Could you serve our movement on the GA Executive Committee?
Nominations for the General Assembly Executive Committee (GA EC) are open – the Election Panel tells us more.
The General Assembly is seeking new candidates to stand for election to join the Executive Committee. Who do you know who might be an asset to our movement in this role? Candidate applications close on 31 January 2025, so now is a great time to share a quiet word of encouragement with potential candidates.
The role of the Executive Committee (EC) is to work with the Chief Officer and staff team to lead and serve the Unitarian and Free Christian movement. The words that Liz Slade, Chief Officer, wrote in The Inquirer at the time of the last EC election are still relevant now:
“This is an exciting time to be part of this leadership group, because of the nature of the challenges we are facing. COVID-19 brought closer to home the fragility of many of our congregations, but also displayed the creativity and care they hold. We know that ‘more of the same’ could lead to chapels closing in the not-too-distant future, and we know in a movement like ours, the path to the future must be found locally, not imposed from the top down. So the work of leadership from Essex Hall is akin to that of gardeners – tending the soil, nurturing the seedlings, supporting the mighty oaks, taking care of the compost, having an eye on the weather, and the keeping the whole ecosystem in view.”
What does the EC do?
EC members represent the movement and are democratically elected by members across the country to be the trustees of the GA charity. Their work is to enable the smooth running of the charity according to the GA’s charitable object. They bring experience from within our movement and from their professional and voluntary work elsewhere. This may be in management, finance, communications, change management, charity governance, or some other experience.
The EC meets around six times a year, either in person with an overnight stay (with one longer two-night meeting per year), or by video conference. We have recently moved to holding meetings at weekends to make EC membership more accessible to those in work. This arrangement could be altered further for the new configuration of members.
Who can stand for election?
Candidates should have been part of the Unitarian community for at least three years and have experience as a member of either their congregation’s governing body or similar committee, or have been a trustee of another charity. They will also need to fulfil the Charity Commission’s legal requirements for trustees.
How do I apply?
Applications need to be received by 31 January 2025, with support from the candidate’s congregation or other Unitarian member organisation. You can find all the information you need, including nomination forms, here: https://www.unitarian.org.uk/how-we-work/ec-elections/.
When is the election?
Biographical information on the candidates will be sent, and the election will open, in February 2025. There will be a five-week period for voting and the election will close on 28 March 2025. The results will be announced shortly afterwards. Successful candidates will take up office at the end of the Annual Meetings in April 2025.
Questions
If you would like to know more about the work of the EC, or whether you should consider applying, please do get in touch with Liz Slade, Chief Officer.
This article was written by the Executive Committee Electoral Panel.