1. NAME
The Charity shall be known as Churches Together in Hertfordshire and shall cover the geographical area of the County of Hertfordshire.
2. BASIS
Churches Together in Hertfordshire (CTH) unites in pilgrimage those churches in Hertfordshire which, acknowledging God’s revelation in Christ, confess the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord 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 one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
3. RELATIONSHIPS: CTH
a. participates in the life and work of Churches Together in England (CTE) as an intermediate body;
b. sponsors Local Ecumenical Partnerships (LEPs);
c. accepts affiliation of local Churches Together (CT) groups.
4. OBJECTS AND AIMS
1. to advance the Christian religion through:
a. facilitating common witness to the Christian Religion by member churches; and
b. working for Christian unity; and
c. offering advice and guidance to those running schools connected with member churches.
2. to relieve financial hardship anywhere in the world by making grants from funds raised either directly by the group or by the co-ordinated fundraising efforts by member churches.
5. POWERS
In pursuance of the Objects and Aims but not otherwise, the Charity may exercise the following powers:
1. power to raise funds and to invite and receive contributions provided that in raising funds the Trustees shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall conform to any relevant requirements of the law.
2. power to buy, take on lease or in exchange any property necessary for the achievement of the objects and to maintain and equip it for use.
3. power subject to any consents required by law to sell, lease or dispose of all or any part of the property of the Charity.
4. power subject to any consents required by law to borrow money and to charge all or any part of the property of the Charity with repayment of the money so borrowed.
5. power to employ such staff (who shall not be Trustees) as are necessary for the proper pursuit of the objects and to make all reasonable and necessary provision for the payment of pensions and superannuation for staff and their dependants.
6. power to co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objects or of similar charitable purposes and to exchange information and advice with them.
7. power to establish or support any charitable agencies, trusts, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the objects.
8. power to appoint and constitute such advisory committees as the trustees may think fit.
9. power to do such lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objects.
6. CONSTITUENT CHURCHES (CCs)
Membership of CTH is open to:
1. Churches or Associations of churches groups, with a significant presence in Hertfordshire whose national bodies are members of CTE. (Founder members are listed in Schedule A)
2. Churches or Associations of churches groups, with a significant presence in Hertfordshire which on principle have no creedal statements in their tradition and therefore cannot formally subscribe to the statement of faith in the Basis, provided that on their admission they satisfy, and that they thereafter continue to satisfy three quarters of the Churches which subscribe to the Basis listed in Schedule A.
3. All local CT groups
4. All LEPs in Hertfordshire
5. Bodies in Associations. Associations, networks and movements which bring together Christians of different denominations for purposes congruent with the Basis and the aims and objectives of CTH may be invite to become Bodies in Association. Such bodies may be represented at the Forum. The Churches and Associations of Churches listed in Schedule A shall continue to be Constituents at the point of adoption of this constitution.
Other Churches and Associations of Churches eligible to be Constituents may be elected on the affirmative vote of three quarters of the existing Constituent Churches. For this purpose each Constituent shall have a single vote to be exercised by its representatives on the Forum, and at least twelve weeks notice of a proposal for election to membership shall be given to the Committee so that member Churches have a time to form a view on the matter.
6. ORGANISATION
1. The Forum
This is the general meeting of the Charity and shall meet annually to allow people representing the churches at local level to meet. Its functions shall be:
a. To engage in worship and discussion.
b. To receive reports from the Committee and other Ecumenical Groups or Agencies.
c. To reflect on the activities and future programme of CTH and determine its priorities.
d. To recommend to member Churches such matters as it believes should be addressed jointly.
e. To elect six members of the committee.
f. To appoint the Chairperson, who shall also be the Chairperson of the Committee, and shall hold office for three years. Ideally the appointee will be from a different denomination each time on a rotating basis. They shall for the period of the appointment be a full member of the Committee.
g. To appoint an Honorary Treasurer who shall be for the period of the appointment, a full member of the committee.
h. To appoint an Honorary Examiner.
i. To receive the annual accounts and to ratify the level of subscription for member Groups and Churches.
j. To appoint representatives to the Forum of CTE.
k. To be a visible sign of the Churches’ commitment to one another and to assist the churches in the visible expression of Christian Unity.
l. To provide a meeting point for Church Leaders and representatives within its area.
