Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District
THE BASIS
Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District, unites in pilgrimage those churches in the area which, acknowledging God’s revelation in Christ, confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the Scriptures, and, in obedience to God’s will and in the power of the Holy Spirit, commit themselves.
THE OBJECTIVE
The objective of Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District shall be the advancement of the Christian religion and other purposes which are charitable according to the Law of England and Wales according to the doctrine and practices of the constituent Churches.
AIMS
The aims of Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District shall be:
RELATIONSHIPS
Churches Together in Cam and Dursley will liaise with the representative of Churches Together in Gloucestershire.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District, shall be open to:
OFFICERS
The officers of Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District, shall be:
The Convenor (Chair) and Deputy Convenor (Vice-chair) – usually the Convenor-elect, an Honorary Treasurer and an Honorary Secretary.
These shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of the Forum (Council).
FORUM
ENABLING COMMITTEE (Executive Committee)
The Forum shall appoint annually an Enabling Committee to enable the member congregations to make decisions in common and to serve as a reference point for the Forum.
The Enabling Group shall comprise the officers of the Forum, the immediate past Convenor and those with specific responsibilities, currently Christian Aid link, Website manager, Friends at Christmas lead, Walk of Witness lead. Additional members may be coopted as necessary.
FINANCE
Each participating church shall pay such annual sum to Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District, as shall be determined by the Enabling Group/Forum. (Currently £25.). The Financial year shall be from 1st September to 31st August.
An honorary independent examiner shall be appointed at the Annual Meeting.
AGREEMENT
This Agreement between Churches in Cam, Dursley and District, formerly known as the Constitution, and any subsequent amendments to it, requires the approval of 75% of the member churches, acting through their normal decision-making bodies. Twenty-eight days’ notice shall be given for any meeting to discuss such amendments.
REVIEW
It is intended that Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District, shall reflect the developing life of the Christian churches as they continue their pilgrimage together. From time to time, a review group shall be appointed by the member congregations in consultation with the County Ecumenical Officer to report on the progress of the pilgrimage and to make proposals for desirable changes.
DISSOLUTION OF THE CHURCHES TOGETHER GROUP
Approved: [1]
APPENDIX A
THE BASIS
Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District, unites in pilgrimage those churches in the area which, acknowledging God’s revelation in Christ, confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the Scriptures, and, in obedience to God’s will and in the power of the Holy Spirit, commit themselves.
- To seek a deepening of their communion with Christ andwith one another in the Church, which is his body.
- To fulfil their mission to proclaim the Gospel by common witness and service in the world to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
THE OBJECTIVE
The objective of Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District shall be the advancement of the Christian religion and other purposes which are charitable according to the Law of England and Wales according to the doctrine and practices of the constituent Churches.
AIMS
The aims of Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District shall be:
- to enable the Member Churches, as pilgrims together, to explore the Christian faith together, to develop mutual relationships, to find common ground, and to worship, pray and work together to build God's Kingdom.
- to enable the Member Churches to respond to the needs of society and to witness to the Gospel together.
RELATIONSHIPS
Churches Together in Cam and Dursley will liaise with the representative of Churches Together in Gloucestershire.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District, shall be open to:
- Any local congregation in the area which affirms the Basis (see above) and commits itself to promote the aims of Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District.
- Any local representatives of churches which on principle have no creedal statements in their tradition and therefore cannot formally subscribe to the statement of faith in the Basis, provided that they satisfy 75% of the member churches which do subscribe to the Basis that such a church manifests faith in Christ as witnessed in the Scriptures and is committed to the aims and purposes of Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District, and that it will work in the spirit of the Basis.
- Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District, may invite
- New applications for membership under #5.a, #5.b, and #5.c require the nomination of two existing members of Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District, and require the approval of 50% of existing members. Members must be given at least 28 days in which to respond to a nomination.
OFFICERS
The officers of Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District, shall be:
The Convenor (Chair) and Deputy Convenor (Vice-chair) – usually the Convenor-elect, an Honorary Treasurer and an Honorary Secretary.
These shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of the Forum (Council).
FORUM
- The Forum (Council) shall consist of the clergy and ministers, and up to three others from each participating congregation.
- The Forum may co-opt other members not being more than one quarter of the representative membership of the Forum.
- The Forum shall meet not less than twice annually. The September/October meeting shall be the Annual Meeting at which accounts shall be presented, officers elected and annual reports submitted.
ENABLING COMMITTEE (Executive Committee)
The Forum shall appoint annually an Enabling Committee to enable the member congregations to make decisions in common and to serve as a reference point for the Forum.
The Enabling Group shall comprise the officers of the Forum, the immediate past Convenor and those with specific responsibilities, currently Christian Aid link, Website manager, Friends at Christmas lead, Walk of Witness lead. Additional members may be coopted as necessary.
FINANCE
Each participating church shall pay such annual sum to Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District, as shall be determined by the Enabling Group/Forum. (Currently £25.). The Financial year shall be from 1st September to 31st August.
An honorary independent examiner shall be appointed at the Annual Meeting.
AGREEMENT
This Agreement between Churches in Cam, Dursley and District, formerly known as the Constitution, and any subsequent amendments to it, requires the approval of 75% of the member churches, acting through their normal decision-making bodies. Twenty-eight days’ notice shall be given for any meeting to discuss such amendments.
REVIEW
It is intended that Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District, shall reflect the developing life of the Christian churches as they continue their pilgrimage together. From time to time, a review group shall be appointed by the member congregations in consultation with the County Ecumenical Officer to report on the progress of the pilgrimage and to make proposals for desirable changes.
DISSOLUTION OF THE CHURCHES TOGETHER GROUP
- A motion to dissolve the Churches Together group must be circulated in writing (both electronically and as a hard copy) to full members at least three months before it can be considered by a special meeting of Member Churches when the support of at least 75% of Member Churches is required for the motion to be successful. It will be the responsibility of Enabling Group members to discuss the proposal for dissolution with their nominating bodies.
- Any residual funds should be allocated to
- Christian charitable organisations designated by the Enabling Group.
Approved: [1]
APPENDIX A
- The Financial Year of Churches Together shall terminate on the 31st August.
- The books of account shall be submitted for Inspection prior to presentation at the AGM.
- The Inspector of accounts shall be appointed by Churches Together at the Annual General Meeting from persons other than Enabling Committee members.
