proctors’ files; and after the first year of operation forward a copy of the signed annual accounts to 31 July as soon as possible after the year end (and in any event no later than the 1 [October] following the year end); and

(j)         if the Club has a turnover in excess of £40,000 in the preceding year, or if owing to a change in the nature or scale of its activities, it may confidently be expected to have such a turnover in the current year, submit its accounts (the format of which the Proctors may prescribe) for independent professional inspection and report by a reporting accountant approved in advance by the Proctors. Accounts are to be ready for inspection within a month after the year end and the costs of the inspection and report shall be borne by the Club. If requested by the reporting accountant, the Club shall submit accounts and related material as a basis for a review of accounting procedures, the cost likewise to be borne by the Club.

23.       The Senior Member shall:-

(a)        keep abreast of the actions and activities of the Club;

(b)        provide information relating to the Club to the Proctors on request;

(c)        seek to settle any preliminary disputes between the Committee and the members;

(d)        following paragraph 22(i) above, consider whether the accounts of the Club are in order and, if so, sign them;

(e)        ensure that adequate advice and assistance is available to the Secretary and the Treasurer in the performance of their responsibilities under paragraphs 21 and 22 above; and

(f)         be available to represent and speak for the Club in the public forum, and before the University authorities.

24.       The members of the Committee shall be elected by the members of the Club annually, and shall be eligible for re‑election. The members of the Club shall not appoint several individuals jointly to hold any of the Offices, nor allow any individual to hold more than one Office at a time. The members of the Club shall appoint a member of Congregation as the Senior Member when electing other members of the Committee each year. The Senior Member shall be a member of the Committee ex officio.

25.       If during the period between the annual elections to offices any vacancies occur amongst the members of Committee, the Committee shall have the power of filling the vacancy or vacancies up to the next Annual General Meeting by co‑optation.

26.       Each Office Holder must, and shall procure that other Office Holders shall, at the end of any term of Office, promptly hand to the relevant successor in Office (or to another member of the Club nominated by the Committee) all official documents and records belonging to the Club, together with (on request from the Committee) any other property of the Club which may be in the outgoing Office Holder’s possession; and must complete any requirements to transfer authority relating to control of the Club’s bank accounts, building society accounts, or other financial affairs.

27.       Without derogating from its primary responsibility, the Committee may delegate its functions to finance and general purposes and other subcommittees which are made up exclusively of members of the Committee.

28.       The Committee shall have power to make regulations and by‑laws in order to implement the paragraphs of this Constitution, and to settle any disputed points not otherwise provided for in this Constitution. No member of the Committee shall be removed from office except by the approving votes of two‑thirds of those present in person or by proxy at a General Meeting.

INDEMNITY

29.       So far as may be permitted by law, every member of the Committee and every officer of the Club (each a “relevant officer”) shall be entitled to be indemnified out of the Club’s assets against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred by the relevant officer in the execution or discharge of duties as a relevant officer or the exercise of powers as a relevant officer, or otherwise properly in relation to or in connection with the relevant officer’s duties as a relevant officer. This indemnity extends to any liability incurred by a relevant officer in defending any proceedings, civil or criminal, which relate to anything done or omitted or alleged to have been done or omitted by the relevant officer as a relevant officer and in which judgement is given in the relevant officer’s favour (or the proceedings are otherwise disposed of without any finding or admission of any material breach of duty on the relevant officer’s part), or in which the relevant officer is acquitted, or in connection with any application under any statute for relief from liability in respect of any such act or omission in which relief is granted to the relevant officer by the Court.

30.       So far as may be permitted by law, the Club may purchase and maintain for the benefit of any relevant officer insurance cover against any liability which by virtue of any rule of law may attach to the relevant officer in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which the relevant officer may be guilty in relation to the Club and against all costs, charges, losses and expenses and liabilities incurred by the relevant officer and for which the relevant officer is entitled to be indemnified by the Club by virtue of paragraph 29.

PUBLIC STATEMENTS

31.       Any motion which proposes that the Club release an external-facing statement of a political or moral nature or regarding any public affair (e.g. by supporting or condemning an individual, group, or position) must additionally meet the following criteria: (a) The motion must be submitted to the secretary by noon four days before the General Meeting, and be published to the members at least 96 hours before the General Meeting. (b) The exact wording of the statement must be included in the motion. (c) In order to pass, the motion must receive a 90% supermajority at the General Meeting or by proxy. (d) A quorum of 33% or the members will be required. (e) the statement must be approved unanimously by the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

DISSOLUTION

32.       The Club may be dissolved at any time by the approving votes of two‑thirds of those present in person or by proxy at a General Meeting. The Club may also be dissolved (without the need for any resolution of the members) by means of not less than thirty days’ notice from the Proctors to the Secretary of the Club if at any time the Club ceases to be registered with the Proctors.

33.       In the event of the Club being dissolved, its assets shall not be distributed amongst the members, but shall be paid to or at the direction of the University for use in support of the Oriel College Christian Union or the University of Oxford Christian Union.

INTERPRETATION

34.       Any question about the interpretation of this Constitution shall be settled by the Proctors.

35.       This Constitution shall be binding on all members of the Club.  No regulation, byelaw or policy of the Club shall be inconsistent with, or shall affect or repeal anything contained in, this Constitution.

36.       For the purposes of this club traditional Christian metaphysics will be summarized, though not exhaustively, with this paragraph. “Traditional Christian metaphysics considers philosophical principles that have been developed under the constraint of traditional historic orthodox Christianity. These principles do not constitute an attempt to prove God, instead they seek to show that traditional Christian thought is consonant with reason when reason is properly understood. The teachings of traditional historic Christian orthodoxy are found in the gospel proclamation of Christ, the revelation in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and the summaries of this revelation in the ecumenical creeds and councils (i.e. the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Seven Ecumenical Councils of the undivided church).”

37.       Additionally for the purposes of this club traditional Christian metaphysics is understood to hold to the following statements on these subjects:

1)    Truth and Reality: Truth is constrained by extra-mental reality but it is not reducible to a merely physical phenomenon.

2)    Humanity: Humans are made in the image of God, as male and female He created them, and therefore they have an inherent dignity.

3)    Freedom of Conscience and Law: Convictions of conscience cannot be coerced by external compulsion, but God’s eternal moral law is normative for all people even if not recognized as such.

4)    Natural Order: Nature as Creation has an order intended by God which is both discoverable and normative.