New Constitution
Changes in the Charity Law mean that over the next few years all individual churches will be required to register as individual charities. Currently we are a charity because we are a part of the Baptist Union (BU). Part of the registration process requires the Charity Commission to approve our constitution - and there is no way that our current rules are comprehensive enough to satisfy the Charity Commission. The fact that this requirement coincides with our need for separate constitutions for the three new churches (WG/WS, WH and C) could been seen as God's providence.
To come up with a constitution that would reflect our belief and practise as a Baptist Church, and satisfy the Charity Commission would be a massive legal headache and very expensive - if we were required to do it on our own. Fortunately most of the work has already been done by the BU Corperation (BUC). They produced the 'Approved Governing Document' (AGD). This document satisfied all the needs of the Charity Commission, and would meet the requirements of most Baptist Churches within the BU. Obviously there are difference in practise between Batist Churches and these were catered for by having alternative clauses at various points in the AGD - so whilst we were not free to cross bits out and re-write them ourselves, we were free at various points to choose, for example option 1, 2 or 3.
A small working party with representatives from all centres met to make some of these choices. These recommendations then went on to the Deacons and then the different CDCs. The only clause which it was not totally clear which would best meet the needs of the different churches was regarding the baptism of deacons. Forums at WH (18 Jan), WG/WS (25 Jan) and C (8 Feb) have/will make this decision.
In March each forum will need to formally adopt the constitution. To help you in this process draft copies of the constitutions are available below. Don't feel you need to wait until those forums to raise questions - if you have any questions or concerns then please raise them with the pastors or deacons as soon as possible.
WG/WS draft constitution
WH draft constitution
C draft constitution
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