EUROPEAN REFORMATION RESEARCH GROUP
The European Reformation Research Group is a UK-based scholarly society with no denominational or religious affiliation, dedicated to furthering research into religious change in early modern Europe.
Constitution
After six years of existence, the society decided in
1996 that a more organized structure was needed. As a result of this decision, it was
agreed that henceforth, conferences would be planned two years in advance and, to assist
the local conference organizer(s), two officers were elected. In 1997, the process was
taken a step further by the decision to prepare a constitution for the society and to seek
charitable status.
Name of Society:
The society (founded 1990) is called: European Reformation Research Group (abbreviated as
ERRG).
Purpose of Society:
The society provides a medium for scholars working on all aspects of Reformation Europe
(including the British Isles) through which they can present their latest research to an
informed, critical, yet supportive audience. From the group’s inception a central aim
has been to encourage younger scholars, particularly postgraduate students, to play an
active part, and to have the opportunity to discuss their research at whatever level it
has reached. The ethos of the conference is egalitarian: there are no ‘key-note’
speakers, and postgraduates are invited to participate on equal terms with established
scholars. To further this end, every effort is made to keep conference costs to a minimum
and, whenever possible, to provide postgraduate bursaries.
Finally, an additional goal of the Group is to
organize volumes of essays in which postgraduates and scholars can publish early in their
careers. This is done both to facilitate the dissemination of the best new research to the
wider academic world and to assist these new scholars in furthering and enhancing their
career prospects.
Achieving the society’s purpose:
The primary methods by which the society achieves its main goals of providing a forum for
the presentation of new work and the publication of cutting edge research is the annual
ERRG conference and the establishment of close links with various publishers and
historical series. The annual ERRG conference usually takes place in late August or early
September.
Administration of the society:
The society is administered by the Annual General Meeting (abbreviated as AGM) which is
held during the course of the annual ERRG conference and, in the interim, by the elected
officers of the society. Any member attending the AGM is free to vote on any issue and,
with a second, to present a motion to the entire meeting for a vote. The General Secretary
will serve as chairperson during the AGM or, in the absence of the General Secretary, the
members will, as their first order of business, designate someone to act in the General
Secretary’s stead. Other than the specific function of chairing the AGM, all members
present attend, vote, discuss and in all other ways participate as equals.
Officers:
The society has two officers: General Secretary and Treasurer. Together they are
responsible for maintaining the society’s accounts and finances. In addition, the
General Secretary keeps the society’s mailing list, maintains its Website and
undertakes the correspondence necessary for inviting potential participants to each annual
conference. The officers are elected to two year terms by members present at the AGM. The
offices lack any remuneration or tangible benefits. In addition, the local organizer of
any given conference is an ex officio officer of the society.
Membership:
Membership is defined (on an annual basis) as any and all participants at the annual ERRG
conference.
Amending the Constitution:
A resolution to amend the constitution may be moved and seconded at any AGM but cannot be
voted upon until the next AGM, due notice of the proposed amendment having been circulated
with the registration forms (and via the Internet) for the AGM following that at which the
amendment was moved. A two-thirds majority vote of the members (i.e., those persons
present) at the subsequent AGM is sufficient to approve the amendment moved at the
previous AGM.
Dissolution of the society:
The AGM is empowered to dissolve the society. A resolution to dissolve the society may be
moved and seconded at any AGM but cannot be voted upon until the next two AGMs, due notice
of the proposed amendment having been circulated with the registration forms (and via the
Internet) for the AGM following that at which the amendment was moved. A two-thirds
majority vote of the members (i.e., those persons present) at the two subsequent AGMs is
sufficient to approve the motion for dissolution put forward at the previous AGM. In such
an event, the second (and final) AGM will have the sole power to dispose of any remaining
society funds with the proviso that those funds must be passed either to a similar
academic organization or to a recognized charitable body.
Officers for 2003-04
General Secretary: Alec Ryrie, University of Birmingham
Treasurer: Helen Parish, University of Reading