BASIS FOR MEMBERSHIP

The Alliance of Basingstoke Churches unites in pilgrimage all those churches in the town of Basingstoke and surrounding area which, acknowledging God’s revelation in Christ, confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the Scriptures and in obedience to God’s will and the power of the Holy Spirit commit themselves:

• to seek a deepening of their communion with Christ and with one another
• to fulfil their 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

MISSION STATEMENT

The Alliance of Basingstoke Churches exists to:

• encourage Supportive Partnership between both Churches and Church Leaders of the area through Christian work, unity and co-operation together
• enable effective communication with churches in Basingstoke and to be a focal point for relationships with wider ecumenical bodies
• build helpful relationships with the Local Authority of Basingstoke and Deane
• provide a Strategic Focus for cooperation between the Christian Churches in the Borough on relevant issues such as Church Planting, Social Concerns, etc.

MEMBERSHIP

All Christian churches and organisations in the Basingstoke area are regarded as Members provided that they support the basis and aims of the Alliance. Member churches may nominate their Church Leader and one of their members to represent them at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

MEETINGS

• At all General meetings, each church may be represented by one voting lay member and one voting church leader, and anyone else who wishes to attend may do so but will not be able to vote.
• An AGM will be held, normally in January, with written notice given to member churches 30 days in advance.
• An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called as required by the Chair, a majority of Officers or 6 member churches, giving similar notice as for the AGM
• Officers, as elected, shall meet not fewer than four times per year.

LEADERSHIP

• A Chair shall be elected annually by the AGM, and may serve as Chair for up to 3 years, and then may stand for re-election for a further 3 year period on a yearly basis after which s/he should then stand down as Chair and Officer.
• A Leadership Team of up to 5 additional Officers shall be elected by the AGM. The Team will also be free to co-opt others, as necessary.
• The role of the Leadership Team is to make and enact suitable decisions in order to put into practice the requirements of the Mission Statement.
• The Leadership Team shall appoint a Secretary/Co-ordinator from among its number.
• Each Officer shall serve for a period of 3 years and may stand for re-election for a further 3 year period. After serving for 6 consecutive years an Officer will normally be expected to stand down.
• To enable continuity of leadership, each person’s term of office shall fall into a 3 year rolling programme, whereby normally two Officers each year will stand down, and where eligible, may seek re-election. (Where more than two Officers are elected in any one year they shall decide among themselves the number of years each will serve within the rolling programme).
• The Treasurer, who is not an Officer, will be elected by the AGM each year

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The AGM shall normally be presided over by the Chair of ABC and will include a report on the preceding year’s work, the Treasurer’s report, and the election of Officers.

• Notice of the election of Chair, Officers and Treasurer, and of any vacancies, together with nomination forms, shall be sent out to each member church 30 days before the AGM.
• Nomination forms must be signed by the person making the nomination, by the person accepting nomination and by a representative of the body that governs the nominee’s church. They must be returned to the Secretary at least 7 days before the date of the AGM.
• Elections shall normally take place by show of hands. A secret ballot may, however, take place if this is deemed necessary. A simple majority of those present and voting will be required. (Abstentions do not count as a vote.)
  • Election of Chair: The representatives present at the AGM shall elect a Chair.
  • Election of Officers: Elections shall be held to fill any vacancies among the Officers, in line with the 3 year cycle described above.
  • Election of Treasurer: A Treasurer will be elected. Auditors should also be appointed for the next financial year.
• Finances:
  • The fee for annual membership shall be reviewed and agreed at the AGM.
  • The Officers shall be accountable to the AGM for any decisions taken in respect of money received or spent by the Alliance

AFFILIATION

ABC shall be affiliated to Churches Together in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (CTHI).

THE CONSTITUTION

• This version of the Constitution of the Alliance will replace all previous constitutions.
• A quorum - for all General Meetings, representation by a minimum of six member Churches or Organisations will constitute a quorum.
• An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) may be called in the following ways:
  • by the ABC Chair
  • by the majority of Officers
  • by request of six member churches, in writing to the Chair of ABC.
  30 days’ notice of the meeting will be given to all churches.
• Proposals to alter the Constitution must be advised to the membership at least 30 days prior to the meeting at which they are to be considered.
• Amendments, additions or deletions to this Constitution may be made at an AGM or at an EGM subject to being approved by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at that meeting.

Agreed:	January 2010
For Review:	January 2012