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Constitution
This Constitution
of Churches Together in Harrogate was adopted in May 2000. Revised in 2006.
Name
The
Council shall be called "Churches Together in Harrogate".
Basis
Churches
Together in Harrogate unites in pilgrimage all churches in the Town who
acknowledge God's revelation in Jesus Christ, confess the lord Jesus Christ
as God and Saviour according to the scriptures and commit themselves to
one another to the Glory of on God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Objectives
(a)
To emphasise our unity in Christ so that our differences diminish and
our unity in Him and with each other increases;
(b) To undertake to work towards doing things together except that which,
in conscience, must be done separately;
(c) To witness, worship and to serve our community together in love, that
others may be convinced of the good news we share.
Organisation
The
Council shall be composed of three main inter-related groups:
(a) A Steering Council for the whole of Churches Together in Harrogate
with the power to appoint an Executive Committee;
(b) Local Area Councils of Churches Together;
(c) A plenary meeting of members of affiliated churches meeting annually.
Steering Council
(a) The Steering Council
shall consist of the President, Secretary, Treasurer, past president,
President elect and up to three representatives from each Local Area Council;
(b) Each church not included in a Local Area Council may send one representative;
(c) Non-denominational organisations may apply to send one representative
to the Steering Council meetings to share in the discussion, that person
not being entitled to vote;
(d) Meeting of the Steering Council shall be held at least twice a year
and shall include an annual general meeting when accounts will be presented
and officers elected. The President shall be elected at the Annual Assembly;
(e) The Steering Council will act as a channel of communication between
the Local Area Councils and Churches
Together on a county and national level. It will initiate and co-ordinate
those activities that relate to the whole town. It will be the forum for
shared news from the Local Area Councils and individual churches.
Local Area Councils
(a) Each congregation
in the area shall appoint representatives, who with the clergy and pastoral
leaders from each church shall communicate the views and concerns of their
fellowship and ensure that each church understands and supports the work,
vision and plan of the Council;
(b) Each Local Area Council shall meet as they themselves determine, elect
their own officers and be responsible for their own finances;
(c) Each Local Area Council shall appoint, in time for the annual meeting,
three representatives, including a pastoral leader to the central Steering
Council.
Plenary Meeting
The Plenary meeting
shall be an Annual Assembly open to all church executives, plus members
of the Steering Council and local Area Councils. At this meeting the President
shall be appointed. The purpose of the meeting is to review the past year
and submit suggestions and ideas to be considered by the Steering Council.
The officers of the Steering Council will act as the officers for this
meeting.
Finance
Each church shall
pay a subscription to the Steering Council to cover the cost of subscriptions
to the West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council and to defray costs of general
administration, the amounts to be decided at its annual general meeting.
Amendments to the Constitution
This constitution
may only be amended at an Annual General Meeting, but all proposed amendments
to the Constitution must be in the hands of the Secretary in sufficient
time to be sent to churches and organisations in membership five weeks
prior to the Annual General Meeting.
This webpage
is provided by Churches Together in Harrogate. Loving God and Neighbour
- together
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