AGBC(SE) Constitution and Rules

AGBC(SE) - Association of Grace Baptist Churches (South East)

• The name of the Association is the "Association of Grace Baptist Churches (South East)", (formerly the Metropolitan Association of Strict Baptist churches). The word 'association' wherever used hereafter shall have the meaning 'the churches acting in association'.
• The objects of the Association are to promote the unity and prosperity of associated churches and to devise and employ means for the furtherance of the Gospel in London, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Sussex.
• An Annual Meeting shall be held for devotional and business purposes. The District Committees shall be responsible for promoting meetings for fellowship among the churches.
• The Association shall establish funds for the promotion of its objects and separate rules for their administration.
• The persons entitled to attend and vote at the Association Business Meetings are the churches' messengers. Each church may appoint four from its membership, which includes its pastor(s) and may send substitutes for any unable to attend.
• The Committee shall consist of twenty elected messengers of whom not more than one half shall be men whose main occupation is that of pastoral ministry; the Treasurer, General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary and the Company Secretary of the Association of Strict Baptist Churches Limited shall be ex-officio members of Committee. Each District grouping of associated churches may appoint one of its members to represent the District on the Committee; these being additional to the twenty elected members. One third of the elected Committee shall retire annually being eligible for re-nomination and election. No person shall be elected to the Committee who does not receive the support of at least one third of those voting. Not more than two from any one church shall qualify for Committee, duly appointed officers excepted. The Committee shall undertake the administration of the Association's business including that of appointing stipended officers. The Committee shall have powers of co-option of members of associated churches for special purposes; such co-optees shall have no vote nor be appointed for longer than one year. Twelve shall be a quorum or one third of the total membership of the Committee for the time being, whichever is the greater number.
• The Committee shall appoint from those of its own number a Chairman to preside over business meetings. He will have served on Committee for at least two years, and enjoy the confidence of his own church; his tenure of office shall be co-terminus with his committee membership.
• The Committee shall appoint not more than six of its own number who, together with the appointed Chairman, Treasurer, General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary and Company Secretary of the Association of Strict Baptist Churches Limited, shall form an Executive to administer the day-to-day business of the Association on its behalf and within its laid down policies. Their decisions shall be executive only when unanimous and their tenure of office shall be co-terminus with their committee membership. Five shall form a quorum. The General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary and any other salaried persons shall be non voting members of the Committee and Executive.
• The General Secretary, at the written request of not fewer than seven members of the committee, shall summon the committee within fourteen days to a Special Meeting, giving a clear week's notice.
• Every associated church, when requested, shall send a letter descriptive of its state during the year to that date and affirming its continued adherence to the Doctrinal Basis. The General Secretary shall write to any church neglecting to send such a letter. If it neglects so to correspond annually for three successive years without justifiable reason its membership of Association shall cease.
• Every associated church shall make an annual contribution to the General Fund. This Fund shall be used for the administrative expenses of the Association, and any surplus may be used for any of the objects of the Association or other agreed purpose at the discretion of the Committee.
• A Church wishing to join the Association and sending a written application to that effect stating its agreement with the Doctrinal Basis and Rules, shall be received into membership on the favourable vote of at least three-fourths of the persons present and voting at a business meeting of the Association.
• Any church which persists in disorderly practices or offences towards other associated churches or in departure from the Doctrinal Basis shall be excluded from the Association by the vote of at least three-fourths of the persons present and voting at a business meeting of the Association, provided that representatives from such a church have the right to be heard at the said business meeting before a final decision is made.
• No alteration shall be made to the Constitution and Rules except at an Association business meeting specially convened for the purpose by not less than one month's notice in writing sent to all those entitled to be present stating the time, date, place and purpose of such meeting.