THE CENTER FOR EMPIRICAL RESEARCHES OF RELIGION

 

STATUTE

Pursuant to Article 6 and 10 of the Law on Civic, Social and Political Organizations founded by the Citizens on the territory of the Social Republic of Yugoslavia (''Official Gazette of the SFRY,'' No. 42/90, ''Official Gazette of the SRY,'' No. 24/94; 28/96), Constituent Assembly of the Civic Organization: ''The Center for Empirical Researches of Religion'' held on 22 October 2001 in the city of Novi Sad passes:

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CITIZENS:

THE CENTER FOR EMPIRICAL RESEARCHES OF RELIGION

Article 1

These Articles of Association regulate the work, position and activities of the Association of Citizens: The Center for Empirical Researches of Religion (hereinafter referred to as the Association or the Center) founded at the Constituent Assembly on 22 October 2001 in the city of Novi Sad.

Article 2

The Center for Empirical Researches of Religion is an independent and non-profit-making Association of Citizens founded to support, initiate and carry out scientific researches of religion and cooperation of all subjects interested in this field.

NAME, HEADQUARTERS, TERRITORY OF ACTIVITY OF THE ASSOCIATION

Article 3

The name of the Association is: The Center for Empirical Researches of Religion

Article 4

The headquarters of the Association: the city of Novi Sad

Article 5

The territory on which the Association will perform their activities is the Republic of Serbia.

Article 6

The Association has a round official seal with the following inscribed text: The Center for Empirical Research of Religion, Novi Sad; there is a big square root in the middle of the seal, with ''CEIR'' (Latin-script) within that square root.

Article 7

Change of the name, headquarters and activity of the Association shall be decided by the Constituent Assembly.

AIMS AND ACTIVITY OF THE ASSOCIATION ARE:

Article 8

The activities of the Association include researches, education and publishing, namely:

- Gathering and connecting the scholars and researchers in the field of religion

- Popularization of scientific attitudes to religion

- To gather, exchange and publish literarture and informatiion about religions

- Research of old and new forms of religious ideas

- Providing objective information about religious organizations

- To create and carry out research projects according to the aims mentioned above

- Collecting empirical data on public attitude towards religion and religious groups

- Learning about different religions and developing religious tolerance

FORM AND MODE OF ORGANIZATION

Article 9

On the day of entry into the Register of social organizations and citizen associations, the Association gains the status of corporate legal person.

The Association is a non-profit-making organization which shall be financed out of voluntary contributions and donations of interested natural and legal persons.

Article 10

The Association can form their branches outside the territory of Novi Sad and cooperate with other similar associations as well.

COOPERATION BETWEEN THE ASSOCIATION AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

Article 11

The Association shall link and cooperate with other associations, organizations and fondations in their home country and abroad in order to achieve their own material, cultural and other aims.

The decision on linking and cooperation from paragraph 1 of this Article shall be made by the Managing Board.

MEMBERSHIP, MEMEBERS' RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

Article 12

All interested individuals become members of the Association through membership application form which contain data about the member and which shall be filled in and signed by the applicant.

Article 13

The President of the Managing Board is obliged to keep record of the members of the Association, issue membership cards, as well as to suggest to the Managing Board who should be excluded from the Association.

Article 14

The member of the Association is obliged to:

- Actively help to achieve the aims of the Association

- Take part in the activities of the Association according to his/her field of interest

- Perform other activities entrusted to him/her by the Managing Board.

The member of the Association has the right to:

-Take equal part in achieving the aims of the Association

-Take direct part in decision-making at the Assembly as well as indirectly, through official bodies of the Associations

-choose and be chosen as the member of the bodies of the Association

-be timely and completely informed about the work and activities of the Association

MANAGEMENT AND MANAGING BODIES

Bodies of the Association are:

1. Assembly

2. The President of the Managing Board

3. Managing Board

4. Supervisory Board

ASSEMBLY

Article 15

The members of the Assembly are all the members of the Association.

The Assembly meets once a year. Extraordinary sessions of the Assembly can be summoned at the explained proposal of the Managing Board, as well as on the written initiative of at least one third of the members.

