Constitution

CTNA CONSTITUTION
agreed at the AGM 9 November 2002

1 Name of Association
This Association of Christians in West Berkshire shall be called “Christians Together in the Newbury Area” (CTNA).

2 Basis of Association
CTNA unites in pilgrimage those Churches and Christian organisations in Newbury and surrounding area which, acknowledging God’s revelation in Christ, confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the Holy Scriptures, and, in obedience to God’s will and in the power of the Holy Spirit commit themselves
2.1 to seek a deepening of their communion with Christ and with one another in the Church, which is his Body:
2.2 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.

3 Aims
3.1 The aims of CTNA shall be:
3.1.1 to provide means of consultation amongst the churches;
3.1.2 to facilitate common witness to Christ by the member churches and organisations
3.1.3 to work and pray for Christian unity.
3.1.4 to act as prime agent for the Christians in Newbury in providing representation for the Christians within the community in Newbury.
3.2 In particular, CTNA shall seek:
3.2.1 to enable the Churches and Christian organisations, as pilgrims together, to develop growing relationships, to seek a common mind, and to make decisions together;
3.2.2 to encourage Christians to worship, pray and reflect together on the nature and purpose of the Christian community in the light of its mission – each church and Christian organisation sharing with others the treasure of its traditions;
3.2.3 to enable the Christians to witness to the Gospel and to respond to the needs of the community together;
3.2.4 to enable the churches to live and share the Gospel, to evangelise together
3.2.5 to take further steps towards fuller unity.

4 Relationships
CTNA is in association with CHURCHES TOGETHER IN BERKSHIRE, and in the event of there being any question of clarity of understanding of this constitution better interpretation may be sought by reference to the constitution of CHURCHES TOGETHER IN BERKSHIRE.

5 Membership
Application for membership of Christians Together in the Newbury Area shall be open to
5.1 any church in the area which affirms the covenant, accepts the Basis of Association and commits itself to promote the aims of CTNA.
5.1.1 Member Churches have the Right to expect support from all members of the association for any activity that has been agreed at a formal CTNA meeting to be a CTNA activity
5.1.2 Member Churches have a responsibility to participate in the decision making of CTNA and to support formal CTNA activities.
5.2 any Christian organisation in the area that affirms the covenant, accepts the Basis of Association and commits itself to promote the aims of CTNA.
5.2.1 Member Organisations have the right to expect the support of the Churches in the execution of their activities, both pastorally and practically
5.2.2 Member Organisations have the responsibility to ensure that their activities are conducted in a business like manner and in accordance with the Christian principles of CTNA.
5.3 The Annual General Meeting, as set out in paragraph 6, may admit to CTNA as “observers”, for a period not exceeding two years at a time, any church or Christian organisation which accepts the aims and covenant of CTNA but which does not desire membership of CTNA at that time.

6 New Members
6.1 Churches
6.1.1 The executive shall receive all applications for membership from Christian Churches. The executive shall satisfy itself that the Church applying for membership is able to wholeheartedly subscribe to the covenant and the basis of association (Para 2 above).
6.1.2 The executive will give due notice to the members of CTNA and propose that the applicant Church be taken into membership at the next AGM.
6.1.3 The AGM will vote on accepting the Church into membership; a 66% majority of those present and voting is required to agree a new membership.
6.2 Christian Organisations
6.2.1 A member Church shall satisfy itself that the Christian Organisation applying meets the requirements set out above and will then notify the executive of its intention to propose the organisation for membership at the next AGM.
6.2.2 The Executive will give due notice to the membership of the proposal.
6.2.3 The AGM will vote on accepting the Organisation into membership; a 66% majority of those present and voting is required to agree the new membership.

