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Constitution of the SUEU

I. Name

The name of the union shall be;
�Sydney University Evangelical Union�
herein abbreviated to �S.U.E.U.�


II. Objects

1. To present students with the Christian gospel and to lead them to a personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. To strengthen Christians in their faith and witness and to encourage them to continually submit every aspect
of their lives to the Lordship of Christ.
3. To ensure that Christians in the University are made aware of the nature, needs and challenge of Christian service at home and abroad.


III. Doctrinal Basis

The S.U.E.U. upholds the fundamental truths of Christianity including;
1. The divine inspiration and infallibility of Holy Scripture as originally given, and its supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
2. The unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in the Godhead.
3. The universal guilt and sinfulness of man since the Fall, rendering man subject to God�s wrath and condemnation.
4. Redemption from the guilt penalty and power of sin, only through the sacrificial death , as our Representative and Substitute, of Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son of God.
5. The conception of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit and His birth by the Virgin Mary.
6. The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
7. The necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit to make the death of Jesus Christ effective to individual sinners, granting each one repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ.
8. The indwelling and work of the Holy Spirit in the believer.
9. The expectation of the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.


IV. Membership

1. Membership of the S.U.E.U. is open to all students enrolled and studying at Sydney University.
2. Associate Membership of S.U.E.U. is open to those employed or otherwise occupied at the University who are not otherwise eligible for membership, with the reservation that Associate Members are not eligible to nominate or be nominated for the General Council or to vote on any matter of business, but otherwise they shall have full membership privileges.
3. Each person of the classes set out in the subclauses 1 and 2 of this clause desiring to join the S.U.E.U. shall be required to sign the following declaration:
�I desire in joining the Sydney University Evangelical Union to:
� declare my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour, my Lord and my God
� identify myself with the S.U.E.U. community
� commit myself to its Objects.�
4. A person shall be taken to be a member of the S.U.E.U. provided that the requirements of subclause 3 have been fulfilled and that the proposed member has been nominated by a member of the S.U.E.U. and has been accepted by the Executive or General Council or Faculty Committee, or as the General Council shall in special cases only determine. The Executive, General Council, or Faculty Committee shall accept a person for membership when it is satisfied that the person has been familiarised with the nature and obligations of membership, and shall have the power if not so satisfied to delay acceptance until the nominee has been so informed. The admission of members shall be recorded in the Register of Members, and be announced at a suitable meeting of the S.U.E.U. In the event of a member being no longer in agreement with the declaration of subclause 3, that person�s membership may be terminated by the General Council. Termination on other grounds shall be referred to the Advisory Committee before such action shall be taken by the General Council.
5. The General Council shall revise the Register of Members every year by the end of April and any person failing to re-register in the appropriate manner shall cease to be a member of the S.U.E.U.


V. General Council

1. There shall be a governing body called the �General Council� which shall have control of all the affairs of the S.U.E.U., except as set out in subclause VI(2).
2. Subject to subclause V(3), the General Council of the S.U.E.U. shall consist of:
(a) an executive consisting of (i) President, (ii) a Male and Female Vice-President, (iii) Secretary, (iv) Treasurer.
(b) Faculty Representatives.
3. (a) Faculty Leaders, or in the case where paragraph VI (3) (b) applies, the Faculty Leader, of each of the Faculty Groups shall be the Faculty Representatives.
(b) Subject to Paragraph (a) the General Council may determine the representation of the Faculty Groups in the immediately following General Council.
(c) Unrepresented faculties shall be represented by the Vice-Presidents, or as provided in the Standing Orders.
4. The General Council shall have the authority to determine the means by which the financial obligations of the S.U.E.U. shall be fulfilled.
5. Subject to paragraphs V (7) (a) and (b) and VI (3) (b), members of the General Council shall hold office for a period to terminate at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the S.U.E.U. next after their election.
6. Election of Executive and other Officers to General Council.
(a) Subject to the provision of this subclause every member of the S.U.E.U. shall be eligible for election to membership of the General Council.
(b) Candidates for election as Executive Officers of the General Council shall be nominated by two members and shall declare in writing:
(i) their consent to nomination
(ii) Their unreserved agreement with the Objects and Doctrinal Basis of the S.U.E.U.
(c) All nominations shall be in the hands of the Secretary at least seven (7) days before the election.
(d) Executive Officers shall be elected by a majority of members present and voting at the Annual General Meeting.
(e) In the event of any position to which the provisions of this subclause apply not being fulfilled at the Annual General Meeting, the provisions of paragraphs V(7)(b) and (c) shall apply.
7. Vacancies in the General Council.
(a) In the event of any member of the General Council being no longer in unreserved agreement with the Objects and the Doctrinal Basis before referred to, that members office shall be declared vacant by the General Council.
(b) Subject to paragraphs V(7)(c) and VI(5)(e) and (f), in the event of a vacancy occurring in any position on the General Council, the General Council shall appoint a person to fulfil that vacancy. Any person so appointed shall hold office only for the remainder of the term of the original holder.
(c) In the event of the position of the President of the S.U.E.U. becoming vacant, an election shall be held as soon as possible, and in the interim, the duties of the President shall be discharged by the Vice-Presidents.
(d) In the event of Faculty Elections having been called and no representative having been elected, the General Council shall have the power to appoint a person from that Faculty on the General Council.
8. Meetings of the General Council.
(a) the General Council shall meet at least three (3) times in a semester and be chaired by the President, or in the President�s absence, such other officer as the General Council shall appoint.
(b) A quorum of the General Council shall consist of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members of the General Council whether the members are present or not.
(c) A motion before the General Council shall be deemed to be carried if all the members of the General Council have been notified of the meeting, and if passed by a majority of the members of the General Council present and voting. The President shall have a casting vote only.
(d) Any member of the S.U.E.U. shall have the right to attend all the meetings of the General Council and shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of the members of the General Council with the exception of voting.
9. Standing Orders.
(a) There shall be a body of rules determined by the General Council which shall be called �The Standing Orders of the General Council�.
(b) The function of the Standing Orders shall be to define the details of the structure and functioning of the S.U.E.U. on matters arising from the Constitution.
(c) Standing Orders may be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the General Council at a meting held at least two weeks after notice has been given to members of the General Council.


