World Subud Association Constitution

PREAMBLE

We, the undersigned, having been duly authorized by the Delegates of the Eighth Subud World Congress have agreed to establish this Constitution of the World Subud Association to manage the necessities and requirements of the membership of Subud in accordance with the guidance received by Bapak Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo, the founder of our Association and expressed in his words as follows:

"the name 'Subud' is the abbreviation of the words: Susila Budhi Dharma.

Susila means: the character of a true human being in accordance with the Will of the One Almighty God.

Budhi means: the highest power that exists within man.

Dharma means: the reality of the inner-feeling which submits to the Will of Almighty God with patience, trust and sincerity."

We have made this the name of the Association of our spiritual brotherhood, as a symbol, indicating that we may truly become human beings who have the qualities of Susila, Budhi and Dharma in conformity with kejiwaan.

From the very beginning when the latihan kejiwaan first comes to us what happens is that, after we have inwardly surrendered with sincerity to the Greatness of Almighty God, our heart and mind, which are usually filled with imaginings of all kinds and with thinking on various problems, spontaneously cease to act, and at the same moment our entire inner-feeling vibrates. This vibration of the inner-feeling then manifests itself in the movements and energy which we call the latihan kejiwaan.

so that it can at all times follow the course of the movements and energy which lead and guide us towards our worship of God.

we are convinced that we worship only the One Almighty God, that it is only He Who is able to lead, guide and bring us to His presence, and that only He can improve and elevate our inner-feeling and soul in accordance with His Will.

Such is the latihan kejiwaan which we have received and which we practice. The basis, therefore, of this latihan kejiwaan is in fact our worship of God, so that through His leadership and guidance we may be directed towards goodness of character and nobility of soul in accordance with His Will.

Since the latihan kejiwaan exists and comes to us by the Grace of God, and may in fact be received and followed by people of various nations and religions, we can but submit to His Will the matter of its spreading over the whole world.

However, as human beings who live in this world, we need food and clothing, and we also need to take care of ourselves so that we may live on Earth in safety and in peace.

Therefore, in addition to our worship of God, it is also necessary for us to form an organization within the framework of the laws and regulations to which we are subject."

For this purpose, therefore, on behalf of the above-mentioned Delegates, we do ordain and establish this Constitution for the World Subud Association in order to form a complete organization.

Signed by at least one member of each delegation from the following countries or groups of countries 
(in the order of signing):

United Kingdom, Indonesia, India, Canada, Netherlands, United States of America, Mexico, France, Ireland, Malaysia, Thailand, Iberia (Portugal and Spain), Costa Rica, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Greece, Italy, Brazil, South Africa, Venezuela, Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark), Germany F.R., New Zealand, Austria, Algeria, Poland, Chile, Surinam, Zaire, Cyprus/Turkey, Japan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Vietnam, Paraguay, Peru, Argentina, Switzerland, Australia and Nigeria.*


AIMS OF THE ASSOCIATION

1. To facilitate the worship of Almighty God through the Latihan Kejiwaan of Subud and to provide for the other needs of the Subud membership.

2. To preserve the practice of the Latihan Kejiwaan so that it will remain available to people everywhere in the form in which it was originally practiced under the guidance of Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo.

3. To protect the good reputation of Subud.

4. To encourage peace, harmony and understanding between peoples regardless of their ethnic Origin or religion.

5. To provide educational and other facilities for the development of the full potential of human beings.

6. To relieve poverty and deprivation.

7. To encourage the development of a healthy and harmonious inner and outer environment for the well-being of mankind.

8. To encourage cultural activities and the values which enliven and enrich the human spirit.

9. To encourage the entrepreneurial spirit which enables people to express their true talents and develop the capacity to improve the quality of their lives.

10. To make available information concerning the Latihan Kejiwaan of Subud.


SUBUD AND RELIGION

Subud is not a religion but can be complementary to religion. There is no theology or doctrine in Subud.


PROHIBITION ON POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

The Association shall not promote or engage in political activities.


