What is the Spiritualists' National Union? written by Perry Rabbbitts

Introduction
Technically speaking, the Spiritualists' National Union is not a religion; it is a limited company that helps the work of Spiritualists to be carried out in this physical world.

History
In the beginning there were all sorts of Spiritualist churches, groups, committees and centres which operated under the, then hostile, legal system of this country. The middle to late 1800’s saw Spiritualism re-emerge into this country inspired by the pioneering activities, mediumistic abilities and inspiration of the Fox family in the USA. In 1865 Emma Hardinge visited England giving Spiritualism philosophy, already there were numbers of people in educated society eager to take up the Spiritualist cause. From such wonderful speakers and by the example of the early mediums, home development groups (home circles) became popular, small societies sprung up and the beginnings of network of Spiritualists throughout the country. Emma Hardinge Britten wrote articles in two worlds magazine promoting the idea of a Nation Federation of Spiritualism Churches, she presided over a meeting of interested Spiritualists leading to the formation of the Spiritualists’ National Federation. Spiritualism was not recognised as a legitimate religion, it could not be organised as the Church of England and other religions who were able to own property and buildings and carry on religious activities in accordance with historic statutory and common law principles. So in 1902, the Federation’s property, rights and obligations were formally taken over by the SNU Limited. The SNU Ltd, had been formed the previous year specifically to provide the legal status of a corporation allowing the Federation to hold property.

Legal Framework
Then, as now, there were various types of company. A private company owned by specific shareholders and public companies owned by shareholders. Both these can be “limited” companies where the liabilities of the shareholder, should the company fail, are limited to the amount of share capital they have invested. The SNU is different from a normal company in that it has no share capital and is set up not for profit but it does have limited liability. This type of company has its own class called a Company limited by Guarantee.

As with all companies, by law there must be a memorandum and articles of association, this a written statement of the companies general nature, objectives and articles of association. The articles explain the working methods, they may give detailed guidelines and in the case of the SNU contain bye-laws. In law, changes the memorandum and articles of association are restricted and, where they are possible, require agreement of a large majority of company members.
Link to the wording of our memorandum & articles of association and of bye-laws.

The SNU does not have share holders who vote for a management committee / executive board to run it, instead it has Members. The principle members are the 350 affiliated churches & centres, represented by 'Class A delegates' and the approximately 2,240 subscribing member known as 'Class B' members. There are also 22 kindred bodies, represented by 'Class C' members, plus approximately 900 affiliated members, with limited rights of representation, known as 'Class D'.

The philosophy of Spiritualism has been and will continue to evolve but for the purposes of legal identity the SNU’s aims and objectives, as with all companies, are set out in the memorandum and articles of association. The primary object of the Union it to promote the advancement and diffusion of a knowledge of the religion and philosophy of Spiritualism on the basis of the Seven Principles, which are; the fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of man, the communion of spirits and the ministry of angels, the continuous existence of the human soul, personal responsibility, compensation and retribution hereafter for all the good and evil deeds done on earth, and eternal progress open to every human soul.

The SNU also aims to unite Spiritualist societies and churches and secure full recognition as religious bodies. It encourages Spiritualist research, the certification and appointment of Ministers, lecturers, exponents and teachers. It publishes and distributes Spiritualist publication. And the SNU carries out mission work and aims to unite Spiritualists from different countries.

Organisation
The SNU is organised and administered in a 'three tier system', which describes how the division of executive and advisory responsibilities are split both nationally and regionally.

The First Tier - NEC and it's Committees
The first tier is the National Executive Board (NEC), which is equivalent to the board of directors in a company. The NEC administers the operation of the union, it decides the direction of the affairs of the SNU and it meets seven times a year. The NEC is comprised of officers; President, Vice-Presidents and the Financial Director, who are responsible for the supervision of the work of the SNU and of the Union’s affairs. The President and Vice-Presidents are directly elected by the members of the union, that is, by the churches represented by class A delegates, and the individual SNU members known as class B members.
Link to details of the current officers of NEC

The four officers of the SNU select, from validly nominated people, the Chairmen of each of the five standing committees. The 'standing committees' have responsibility for specific areas of the SNU’s activities, in effect they have delegated authority from the NEC to decide certain policies and administer their areas of activity. The five standing committees are; Trust Property, Education, Training and Awards, Healing and Ministers Administration.
Link to details of the current members of the NEC

There are other areas of activity for which the NEC delegates it's responsibility and these are coordinated by the 'sub-Committees,' the chairman of the sub-committees are appointed annually but do not sit on the NEC board. The sub-committees are; Arbitration, Arthur Findlay College, Finance, General Purposes, Philosophy & Ethics, Spirit of Youth and Spiritualist Aid.

So, the NEC board is comprised currently of the four officers, the five standing committee chairmen plus a member from the Council of the SNU, who is elected annually by the council. Within the constitution there is provision for a further three ordinary members to be appointed to the NEC board for specific duties allocated to them. They must be appointed from the class B members. Currently there is just one ordinary members of the NEC.

The Second Tier - The SNU Council
The Council of the SNU acts as an advisory body to the NEC and meets twice a year. The Council comprises of National Councillors who are elected annually from members is the fourteen Regional or District Councils. Additionally, a Class B representative to the Council is elected annually from among the class B membership,  and a lyceum representative to the council is appointed. The officers of the NEC also take part in council meetings.

The Third Tier - 14 Regional or District Councils
There are 14 Regional or District Councils, these are administrative branches of the SNU, they administer the local affairs of the SNU within their area. In particular they aim to promote the advancement and diffusion within their area of the knowledge of Spiritualism based on the Seven Principles.

District Councils (DC’s) are arranged democratically with committees of management elected annually. Class B members, registered as living in the DC area, and Class A delegates, who represent Spiritualist churches in the DC area, may speak and vote at DC meetings. Class A delegates have a voting strength of 4, whereas class B members count as a single vote. Each church is able to send Class A delegates based upon the number of full members it has; 13-75 members allows one Class A delegate, 76-125 they may have two, 126-175 they may have three, and so on with an additional Class A delegate for each addition 50 full members.