PAGHAM UNITED REFORMED CHURCH
CONSTITUTION
Pagham United Reformed Church (formerly St Ninian’s and Bognor Regis United Reformed Churches) is a constituent part of the United Reformed Church in the United Kingdom and is governed by the general procedures of that Church as set out in the Scheme of the Union and any subsequent amendments and additions.
The essential basis of membership is general assent to the Confession of Faith of the United Reformed Church in the United Kingdom.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership is by confession of faith or transfer of membership in accordance with the Basis of Union of the United Reformed Church and as described in (a) and (b) below:
(a) Anyone wishing to become a member should make their wish known to the Minister or any Elder who will bring the name to the Elders and Church Meetings for acceptance.
(b) Members may be transferred from another Church upon receipt of a letter of commendation from that Church. In the same way members may be transferred to other churches when such a request is made.
CHURCH ROLL
The list of members shall be reviewed in the month of January each year by the Elder’s Meeting.
No name shall be added to or removed from the list of members except by approval of the Church Meeting.
CHURCH MEETING
The Church Meeting shall be open to all the members on the Church Roll and any other regular members of the congregation – the latter may speak but not vote.
The Church Meeting is the setting for a final decision on any matter. The functions of the meeting are laid down in the Manual of the United Reformed Church section 2(1) (I) to 2(1) (xiv). Such meetings will be convened at least quarterly with due notice being given to members. The Minister will normally preside over all such meetings. In the event of the Minister’s absence, the Elders will appoint one of their number to preside.
The Annual Church Meeting shall elect a Church Secretary, a Church Treasurer and such other Officers and Committees as may be required.
There shall be no quorum set for any Church Meeting.
Special Church Meetings may be convened. Notice of a Special Church Meeting shall normally be given during the services on two consecutive Sundays. Any matter to be the subject of a Special Church Meeting shall first be discussed by the Eldership.
MINISTRY
The Minister, called by the Church, is commissioned to conduct public worship, to preach the Word and to administer the Sacraments, to exercise pastoral care and oversight, and to give leadership to the Church in its mission to the world.
ELDERS
Elders are called by the Church Meeting to exercise oversight of the spiritual life of the Church. The functions of the Elders Meeting are laid down in the Manual of the United Reformed Church section 2(2) (I) to 2(2) (xii). The Elders shall number no more than 10 persons.
On first election an Elder shall be ordained in accordance with the form set out in the Scheme of Union (Schedule B).
The Elders shall be elected for a three year period. Four shall be elected in any one year, where possible, so as to give a rota of years and a continuity of service. Elders shall be elected, normally, at the Autumn Church meeting.
All members aged 18 and over, who have been members for at least twelve months shall be eligible for election as Elders provided they are nominated by two members and have signified a willingness to serve if elected.
A nomination form will be on display on the Church Vestibule notice board on three Sundays preceding the Autumn Church Meeting. The nomination form shall be available until after the last service on the third Sunday.
An Election shall be held even if the number of nominees does not exceed the number of vacancies.
Should a vacancy occur during part of a term of service, the person elected to fill the vacancy shall complete that term of office.
The Elders Meeting shall, from its number, nominate a Church Secretary to be elected by the Church Meeting. The Elders Meeting shall arrange for the general oversight of all the financial responsibilities of the Church which will include the preparation of audited accounts presented to the Annual General Meeting of the Church.
DEPARTMENTS OF THE CHURCH
FINANCE AND PROPERTY
The Finance and Property Committee is to have overall care of church property and maintain the day-to-day running of the Church premises.
The Committee is accountable to the Elders Meeting and the Church Meeting and shall convene regular meetings.
APPOINTMENT OF A MINISTER
A decision to call a Minster shall be made at a Church Meeting specially convened for that purpose.
Church Members shall normally be notified of the Church Meeting by public announcement in the Church notices at least 10 days in advance of the meeting.
In no case shall more than one Ministerial Candidate be placed before that meeting.
A vote of at least seventy five per cent of those present and voting shall be required in favour of the Minister nominated in order that a call may be extended. The call is then subject to the concurrence of the Pastoral Committee of the Sussex and Surrey Synod Area.
AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION
This Constitution may be amended at a Special Church Meeting.