7 Annual General Meeting
CTNA shall meet in Annual General Meeting once a year, preferably in the week preceding Advent Sunday. CTNA may also meet in Extra-ordinary General Meeting as decided by the Executive.
7.1 Representation at the AGM
7.1.1 The Annual General Meeting shall consist of two representatives (including the clergy) of all member Churches and two representatives of each member Christian organisation.
7.1.2 Only these representatives are entitled to vote at the meeting.
7.1.3 A quorum shall consists of twenty persons entitled to vote present.
7.2 The Annual General Meeting shall
7.2.1 Grant “Observer Status” to non-participating churches or Christian organisations;
7.2.2 Appoint a committee of management, herein called “The Executive”, proposed by the Newbury Church leaders fraternal;
7.2.3 Accept into membership any Christian organisation proposed by a member Church
7.2.4 Accept into membership any Christian Churches proposed by the executive
7.2.5 Receive an Annual Report from the Chairman and Treasurer of CTNA;
7.2.6 Consider all items on an agenda submitted for consideration by the Executive;
7.2.7 Elect the following officers, proposed by the executive; such appointments shall take effect on the day following the Annual General Meeting.
7.2.7.1 A Chairman for a period of two years
7.2.7.2 A Vice-Chairman for a period of one year in the first instance and thereafter for a period of two years
7.2.7.3 An Honorary Secretary
7.2.7.4 An Honorary Treasurer
7.2.8 The officers so elected shall hold the same offices ex-officio on the Executive.
7.2.9 If an ex-officio member leaves mid term they shall be replaced by election of the Forum (Para 9 below)

8 Executive
8.1 The business of the Executive shall follow an agenda fixed by the Chairman and Secretary.
8.1.1 The agenda shall include any matter proposed by any member of the Forum and any other matter, agreed by the Chairman, that merits an expression of opinion or the support of the Executive. The executive will prepare topics for discussion by the Forum.
8.1.2 The Executive may appoint any person to assist the Secretary or the Treasurer or to act in these offices pending an Annual General Meeting.
8.1.3 The Executive shall at its first meeting fix a quorum needed for the conduct of its business, and may from time to time revise the quorum.
8.1.4 The Vice-Chairman shall conduct the business of the Association or Forum in the absence of the Chairman. The Secretary or the Treasurer may call upon any member present to act as Chairman in the absence of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
8.2 Membership of the Executive
8.2.1 Members of the Executive are appointed by the AGM on the recommendation of the Newbury Church leaders fraternal.
8.2.2 Members will normally be members of the clergy or individuals in a leadership position in their church with the authority to represent their church.
8.2.3 The maximum membership of the executive is 6 members plus the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.
8.2.4 The executive will appoint, from among its number, individuals to represent the Christian organisations. These individuals will ensure that they maintain suitable contact with their organisations.
8.2.5 The executive can co-opt people for specific tasks as it sees fit.
8.3 In the event of an Executive Member leaving mid-term, they can be replaced on a proposal from the Ministerial Fraternal and confirmed by the existing Executive

9 Forum (Monthly Breakfast meeting)
9.1 The forum shall consist of two members, in a leadership position, from each Church or organisation.
9.2 The forum will meet regularly for prayer and discussion. The topics for discussion will be as determined by the Executive.
9.3 The Forum may appoint any two or more of its members to form an enabling group for any of the purposes of the Forum.
9.4 The Forum may co-opt any person with special skills or knowledge to assist the Forum or any enabling group.

10 Finance
10.1 The work and business of Christians Together in the Newbury Area shall be financed by the voluntary contributions of the member churches in accordance with a budget presented at the Annual General Meeting; the contribution of each church shall be generally in proportion to its membership.
10.2 Member Christian Organisations are not required to make a contribution to CTNA.

11 Observer Status
Persons accorded observer status may attend and participate in discussions on all matters but may not vote on any matter.

12 Amendments to Constitution
This constitution may be recalled and amended in Annual General Meeting provided three months’ notice is given to all participating Churches of the amendments proposed.

13 Winding Up
13.1 The Association may be wound up by resolution in Annual General Meeting.
13.2 The Association may also be deemed to have been wound up shall it fail to meet in Annual General Meeting and in Forum for a period of three years.
13.3 In the event of the Association being so wound up its assets shall vest as a trust in trustees appointed in Annual General Meeting or that failing, in the clergy holding office in the participating churches as incumbents, and such trustees may dispose of the assets to any cause supported by the Association during its existence or to such other charitable cause as they see fit.

14 Coming into effect
14.1 This constitution shall come into effect by motion of an Annual General Meeting at which the agreement to the constitution shall have been signified by participating churches in writing.
14.2 Agreement was signified

Church/Organisation Signature Date