The County Ecumenical Development Officer of CTH shall serve as secretary to the Forum.
The Forum shall be an open meeting. Its membership for voting purposes shall be:
· The Presidents, who are the appropriate leaders of the CCs in Hertfordshire.
· Two representatives of the CCs, one of whom may be an Ecumenical Officer.
· Two representatives of each local CT group affiliated to CTH.
· Two representatives of each LEP sponsored by CTH.
· One representative of each Body in Association and Agencies sponsored by CTH.
· Others as determined from time to time by the committee.
Twenty members shall constitute a quorum.
2. The Committee
The Committee is the management committee of CTH. The members of the Committee are the Trustees of the Charity, as defined in Section 97(1) of The Charities Act 1993 as ‘the persons having the general control and the management of the administration of a charity.’
The Committee shall meet at least twice a year. Its functions shall be:
a. to allow member Churches to make decisions together which are proper to them, where necessary referring matters back to the member Churches.
b. to respond to initiatives from the member Churches and the Forum.
c. to agree a budget (including the level of subscription) and receive accounts
d. to appoint and (if considered appropriate) to dismiss members of staff (including the County Ecumenical Development Officer(s) whose appointment shall be for a period determined by the Committee) and deal with all matters relating to the terms and conditions of their appointment.
e. to direct and support the work of the County Ecumenical Development Officer(s).
f. to be the Sponsoring Body for LEPs and Ecumenical Agencies in the County, encouraging and advising their development, confirming their constitutions, establishing mechanisms for oversight, receiving reports,
agreeing liturgical arrangements and arranging for appropriate reviews.
g. to oversee the work of the Ecumenical University Chaplaincies.
h. to sponsor the work of other specialised agencies and committees such as Workplace Ministry etc.
i. to set up permanent sub committees and temporary groups which may be needed, determine their membership and terms of reference and to keep them under review, provide that all acts and proceedings of any such sub committee and task groups shall be fully reported to the Committee.
j. to appoint and employ such other staff as may be necessary for the Forum and for the work of the Committee.
k. to decide upon all applications for membership of and invitations to CTH.
l. to encourage the fostering of good relations with other faith communities.
m. to encourage all who share a similar remit or concern to work together.
n. to undertake the arrangements for the annual Forum meeting, and
preparing a report for that meeting.
o. to keep the Churches informed about ecumenical initiatives within Hertfordshire, in particular those promoted by CTE and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. (CTBI)
The membership of the Committee shall be:
· The Chairman as appointed by the Forum
· One representative appointed by each of the Constituent Churches in membership of the Forum.
· The denominational Ecumenical Officers
· Six representatives appointed by the Forum.
· Two representatives to the Forum of CTE (unless already members of the Committee)
· The Treasurer
· One representative of each Body in Association
The Committee shall have power to co-opt up to five members.
Eight members shall constitute a quorum
The County Ecumenical Development Officer of CTH shall serve as secretary to the Committee in a non-voting capacity.
Others may only attend if invited to do so, but they are not entitled to vote, nor are they eligible for election to the Committee or appointment to any other committee.
The Forum will appoint a Chairperson who shall also be Chairperson of the Forum, and shall hold office for three years. Ideally the appointee will be from a different denomination each time on a rotating basis. (See also 7.1.f)
In the event of any member Church ceasing to be a Constituent member of CTH that body’s representative will automatically cease to be in membership of the Committee.
8. FINANCE
The work of CTH shall be maintained by contributions from CCs as agreed among them, and from local CT groups as ratified by the Forum. The Committee shall also have the right to seek donations from trusts and private individuals towards the furtherance of the work. The Committee shall prepare a budget for each calendar year and shall submit the proposed budget for each year to the appropriate financial authorities of the CCs not later than January in the preceding year. The funds belonging to the Charity shall be applied only in furtherance of the objects. Accounting records shall be maintained in accordance with the Charities Act 1993 and any subsequent legislation in relation to charities as may be enacted by Parliament. The statement of accounts of the Charity shall be transmitted to the Charity Commission and communicated to the appropriate authorities of the member churches.
