Constitution

ARTICLE 3                  THE DOCTRINAL BASIS OF THE CHURCH

The Church accepts the Bible (containing the Old Testament and New Testament only) as the authoritative Word of God.  We believe and maintain the following:

 

3.1           The unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in the God-head.

 

3.2           The sovereignty of God in creation, revelation, redemption and the final judgement.

 

3.3           The divine inspiration and infallibility of the Holy Scripture, as originally given, and its supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

 

3.4           The universal sinfulness and guilt of human nature since the Fall, rendering man subject to God’s wrath and condemnation.

 

3.5           Redemption from guilt, penalty and power of sin only through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ (as our Representative and Substitute), the Incarnate Son of God.

 

3.6           The physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and His ascension to the right hand of the throne of God the Father.

 

3.7           The necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit to make the death of Christ effective to the individual sinner, granting him repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ.

 

3.8           The indwelling and the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer.

 

3.9           The one holy universal Church, which is the Body of Christ, and to which all true believers belong.

 

3.10         The expectation of the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

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ARTICLE 4                  POWERS

The Church has the following powers, which may be exercised only in promoting the Objects:

 

4.1           To promote or carry out research.

 

4.2           To provide advice.

 

4.3           To publish or distribute information.

 

4.4           To co-operate with other bodies, including other Christian Churches and organisations who share our general aims and beliefs

 

4.5           To support, administer or set up other charities.

 

4.6           To raise funds (but not by means of taxable trading).

 

4.7           To borrow money and give security for loans (but only in accordance with the restrictions imposed by the Charities Act).

 

4.8           To acquire or hire property of any kind.

 

4.9           To let or dispose of property of any kind (but only in accordance with the restrictions imposed by the Charities Act).

 

4.10         To make grants or loans of money and to give guarantees.

 

4.11         To set aside funds for special purposes or as reserves against future expenditure.

 

4.12         To deposit or invest in funds in any manner (but to invest only after obtaining such advice from a financial expert as the Trustees consider necessary and having regard to the suitability of investments and the need for diversification).

 

4.13         To delegate the management of investments to a financial expert, but only on terms that:

 

4.13.1      The investment policy is recorded in writing for the financial expert by the Trustees;

 

4.13.2      Every transaction is reported promptly to the Trustees;

 

4.13.3      The performance of the investments is reviewed regularly with the Trustees;

 

4.13.4      The Trustees are entitled to cancel the delegation arrangement at any time;

 

4.13.5      The investment policy and the delegation arrangement are reviewed at least once a year;

 

4.13.6      All payments due to the financial expert are on a scale or at a level which is agreed in advance and are reported promptly to the Trustees on receipt;

 

4.13.7      The financial expert must not do anything outside the powers of the Trustees.

 

4.14         To insure the property of The Church against any foreseeable risk and take out other insurance policies to protect The Church when required.

 

4.15         To pay for indemnity insurance for the Trustees.

 

4.16         Subject to Article 10, to employ paid or unpaid agents, staff or advisers.

 

4.17         To enter into contracts to provide services to or on behalf of other bodies.

 

4.18         To establish or acquire subsidiary companies to assist or act as agents for The Church.

 

4.19         To pay the costs of forming The Church.

 

4.20         To do anything else within the law which promotes or helps to promote the Objects.

 

 

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ARTICLE 5                  THE CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

 

5.1         Application for Membership shall be open to all who fulfil the following criteria:

             

5.1.1    Must be born-again Christians, having experienced the New Birth through repentance of sins and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:5-6),

5.1.2    Must be baptised Christians,

5.1.3    Must be  in agreement with the aims and doctrinal basis of The Church,

5.1.4    Must agree to abide by the constitution of The Church,

5.1.5    Must submit a written application to the Church Secretary and

5.1.6    Must have their application approved by the Board of Trustees, upon recommendation by the Leadership Co-ordination Team.

5.2      Transfer of church membership from another church may be accepted subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees. Normally a letter of recommendation from the former church is required.

5.3       Church members are not required to relinquish their membership in their former church provided that its doctrinal basis does not differ significantly from that of The Church.

5.4        New members (including transferred members) shall enjoy membership rights and obligations upon the fulfilment of the requirements of Article 5.1 but shall be presented and formally received at the next general meeting following their acceptance as members.

5.5       Members are entitled to:-

5.5.1    Hold office;




5.5.2    Submit proposal in writing at any time for consideration of the Board of Trustees and such a proposal shall be considered if it has the signed support of no less than ten church members;




5.5.3    Request the Board of Trustees to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting for stated purposes and such request shall be honoured when it is presented in writing bearing the signature of no less than one third (1/3) of the total church membership.




