Art.1 – Nature of the Forum

EuFRES consists of a group of professionals from different European countries who meet regularly, out of personal interest and competence, to analyse the situation, the problems and hypotheses concerning the teaching of religion in the public or private schools.

Art. 2 – Purpose/Aims

The EuFRES has only study and information purposes. It has no direct competence in the institutional framework of the religious education. Its objectives are mainly:

• Communication, exchange of ideas and projects among professionals/experts, researchers and leaders working in different academic institutions and coming from different educational systems in Europe;
• to deal at each (biennial) meeting with a theme specific to the RE which is of common interest, topical, of recognised scientific importance and which allows for comparisons/references with the different cultural and educational contexts of each country;
• to learn more directly about the nature, functioning, means/resources, development of the RE of each host country for EuFRES;
• to contribute, through research, appropriate proposals, to promoting in Europe a cultural, legal and educational profile of the RU which guarantees the personal freedom of conscience of teachers, pupils and parents, respects the cultural pluralism of society and schools, is open to ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue.

Art. 3 – Members

1. a) The members of EuFRES shall include:

• • national experts on the RE (scholars, educators…);
  • professors whose subject is related to the RE (religious education);
  • national or diocesan persons responsible for the organisation of the RE;
  • Directors of centres for the training of teachers of religion;
  • directors of specialist journals for the RE;
  • one representative of national associations of teachers of religion;
  • a representative of other professional associations in the field of school education. (e.g. the European Association for Education).
  • Association for Pedagogy, the European Committee for Catholic Education, the European Catechetical
  • European Catechetical Team, etc.).

1. b) The membership or co-optation of new members of EuFRES shall take into account the following criteria:

• • Ensuring an appropriate geographical and linguistic distribution;
  • Ensuring a balanced representation of scientific and professional competence (educational sciences, religious sciences, theological, legal competence…);
  • Ensuring the presence of some professors in religious education disciplines working in state academic institutions;
  • Maintaining a reasonable framework (maximum 50-60 participants) of EuFRES members.

Art. 4 – Presidency and animation

1. a) EuFRES is governed by a Board of Trustees of 5 members coming from differentcountries: One of them is the  President and another one is the Treasurer;

The 5 members, including the President and Treasurer, are elected by the General Assembly for 4 years. They can be re-elected for a second term. The Board of Trustees shall elect its own secretariat from among its members.

1. b) Duties of the Board of Trustees:

• • To invite to the biennial meetings, taking into account the suggestions of the Assembly regarding the theme, venue, participants to be invited, etc;
  • to maintain informative contact with the members of EuFRES;
  • to decide on the admission of new permanent or guest members;
  • to determine the economic autonomy of the Forum, with a specific mandate for the Treasurer;
  • to provide for the modalities of institutional contacts with European institutions/bodies (belonging to the Catholic Church, the other Churches, the EU) competent in educational matters;
  • to coordinate the creation of an information network in several languages.

Art. 5 – Participation in the meetings

• The continuity of the Forum’s research is ensured by a core of permanent members (the majority) who form the General Assembly with voting rights.
• The host country may invite – without voting rights and on a one-off basis – representatives other than the permanent members.
• The members of EuFRES who fail to attend the biennial meetings more than twice without reason are considered to have resigned.
• The experts to whom the Board of Trustees assigns the keynote speeches are usually chosen among the members of the Forum.
• EuFRES does not usually publish the proceedings of meetings, but leaves this (including the costs) to the member who wishes to do so in its own language.

Art. 6 – Funding

EuFRES shall seek the necessary funding for the organisational costs: the ordinary

meetings and the preparatory meetings of the Board of Trustees, the secretariat/office costs, etc.

The funds come

• from the annual contribution of each member;
• from other possible donations from individuals;
• other external sources (official EU bodies, etc.).

The Board of Trustees submits the personal membership fee and the income and expenditure to the General Assembly for approval.

The travel and subsistence expenses, plus a conference fee, shall be borne by each

participant of EuFRES.

In case of real financial difficulties of a member, he/she may be able to count on the help of the other members. In this case, the Board of Trustees may decide on an additional

the General Assembly in accordance with the needs identified.