Hi guys,
I think that the following version of the transcript, may well be the final one. I’ve included all of the corrections by Rog, Then I went through replaced the other questionable words with likely possibilities and in some cases just a guess based up size and context to the best of my ability, and each is followed by a question mark.
Regards, David.
CONSTITUTION AND GENERAL RULES
OF THE
CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COLLEGE
ARTICLE ONE - Location and Membership
Section 1. Location
The principal office of the Church of Scientology Religious Education College will be situated at 57 Pulteney Street, Adelaide, 5000, or such other place within the State of South Australia as shall be determined by the Board of Trustees.
Section 2. Membership
1. The Membership will expire by written application to the Board of Trustees by or on behalf of the member in question.
2. Those members who do not pay their contributions after having been requested to do so on two occasions may be excluded from the College.
3. The members of the College shall be divided into two classes of members namely "Church Members" and "Student Members". Each "Church Member" shall have one vote only on any resolution proposed in general meeting. "Student Members" shall not be entitled to vote on any resolution proposed in general meeting.
"Church Members" are listed hereunder:
Church of Scientology Incorporated (Australia)
Church of Scientology AOSH (Denmark)
Church of Scientology Belgium
Church of Scientology British Columbia
Church of Scientology Copenhagen
Church of Scientology Denmark
Church of Scientology France
Church of Scientology Germany
Church of Scientology Holland
Church of Scientology Montreal
Church of Scientology Ottawa
Church of Scientology South Africa Pty Inc
Church of Scientology Sweden
Church of Scientology Toronto
Hubbard Foundation Scotland
The Board of Trustees in its discretion may resolve that the number of "Church Members" may be increased and that additional "Church Members" may be admitted to the College provided that such persons affirm and adhere to the Creed and doctrines of Scientology as formulated by L. Ron Hubbard the founder of the religion. A "Student Member" shall constitute a person who has been admitted to the College as a Student and who affirms and adheres to the Creed and doctrines of Scientology as formulated by L. Ron Hubbard the Founder of the religion or any persons whom contribute funds or other property to the College provided that person affirms adherence to the Creed and doctrines aforesaid.
4. A member will cease to be liable to make contributions to the Association as from the date of his death or in the case of a corporate member as from the date on which proceedings for dissolution of the corporate member commences. Neither the legal personal representative of a deceased member nor the liquidator of a corporation in liquidation shall exercise any rights(?) of membership on behalf of a deceased member(?).
Any dispute as to membership and in particular any dispute as to whether a member is affirming adherence to the Creed and doctrines of Scientology as formulated by L. Ron Hubbard the Founder of the religion shall be determined by the Board of Trustees in accordance with principles of natural justice. The Board of Trustees may in a proper case exclude a member from membership.
Section 4. Contributions.
The Members of the College will contribute periodically such an amount as will be determined by the Board of Trustees for the purpose of covering its disbursements.
ARTICLE TWO - Objects of the College.
Section 1. Religion of Scientology
The College exists for the benefit of the public at large and in particular for the furtherance of the doctrines and Creed of the religion of Scientology throughout the world and for the purpose of administering religious colleges for the instruction of members of the College or their delegates in the doctrines and Creed of Scientology. With the object of attaining this end the College may provide funds for setting up in proper cases libraries, chapels, benevolent Institutions, Charitable Institutions, Schools, Study Centres, and any other forms of educational and reforming establishment. Additionally the College may provide funds to be utilised in the publication of books and other literature wholly and exclusively for the purpose of furthering the doctrines and Creed of the said religion. The College may also provide funds to be utilised in the grant of scholarships to enable persons to study the religion and Creed of Scientology.
Believing that Man's best evidence of God is the God he finds within himself and trusting with Enduring Faith that the Author of the Universe intend. Life to thrive within it, the College is formed to espouse such evidence of the Supreme Being and Spirit as may be knowable to Man and by their [sic] use the College hopes to bring a greater tranquility to the State and better order and survival to Man upon this planet.
