Basis
Churches Together on Portland unites in pilgrimage those churches on the Isle and Royal Manor of Portland 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 in the power of the Holy Spirit commit themselves to seek a deepening of their communion with Christ and with one another in the Church, which is his body, and 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.
Aims
The aims o f Churches Together on Portland shall be:
- to enable the churches as pilgrims together to explore the Christian faith, to develop mature relationships, and to seek a common mind
- to encourage churches to worship, pray and reflect together on the nature and purpose of the Church – each church sharing with others the treasures of its tradition
- to encourage the churches to share their mission to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom
- to teach, baptise and nurture new believers
- to respond to human need by loving service
- to seek to transform unjust structures of society
- to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and to sustain and renew the life of the earth.
Area
Churches Together on Portland aims to serve the Isle and Royal Manor of Portland in its entirety.
Relationships
Churches Together on Portland is in association with Churches Together in Dorset.
Membership
Membership of Churches Together on Portland shall be open to:
- any local church in the neighbourhood which is affiliated to a church or association of churches which is a full member of Churches Together in England and Ireland
- any other local church in the neighbourhood which affirms the basis and commits itself to promote the aims of Churches Together on Portland.
Management
An annual meeting of the forum will be held at which –
- audited accounts will be presented
- officers will be appointed
- annual reports will be submitted
- policy and initiativesfor the year will be decided an annual budget will be proposed
Other meetings of the forum [at least two each year] will be held as deemed necessary by the officers, or at the written request of at least 5 representatives.
At least twoweeks written notice of any meeting of the forum shall be given
The attendance o f at least one representative of each of the member churches shall constitute a quorum unless a church gives written permission to proceed without their representatives.
Finance
Following the annual meeting of the forum approval of the proposed annual budget shall be sought from the member churches; on approval each member church shall pay an equal share of the annual budget into the bank account of Churches Together on Portland.
Cheques [or withdrawals] shall require the signatures of two of the forum officers.
In the event of Churches Together on Portland being dissolved any monies should either be divided among the participating Church groups or donated to a Christian charity, at the discretion of the Forum officers
Constitution
This constitution has been approved by the normal decision making process of each ofthe member churches. Any amendment must have the approval of at least 75% of the member churches as decided by their normal decision making process.