5.5.4    Additional benefits or entitlements accorded to church members as mentioned in the relevant terms of reference.

5.6       Members are obliged to:

   5.6.1      Attend the vote at General Meetings;

      5.6.2      Support The Church by:-

(a)       meeting regularly for corporate worship, prayer and the Lord’s Supper;

(b)       prayerful stewardship of time, talents and money in the life and work of The Church;

(c)       abiding by decisions made at general meetings; and

(d)       any other responsibilities mentioned in the relevant terms of reference.

5.7        Membership shall continue until it is terminated upon:

5.7.1   The individual notifying the Board of Trustees, in writing, of his or her wish to resign as a member; or

5.7.2   The individual being absent from two consecutive general meetings without submitting apologies in writing to the Church Secretary; or

5.7.3   The individual consistently engaging in ways or teachings that are contrary to the Bible and/or the doctrinal basis of The Church or

5.7.4   The individual consistently engaging in ways or teachings that risk causing serious detriment to the reputation of The Church.

5.8        Decision over the termination of church membership shall be vested in the Board of Trustees, upon the recommendation of the Leadership Co-ordination Team.  The church member concerned shall have an opportunity to present his/her case verbally or in writing, but the decision of the Board of Trustees shall be final.

5.9        The Board of Trustees may re-instate church membership to any individual who has had his/her membership terminated if, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees, the individual concerned has repented and returned to a life that is consistent with the Scriptures and doctrinal basis of The Church and accepts The Church constitution.

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ARTICLE 6                  CHURCH GOVERNMENT

The main governing body of The Church shall be the Board of Trustees.

 

ARTICLE 7                  BOARD OF TRUSTEES

 

7.1        The Board of Trustees shall consist of not less than four (4) voting members being:

7.1.1   Not more than six Elders appointed in accordance with Article 7.8.

7.1.2   Members who are not Elders elected in accordance with Article 7.9

7.2        Trustees shall serve a term of up to five (5) years and shall retire from office together at every Church Elections Annual General Meeting (CE-AGM) after the date on which they came into office but they may be re-appointed or re-elected.

7.3        The chairperson of the Board of Trustees shall be chosen by the Board of Trustees.

7.4        The functions of the Board of Trustees shall include:

7.4.1   Upholds the objects of The Church as a single united entity

7.4.2   Ensures that The Church is well run, achieves its goals and remains solvent

7.4.3   Ensures that The Church is in compliance with UK and EU laws. 

7.4.4   Acts in the best interests of The Church

7.4.5   Protects The Church’s reputation

7.4.6   Responsible for resource planning

7.4.7   Approves long term goals for church growth (evangelism)

7.4.8   Maintains church discipline in consultation with the Pastoral Team. 

This is to be read in conjunction with Article 13.3.

7.4.9   Carry out any function not reserved to another body under this constitution or delegated to another party.

 

7.5        The Board of Trustees shall be able to co-opt additional trustees.  Co-opted Trustees shall serve only until the first general meeting following their co-option.  At that general meeting, they shall stand down, but may have their appointment approved by election by The Church Membership.  Once the appointment is approved by The Church Members, such Trustees shall stand until the next CE-AGM following their confirmation, at which they shall retire.  This article should be read in conjunction with Articles 7.8 and 7.9.

7.6        The Board of Trustees shall be able to appoint additional individuals to attend trustee meetings.  Individuals appointed under this article shall be entitled to attend trustee meetings but shall not vote or count towards the quorum for trustee meetings;

7.7        The proceedings of the Board of Trustees shall not be invalidated by any vacancy among their number or by any failure to appoint or any defect in the appointment or qualification of a member.

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7.8 TRUSTEES WHO ARE ELDERS

 

7.8.1 At anytime, there shall not be more than two Trustees who are Elders from each congregation.

 

7.8.2 Where a congregation has fewer than three Elders, all Elders from that congregation shall automatically become members of the Board of Trustees.

 

7.8.3 For congregations with three or more Elders, two of the Elders from that congregation will be elected by The Church Membership at the CE-AGM.

 

7.8.4 Elders, under Article 7.8.3, shall be eligible for trustee election or re-election when the Church Secretary receives a nomination by any member of the Leadership Co-ordination Team or the Leadership Committee, seconded by a member of the Trustee Board, at least twenty eight (28) days before the CE-AGM.