Section 3. The Creed
To teach and expound the beliefs:
(a) That all men of whatever race, colour or creed were created with equal rights.
(b) That all men have inalienable rights to their own religious practices and their performance.
(c) That all men have inalienable rights to their own lives.
(d) That all men have inalienable rights to their sanity.
(e) That all men have inalienable rights to their own defence.
(f) That all men have inalienable rights to conceive, choose, assist and support their own organisations, churches and governments.
(g) That all men have inalienable rights to think freely, to talk freely, to write freely their own opinions and to counter or utter or write upon the opinions of others.
(h) That all men have inalienable rights to the creation of their own kind.
(i) That the souls of men have the rights of men.
(j) That the study of the mind and the healing of mentally caused ills should not be alienated from religion or condoned in non religious fields.
(k) And that no agency less than God has the power to suspend or set aside these rights, overtly or covertly.
(l) And we of the Church believe that man is basically good
(m) That he is seeking to survive
(n) That his survival depends upon himself and upon his fellows and his attainment of brotherhood with the Universe.
(o) That the laws of God forbid Man:
To destroy his own kind
To destroy the sanity of another
To destroy or enslave another's soul
To destroy or reduce the survival of one's companions or one's group
(p) That the spirit can be saved, and
(q) That the spirit alone may save or heal the body.
Section 4. Religious Unity
To expound the essential unity of all religions and religious faith and the existence of a single Supreme Superhuman Power.
Section 5. Affiliation
To affiliate subject to the provisions of the Constitution and General Rules with any Church which exists for the purpose of furthering the doctrines and Creed of the religion Scientology and to retain a unity of doctrine, teaching and practice with any such Church.
Section 6. Sister Colleges and Churches.
To recognise and fraternally co-operate with any College and Church and other institution which seeks to achieve similar objects to those set out herein.
Section 7. Establishment of Institutions.
To establish and charter libraries, schools, institutes, seminaries, chapels, subordinate colleges and other places to encourage the learning, study and practice of the faith of Scientology.
Section 8. Study of Literature, Science and Religion.
To promote and encourage the study of literature, science and arts with a view to the research into literature(?), religion, philosophy and science.
Section 9. Benevolent and Charitable Bodies.
To support(?) and provide funds for the creation and establishment(?) of any benevolent or charitable institutions found deserving(?) by the Board of Trustees for carrying forward(?) the mission(?) of the College.
Section 10. Scholarships
To raise and provide funds for the granting(?) of scholarships in the form of financial assistance to members of the College or other persons who in the opinion of the President of the Board of Trustees would be spiritually benefitted by further education.
Section 11. Absence of Pecuniary Gain
The College is to carry(?) on its operations without any pecuniary gain to any member and it shall be prohibited from distributing any surplus or other form of dividend to any members.
ARTICLE THREE - Administration
Section 1. Board of Trustees
(a) The property, activities and affairs of the College shall be managed by a Board of Trustees consisting of not more than five members.
(b) A Trustee will hold office until death, resignation or until a cessation of his membership of the College or upon a resolution of the Board of Trustees, ratified by the President removing the Trustee from Office.
Section 2. Vacancy
In the event of the resignation incapacity or death of any member of the Board of Trustees a new member of the Board shall be appointed and in the circumstances aforesaid the power of appointing a new member of the Board of Trustees is delegated to the Board of Trustees.
Section 3. Powers of the Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees, a quorum of not less than(?) a majority of Trustees then holding office may in addition to any other powers vested in them at law, in comity or by this Constitution and General Rules exercise all of the following powers:
(a) To alter the situation(?) of the principal office.
(b) To provide for the calling of and determine the order of business of its own(?) meetings.
(c) To call meetings of any bodies created under the Constitution and General rules and determine the order of business of such meetings.
(d) To alter and amend the Constitution and General Rules with the approval of the President or his delegate provided any relevant alteration or amendment is consonant with the Creed of the religion of Scientology as formulated by the founder of the religion L. Ron Hubbard.
