CHURCHES TOGETHER IN BILLERICAY
THE CONSTITUTION

1. NAME
The name shall be Churches Together in Billericay.


2. MEMBERSHIP
Churches Together in Billericay shall consist of all the Christian Churches whose main centre of life and worship lies within the district of Billericay* who confess faith in God, Father Son and Holy Spirit, and who, acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, wish to join together in pursuit of the Objectives.

Associate membership is available to other Christian groups working in Billericay at the discretion of Churches Together in Billericay.

3. OBJECTIVES
To seek to enable member Churches
to engage in worship and prayer together to work for unity engaging in dialogue to overcome divisions and misunderstandings
to give as far as possible a common Christian witness and service.


4. REPRESENTATION
The Council of Churches Together in Billericay shall comprise the clergy and ministers of all member Churches and not more than three lay representatives from each Church. Each Church shall be entitled to four votes. Associate members are not entitled to vote. Decisions of Churches Together in Billericay shall be made by a simple majority vote.


5. OFFICERS
The Officers of Churches Together in Billericay shall be a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer, who together shall constitute the Standing Committee, whose function shall be to conduct the business of Churches Together in Billericay as necessary.

6. MEETINGS
The Council of Churches Together in Billericay shall meet not less than four times annually.

The Annual General Meeting shall be held so far as possible in January, when the accounts shall be presented, annual reports submitted, and the following elected: Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson (Chairperson-Elect), Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer.


7. QUORUM
This shall consist of ten representatives of Churches Together in Billericay of at least three communions.


8. FINANCE
Each member Church shall be asked to contribute to Churches Together in Billericay an amount to be decided at the Annual General Meeting. Associate members shall not be asked to make a contribution.

Churches Together in Billericay shall refer certain matters to the member churches for specific ratification by each church including but not restricted to:
a. Amendments to the Constitution.
b. Affiliation of Churches Together in Billericay to any external Body.
c. Matters requiring significant resources to be provided, not withstanding that any church may opt not to participate in such a matter.

*The district of Billericay is defined as the electoral wards of Basildon District Council known as Billericay East, Billericay and Burstead.



MEMBER CHURCHES

Baptist Church, Billericay (Perry St, South Green, Queens Park)
Billericay and Little Burstead Team Ministry
. Christ Church, Billericay
. Emmanuel, Billericay
. St. John the Divine, Outwood Conunon
. St. Mary Magdalen, Billericay
. St. Mary the Virgin, Little Burstead
Methodist Church, Billericay (with Queens Park Community Church)
Most Holy Redeemer, Billericay
St. Mary Magdalene, Great Burstead (informally linked with Crays Hill)
United Reformed Church, Billericay

ASSOCIATE MEMBER CHURCHES

Baptist Church, Ramsden Bellhouse
The Elim Church
The Society of Friends