DECISION MAKING

The members of the World Subud Association, in all their consultative and deliberative procedures shall be guided by democratic principles and shall seek consensus in decision making through guidance received in the Latihan Kejiwaan.

 
BY-LAW-DEFINITIONS

Affiliates: Autonomous Subud organizations granted affiliate membership in the Association (7.1)

Association: World Subud Association -international association of Subud national organizations (2.1)

Chief Officer: Head of an organization

Congress: Plenary assembly or a set of continual plenary assemblies of the Association (3.1)

Council: World Subud Council (5.1)

Deputy Chairperson: WSA Officer who assists the Chairperson and assumes his duties in his absence.

International Subud Committee: Executive committee, employees and their associated volunteers of the Association (6.1)

ISC: International Subud Committee (6.1)

ISC Chairperson: Chief executive officer of the Association (6.2)

Members: Subud national organizations which are members of the Association (2.2)

Member Delegation: The group of up to four delegates representing the Member in Congress (3.10)

Participant: Person accorded the temporary right to participate, but not vote, in meetings of a body by the body holding the meetings (8.1)

Presiding Officer: Person chairing a meeting

Regular Congress: Regularly recurring Congress at which WSA Chairperson is chosen (3.2)

WSA: World Subud Association (2.1)

WSA Chairperson: Chairperson of the Association (2.5)

World Subud Council: Council of the Association composed of the International Helpers, the Zone Councils speaking through their Zonal Representative and the Affiliate heads (5.1)

Zone: Group of Members determined by Congress and based on geographic closeness and linguistic affinity (4.1)

Zonal Council: Council of the Member Delegations of a Zone (4.2)

Zonal Representative: Representative on the Council from a Zone (4.4)

 

BY-LAWS


Assumptions:

1.1 Minimum Essentials: Because other forms of legislation are available to the Association through which to make decisions and because By-laws are designed to take care of the worst conceivable situations, nothing should be included in the By-laws which does not have to be there and nothing should be left out of the By-laws which is required to define fully the organization and to deal with the worst conceivable situations.

1.2 Maximum Autonomy: Unless specifically limited or excepted, individuals and bodies referred to in the By-laws may act within their own jurisdictions as they see fit.

1.3 Tradition: Tradition is recognized as playing a role parallel to defined structure in the Association's development.

1.4 Temporality Organizations as such are a temporal matter.


The Association:

2.1 Name The name of the international association of Subud national organizations is the World Subud Association to be referred to in these By-laws as the Association or the WSA.

2.2 Members: The members of the Association are the Subud national organizations to be referred to in these By-laws as the Members.

2.3 Membership: The Members are:

a) those national organizations, registered at Eighth World Subud Congress, which have had their Member Delegations ratify the Constitution and By-laws or;

b) those national organizations not registered at Eighth World Subud Congress but accepted by Congress which ratify the Constitution and By-laws and;

c)those national organizations which have not withdrawn voluntarily or which have not been expelled.

2.4 Voluntary Cessation of Membership: Members once having ratified the Constitution and By-laws of the Association, can cease to be Members voluntarily only by a decision of their body of supreme authority.

2.5 The WSA Chairperson: The chief officer of the Association is the Association Chairperson to be referred to in these By-laws as the WSA Chairperson.

2.6 The Deputy Chairperson: Council may appoint a deputy to the Chairperson, to be referred to in these By-laws as the Deputy Chairperson, who shall assist the Chairperson and assume his or her duties in his absence.

2.7 Ratification: Once ratified by a Member, the Constitution and By-laws are binding upon the Member.

2.8 Decision Making: After deliberation by the Member Delegations, decisions are made by consensus.

2.9 Membership Fee: The minimum membership fee shall be one United States Dollar per year.


The World Subud Congress:

3.1 Definition: The World Subud Association Congress of all the Member Delegations is referred to in these By-laws as Congress. Congress means either a plenary meeting of the Association or plenary meetings of the Association held continually during one time period.

3.2 Regular Congress: Congresses held regularly are referred to in these By-laws as Regular Congresses.

3.4 The Year of Regular Congresses: Before the end of each Regular Congress, Congress designates the calendar year, four to six years hence, of the next Regular Congress.