(e) To make(?), alter and amend Special Rules not inconsistent with the Constitution and General Rules for:
(i) The more precise exposition of the intention of the Constitution and General Rules.
(ii) The provision of standing orders for its own meetings and other bodies created by the Constitution and General Rules or Special Rules made thereunder.
(iii) The calling of meetings under the Constitution and General Rules and the giving of notices and waiver of notices for such meetings.
(iv) The establishing of any body within the objects of the College set out in the Constitution and General Rules not otherwise provided for.
(v) The charter and administration of chapels, subordinate Colleges and other bodies.
(vi) The execution of any authority vested in the Board of Trustees by law or the Constitution and General Rules.
(f) To budget and collect contributions from members of the College for the purpose of covering the disbursements and in this context the Board of Trustees shall have full discretion in the administration and particular application of the funds of this College.
(g) To transfer to a fund any surplus of receipts and sums receivable over expenses and sums expendable or other surpluses and to apply such fund at its discretion in reducing future subscriptions and contributions of members towards expenses and sums expendable in subsequent periods provided that expenses which have been incorporated in budgets of the Association shall be taken into account in fixing contributions from members as well as contingent liabilities and future and deferred capital expenditure.
(h) To ensure that the College does not engage in any activity which is susceptible of being construed as trade activity in Australia or in any other territory in which the College may from time to time have any form of direct or indirect presence.
(i) To ensure that no substantial part of the activity of the College shall be designed to influence the legislation of any territory in which it has a direct or indirect presence or to influence a political campaign in such territory or to promote propaganda in any such territory.
Section 4. President.
(a)The President shall be selected by the General Meeting from amongst the Board of Trustees and shall hold Office until his death or resignation.
(b) The President shall select a Vice President from amongst the Board of Trustees within six calendar months of his taking office and in the absence of his making such a selection the Board of Trustees will select the Vice President who will hold office as if had been selected by the President.
(c) The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer and the Spiritual Head of the College. The President will administer the College when(?) the Board of Trustees is not sitting.
(d) The President or his delegate shall be the Chairman of all meetings he attends within the College unless he delegates his authority to the Vice President or a member of the Board of Trustees.
Section 5. Vice President and Resident Trustee.
(a) The Vice President shall hold office until death, resignation or supersession.
(b) The Vice President shall be the Chairman of every meeting within the College in the absence of the President.
(c) When acting as Resident Trustee as the President’s delegate he will have all the powers of the President save those attributable to the Spiritual Head of the College.
(d) The Vice President shall be responsible to the president and the Board of Trustees for the administration of the College.
Section 6. Secretary.
(a) The Secretary shall be selected by the Board of trustees with the consent of the President or his delegate from amongst the Board of Trustees.
(b) The Secretary shall hold office until his death, resignation, excommunication, supersession or until he fails to qualify as a Public Officer by reason of any statutory enactments.
(c) The Secretary shall be responsible to the President or his delegate and shall prepare, sign and cause to be mailed all written notices of meetings, prepare and maintain the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Trustees and the meetings of other College bodies and promptly provide the President or his delegate with copies of all resolutions of the Board of Trustees or other College bodies.
Section 7. Treasurer.
(a) The Treasurer shall be selected by the Board of trustees.
(b) The Treasurer shall hold office until his death, resignation excommunication or supersession.
(c) The Treasurer shall annually review the financial condition of the College and shall report his findings and recommendations to the President or his delegate whenever either of them request such.
(d) The Treasurer shall receive each week copies of invoices, deposit slips and other documents confirming(?) the deposit of monies or financial transactions in which the College is involved and make such periodic reports to the Board of trustees as it may request.
Section 8. General Meeting.
The ordinary general meeting will take place every year at a place to be determined by the Board of Trustees. The members or their representatives will be convened to the meeting by a notice displayed at the registered office of the College thirty days before the meeting is due to take place. Additionally Church Members will be notified of the meeting by registered letter thirty days before the date on which the meeting is due to take place.