This constitution needs to be reviewed periodically by the Eldership to ensure that it is up-to-date and no radical departure in practice has occurred.
This Constitution supersedes all previous Constitutions of the two Uniting Churches.
21st March 2023
The essential basis of membership is general assent to the Confession of Faith of the United Reformed Church in the United Kingdom.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership is by confession of faith or transfer of membership in accordance with the Basis of Union of the United Reformed Church and as described in (a) and (b) below:
(a) Anyone wishing to become a member should make their wish known to the Minister or any Elder who will bring the name to the Elders and Church Meetings for acceptance.
(b) Members may be transferred from another Church upon receipt of a letter of commendation from that Church. In the same way members may be transferred to other churches when such a request is made.
CHURCH ROLL
The list of members shall be reviewed in the month of January each year by the Elder’s Meeting.
No name shall be added to or removed from the list of members except by approval of the Church Meeting.
CHURCH MEETING
The Church Meeting shall be open to all the members on the Church Roll and any other regular members of the congregation – the latter may speak but not vote.
The Church Meeting is the setting for a final decision on any matter. The functions of the meeting are laid down in the Manual of the United Reformed Church section 2(1) (I) to 2(1) (xiv). Such meetings will be convened at least quarterly with due notice being given to members. The Minister will normally preside over all such meetings. In the event of the Minister’s absence, the Elders will appoint one of their number to preside.
The Annual Church Meeting shall elect a Church Secretary, a Church Treasurer and such other Officers and Committees as may be required.
There shall be no quorum set for any Church Meeting.
Special Church Meetings may be convened. Notice of a Special Church Meeting shall normally be given during the services on two consecutive Sundays. Any matter to be the subject of a Special Church Meeting shall first be discussed by the Eldership.
MINISTRY
The Minister, called by the Church, is commissioned to conduct public worship, to preach the Word and to administer the Sacraments, to exercise pastoral care and oversight, and to give leadership to the Church in its mission to the world.
ELDERS
Elders are called by the Church Meeting to exercise oversight of the spiritual life of the Church. The functions of the Elders Meeting are laid down in the Manual of the United Reformed Church section 2(2) (I) to 2(2) (xii). The Elders shall number no more than 10 persons.
On first election an Elder shall be ordained in accordance with the form set out in the Scheme of Union (Schedule B).
The Elders shall be elected for a three year period. Four shall be elected in any one year, where possible, so as to give a rota of years and a continuity of service. Elders shall be elected, normally, at the Autumn Church meeting.
All members aged 18 and over, who have been members for at least twelve months shall be eligible for election as Elders provided they are nominated by two members and have signified a willingness to serve if elected.
A nomination form will be on display on the Church Vestibule notice board on three Sundays preceding the Autumn Church Meeting. The nomination form shall be available until after the last service on the third Sunday.
An Election shall be held even if the number of nominees does not exceed the number of vacancies.
Should a vacancy occur during part of a term of service, the person elected to fill the vacancy shall complete that term of office.
The Elders Meeting shall, from its number, nominate a Church Secretary to be elected by the Church Meeting. The Elders Meeting shall arrange for the general oversight of all the financial responsibilities of the Church which will include the preparation of audited accounts presented to the Annual General Meeting of the Church.
DEPARTMENTS OF THE CHURCH
FINANCE AND PROPERTY
The Finance and Property Committee is to have overall care of church property and maintain the day-to-day running of the Church premises.
The Committee is accountable to the Elders Meeting and the Church Meeting and shall convene regular meetings.
APPOINTMENT OF A MINISTER
A decision to call a Minster shall be made at a Church Meeting specially convened for that purpose.
Church Members shall normally be notified of the Church Meeting by public announcement in the Church notices at least 10 days in advance of the meeting.
In no case shall more than one Ministerial Candidate be placed before that meeting.
A vote of at least seventy five per cent of those present and voting shall be required in favour of the Minister nominated in order that a call may be extended. The call is then subject to the concurrence of the Pastoral Committee of the Sussex and Surrey Synod Area.
AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION
This Constitution may be amended at a Special Church Meeting.
This constitution needs to be reviewed periodically by the Eldership to ensure that it is up-to-date and no radical departure in practice has occurred.
This Constitution supersedes all previous Constitutions of the two Uniting Churches.
21st March 2023