CONSTITUTION


ARTICLE ONE

TITLE CHURCHES TOGETHER IN OSWESTRY DISTRICT


ARTICLE TWO

BASIS COVENANT

Churches Together in Oswestry District unites in mission those churches 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 and with one another in the Church, which is His Body; and

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.

ARTICLE THREE

OBJECTS, AIMS AND FUNCTIONS

(a) The objects of Churches Together in Oswestry District shall be the advancement of the Christian religion, the relief of poverty and the advancement of education and any other purposes which are charitable according to the law of England and Wales. They will seek to further these objects by:

(i) facilitating common witness to the Christian religion by the churches;

(ii) providing means of consultation, communication and fellowship between the churches;

(iii) working in co-operation with Churches Together in England.

b) In particular, Churches Together in Oswestry District will seek:

(i) to be a visible sign of the churches' commitment to one another, in obedience to our Lord praying "that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you; may they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me" - John 17:21 (NIV);

(ii) to affirm, support and service local churches working together.

(iii) to encourage shared worship, prayer, service and evangelism, whilst respecting each others' traditions.

(iv) to enable the churches to respond to the needs of society at all levels, and, when appropriate, to work with secular authorities or members of other faith communities in social action.

(v) to explore church and society issues.

(vi) to be in association with Churches Together in Shropshire:

(vii) to encourage the leadership of our churches at all levels, to work together.

ARTICLE FOUR

MEMBERSHIP

(a) Membership is open to all churches who accept Articles One and Two of the Constitution.

(b) A church, which on principle has no credal statements in its tradition and therefore cannot formally subscribe to the statement of faith in the Basis, may nevertheless apply for and be elected to membership provided that it satisfies those member churches which subscribe to the Basis that it manifests faith in Christ as witnessed to in the Scriptures and is committed to the aims and purposes of the new ecumenical body, and that it will work in the spirit of the Basis.

(c) All churches seeking membership shall in the first instance be approved by the Executive, by bringing their recommendation to a full meeting of the Council of Churches Together in Oswestry District, for final acceptance.

(d) Membership is to be approved at an A.G.M., by a 75% majority of member churches, each church notifying the Secretary of its decision in writing.

(e) Each member church shall be entitled to have two voting representatives on the Council,
(f) Churches who do not wish to commit themselves to full membership, but who could subscribe to Articles One and Two of the Constitution are eligible to become associate members but without voting rights.

ARTICLE FIVE

OFFICERS


(a) These shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. These officers shall be elected at the A.G.M. for a two-year period, the President, Secretary and Treasurer each presenting a report of his /her work at each year end.

(b) Should any offices at any time become vacant the Council shall have power to fill the same at a Council meeting on the recommendation of the Executive.

ARTICLE SIX

THE EXECUTIVE

(a) This shall be made up of all Council officers and at least 3 and no more than 5 others elected at the A.G.M., together with the immediate Past President.

(b) The quorum for a meeting shall be 4 members to include
at least 2 officers one of whom must be the President or Vice- President.

(c) The Executive shall meet to deal with any Council business prior to each council meeting and at any other times as may be required

(d) All matters shall be subject to Council approval at the quarterly meeting.

(e) The Executive shall have full powers to meet and to deal with any urgent matters requiring a decision before the next Council meeting, and in these matters their decisions shall be binding until that Council meeting.

ARTICLE SEVEN

COUNCIL MEETINGS

(a) These shall be held quarterly, the last quarterly meeting of the year being the Annual General Meeting (A G M). At least fifteen days notice shall be given before a Meeting.

(b) The A.G.M. Minutes shall be read at the quarterly meeting following the A.G.M. and initialled by the President following any agreed adjustments or additions for accuracy. They should be read at the following A.G.M., and formally signed with signature and date of meeting by the President.

(c) The Council shall have power to call other meetings as may be required giving at least fifteen days notice, to include additional fixtures, and to alter any fixtures made due to unforeseen circumstances. Any member churches not represented at a Council meeting when such changes are made shall be notified of these changes.

(d) It shall be Council policy to see that all churches with adequate seating have the opportunity in rotation to host a United Service, and that all other meetings and gatherings are spread around member churches.

(e) The President and Secretary shall prepare a preliminary list of dates and venue of all Council events during the forthcoming year for presentation to the A G M.

(f) All Council meetings are open to the public who may attend as observers.

 ARTICLE EIGHT

FINANCE  

The financial year shall be twelve months ending on September 30th each year, and independently examined accounts shall be presented to the A G M.

(a) The Treasurer shall deal with all Council financial matters and present a Statement at each quarterly meeting and a balance sheet at the A.G.M. Cheques on Council accounts shall be signed by 2 out of 3 of the appointed signatories: President, Treasurer and one other person from the Executive appointed by the AGM

(b) The work of the churches shall be maintained by annual subscription from all member churches, the amount being decided each year by the A.G.M. The amount payable may be adjusted for smaller congregations as felt desirable.

(c) The A G M shall appoint bankers and an Independent Examiner for the year.

(d) The Council shall pay such annual membership subscription as may be agreed to Churches Together in Shropshire or any successor body exercising similar functions within the County of Shropshire.

(e) The Council shall have power to make donations to approved charities from time to time. Prior to payment these donations shall be confirmed by a majority vote at the Council quarterly meeting.

(f) The Council shall meet all reasonable expenses incurred by invitations to any guests to participate in United Services or events arranged by the Council.

(g) At all United Services and Churches Together events when an offering is received that offering shall be passed to the Treasurer when the host church has taken out its required expenses

ARTICLE NINE


CONSTITUTION CHANGES

These shall only be made at the A.G.M., by a 75% majority of member churches. Any member wishing to change the Constitution must present details of the change in writing at least twenty-one days before the date of the A.G.M. Such details must be despatched to all member churches at least fifteen days before the A.G.M.
A.G.M. 12 May 1993
As amended November 2011
For consideration at the 2012 A G M

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