Constitution

Adopted on the 1st day of April 2009. Amended September 2015.

1. Name of Organisation

Association for Pastoral Supervision and Education (APSE).

2. Purpose

The purpose of APSE is to promote high standards of pastoral supervision by:
Providing a system of accreditation for pastoral supervisors and educators in pastoral supervision
Supporting initiatives in the training of pastoral supervisors
Fostering groups for the support, accountability and continuing development of pastoral supervisors
Encouraging conversation amongst the various traditions and contexts of pastoral supervision and pastoral supervision education

3. Definition

Pastoral supervision is a regular, planned, intentional and boundaried space in which a practitioner skilled in supervision (the supervisor) meets with one or more other practitioners (the supervisees) to look together at the supervisees’ practice. Pastoral supervision is not spiritual direction, counselling or line management. An expanded definition is given in Appendix A.

4. Membership

There will be four kinds of membership:

  1. Individual Membership: open to individuals who support the Purpose and Code of Conduct of the association or who are working towards being accredited as Accredited Members. Membership gives individuals voting rights, makes them eligible to receive information, apply for accredited status and stand for office. Members also receive discounts on conference fees and may advertise events that accord with the aims of APSE on its website.
  2. Institutional Membership: open to organisations who support the Purposes of the Association. Membership makes an institution eligible to receive information and advertise events that accord with the aims of APSE on its website. It entitles an institution/organisation to two free places at the annual conference and voting rights for two people on the AGM.
  3. Accredited Member Pastoral Supervision: (APS) open to those who practise pastoral supervision and have been accredited through the route outlined in Appendix C.
  4. Accredited Member in Education for Pastoral Supervision: (AEPS) open to those who practise pastoral supervision and run programmes in pastoral supervision training and who have been accredited through the route outlined in Appendix C.

5. Subscriptions and fees

All members will pay an annual subscription. An additional one-off fee will be payable for accreditation and reviews. The amounts payable will be determined by the Executive Committee.

6. Code of Conduct

All individual and accredited members are required to sign and adhere to the APSE Code of Conduct. The Code, including processes for resolving differences and complaints, is given in Appendix B.

7. Accreditation

The criteria and processes for accreditation are set out in Appendix C.
Any changes in these criteria and processes will be treated as a change to this Constitution and will require a two-thirds majority by a ballot of the membership.

8. Executive Committee

a) The affairs of APSE will be managed by its Executive Committee (hereafter ‘the Committee’). The Committee is the instrument for implementing policy and dealing with the day-to-day administration of APSE.

b) The Committee will comprise

  • three office bearers: Chair, Secretary, Treasurer
  • a Member representative and an Accredited Member representative

c) The Committee will annually organise elections to the Committee. Any Member of APSE will be eligible for election to the Committee. In the event of more than 3 candidates being presented for any given post, a shortlist will be nominated by the standing Committee. For election of Committee members ballots will require a 50% return and a simple majority.

d) The membership may be balloted on any constitutional issue by the committee, or by a group comprising 5% of the membership or ten Members (whichever is the higher figure). One month’s written notice must be given, stating the purpose and nature of the proposed changes. Any constitutional change will require a two-thirds majority of those voting.

e) Proceedings of the Committee

  1. The Committee will meet at least twice per year.
  2. Additional meetings may be called at any time by the Chair or any two other Committee members.
  3. The Secretary will notify Committee members of matters to be discussed at meetings at least 14 days in advance.
  4. The Committee will keep minutes of meetings.
  5. At least three Committee members must be present at meetings to constitute a quorum.
  6. Where possible, every matter will be decided by consensus; or failing this, by a majority of votes of the attending members.
  7. The Committee will have the power to co-opt additional members.
  8. The Committee may appoint sub-committees to supervise or perform any function. All acts of any such sub-committees will be promptly reported to the main Committee.
  9. The Committee will prepare an annual written report, including financial accounts, for the membership.
  10. The Secretary, in consultation with the Chair, will make administrative arrangements for meetings of the Committee and all General Meetings.

f) The Committee will organise General Meetings to promote the aims of APSE at which constitutional issues may be discussed.

9. Dissolution

APSE may be dissolved by a simple majority vote at an Extraordinary General Meeting called for this purpose. Notice stating the terms of the dissolution must be given to all members at least one month before the meeting. All assets remaining after all proper debts and liabilities are discharged will be handed over to charities determined by the meeting.