Knanaya Constitution Amendment
Vinod Kuriakose
Dear Knananite,
Knanaya Constitution is a body of law that governs our community. Think of it as a rule book that lets community and its members know what they can and cannot do. The rule book can grow to meet new demands or it can be shrunk to do away with laws that the community finds harmful. The framers of the Knanaya Constitution knew that as the community grew, future generations would need to change the constitution to solve the problems of their day. No work of man is perfect. It is inevitable that, in the course of time, the imperfections of a written Knanaya Constitution will become apparent. Moreover, the passage of time will bring changes in community which a Constitution must accommodate if it is to remain suitable for the community and its members. Making amendments is an important way of unifying the thoughts and actions and concentrating the wisdom and strength of the whole community and mobilizing all members' enthusiasm. It is imperative, therefore, that a practicable means of amending the Constitution be decided. Great care must be taken to provide a mode of amendment when experience or change of circumstances shall have manifested that any part of it is obsolete to the good of the community.
Whatever be the constitutional amendments, it requires a new authority from the whole Knanaya people or population around the globe and not the association alone. A greater competence of governance is certainly requisite to maintain our community in a course of action accommodated to the times and changes through which we are ever passing.
Let all major decisions and amendments be made only with the direct consent of the people (Both male and female) in a referendum (a vote by the whole community on a specific question or questions put to it by the association). Let the decision to submit an amendment/question to the people be first taken by the Association.
Popular Amendment
I endorse popular amendment where power is derived from the people of the community; it is adopted by the people of the community; it functions at the behest of and for the benefit of the people of the community. Given all this, if the people of the community, as a whole, somehow demand a change to the Constitution, should not the people be allowed to make such a change?
It makes sense - if the people demand a change, it should be made. The change may not be the will of the association, nor of the committee. The real issue is not in the conceptual. It is a reality that if the people do not support and cooperate with the Knanaya Constitution and Knanaya Association in its present form, it cannot survive. The real issue is in the practical.
Yes, we need to develop process for referendum in our community on all important decisions like constitutional amendments, election of Bishops e.t.c. Since our community is small we can effectively conduct referendum on important issues in all our churches around the globe under the supervision of the respective vicars. Suffice it to say, for now, that the notion of referendum makes perfect sense in the current Knanaya community framework; because it functions at the behest of and for the benefit of the people of the community.
Thanks & Regards,
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Vinod Kuriakose
http://vinodk.page.tl
Mob- 9444148889
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Severious kuriakose
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Mor Severios Kuriakose
Arch Bishop
Malankara Suriyani Knanaya Arch Diocese
Mor Aphrem Seminary
Chingavanam.
Aniyan Panavelil
April 2, 2009
Respected Rev. Dr. A.T. Abraham:
According to the recent Kalpana from H.E Mor Sevarios and several e-mail’s, I have an understating that our small samudhyam is going to have a period of power struggle and need immediate constitution amendments.
All these happened because of our past Knanaya Association, who did not had a vision of our small and great samudhyam, elected to enthrone too many Bishops before even describe their duties, responsibilities and jurisdiction.
Let us forget our past and move forward, I do not remember all the questions you asked for suggestion from each parish. As a well wisher of this small samudhaym I have the following suggestions for the proposed constitutional amendments.
1- Please do not let the Knanaya Association amend the constitution this time without getting inputs of it’s members’ world wide.
2- Do a world wide referendum among the good standing members who has voting right in our samudayam.
The questioner/ information about the prospective changes of the constitution and ballot papers which contain 2 or more best possible suggestions from the constitution committee to be send to members’ world wide by mail or through their parishes or in any appropriate manner.
Collect all sealed ballot and keep in a safe place in the central office until the last day of receipt of ballots and count it on a convenient day. The process may take up to a year or more.
3- Maintain the status quo until the referendum process has been completed.
Respectfully Submitted,
Aniyan Panavelil
A member of St.Thomas Knanaya Church, NJ
Vinod Kuriakose
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Date: Dec 24, 2009 8:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Knanaya Family] Knanaya Constitution Amendment
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Dear Knananite,
Aniyan Panavelil
I understand Saju's concern about MSKA & NAKA. I am talking about MSKA, if you read the 2nd Para of my message, the answer is right there.
I think Saju knows that in the US almost every election, federal/state/local, the ballot/voting machine has a general question regarding any important constitutional amendment or public question put on the ballot. The reason is that the assembly/senate/congress or local government body members cannot take a decision without public opinion.
We can find a good solution through this kind of debate. HAPPY NEW YEAR