European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN)
c/o Conference of European Churches
Ecumenical Centre
Rue Joseph II 174
BE-1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel:
E-Mail:
ecen@cec-kek.be
Website: http://www.ecen.org
Webmaster: srtp@srtp.org.uk
(1.1)In recent years it has become increasingly clear that the European churches need to collaborate more closely on environmental issues. Ecological threats transcend national boundaries and are often best addressed by joint efforts, in addition to the ongoing work on local issues. In June 1997, the Second European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA2) in Graz (Austria) gave explicit substance to this need for a common witness in adopting the recommendation (5.4) "that network of persons with environmental responsibilities" within the churches should be set up at a European level.
(1.2) From 21-25 October 1998, 60 people gathered at the Orthodox Academy of Vilemov in the Czech Republic in order to implement this recommendation. They came from 24 countries in both eastern and western Europe, representing Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Roman-Catholic churches. The Conference of European Churches provided support and organisational assistance. The participants agreed the urgent need for increased collaboration and unanimously decided to found a network, under the name European Christian Environmental Network.
(1.3) The network engages in regular activities with its members (Assemblies, Working-Coalitions, sustained communication). Each member of the network remains independent. No member can speak on behalf of the network. Joint activities depend on the initiative and consent of the members. To be effective, the network must be able to count on the commitment of its members.
The aims of the ECEN are to work towards the development of sustainability at all levels, community, regional, national and European. This embraces not only the ecological, but also the social, spiritual, political and economic dimension of life. It seeks to do this by:
promoting environmental responsibility based on Christian convictions
pooling information and expertise
encouraging and supporting members in developing practical action to fulfil the churches' ecological responsibilities
raising ecological awareness and commitment of the European churches
analysing social and political implications of environmental issues and promoting joint activities to address them
identifying environmental issues arising at the European level and suggesting to the churches ways of dealing with them
encouraging the dialogue on environmental issues among the different regions of Europe (for example East-West and North-South)
stimulating appropriate collaboration with NGOs and with the activities of European organisations and institutions.
(3.1) Members of ECEN are individual representatives mandated by:
European churches or their ecumenical bodies
Associated or partner organisations of the Conference of European Churches
Environmental organisations working on behalf of or in close co-operation with one or several of the European churches.
Only members of ECEN have the right to vote at Assemblies on matters related to the statutes, structure, organisation and priorities of the network. Only members of the network can be elected as members of the Enabling Team
(3.2) Representatives of other environmental organisations/groups as well as individuals can become associated members of ECEN. Associated members may participate in Assemblies ECEN without the right to vote and/or in the Working Coalitions of the network.
(3.3) Members, associated members as well as the churches/organisations they represent in a spirit of ecumenical openness, should perceive the faith common to the manifold Christian churches. This demands tolerance, respect for the opinions of others, the acceptance of differences and distancing oneself from sectarian attitudes.
Associated members from secular organisations/groups may participate as described under 3.2, if they comply with these criteria and if they seek to collaborate with churches.
All members and associated members must be prepared to enter into dialogue.
(4.1) Members and associated members come together at Assemblies of ECEN in order to advance the networking process, to reflect on common priorities, to take decisions on the general course and future priorities of the network as well as to elect an Enabling Team.
(4.2) In principle, the time between the Assemblies should not exceed two years.
(4.3) Members as well as associated members of the network are invited to Assemblies at least three month before the Assembly takes place. If the number of members and associated members wishing to attend exceeds the number places available, the enabling team may select from among the applicants according to regional, confessional, gender criteria and programme priorities.
(4.4) Decisions during business sessions need to be adopted by the majority of votes of the members present. Recommendations put to a vote should take into account regional, confessional and/or gender related sensibilities.
(5.1) The Assemblies of ECEN elect an Enabling Team, which conducts the work of the network between Assemblies. Its responsibilities include in particular: to keep the network going, to encourage new members to join, to organise and prepare the Assembly, to encourage and facilitate join activities, to co-ordinate the working coalitions, to ensure communication between members and to supervise the website, to supervise the budget of the network.
(5.2) The Enabling Team should not have more than 10 members elected by the Assembly. Its composition must reflect the regional, confessional and gender composition of the ECEN.
(5.3) The Secretary of the Network and the Webmaster are ex-officio members of the Enabling Team.
(5.4) The Enabling Team may co-opt up to two additional members.
(6.1) Within the general framework given by the Assembly, the Enabling Team establishes working coalitions, in which members and associated members work together on specific themes during and between Assemblies.
(6.2) Each coalition has a facilitator, who is responsible for the communication between the members of the coalition, for facilitating the activities of the coalition and for reporting to the Enabling Team and the Assembly.
(6.3) Each Assembly reviews the work of the coalitions.
(7.1) The Enabling Team chooses one of the members of ECEN as its Secretary. The Secretary supports the Enabling Team in implementing its work.
(7.2) The Secretary serves as the official address of ECEN.
(7.3) The Enabling Team also chooses a Web-Master, whose task it is to maintain the ECEN web-site according to the decisions of the Enabling Team. Between meetings of the Enabling Team the Webmaster in consultation with the Secretary may decide on material displayed on the ECEN web-site.
(8.1) The budget of ECEN is established by the Enabling Team. The accounts are administered and supervised by one of its members, whose church/organisation is registered as a non-profit organisation or has an equivalent (tax-exempt) status.
(8.2) Each member and associated member of ECEN is responsible for raising funds in order to cover the envisaged expenses.
(8.3)Within the budgetary framework, the supervisor of the accounts may authorise specific payments. For any expenses beyond the budgetary provisions the agreement of at least two members of the Enabling Team is required.
(8.4) No financial commitments on behalf of ECEN can be made without prior consultation with the Supervisor of the accounts.
(9.1) These statutes were adopted by the ECEN Assembly in Loccum, October 1999.
(9.2) Changes to these statutes can be adopted by a majority of votes of members present at ECEN Assemblies.
Loccum, 29 October 1999
This page was last updated on 19 September 2003
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