Article 16

The Assembly of the Association:

- issues the plan and program of action,

- adopts amendments of and supplements to the Articles of Association and other documents,

- considers and adopts, at least once a year, Managing Board's report,

- considers and adopts financial plan and report,

- chooses the members of the Managing Board and relieves them of their duty.

Decisions made by the Assembly are valid if at least one half of the members are present.

The Assembly makes decisions by majority of votes of the present members.

For the decisions on the amendments of and supplements to the Articles of Association to be valid, two-thirds majority of the present members will be necessary.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE MANAGING BOARD

Article 17

The President's mandate lasts four years. One and the same person can be appointed several times.

The President is independent in his work and accounts for it before the Assembly.

Article 18

The President represents and acts as agent for the Center for Empirical Research of Religion in legal transactions and in relation to third parties.

In the absence of the President, deputy president acts on his behalf, with all the rights and obligations of the president.

Article 19

According to the Decision on founding the Association, the President:

Establishes:

- Organization of the Association and its plan of activities

- Long-term development strategy of the Association.

Proposes:

- Business report of the Center,

- Annual balance sheet and periodical accounts of the center

- Amendments of general acts of the Association.

Article 20

The function of the President ceases:

- If he requests to be relieved of duty

- If the Assembly sees that the operations entrusted to him are beyond his abilities and that this affects the function, operations and relations of the Associations

- If he violates the provisions of the Law, of these Articles of Association and of other general acts of this Association.

MANAGING BOARD

Article 21

The Managing Board consists of five members, whose mandate lasts four years.

The Managing Board of the Association is entitled to:

- Manage the work of the Association during the period between two sessions of the Assembly,

- Give their suggestions regarding the amendments of the Articles of Association

- Propose activities and action plans

- Propose opening of local chapters

- Make decisions on important initiatives and proposals of the members

- Entrust special tasks to certain members

- Decide whether someone should be excluded from the Association.

The Managing Board makes decisions if at least one half of the members are present, and the decisions are made by majority of votes of the present members.

SUPERVISORY BOARD

Article 22

The Supervisory Board is appointed for the period of four years and has two members.

The meetings of the Supervisory Board are summoned by the President, and when necessary.

As for the function of the Supervisory Board, they shall:

- Control of materially-financial transactions

- Consider complaints of the members of the Association and make decisions according to them

- Make decisions regarding the complaints at appellate court

- Perform other operations in order to protect the legality of business performance and the members of the Association

PERSONAL DECLARATION

Article 23

Without consent of the majority of the Managing Board's members and that by personal declaration, not one body of the Association cannot decide on:

- Changing the name and headquarters of the Association

- Changing the scope of activities of the Association

- Making long-term contracts

- Changing the Articles of Association and other acts of the Association

- Cessation of the work of the Association.

MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES

Article 24

The Association shall fulfill all the undertaken obligations out of its own resources.

The Association's resources can be sold only by the decision of the Assembly.

Article 25

The Association's annual expenses shall be planned and approved by the Assembly at the proposal of the President.

At the end of each year, the President submits the yearly settlement in accordance to the law and the Assembly adopts that settlement.

INTERMEDIATE AND CLOSING PROVISIONS

Article 26

The Association is founded for an unlimited period of time and will work as long as its founders have interest.

In case of dissolution of the Association, all of its property – all expenses having been defrayed – shall be given to charity to "Decje selo" ("Children's village") in Sremska Kamenica.

The Association may dissolve if the founder decides so or in cases stipulated by the Law.

Article 27

The Constituent Assembly decides on the amendments of the Articles of Association by two-thirds majority at the proposal of the Managing Board.

The initiative to amend the Articles can be given by at least 10 members.

Article 28

The Association works publicly.

Official bodies of the Association are obliged to ensure public work of the Association through internal publications or through statement for the public.

Article 29

These Articles of Association come into effect 8 (eight) days upon being announced and are implemented from the day of registration.

Novi Sad, 22 October 2001

CHAIR PERSON OF THE CONSTITUENT ASSEBMLY

AND THE PERSON WHO REPRESENTS THE ASSOCIATION

Prof. dr Zorica Kuburic

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