 

7.8.5 Where a congregation has two Elders appointed as Trustees, subject to Article 7.8.6 any subsequently appointed Elders shall not become eligible for election as a Trustee until the next CE-AGM.

 

7.8.6 Where a congregation has two Elders as Trustees and one or both have their trusteeship determined,

 

(a) If the number of Elders remaining in that congregation (excluding those individuals who have had their trusteeship determined) is equal or fewer than the number of vacated Trustee seats, all of the remaining Elders shall automatically become members of the Board of Trustees.

 

(b) If the number of Elders remaining in that congregation (excluding those individuals who have had their trusteeship determined) is greater than the number of vacated trustee seats, additional Elders may be co-opted onto the Board by the Board of Trustees, subject to Article 7.8.1. All such co-opted Elders shall retire as Trustees at the first general meeting following their co-option but may have their appointment approved by election, in accordance with Article 7.5.

 

7.8.7 All Elders co-opted as a Trustee under Article 7.8.6(b) are eligible for election following the receipt by the Church Secretary of a nomination by any member of the Leadership Co-ordination Team or the Leadership Committee, seconded by a member of the Trustee Board at least twenty eight (28) days before the general meeting at which the election shall take place.

 

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7.9 TRUSTEES WHO ARE NOT ELDERS

 

7.9.1 Trustees who are not Elders shall be church members elected at the CE-AGM.

 

7.9.2 The Board of Trustees shall from time to time decide upon the number of Trustees who are not Elders to be elected onto the Board of Trustees.

 

7.9.3 Trustees who are not Elders shall be appointed by following process:
a) Eligible candidates will be nominated by a Church Member, and seconded by a member of the Leadership Committee;

b) Their nomination must be approved by the Leadership Co-ordination Team and received by the Church Secretary at least twenty eight (28) days before the CE-AGM.

c) Appointment is confirmed when approval is granted by vote at a general meeting by The Church Members, following the support of two thirds (2/3) of the members present and voting in person or through other means permitted under the constitution. This article is to be read in accordance with Article 17.5.7.

 

7.9.4 Co-opted Trustees who are not Elders may be elected at the next general meeting after the date of the co-option following the support of two thirds (2/3) of the members present and voting in person or through other means permitted under the constitution. This article is to be read in accordance with Articles 7.5 and 17.5.7.

 

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7.10 NON-VOTING MEMBERS

 

7.10.1 The Board of Trustees may invite non-voting members to attend Trustee Board meetings.

 

7.10.2 The most senior member of the Pastoral staff shall be appointed to attend Board of Trustees meetings in a non-voting capacity as a Pastoral Representative.

 

7.10.3 Seniority of the Pastoral staff will be determined by the Board of Trustees.

 

7.10.4 The Pastoral Representative shall not count towards the quorum for Board of Trustees meetings

 

7.10.5 The Church Secretary shall attend the Board of Trustees meetings in a non-voting capacity.

 

7.10.6 The Church Secretary shall not count towards the quorum for Board of Trustees meetings

 

7.10.7 The Church Treasurer shall attend the Board of Trustees meetings in a non-voting capacity.

 

7.10.8 The Church Treasurer shall not count towards the quorum for Board of Trustees meetings

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ARTICLE 8        DETERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP OF BOARD OF

                          TRUSTEES

 

8.1         A member of the Board of Trustees shall cease to hold office if he or she:

 

8.1.1   Is disqualified from acting as a member of the Board of Trustees by virtue of Section 72 of the Charities Act 1993 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that provision);

8.1.2   Becomes incapable of acting as a Trustee by reason of mental disorder, illness or injury;

8.1.3   Notifies the Board of Trustees, in writing, of his or her wish to resign (but only if at least three members of the Board of Trustees will remain in office when the notice of resignation is to take effect).  The period of notice to resign will be six months or in timeframe that is mutually agreed between the Trustee who is leaving and the Board of Trustees.

8.1.4   Is required to stand down following a resolution passed by a majority of the remaining Trustees.

 

8.2        A member of the Board of Trustees shall cease to hold office upon the occurrence of such matters referred to in Article 5.7.

 

8.3        Any Elder who is a Trustee shall have his/her membership of the Board of Trustees determined with immediate effect upon ceasing to be an Elder.

 

8.4   The Board of Trustees shall convene a general meeting to inform The Church Membership of the removal of any Trustee within four (4) weeks of the decision being made.  This article is to be read in conjunction with Article 8.1.4.

 

8.5   Any trustee removed by virtue of Article 8.1.4 may be re-instated by a resolution passed by a two thirds (2/3) majority of The Church membership.

 

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