CTH shall operate a bank account as agreed by the Committee in the name of the Charity into which all monies shall be paid. Cheques drawn on this account shall require the signature of any two from among the Chairperson, the Treasurer, and two other members appointed by the Committee. Where the County Ecumenical Development Officer is one of the signatories, cheques drawn shall be subject to a limit agreed by the Committee.
9. REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT
It is intended that CTH should reflect the developing life of the churches as they continue their pilgrimage together. From time to time a Review Group shall be appointed by the Constituent Churches to report on progress and make proposals for any desirable change.
10. RULES
The committee may make and amend all Rules necessary for the conduct and operation of CTH. At least three months notice of change shall be provided to the representatives of the member churches. Such Rules shall be consistent with the provisions of this Constitution.
11. ALTERATIONS TO CONSTITUTION
Amendments to this constitution shall be approved at a meeting of the Forum with the consent of not less than three quarters of the CCs provided that three months notice is given to the representatives of the CCs to enable their decision making bodies to form a view on the matter. For this purpose each CC shall have a single vote to be exercised by its
representatives on the Forum. No amendment shall be made to the Constitution which shall cause CTH to cease to be a charity in law.
12. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS
The Committee may call a special general meeting of the Charity at any time. In addition, the Secretary shall call a special general meeting if at least three Constituent Churches request such a meeting in writing, stating the business to be considered. At least 21 days notice must be given in each case. The notice must state the business to be discussed.
13. DISSOLUTION
CTH may be dissolved by a resolution passed by not less than three quarters of the CCs by their representatives present and voting as a Special General Meeting of the Forum convened for the purpose of which at least six months’ notice shall have been given to the representatives of the member churches. Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of CTH provided that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities such property shall not be paid to or distributed among the CCs but shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of CTH as the Trustees may determine and if and in so far as effect cannot be given to this provision then to some other charitable purpose.
SCHEDULE A
Constituent Churches
The Central Baptist Association
The Church of England (Diocese of St Albans)
The Methodist Church (Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire District)
The United Reformed Church (North Thames and East Midlands Provinces)
The Roman Catholic Church (Archdiocese of Westminster)
The Salvation Army (Central South and London North East Divisions)
The Religious Society of Friends
SCHEDULE B
Bodies in Association
Focolare Centre – Welwyn Garden City
The St Albans Centre for Christian Studies – Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban

BEDFORDSHIRE ECUMENICAL COMMITTEE
The Bedfordshire Ecumenical Committee is the executive group for the Forum of Churches Together in Bedfordshire.
Powers and Responsibilities
It shall have the following powers in carrying out its responsibility for ecumenical activity in the county:
· To be the sponsoring body for all Local Ecumenical Partnerships in the county, encouraging and advising their development, confirming their constitutions, establishing a Local Advisory Group (if required), receiving reports, agreeing
liturgical arrangements and arranging for the appropriate reviews.
· Overseeing the work of university chaplaincies;
· Sponsoring the work of specialised agencies and committees such as Workplace Ministry etc;
· Appointing, employing, directing and supporting the County Ecumenical Development Officer;
· Undertaking the arrangements for the annual Forum meeting, and preparing a report for that meeting.
· Appointing and employing an Ecumenical Office Co-ordinator for the Forum and for its own work.
Membership
The membership shall be:
· One representative appointed by each of the denominations in membership of the Forum.
· The denominational ecumenical officers;
· Six representatives appointed by the Forum from Churches Together groups, Councils of Churches and Covenanted Partnerships;
· Two representatives to the Forum of Churches Together in England (unless already members of the Committee);
· The Treasurer;
· The County Ecumenical Development Officer and the Ecumenical Office Coordinator (ex officio).
Leaders of denominations in membership of the Forum are members of the Committee ex officio, but may wish to appoint one or more of their number to represent them. (They will in any case receive all Forum and Committee papers and
may attend the Committee whenever they wish).
Officers
· The Committee shall appoint a Chairperson from its number who will act as the Chairperson of the Forum, and will serve for three years.
· The Ecumenical Office Co-ordinator, who will service both the Forum and the Committee.
· The Treasurer (appointed by the Forum).
· The County Ecumenical Development Officer.
Contract
The terms and conditions of employment and the responsibilities of the County Ecumenical Development Officer shall be set down and agreed in writing in accordance with current employment legislation. The Committee shall agree the contract with the Ecumenical Development Officer and shall also ensure his/her appropriate support.
