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1. Title The Community shall be known as

'The Columba Community.'

2. Headquarters The headquarters of the Community shall be:

Columba House

11, Queen Street

Derry

N.Ireland

3. Aims a) The principal aims of the community shall be :

to help members to develop their personal

relationship with Christ

b) to support fellow members in their struggle to

deepen their relationship with God, and

c) to reach out to the community at large,particularly

in the ministries of :

PRAYER

HEALING and

RECONCILIATION

4. Membership: Which shall be confined to committed Christians,

shall be open to application or invitation.

4 (1) All applications for membership shall be vetted by

the Service Committee.Similarly all invitations

must have the prior approval of the Service

Committee.

4 (2) Approved applicants and invitees shall be subject

to a probationary period of at least three months

before being formally accepted into membership.

4 (3) Decisions regarding final acceptance to

membership shall be made by the Service

Committee after careful consultation with every

member of the Community.

4 (4) See additional document entitled

"Rules for Membership" Appendix 1.

5. Committment

Members : The minimum commitment expected of members is

a) one hour daily of Community Prayer -either

together or at home, and

b) two hours weekly of their time and talents to

further the work of the Community.

c) Constant striving to embrace the virtues of -

i) obedience to the word of God (study

of the Bible) to the word of God

(listening to God) and to the church.

ii) Poverty of Spirit-exercising humility

and caution of speech,sharing resources

offering hospitality.

iii) Compassionate love to one another,

to the immediate environment and to

the community at large.

iv) Chastity

v) Forgiveness and Reconciliation

vi) The deep Peace of Christ, with its

accompanying interior joy.

Service Committee

The Ruling Body of the Community shall be known as the

Service Committee which shall consist of all elected officers of

the Community. This Committee will be responsible for the day

to day running of the community.

Officers

The Officers of the Community shall be:

a) Director: Who shall be responsible for the overall leadership

of the Community.

b) Spiritual Director: Who shall be responsible for developing

Christian Communities, shall be appointed by the Office Bearers

of the Columba House Community.

c) Administrator: Who shall be responsible for the overall

administration of the community, shall be elected every two years

and shall not be eligible to hold office for more than two

consecutive terms.

d) Secretary: Who shall deal with correspondence, take minutes

at meetings etc.

e) Treasurer: Who shall be responsible for the

finances of the Community and shall keep

appropriate records and prepare an annual Income

and Expenditure Account and balance Sheet.

f) Membership Secretary: Who shall keep

records of membership (including auxiliary members).

g) Newsletter Editor: Who shall be responsible

for preparing and editing periodical

communication with members.

Elections: All Officers - with the exception of Director and

Administrator shall be elected annually at the A.G.M.

Casual vacancies may be filled by the Service Committee.

Meetings: There will be bi-annual Meetings of all members of

the Community.

(1) A.G.M. (January)

(2) Review Meeting (August).

APPENDIX 1

RULES FOR MEMBERSHIP

RULES FOR MEMBERSHIP

(1) Types of Membership

(2) Conditions of Membership

(3) Termination of Membership

(4) Renewal of Membership

(5) Tithing

(6) Weekly Group Meetings

1. TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP

Active Membership/Aspirants to Membership/Auxiliary

Membership/Honorary Membership.

2. CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP

The relatively high standards of ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP have always

been held up as the ideal; those present at the meeting on Wednesday 30th

April 1986 have agreed to put them into practice and review their progress

at the end of August 1986. Those aspiring to ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP

may do so under the following conditions:

(a) Their desire to do so;

(b) Attendance (over a three month period) at Mass, Prayer Times and

the Community Meeting.

(c) That they are called to membership by the Spiritual Director or

Administrator.

3. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

While we regret the "drifting off " or official resignation of some of our

members over the past year we feel that this will happen in a Community

where people are enabled to grow for a time but are in no way bound to

remain members for life. In order to protect these past members from any

guilt or bad feeling, so that they may feel good about their decision to

leave we will take it that:

(a) Anyone who has not attended meetings and Mass during the previous

three months (Feb/Mar?Apr. 1986) is no longer a member;

(b) Anyone who does not express a desire to renew committment after

any six month period has forfeited membership;

(c) Anyone who has written a letter of resignation and has had that

officially accepted is no longer an ACTIVE MEMBER.

We would emphasise that while we are always open to new membership to

help build this cell of the Kingdom it is equally true to say that people who

wish to leave the Community and move on should do so with a blessing, as

life membership was never our original intention for anyone.

4. RENEWAL OF MEMBERSHIP

It is hoped that each one of us will renew our Committment to the Lord

and each other every six months.

Those who were ACTIVE MEMBERS and who would wish to regain

ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP would do so by fulfilling the conditions laid

down under point (2). We would hope that by setting higher standards we

would avoid the unhealthy situation of past year when members and those

aspiring to membership have drifted in and out; if we build the wall higher

round the sheepfold and become better gate-keepers, the demarcation line

between those 'inside' and those 'outside' the community will be clear.

This can only lead to better relationships with less confusion, less hurt and

less petty gossip.

Auxiliary Membership.

Auxiliary members may become ACTIVE MEMBERS by fulfilling the

above conditions.

We would hope to have an annual meeting, perhaps a day's retreat to keep

in touch with our Auxiliary Members.

5. TITHING

Since drafting this letter to accompany the Constitution for the direction

and support of our members, we note that some of you have begun to tithe.

The word on tithing has come to us some time ago. The Spiritual Director

and the Administrator will review with those tithing, their positions in

three months time. We trust that the Lord who loves a cheerful giver will

honour such generosity - give him a chance!

6. WEEKLY GROUP MEETINGS

The weekly group meetings which will last twenty minutes will give each

of the three or four participants five minutes each to review their prayer

lives, their relationships, their work and will allow for a brief prayer time

for each one in the group. We need to protect our own members as we are

constantly counselling and having prayer requests for others.

Appendix 2

The Elected Officers at a meeting held on 13th November 1996 in

Columba House, agreed to manage and be responsible for the employment

of

a) A Reconciliation Officer together with secretary for

Columba Community and

b) A Project Co-ordinator for Columba Support Services.