Ground Rules

(Revised 2019, 2020)

Purpose

The Andrew Murray Prize Fund (hereinafter referred to as the Fund) aims to promote excellence in the Christian media and music by awarding work of high quality in Afrikaans and other languages of South Africa, and by making awards to deserving persons and institutions.

The Prizes

The Andrew Murray Prize for African Christian Books is awarded every two years as far as possible to the author or authors of the best general Christian book that appeared in the preceding period (see 4.5). All original Afrikaans books except scientific theological works are eligible for this prize. The prize can consist of a gold coin, a certificate and a cash sum.
The Andrew Murray Prize for Afrikaans Theological Books is awarded every two years as far as possible to the author or authors of the best scholarly theological book in Afrikaans that appeared in the preceding period (see 4.5). The prize can consist of a gold coin, a certificate and a cash sum.
The Andrew Murray-Desmond Tutuprys for General Christian Books is awarded every two years as far as possible to the author or authors of the best general Christian book that appears in an official language of South Africa, excluding Afrikaans, in the preceding period (see 4.5) has. The author or most of the authors of the winning book must be citizen(s) of South Africa or Namibia (dual citizenship is fine). If more than one author is involved in the book, citizens of South Africa must have a substantial part in it. The prize can consist of a trophy, a certificate and a cash sum.
The Andrew Murray-Desmond Tutuprys for Theological Books is awarded every two years as far as possible to the author or authors of the best scholarly theological book that appeared in the preceding period (see 4.5) in an official language of South Africa, excluding Afrikaans. The author or most of the authors of the winning book must be citizen(s) of South Africa or Namibia (dual citizenship is fine). If more than one author is involved in the book, citizens of South Africa must have a substantial part in it. The prize can consist of a trophy, a certificate and a cash sum.
The Desmond Tutu-Gerrit Brand Prize for Emerging Writers is awarded annually as far as possible to an emerging / debut author(s) in the Christian media in an official language of South Africa. The author or most of the authors of the winning book must be citizen(s) of South Africa or Namibia (dual citizenship is fine). If more than one author is involved in the book, citizens of South Africa must have a substantial part in it. The prize can consist of a deed and a cash sum.

The Awards

The Andrew Murray FAK Award for Christian Music is awarded annually from funds made available by the Federation of Afrikaans Cultural Associations (FAK) to a person who makes or has made a special contribution in the field of Christian music.
The Jaap Durand-Denise Ackermann Award for Unity, Justice and Reconciliation is awarded annually as far as possible to a person who makes or has made a contribution to unity, justice and reconciliation in a special way as it is expressed in the Confession of Belhar.
The CLF-Elise Tempelhoff Award for Environmental Conservation is awarded as far as possible annually from funds made available by the Christian Literature Fund (CLF) to a person who makes or has made a special contribution in the field of environmental conservation.
A special Andrew Murray or Andrew Murray-Desmond Tutu award may, if and when the EC (see 4) so decides, be awarded to a person or institution who has made an extraordinary contribution to any form of the Christian media in an official language of South Africa. The award may consist of a deed and a cash sum.

Members of the Fund

The members of the Fund consist of one representative from each of the institutions or persons who have joined the Fund as donors in an agreed manner and have chosen to be members of the Fund.
In the event that any member resigns or for whatever reason ceases to be a representative of any of the institutions mentioned above, such institution may nominate another representative as a member and notify the EC (see 4) accordingly.
The members of the Fund meet at least once a year as a Members’ Meeting. The Members’ Meeting can also complete its work electronically or by correspondence.
The Members’ Assembly approves the Basic Rules and amendments thereto, elects a chairman and vice-chairman every three years, elects the members of the EC (see 4), discusses and takes decisions on matters of interest to the Fund, including financial matters and statements , and may refer matters to the EC for consideration or settlement.
A quorum for the Members’ Meeting consists of the presence of at least 40% (forty present) of the members in person or by proxy. In the event of a tie, the chairman has a casting vote.
The members of the Fund have legal personality and the chairman may sue on behalf of and with the approval of the Members’ Assembly in any court in the Republic of South Africa.

The Executive Council (EC)

These Ground Rules may be amended by members of the Fund after prior notice of at least twenty-one (21) days and with a two-thirds majority.

The EC consists of seven (7) members, including the chairman and vice-chairman, and is chosen by the Members’ Assembly with terms that vary so that at least two (2) members retire annually (who can be re-elected).
The chairman and deputy chairman of the Members’ Assembly are also the chairman and deputy chairman of the EC with terms of three (3) years each (see 3.4).
The EC ensures that the Fund is managed in accordance with the Ground Rules, decides what prizes and awards will be awarded and when, approves the winners’ prizes and awards and their value, in accordance with 4.9 and 4.10, and considers any other relevant matter that be presented by members of the Fund or by the Members’ Meeting. The EC decides on the manner in which the Fund can be financially strengthened, decides on investments, approves expenses, annually ensures that financially controlled statements are presented to the Members’ Assembly and meets as often as necessary. Minutes of meetings of the EC are regularly sent to members of the Fund for their information.
The EC decides which persons and/or institution(s) are responsible in which way for the administration of the Fund and reports on this to the Members’ Assembly.
The EC annually approaches media institutions to enter high-quality products for the prizes that have seen the light of day in the preceding period – the length of which the EC decides each time.
The EC may decide that products that are not entered in this way should be considered for the prizes.
A product may, where appropriate, be considered for prizes more than once with the approval of the EC, but a winner in a particular category cannot subsequently also be entered in another category.
The EC appoints expert persons to assess, independently of each other, the entries for the various prizes, and to provide the EC with motivated recommendations.
The EC decides in the light of the recommendations which products/persons should be awarded. Members are given the opportunity to comment on this decision before it is made public.
In the case of awards, the EC asks for nominations from members and decides on them after consultation with experts and consultation with members.
An appropriate honorarium, as approved by the EC, may be made to reviewers.
A quorum of the EC is formed by the presence of five (5) members. In the event of a tie, the chairman has a casting vote. Voting by proxy is allowed. The EC can do its work electronically or by correspondence.

Amendment

These Ground Rules may be amended by members of the Fund after prior notice of at least twenty-one (21) days and with a two-thirds majority.

Dissolution

6.1 If a two-thirds majority of the members of the Fund so decide, the Fund will be dissolved.

6.2 In the event of such dissolution, the Fund’s investments will be called up, necessary expenses will be met from the funds, and the balance will be transferred to an institution that will best serve the objectives of the Fund.