BMJA Constitution

I. Name

The name of this fellowship of Messianic Jews, i.e. Jewish believers in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), shall be the British Messianic Jewish Alliance.

II. Objects

The Objects of the organisation are:–

To advance faith and belief in Yeshua (Jesus) as Messiah, Saviour and Lord among Jewish believers in the United Kingdom and the relief of need among Messianic Jews through the provision of support and services, and in the furtherance of this:-

1. To unite Messianic Jews in the United Kingdom in the bond of sympathy and prayer.

2. To bear a united witness to Yeshua (Jesus) as Messiah, Saviour and Lord.

3. To maintain and extend the knowledge and practice of their faith.

4. To help them and their families who may be in need of assistance with money, protection, goods, service and prayer.

III. Administration

1. There shall be a Management Committee constituted as follows:–

a) Not more than fifteen members, of whom:

i) not more than twelve (the “elected committee members”) shall be elected by members of the Alliance for terms of three years each; and

ii) not more than three (the “co-opted committee members”) shall be co-opted by the elected committee members from time to time; and

b) Agreed representatives of any body to which the BMJA is affiliated, who may attend meetings of the Management Committee without right to vote.

2. The method of election to the Management Committee shall be determined by the Management Committee from time to time as appropriate. No person shall be elected to the Management Committee if they obtain less than 20% of the votes received in a particular election. In the event that all candidates in an election receive less than 20% of the votes received, a fresh election shall take place.

3. The Management Committee shall include five Office Bearers:–

a) President

b) Two Vice-Presidents

c) Secretary

d) Treasurer

4. The Office Bearers shall be nominated by the Management Committee in a manner to be determined by the Management Committee from time to time. Save in exceptional circumstances (as determined by the Management Committee from time to time), only elected committee members who have previously served at least one term on the Management Committee may be nominated as Office Bearers.

5. Nobody shall be appointed as a member of the Management Committee who is aged under 18 or who would if appointed be disqualified under the provisions of paragraph 6 of this Section.

6. No person shall be entitled to act as a member of the Management Committee whether on a first or on any subsequent entry into office until after signing in the minute book of the Management Committee a declaration of acceptance and of willingness to act as a trustee of the BMJA.

7. No member of the Management Committee shall acquire any interest in property belonging to the BMJA (otherwise than as a trustee for the BMJA) or receive remuneration or be interested (otherwise as a member of the Management Committee) in any contract entered into by the Management Committee.

8. The Office Bearers and all Management Committee members, with the exception of the Secretary, shall be honorary. The Secretary, if paid, shall be appointed by the Management Committee, and shall hold this office under conditions laid down by the Management Committee. If paid the Secretary shall have no vote.

9. The Management Committee shall hold at least two ordinary meetings each year. A special meeting may be called at any time if requested by not less than one-third of the Management Committee and not less than four days’ notice being given to the other members of the Management Committee of the matters to be discussed, but if the matters include the appointment of a co-opted member then not less than 21 days’ notice must be given.

10. There shall be a quorum when 50% or more of the Management Committee are present at a meeting.

11. Normally the President shall be chairman of the Management Committee, but in his/her absence one of the Vice-Presidents, and failing this the Management Committee shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting before any other business is transacted.

12. Every matter shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members of the Management Committee present and voting on the question, but in the case of equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.

13. The Management Committee shall keep minutes in books kept for the purpose of the proceedings at meetings of the Management Committee and any Standing Committees.

14. The Management Committee may from time to time make and alter rules for the conduct of their business, the summoning and conduct of their meetings, and the custody of documents. No rule may be made which is inconsistent with this Constitution.

IV. Powers

A: Between elections the Management Committee shall have power:–

1. To fill any position under Section III paragraph 1 or 3 that may fall vacant.

2. To appoint from among its members a General Purposes Committee to deal with any matter excepting questions of general policy and those expressly reserved to the Management Committee.

3. To appoint Standing Committees as need may arise. Not more than half the members of such Standing Committees may be members of the Alliance who are not members of the Management Committee.

4. To recognise the formation of a local branch where there are at least ten members in any provincial area. Local branches shall arrange their own activities.

5. To seek to be an umbrella for Messianic Jews in the United Kingdom and to promote the development and national networking of congregations and fellowships of Jewish believers in Messiah Yeshua in the United Kingdom.

6. To do or suffer anything which may in charity lawfully advance these objects.

B: A General Meeting, on the proposal of the Management Committee, shall have power to affiliate the BMJA to such organisations as shall be deemed appropriate.

V. Membership

1. Jewish believers in Yeshua as Messiah, resident in the United Kingdom, are eligible to apply for membership. The criterion is that the applicant must have at least one Jewish grandparent. The children of those recognised as Messianic Jews are also eligible to apply.

2. Applicants for membership must:–

a) Believe in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit

b) Have accepted Messiah Yeshua as their personal Saviour, and Him alone

c) Believe in the Atonement which He wrought at Calvary

d) Believe in His Deity and Resurrection

e) Have made open confession of their faith; this shall normally involve baptism or mikveh

f) Declare their adherence to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments (Tanach and Brit Hadashah)

g) Seek to lead a life to the glory of God

3. The husband or wife of a member, though not Jewish, is entitled to membership provided he or she satisfies the conditions of paragraph 2 of this Section.