3.5 Convening Congress: A majority of the Zone Representatives can convene Congress.

3.6 Notification: Due notice of the convening of a Regular Congress is made to the Members not later than six months prior to the first day of Congress.

3.7 Notification: Due notice of the convening of a Congress, other than a Regular Congress, normally is made to the Members not later than two months prior to the first day of such a Congress.

3.8 Authority: Congress is the supreme authority of the Association and its Affiliates.

3.9 Composition: Congress consists of the WSA Chairperson, the Member Delegations, the International Helpers, the Zonal Representatives, the chief officer of each Affiliate or their alternates registered at the attended Congress and the ISC Chairperson.

3.10 Member Representation: Each Member is represented in Congress by a delegation registered at the attended Congress to be referred to in these By-laws as the Member Delegation.

3.11 Member Delegation: Member Delegations are the delegates to the Zonal Councils or their alternates registered at the attended Congress.

3.12 Presiding Officer: The presiding officer of Congress is the WSA Chairperson.

3.13 WSA Chairperson's Selection: Congress or, if Congress is not convened, the Council selects the WSA Chairperson through guidance received in the Latihan Kejiwaan.

3.14 WSA Chairperson's Term: The term of the WSA Chairperson begins during the Regular Congress at which he or she is selected and ends during the next Regular Congress.

3.15 WSA Chairperson's Term Transfer: The term of the WSA Chairperson normally begins immediately upon his or her selection for all new business concerning the Congress selecting him or her and lasts until the completion of all old business on the agenda of the Congress ending his or her term.

3.15.1 Procedure for Deputy Chairperson Selection: From among the Chairperson's nominees for the Deputy Chairperson, a Deputy Chairperson is selected by the Council through guidance received in the Latihan Kejiwaan.

3.16 Quorum: A quorum of the Congress is two thirds of the Members registered at a Congress.

3.17 Voters: Only Member Delegations vote.

3.18 One Vote: Each Member Delegation has one vote.

3.19 Procedures to Resolve Deadlock: In the event of differences of view arising between Member Delegations, the Chairperson may establish Zonal Council meetings or such other groupings of the Member Delegations as the Member Delegations may agree to. If differences persist, decisions are made through guidance received in the Latihan Kejiwaan. If consensus can not be reached, no decision is made; however, a resolution defeated at a previous Congress, which the Zonal Representatives unanimously agree to reintroduce unchanged at a subsequent Congress, is approved by Congress when supported by more than two-thirds of the Member Delegations.

3.20 Nominators: Except for in the case of the appointment of the chief officers of the Affiliates, only Member Delegations may make nominations.


The Zones:

4.1 Definition: Congress groups the Members into Zones based on the wishes of each Member, geographical closeness, linguistic affinity and other practical considerations.

4.2 Zonal Council: In each Zone, a Zonal Council exists composed of representatives of the International Helpers, the Zonal Representative, not more than four delegates per Member, or their alternates registered at the attended meeting of the Zonal Council, these being the Member's chief officer, the Member's officer responsible for international affairs called the Organizational Councilor and a male National Helper and female National Helper called the Kejiwaan Councilors.

4.3 Presiding Officer: The presiding officer of a Zonal Council is the Zonal Representative.

4.4 Representative: Each Zonal Council appoints a Zonal Representative, normally residing in the Zone, through guidance received in the Latihan Kejiwaan.

4.5 Temporary Zonal Representatives: After as much consultation as possible with the Members in the affected Zones, the Council may appoint temporary Zonal Representatives for those Zones unable to appoint permanent Zonal Representatives.


The World Subud Council:

5.1 Composition: The World Subud Council (WSC), to be referred to in this resolution as the Council, consists of the Zonal Councils normally speaking through their Zonal Representatives, the WSA Chairperson, International Helpers, the chief officer of each Affiliate, and the ISC Chairperson.

5.1.1 Preparatory Zonal Council Meetings: Zonal Councils shall normally meet prior to a Council meeting.

5.2 Authority: The authority of Congress, limited by the applicable decisions of Congress, is invested in the Council between Congresses.

