Reference Documents
This page contains various documents relevant to the legal aspects of Westhill Community Church (WCC).
Introduction
WCC is a charity registered with the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). Scottish Charity No: SC015206.
WCC’s current legal form is an ‘Unincorporated Association’. During 2019-20, WCC is planning to become a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). An incorporated charity has certain advantages over an unincorporated charity; for example it has a legal personality and the liability of the Charity Trustees is limited.
OSCR lays down a process for changing from an Unincorporated Association to a SCIO, which involves the following 6 steps:
Introduction
WCC is a charity registered with the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). Scottish Charity No: SC015206.
WCC’s current legal form is an ‘Unincorporated Association’. During 2019-20, WCC is planning to become a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). An incorporated charity has certain advantages over an unincorporated charity; for example it has a legal personality and the liability of the Charity Trustees is limited.
OSCR lays down a process for changing from an Unincorporated Association to a SCIO, which involves the following 6 steps:
To begin this process, WCC needs to make some changes to its current constitution and to draw up a new constitution for the WCC SCIO. It also needs to consult with the Scottish Episcopal Church on certain aspects of the transition.
This page will be updated as WCC proceeds through the OSCR process, and relevant documents will be added as they become available.
Progress report
8 June 2019
Changes to the existing constitution and a constitution for the new SCIO have been agreed with the WCC leadership and vestry, and checked by the legal advisers. The congregation will be asked to vote on the changes to the existing constitution at two special members' meetings provisionally scheduled for Thursday 29 August and Thursday 3 October.
Update 6 /8/19: These dates have slipped; new dates have not yet been set.
9 July 2019
Changes to the existing constitution and the constitution for the new SCIO have been sent to the Diocese.
25 September 2019
The new SCIO Constitution was submitted to OSCR for approval.
31 January 2020
'Westhill Community Church SCIO' granted charitable status by OSCR. Scottish Charity No. SC049910
Documents
This page will be updated as WCC proceeds through the OSCR process, and relevant documents will be added as they become available.
Progress report
8 June 2019
Changes to the existing constitution and a constitution for the new SCIO have been agreed with the WCC leadership and vestry, and checked by the legal advisers. The congregation will be asked to vote on the changes to the existing constitution at two special members' meetings provisionally scheduled for Thursday 29 August and Thursday 3 October.
Update 6 /8/19: These dates have slipped; new dates have not yet been set.
9 July 2019
Changes to the existing constitution and the constitution for the new SCIO have been sent to the Diocese.
25 September 2019
The new SCIO Constitution was submitted to OSCR for approval.
31 January 2020
'Westhill Community Church SCIO' granted charitable status by OSCR. Scottish Charity No. SC049910
Documents
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Current WCC Constitution, 2014 (pdf file) |
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Proposed changes to the current WCC Constitution (v8, pdf file) |
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Constitution of the new WCC SCIO (as submitted to OSCR, v2.3, pdf file) |
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Constitution of Westhilll Community Church SCIO
Scottish Charity No. SC049910 (as approved by OSCR, pdf file) |
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Anticipated timeline for transition (pdf file) |
to follow |