VI. Faculty Groups

1. Faculty Groups may be established as deemed necessary by the General Council. Such groups shall be given representatives on the General Council in accordance with subclause V(3).
2. Subject to the provision of this clause there shall be a Faculty Committee which shall manage the affairs of a Faculty Group.
3. (a) Subject to paragraph VI(3)(b), the Faculty Committee shall consist of at least one male and one female Faculty Leader, and Officers to fulfil the following functions: Secretary, Prayer Secretary, Missions Secretary, Treasurer, Bible Studies Convenor, Overseas Students Secretary.
(b) The General Council may in the case of smaller Faculty Groups, decide whether there shall be one or two Faculty Leaders.
4. (a) Each Faculty Group shall hold an Annual General Meeting each year prior to the corresponding Annual General Meeting of the S.U.E.U. Notice of such Faculty Annual General Meetings shall be given in writing at least fourteen (14) days prior to the proposed date of the meeting.
5. (a) Every member of the S.U.E.U. in the Faculty Group shall be eligible for election as a member of the Faculty Committee. Candidates for election as Faculty Committee Members shall be nominated by any two members of the Faculty Group concerned, and shall declare in writing:
(i) their consent to nomination
(ii) their unreserved agreement with the Objects and the Doctrinal Basis of the S.U.E.U.
(b) Such nominations shall be handed to the retiring Faculty Secretary at least seven (7) days prior to the election.
(c) The Faculty Committee shall be elected by a majority of votes of members of the Faculty Group present and voting at the Faculty�s Annual General Meeting.
(d) In the event of any officer being no longer in unreserved agreement with the Objects and Doctrinal Basis before referred to, that person�s Office shall be declared vacant by the Faculty Committee or General Council.
(e) In the event of a vacancy occurring in any Office on the Faculty Committee, the Faculty Committee shall at it�s discretion appoint a person or hold an election to fill the vacancy. Any person so appointed or elected shall hold office only for the remainder of the term of the original holder.
(f) In the event of the resignation of a Faculty Leader, the position so vacated shall be filled as set out in paragraph VI
(5)(e). In the even of the concurrent resignations of both Faculty Leaders or if thought advisable by the General Council, the Faculty shall hold am election to fill the vacant positions under the direction of the Vice-Presidents or other members appointed by he General Council.


VII. Bible Study Groups

1. Bible Study Groups shall be established as deemed necessary from the members of the Faculty Group and other interested people by the Faculty committee or by the General Council in the case of smaller Faculty Groups.
2. (a) When possible there shall be appointed one male and one female member to take charge of each Bible Study Group. The people so appointed shall be called �Group Leaders�.
(b) Leaders of Bible Study Groups shall be appointed by the Faculty Committee sand must declare in writing:
(i) their consent to nomination
(ii) their unreserved agreement with the Objects and Doctrinal Basis of the S.U.E.U.


VIII. Faculty General Committees

1. Each Faculty Group shall have a Faculty General Committee which shall consist of the Faculty Committee and all Group Leaders within the Faculty.
2. The Faculty General Committee shall be convened by the Faculty Committee as the General Council shall direct and shall make recommendations to the Faculty Committee or the General Council.
3. Any member of the Faculty General Committee shall be able to initiate any subject for discussion in the Faculty General Committee meeting provided that notice in writing has been given to the Faculty secretary prior to the meeting.
4. A meeting of the Faculty General Committee shall be chaired by the leader of the convening committee or in that person�s absence, the Secretary of the Committee.


