Published books
Books are products with production, editorial, printing, distribution and platform costs. Purchasing one should not imply membership or rank.
Governance principles
Roles need boundaries.
The founder, contributors, editors, moderators, financial administrators and local organisers should have clearly described roles, without being treated as one undifferentiated authority.
Defined responsibility
People should know what a role can decide, what it cannot decide and who can review that decision.
Conflict of interest
Personal, family, financial and organisational conflicts should be declared and managed rather than hidden behind trust.
Complaint routes
A person raising a concern should not be forced to complain only to the person they are concerned about or to somebody directly dependent on them.
Records and reasons
Material decisions about money, safeguarding and institutional authority should leave an appropriate record and a reason that can be explained.
No purchased rank
Payment for books, events, membership or services cannot buy spiritual status, authority over others or exemption from standards.
Money
Different kinds of income should remain visibly different.
Selling a book, receiving a donation and charging for an event are not the same thing. Clear categories make it easier for people to understand what they are paying for and what obligations follow.
Membership or community costs
If local or organisational membership fees are introduced, their purpose and benefits should be stated plainly.
Donations
Donations should be voluntary, receipted where appropriate, recorded and reported according to the legal structure in use.
Financial transparency
People should be able to see enough to make an informed judgement.
As the organisation grows, appropriate public reporting should include the legal entity or entities involved, principal officers, broad income and expenditure categories, material related-party transactions, significant conflicts of interest and the destination of donated funds.
The form and detail of governance may change as the project develops. Its financial and editorial decisions should remain open to appropriate scrutiny.
Current organisational stage
Principles come first; operational details must follow in public.
The Continuance is publishing its governing principles before every organisational service is active. As legal, financial, safeguarding and reporting arrangements become operational, this page will identify the relevant entities, officers, processors, contact routes and public reporting arrangements.
The standard is simple: readers should be able to tell who sells books, who receives money, who holds responsibility for safeguarding and complaints, and where material financial information can be found.
Founder and responsibility
History does not create immunity.
Martin Rothery developed and authored the Continuance. That does not remove the need for financial controls, safeguarding, clear editorial decisions or criticism.