Community
West London eases path to quitting Reform
Constitution change means only a simple majority would be required if a vote is tabled
November 24, 2021 18:28
Constitution change means only a simple majority would be required if a vote is tabled
November 24, 2021 18:28West London Synagogue has altered its constitution to make it easier to disaffiliate from the Reform movement.
The synagogue has been reconsidering its membership of the Movement for Reform Judaism since suspending it in February last year.
West London’s constitution previously required a 75 per cent majority in a members’ vote to secede from Reform.
But according to documents lodged in Companies House, the bar for disaffiliation was last month lowered to a simple majority.
West London’s board has yet to reveal whether it will table a vote to leave Reform but said this week it was continuing to talk to the MRJ.
MRJ vice-chairs Michael Harris and Paul Langsford confirmed that talks were “ongoing. Our position remains that we hope WLS rescind their unilateral self-imposed suspension and resume their full-time and active membership of MRJ.”
The vice-chairs have taken over the reins of the movement following last week’s resignation of Robert Wiltshire, after less than a year as chair, because of work pressures.
One of the largest Reform congregations, West London has historically been among the movement’s major contributors. In 2019, it gave £127,000 but that dropped to £74,000 last year.
Synagogues contributed £1.01 million to MRJ in 2020, slightly down on the £1.06 million the previous year.
The movement’s overall income dropped from £3.13 million in 2019 to £1.82 million last year, and spending from £3.27 million to £1.93 million, largely as a result of the cancellation of youth and other activities because of Covid.
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