IX. General Meetings of the S.U.E.U.

1. General Meetings of the S.U.E.U. shall be convened by the Secretary, who shall, in respect to all General Meetings other than those to which the provisions of subclause 4 of this clause apply, act under the direction of the General Council.
2. A General Meeting of the S.U.E.U. shall be held within four (4) weeks preceding the mid-semester break of Second Semester, and shall be known as the Annual General Meeting.
3. All members of the S.U.E.U. shall be notified by circular or otherwise at least twenty-one (21) days beforehand of any General Meeting. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to, or on the non-receipt of notice of a meeting by, any member shall not invalidate the proceedings of any meeting.
4. On application in writing by at least twenty (20) members of the S.U.E.U. stating the business to be submitted, the Secretary shall convene a special General Meeting within twenty-one (21) days of receipt of such an application. The resolutions passed at such a meeting and the minutes of the same shall be recorded by the Secretary in the Minute Book of the General Meetings of the S.U.E.U.
5. At any General Meeting of the S.U.E.U., other than the General Meeting to which the provisions of clause VIII apply, fifteen (15) percentum of members shall constitute a quorum.
6. The President, or in the absence of the President, one of the Vice-Presidents shall take the chair at all General Meetings of the S.U.E.U. In the case of one of the Vice-Presidents wishing, or if the meeting so wishes, the Meeting shall take the chair. In the absence of both the President and the two Vice-Presidents, the Meeting shall elect a person to take the chair from the members of the S.U.E.U. present.
7. Voting at any General Meeting of the S.U.E.U. on election of officers or amendment of the Constitution shall be by ballot.
8. The person chairing any General Meeting of the S.U.E.U. shall have a casting vote only.


X. Advisory Committee

1. There shall be an Advisory Committee which shall be set an advisory and consultative capacity in relation to such matters as may be referred to it by the General Council. The General Council shall refer to it:
(a) Any proposal to alter any provisions of clauses II, III, XI, XII and XIII of this Constitution.
(b) Any proposal for joint activity under clause XII.
2. The Advisory Committee shall consist of five (5) University graduates appointed by the General Council.
3. Members of the Advisory Committee shall be required to subscribe to the Doctrinal Basis and shall hold office:
(a) only so long as they are in unreserved agreement with the Doctrinal Basis
(b) for a period not exceeding five (5) years. Retiring members shall be eligible for reappointment.
(c) only while they are resident on the Sydney area.


XI. Speakers and Specialist Committees

1. Only speakers whose views are in accordance with the Doctrinal Basis shall be asked to take part in any meeting of the S.U.E.U. except where S.U.E.U. shall organise recognised public forums where the truths of Christianity are debated; provided that the views of at least one speaker at such a forum shall be in accordance with the Doctrinal Basis.
2. All members of any subcommittee formed by the General Council and all Officers appointed by the General Council shall declare in writing their unreserved agreement with the Doctrinal Basis of the S.U.E.U.


XII. Principles of Co-operation

Joint activities with any body that does not uphold the truths stated in the Doctrinal Basis may be arranged only where the General Council is satisfied that the Doctrinal Basis will not be compromised in any way.


XIII. Alterations to the Constitution

The Constitution shall not be altered except by resolution passed at a General Meeting in the following manner:
(a) The mover of the proposed resolution for alterations must give notice thereof in writing to the Secretary who shall set out such proposed resolution in the notice convening the meeting.
(b) Such resolution shall not be passed unless carried by a majority of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present and voting.
(c) Twenty (20) percentum of the members shall constitute a quorum at such a meeting.


XIV. Dissolution

1. In the event of dissolution or winding up of the Sydney University Evangelical Union, any remaining assets, other than assets subjects to subclause 2 of this clause, or any money that resulted from the sale of assets, in the course of winding up the S.U.E.U., other than assets subject to subclause 2 of this clause, will not be given to members of the General Council of the S.U.E.U. but shall be given or transferred to some other association(s) or institution(s) having objects similar to the S.U.E.U. and which is/are exempt from sales tax under item 110 in Schedule I to the Sales Tax (Exemptions and Classifications) Act, 1992.
2. Property originally obtained with funds provided by the University of Sydney Union for the purchase of Capital Items will, upon dissolution, be dealt with by the University of Sydney Union as it sees fit.


XV. Non-Profit

No member of te General Council of the S.U.E.U. shall be appointed to any salaried office paid by fees and no remuneration or other benefits in money or monies worth shall be given to any member of the General Council of the S.U.E.U. except repayment for out-of-pocket expenses, interest at a rate not exceeding interest at a rate for the time being charged by bankers in Sydney for money lent to S.U.E.U. and proper rent for premises let to S.U.E.U.