5.3 Limitation: The authority of the Council does not extend to altering the Constitution of either the Association or the Affiliates.

5.4 Limitation: The authority of the Council does not extend to admitting and expelling Members or Affiliates.

5.5 Limitation: The authority of the Council does not extend to assigning a Member to a different Zone.

5.6 Presiding Officer: The presiding officer of the Council is the WSA Chairperson.

5.7 Chairpersons' Responsibility Between Congresses: Between Congresses the WSA and ISC Chairpersons are responsible to Congress through the Council.

5.8 Voters: The voting members of the Council are the Zonal Representatives.

5.9 Quorum: A quorum of the Council exists if there are no fewer than five Zonal Representatives and one or more International Helpers present.

5.10 Board of Directors: The Directors of WSA shall be the WSA Chairman and the Zonal representatives. Each director shall be entitled to one vote in decisions made by the Board of Directors.


The Executive Committee:

6.1 Executive Committee: The Association executive committee is called the International Subud Committee and is referred to in these By-laws as ISC.

6.2 Executive Chairperson: Congress appoints the International Subud Committee Chairperson with the same term as the Chairperson to be referred to in these By-laws as the ISC Chairperson.

6.3 Procedure for the Selection of the ISC Chairperson: From among the Zonal Representatives' nominees, the ISC Chairperson is selected through guidance received in the Latihan Kejiwaan and, if Congress is in session, proposed to Congress for approval.

6.4 Location: During each Regular Congress, Congress determines the location of ISC after the next Regular Congress or informs Council as to its preferences so that as soon as possible Council can make the determination.

6.5 Location: During each Regular Congress, Congress decides on the location of the next Regular Congress or informs Council as to its preferences.


Affiliates:

7.1 Affiliates: Congress may grant affiliate membership in the Association to autonomous international Subud organizations referred to in these By-laws as Affiliates.

7.2 Conditions: Congress requires that Affiliates:

a) have their founding document and all later changes to it approved by Congress.

b) recognize that whenever Congress entrusts the execution of one or more of the Aims of the Association to an Affiliate, Congress affirms its responsibility to safeguard the attainment of all the Aims of the Association.

c) have their chief officer selected during a Regular Congress through guidance received in the Latihan Kejiwaan for the same term as the WSA Chairperson.

d) in the event of the permanent incapacity of their chief officer, have Congress or Council appoint a replacement chief officer chosen by the Affiliate through guidance received in the Latihan Kejiwaan.

e) provide for a seat on their governing body for the WSA Chairperson or the Chairperson's designate.

f) report on their activities and finances to Congress and the Council in a manner satisfactory to Congress and the Council.

7.3 Representation: The representative of an Affiliate at Congress is the chief officer of the Affiliate or his or her alternate.

7.4 Member Nominations for Affiliate Heads: Candidates nominated for an Affiliate chief officer by Member Delegations shall be approved by the chief governing body of the affected Affiliate.

7.5 Right to Nominate: The representative of the Affiliate has the right to nominate one or more candidates chosen by the Affiliate for the position of its chief officer.
 

Accounts and Audit:

8.1 Accounts & Audit: ISC is to:

a) establish and maintain an adequate record-keeping system for the Association;

b) prepare and present to the Members a set of audited financial statements within six months of the end of the fiscal year, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for non-profit organizations.

8.2 Appointment of Auditor: Council appoints the auditor of the Association.

8.3 Fiscal Year: The Association's fiscal year shall end on December 31.


Miscellaneous:

9.1 Participant: Any body of the Association may grant the right to a person to become a Participant, that is participate except as to voting, in meetings of that body for a preset time period.

9.2 Notice of Constitution or By-law Change: Resolutions to change the Constitution or By-laws are circulated to all Members prior to one year before a Congress.

9.3 Windup: On winding up the Association: Council shall decide the distribution of the assets of the Association.

* It is intended that zone representatives approach the national committees of the countries that have not yet signed these bylaws and motivate them to do so.