CTNA CONSTITUTION
agreed at the AGM 25th February 2014
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 our Risen Saviour and Lord, fully God and fully man, according to the Holy Scriptures, and, in obedience to God’s will and in the power of the Holy Spirit, commit ourselves:
2.1 To seek a deepening of our communion with Christ and with one another in the Church, which is His Body;
2.2 To fulfil our 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.
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 which 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.
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 eligible to vote and propose that the applicant Church be taken into membership at the next AGM. A 66% majority of those who vote is required to agree a new membership;
6.1.3 The results of the vote, made prior to the AGM, will be declared at the AGM.
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 Members eligible to vote and propose that the applicant Organisation be taken into membership at the next AGM. A 66% majority of those who vote is required to agree a new Membership;
6.2.3 The results of the vote, made prior to the AGM, will be declared at the AGM.
7 Annual General Meeting.
CTNA shall meet in Annual General Meeting once a year. 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 be open to all CTNA Church Leaders and their members, and all members of the CTNA Organisations;
7.1.2 Each CTNA Church Leader and CTNA Organisation’s Chairperson shall select two representatives entitled to vote prior to the AGM;
7.1.3 A quorum shall consist of twenty persons entitled to vote.
7.2 At the Annual General Meeting the following results of the votes of those eligible to vote prior to the AGM shall be declared:
7.2.1 The Appointment of a Committee of Management, herein called “The Executive” recommended by the Church Leaders at their monthly meeting (9.3);
7.2.2 The Acceptance into membership of any Christian Church proposed by the Executive and agreed by a 66% majority of those who vote prior to the AGM;
7.2.3 The Acceptance into membership of any Christian Organisation proposed by a member Church and agreed by a 66% majority of those who vote prior to the AGM;
7.2.4 Receive Annual Reports from the Chairperson and Treasurer of CTNA;
7.2.5 Consider all items on an Agenda submitted for consideration by the Executive;
7.2.6 The Election of the Officers who were proposed by the Executive, on the recommendation of the Church Leaders’ Monthly Meeting and accepted by those eligible to vote prior to the AGM; such appointments shall take effect on the day following the Annual General Meeting;
7.2.6.1 A Chairperson for a period of two years;
7.2.6.2 A Deputy-Chairperson for a period of two years;
7.2.6.3 An Honorary Secretary for a period of two years;
7.2.6.4 An Honorary Treasurer for a period of two years.
7.2.7 The Officers so elected shall hold the same offices ex-officio on the Executive;
7.2.8 If an Executive Officer leaves mid-term, they shall be replaced by election of the Church Leaders’ Monthly Meeting. Any such appointment shall subsequently be confirmed by those eligible to vote prior to the next AGM. (8.3 + 9.4);
7.2.9 The Election of the Executive Members for a period of two years, who were proposed by the Executive, on the recommendation of the Church Leaders’ Monthly Meeting and accepted by those eligible to vote prior to the AGM; such appointments shall take effect on the day following the Annual General Meeting;
7.2.10 If an Executive Member leaves mid term, they shall be replaced on a proposal from the Church Leaders’ Monthly Meeting and confirmed by the existing Executive. Any such appointment shall subsequently be confirmed by those eligible to vote prior to the next AGM. (8.4 + 9.5);
7.2.11 Executive Officers and Members may offer themselves to stand for re-election, if so desired.
8 Executive.
8.1 The business of the Executive shall follow an Agenda fixed by the Chairperson and Secretary.
8.1.1 The Agenda shall include any matter proposed by any member of the Church Leaders’ Meeting and any other matter, agreed by the Chairperson, that merits an expression of opinion or the support of the Executive;
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 Deputy-Chairperson shall conduct the business of the Association or Church Leaders’ Meeting in the absence of the Chairperson. The Secretary or the Treasurer may call upon any Member present to act as Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson and Deputy-Chairperson.
8.2 Membership of the Executive.
8.2.1 Members of the Executive are appointed by those eligible to vote prior to the AGM, on the recommendation of the Church Leaders’ Monthly Meeting. (7.2.1 + 9.3);
8.2.2 Members will normally be members of the Church Leaders or individuals in a leadership position in their church with the authority to represent their church, or a representative of a CTNA Organisation;
8.2.3 The maximum membership of the Executive is 8 Members plus the Chairperson, Deputy-Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer;
8.2.4 The Executive can co-opt people for specific tasks as it sees fit.
8.3 In the event of an Executive Officer leaving mid-term, they shall be replaced by election of the Church Leaders’ Monthly Meeting. Any such appointment shall subsequently be confirmed by those eligible to vote prior to the next AGM. (7.2.8 + 9.4).
8.4 In the event of an Executive Member leaving mid-term they shall be replaced on a proposal from the Church Leaders’ Monthly Meeting and confirmed by the existing Executive. Any such appointment shall subsequently be confirmed by those eligible to vote prior to the next AGM. (7.2.10 + 9.5).
9 Church Leaders’ Monthly Meeting.
9.1 The Church Leaders’ Monthly Meeting shall meet for fellowship, prayer, support and discussion regarding church life and other activities in the Town;
9.2 The Church Leaders shall from time to time give items for further prayer, discussion and content both to the Executive and to the Prayer Breakfasts;
9.3 The Church Leaders shall recommend Members of the Executive to be appointed by the AGM, for a period of two years (7.2.1 + 8.2.1);
9.4 In the event of an Executive Officer leaving mid-term they shall be replaced by election of the Church Leaders’ Monthly Meeting. Any such appointment shall subsequently be confirmed by those eligible to vote prior to the next AGM. (7.2.8 + 8.3);
9.5 In the event of an Executive Member leaving mid-term they shall be replaced on a proposal from the Church Leaders’ Monthly Meeting and confirmed by the existing Executive. Any such appointment shall subsequently be confirmed by those eligible to vote prior to the next AGM. (7.2.10 + 8.4).
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; the contribution of each Church shall be generally £100 pa, to be reviewed annually;
10.2 Member Christian Organisations are not required to make a contribution to CTNA.
11 Amendments to Constitution.
This Constitution may be recalled and amended in Annual General Meeting provided three months’ notice is given to all participating Churches and Organisations of the amendments proposed.
12 Winding Up.
12.1 The Association may be wound up by resolution in Annual General Meeting;
12.2 The Association may also be deemed to have been wound up shall it fail to meet in Annual General Meeting and in Church Leaders’ Monthly Meetings for a period of three years;
12.3 In the event of the Association being so wound up its assets shall be disposed of in an appropriate way by Trustees, appointed at an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting, to which the Executive shall invite both CTNA Member Churches and Member Organisations.
13 Coming into effect.
13.1 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 and Organisations in writing;
13.2 Agreement was signified:
Christians Together Newbury Area 