4. Non-Jewish believers in Messiah Yeshua (Gentile Christians) who are known for their love of the Jewish People, who stand together with Jewish believers and assent to paragraph 2 of this Section are eligible for Associate Membership. Associate Members cannot vote at General Meetings of the BMJA, nor be members of the Management Committee.

5. Applicants for Membership, or Associate Membership, must be in good standing with a worshipping Community, Fellowship, Church, Congregation, House Group, Messianic Fellowship or Messianic Synagogue.

6. Applicants for Membership, or Associate Membership, shall express in writing their acceptance of this Constitution. Admission to membership is the duty of the Management Committee or of a Standing Committee appointed by it for that purpose. The Management Committee may remove any member who does not adhere to the Constitution, providing that he or she has the right of appeal to a General Meeting of the BMJA.

7. Exception may be made for Jewish believers resident in adjacent countries where there is no similar representative body, and who apply for membership of the BMJA. If granted membership such members would not be eligible to become Trustees.

VI. Subscriptions

Members, and Associate Members, shall pay a minimum subscription which shall be fixed by the Management Committee and be due on 1st January in each year. Inability to pay the membership fee shall not of necessity be a bar to membership.

VII. Annual General Meeting

1. The date and place of the Annual General Meeting of the BMJA shall be decided by the Management Committee and 28 days’ notice in writing shall be given to the members of the BMJA of the date, time and place of the Annual General Meeting.

2. All business to be brought under consideration of the Annual General Meeting shall have been previously communicated by not less than 14 days’ notice in writing to the Management Committee save that proposed amendments to the Constitution or bye-laws must be notified to the members of the BMJA in writing setting out the terms of the proposed amendments and at least 21 days’ written notice must be given.

3. There shall be a quorum when fifteen members of the BMJA are present at a meeting.

4. Normally the President shall be chairman of the Annual General Meeting and in his/her absence one of the Vice-Presidents, failing which the members present at the Meeting shall elect a chairman at the commencement of the meeting before any other business is transacted.

5. All matters at Annual General Meetings except those relating to an amendment of the Constitution or bye-laws shall be decided by a majority of votes, each member having one vote and in the case of an equality of votes the chairman shall have a second or casting vote. Amendments to the Constitution or bye-laws shall require a two-thirds majority of those present and voting.

6. The Annual General Meeting shall have the power to appoint the Management Committee.

VIII. General Meetings

1. The date and place shall be decided by the Management Committee, and 28 days’ notice shall be given to the members of the BMJA.

2. A Special General Meeting of the BMJA shall be called within 28 days if requested by 50 members, or by the Management Committee, and not less than 14 days’ notice shall be given to the members of the BMJA.

3. There shall be a quorum when fifteen members of the BMJA are present at a meeting.

4. Normally the President shall be chairman of a General Meeting and in his/her absence one of the Vice-Presidents, failing which the members present at the meeting shall elect a chairman at the commencement of the meeting before any other business is transacted.

5. Every matter shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members of the BMJA present and voting on the question, but in the case of equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.

6. The General Meeting may from time to time make and alter rules for the conduct of their business, and the summoning and conduct of their meetings. No rule may be made which is inconsistent with this Constitution.

IX. Duties of the Secretary and Treasurer

The Treasurer shall be responsible for transacting the financial business of the BMJA and shall submit audited or independently examined accounts annually, and more often if required by the Management Committee. The Secretary shall arrange and keep correct Minutes of the proceedings of General Meetings and meetings of the Management Committee, and communicate decisions reached at meetings to those concerned.

X. Receipts and Expenditure

The funds of the BMJA shall be paid into banking/investment accounts chosen by the Management Committee and held in the name of the BMJA. Withdrawals of amounts below a level specified by the Management Committee from time to time may be undertaken by the Treasurer. Amounts above such a level require authorisation by another Office Bearer in addition to the Treasurer.

XI. Accounts and Reports

The Management Committee shall comply with the accounting regulations and regulations regarding an annual report and return set out in the Charities Act 1992 (for any statutory re-enactment or modification of that Act).

XII. Property

Any property owned by the BMJA shall be vested in not less than two or more than four persons appointed by the Management Committee as Custodian Trustees.

XIII. Alterations to the Constitution

1. Subject to the provisions of Section VII, paragraph 2, the Constitution may be altered save that no amendment may be made to Section I (the name of the charity clause), Section II (the objects clause), Section III, paragraph 7 (committee members not to be personally interested clause), Section XIV (the dissolution clause), or this clause without the prior consent in writing of the Charity Commissioners.

2. No amendment may be made which would have the effect of making the BMJA cease to be a charity at law.

3. A copy of any amendment made under this clause must be sent promptly to the Charity Commissioners.

XIV. Dissolution

The Management Committee may decide that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the BMJA. In such case a resolution to dissolve the BMJA must be notified to the members prior to the Annual General Meeting, at least 21 days’ written notice of such resolution given and passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at the Meeting. The Management Committee shall thereafter have power to realise any assets held by or on behalf of the BMJA. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to the objects of the BMJA as the Management Committee of the BMJA may determine or failing that shall be applied for some other charitable purpose. A copy of the statement of accounts for the final accounting period of the BMJA must be sent to the Charity Commissioners.