Section 9. Agenda at General Meeting.
The following matters will be considered at the General Meeting in conjunction with any other relevant matter:
(i) The consideration of the annual report and the annual account as well as the auditor’s report.
(ii) The nomination and recall of the Members of the Board of Trustees.
(iii) The nomination and recall of the auditor or auditors of the Association.
Resolutions shall be taken when a quorum is present which for the purpose of the Article shall consist of a majority of the Church Members for the time being or their representatives and resolutions shall be carried by a simple majority of Church Members and in the event of an inequality of votes, the President shall have the casting vote.
Section 10. Election of Board of Trustees.
The general Meeting elects the Board of Trustees and the President. The Board shall consist of not more than five members of which one shall be President. The Board shall formulate the over-riding policy of the Association which shall accord at all times with the Creed and doctrines of the religion of Scientology as founded by L. Ron Hubbard the Founder of the Religion.
The Board takes the resolutions when a quorum is present which for the purpose of this Article consists of a majority of the ministers then holding office.
Section 11. Functions of the Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees presents the annual report and the annual account to the General Meeting. It enacts the rules for the implementation of the Association’s religious and educational functions and for these purposes the Board is entitled to make and promulgate regulations which shall then form an integral part of this constitution.
Section 12. Auditor
The General Meeting nominates every year one auditor.
Section 13. Religious Year.
The religious year will be the calendar year. The annual report and the annual account will be presented on or about the 30th June and the General Meeting will take place on or about the 1st August of each year.
Section 14. Modifications.
The regulations of the Association can be amended upon resolution of the General Meeting. If the Members propose any amendment of the regula5tions they will present it to the Board of Trustees at least 2 months before the General Meeting taking place. No amendment shall be entertained unless it is consonant with the Creed and doctrines of the religion of Scientology as founded by L. Ron Hubbard.
ARTICLE FOUR – Institutions
Section 1. Establishment.
The Board of Trustees shall establish such seminaries, schools, study center and other institutes of learning at such times and places as it deems advisable, provided that such establishments exist for the furtherance of the religion of Scientology.
Section 2. Teaching Faculty.
The Board of Trustees shall appoint such persons to the teaching faculties of established institutions(?) for such period of time and on such terms as it deems necessary for the betterment of research, education and study.
ARTICLE FIVE - Subordinate Colleges
Section 1. Establishment.
The Board of Trustees shall by Charter establish such subordinate Colleges and study groups, appoint such officers to administer them on such terms as it deems necessary for the propagation of the faith.
Section 2. Names.
The names of such subordinate Colleges or study groups shall be first approved by the Board of Trustees.
Section 3. Bylaws
The members of such subordinate Colleges or study groups may adopt such bylaws as are consistent with the Constitution and General Rules or Special Rules made thereunder as the Board of Trustees may ratify for limited application to such subordinate Colleges or study groups.
ARTICLE SIX - Dissolution.
The Board of Trustees shall be authorized at any time to dissolve the College in whole or in part subject to the relevant statutory provisions. Any surplus assets will be transferred to a person which exists wholly and exclusively for the purpose of furthering the doctrines and Creed of the religion of Scientology as formulated by its Founder, L. Ron Hubbard.
ARTICLE SEVEN – Interpretation
Section 1. General
Unless the context otherwise requires, the singular shall include the plural and vice versa and the masculine shall include the feminine gender.
Section 2. Particular.
The definitions of this section are to assist in the interpretation of this Constitution and General Rules.
(a) “Special Rule” means a Rule passed by the Board of Trustees, and “By law” means a rule ratified by the Board of Trustees.
(b)”The College” unless the context otherwise requires means the Church of Scientology Religious Education College.
(c)”Religion” means the system, worship and human recognition of superhuman controlling power and the effect of this on the conduct of normal human beings.