A similar process shall be followed with the County Ecumenical Office Co-ordinator.
THE FORUM OF CHURCHES TOGETHER IN BEDFORDSHIRE
The Basis
a) The Forum of Churches Together in Bedfordshire unites in pilgrimage those churches in Bedfordshire which, acknowledging God's revelation in Christ, confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the scriptures. In obedience to God's will and in the power of the Holy Spirit they commit themselves to seek a deepening of their communion with Christ and with one another in the Church, which is his body. Their Mission is to proclaim the Gospel by common witness and service in the world, to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
b) This includes any church which on principle has no credal statements in its tradition and therefore cannot formally subscribe to the statement of faith in the Basis, provided that it satisfies 75% in number of those full member
denominations which subscribe to the Basis that it manifests faith in Christ as witnessed to in the scriptures, that it is committed to the aims and purposes of the Forum and that it will work in the spirit of the Basis.
Aim
The objects of the Forum shall be the development and advancement of the Christian religion by the promotion of joint worship, mission and service in the county of Bedfordshire.
Powers and Responsibilities
It shall have the following powers:
· To provide oversight for the Bedfordshire Ecumenical Committee and through that Committee to be responsible for ecumenical activity in the county;
· To sponsor such specialised ecumenical activities as is calculated to fulfil its purpose;
· To employ such persons as shall be required for the purposes of the ecumenical work;
· To determine any relevant financial arrangements;
· To publish an annual report.
Meetings
The Forum shall meet at least once annually for worship, celebration, consultation and to further the understanding of ecumenical developments locally and nationally. The annual meeting shall also:
· Appoint up to six representatives to the Bedfordshire Ecumenical Committee from Churches Together groups, Councils of Churches and Covenanted Partnerships, who shall serve for a period of three years with the possibility of reelection
after that time;
· Appoint the County Treasurer and Independent Examiner;
· Appoint biennially two representatives to the Forum of Churches Together in England;
· Determine the level of subscription from member groups and churches;
· Receive reports from the Bedfordshire Ecumenical Committee and other Ecumenical Groups;
· Determine as appropriate priorities for the work of the Bedfordshire County Ecumenical Development Officer and the Bedfordshire Ecumenical Committee.
Membership
Membership shall consist of the following:
· The Church Leader or their representative of each denomination represented within the county who are members nationally of Churches Together in England (CTE);
· One further representative appointed by each denomination;
· Appropriate denominational ecumenical officers;
· Four representatives of each Churches Together Group, Council of Churches and Covenanted Partnership in the County;
· Two representatives of each of the other Local Ecumenical Partnerships.

Officers

The Chairperson of the Forum shall be the Chairperson appointed by the Bedfordshire Ecumenical Committee.
The Ecumenical Office Co-ordinator shall be appointed by the Bedfordshire Ecumenical Committee and shall service both the Forum and the Committee.
The Treasurer shall be appointed by the Forum and shall be responsible for receiving denominational grants, and other income including the annual subscription from local ecumenical groupings as determined by the Forum; for making
appropriate payments including those to the County Ecumenical Development Officer; and shall prepare the budget and annual accounts in conformity with current legal requirements.
The County Ecumenical Development Officer shall be appointed by the Bedfordshire Ecumenical Committee.
Relationships
The Forum of Churches Together in Bedfordshire is in association with Churches Together in England (CTE) through the County Ecumenical Development Officer and through the two members of the Forum of CTE.
Review
The Forum shall reflect the developing life of the Christian Churches as they continue their pilgrimage together. Every seven years a Review Group shall be appointed by the member churches in consultation with CTE to report on the
progress of the pilgrimage and to make proposals for desirable changes.
Amendments
This constitution and that of the Bedfordshire Ecumenical Committee may be amended with the consent of all the Member Churches by a resolution of the Forum of which twenty one days previous notice is given, passed by two thirds majority of those present and voting, providing that no amendments shall be made without the consent of each of the Member Churches, nor shall any amendment be made which would cause the Forum or the Bedfordshire Ecumenical Committee to cease to be a charity at law.
Winding up
In the event of dissolution, any assets remaining after all debts and liabilities have been satisfied shall be applied to or for some other charitable purpose of purposes of all or any of the Member Churches as the Forum shall determine.