Page 11 - C:\Users\Jim\AppData\Local\Temp\mso9546.tmp

DRAFTCONSTITUTION

1. NAME
This church, founded in 1705, shall be known as THE SWANAGE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, and shall be
constituted of those who have become members in the ways described in clauses 3 and 4 below. The Church orders
its life according to the faith and practice of The United Reformed Church in the United Kingdom.

2. MEMBERSHIP
The essential conditions of membership are-
a) A confession of Faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
b) A resolution to live day by day in all the engagements of life according to his teaching.
c) A willingness to uphold the honour, discipline, work and worship of this Church by the
consecration of individual gifts of time, talents and means.

3. Application for membership shall be made through the Minister or any of the Elders and they shall take such
steps as they deem necessary to ascertain that the conditions of membership of clause 2 are fulfilled. The candidate
shall be proposed and accepted at a Church Meeting, and received into membership at a subsequent service of
worship.

4. Members of other Christian Churches applying for membership will be received in accordance with clause 3 on
presenting a letter of transfer. Certificate of Membership, or other such verification as may be deemed satisfactory.

5. The Minister and Elders shall form a Standing Committee of Enquiry into cases of discipline,
and shall take such action as they may deem advisable, subject always to the ratification of the Church Meeting.

6. The list of members, contained in the Directory, shall be examined annually by the Church Secretary /
Administrator and any proposed deletions, due to continual absence from worship, and after appropriate approaches
have been made, shall be reported to the Elders. Such names as are proposed for deletion shall be considered by
the Elders.

7. Members removing from the district shall leave their future address with the Minister or the Church Secretary /
Administrator; take a letter of introduction if they so require, to some Christian Minister, and if their absence be
prolonged, apply for a transfer to another Church. Should however twelve months elapse without their
communication with the Minister or one of the Elders, their name shall be liable to be removed from the list of
members.

CHURCH MEETINGS
8. There shall be an Annual General Meeting, and other Church Meetings as decided; at least one each quarter.

9. Major business (e.g. Finance and Fabric) shall be referred to the Elders for consideration before being brought
before a Church Meeting.

10. Special Church Meetings may be called at the discretion of the Minister and Elders, notice being given in the
Church Service. No business shall be transacted at such Special Meetings other than that for which the Meeting was
expressly called.

11. Voting at all Meetings of the Church shall be the prerogative or members present at the meeting only. Voting by
Ballot will be at the discretion of the Elders and the Minister

12. The quorum shall be one quarter of the active members in the Directory or such other number as may be agreed
by the Annual Meeting. Note: The word "active" is defined as those Members who are not prevented from attending
Church Meeting because of age, infirmity or distance.

13. The Church Meeting shall ensure that the Church accounts are examined annually and shall
appoint examiners for this purpose.

THE ELDERS
14. The Elders' meeting shall consist of the Minister and the serving Elders elected by the Church Members and
shall exercise pastoral oversight of the Church. The Elders' Meeting will also carry out minor executive functions. At
their regular meetings, a quorum of at least 60 per cent of the serving Elders shall be present. The total number of
Elders shall nominally be 10% of the members. The exact number will be agreed at the Annual General Meeting.

15. All Elders shall be elected to serve for a period of three years after which they shall be eligible
for re-election for a further term of office. However, after two such terms an Elder shall stand down for a period of one
year after which he/she may be re-nominated.

16. The Secretary (Administrator), who shall be an Elder or non-serving Elder, shall be elected to the post annually by the Church
Meeting.

11