Two Constitutions

Otley Council of Christian Churches

 

The first Constitution found in the archives is dated 1977.
This may be a typed copy of an earlier document.

The Otley Council of Christian Churches shall comprise three appointed members to represent their Church plus all clergy, from all denominations, congregations or assemblies in the town who confess that Jesus Christ is Saviour and Lord and accept the Trinitarian doctrine of the Godhead.

The Council shall seek to act to co-ordinate the life and witness of the Churches in every way currently open to it.

The Council shall meet bimonthly.

The Council shall hold an Annual General Meeting which normally would be held in May, at which a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer shall be appointed. The Chairman of the Council shall be ex-officio chairman of all sub-committees. The Annual General Meeting shall receive reports from the Secretary of each existing sub-committee and annual audited accounts from each Treasurer. The Clergy shall be ex-officio members of each sub-committee.

EXISTING SUB-COMMITTEES

  1. Bible Society
    The Bible Society Action Group shall seek to promote the work of the Bible Society in our town, raising money and sharing information concerning literature available for the Church's mission.
    2.
  2. Christian Aid
    Christian Aid shall work to promote the raising of money to be distributed through the Christian Church in developing areas of the world and to provide information regarding the state of the third world.
  3. PND (People Next Door) and Good Neighbour Schemes
    The work of this sub-committee is primarily to foster the ecumenical relations in the churches through public witness and such other matters as may be referred to them by the Council from time to time.
    4.
  4. Youth and Children's Committee
    The sub-committee's aim is to foster pastoral concern and Christian education amongst young people at all levels.

CONCERNING SUB-COMMITTEES

Each sub-committee shall consist of any two persons appointed from each of the Churches with a maximum of five others to be co-opted by any sub-committee. Each sub-committee shall hold an Annual General Meeting at which the election of Secretary and Treasurer shall take place, together with such other meetings as each sub-committee deems necessary to affect its role. The officers of each sub-committee shall be ex-officio members of the Otley Council of Christian Churches.

FINANCE

The Otley Council of Christian Churches raises its money by a levy on each participating Church, the levy to be reviewed annually.

The Bible Society and Christian Aid sub-committees are charged to raise funds for the mission of the world Church at home and abroad. The PND and Good Neighbour Schemes raises money to finance their "work programme".

The accounts of the Otley Council of Christian Churches and its sub-committees shall be subject to an audit and accounts of the sub-committees shall be presented to the Otley Council of Churches.

The Otley Council of Christian Churches shall seek to appoint representatives to such other organisations as can readily be seen to further the work of the Gospel.

Any proposed amendment or alteration to this Constitution must be sent the Secretary of the Otley Council of Christian Churches twelve weeks prior to the Council's Annual General Meeting.

26 May 1977

 

The Second Constitution was written in 2009 as an effort 
to bring the name of the organization and
a summary of  the activities up to date

Churches Together in Otley
CONSTITUTION

The Churches Together in Otley ( CTO ) shall comprise three appointed members to represent their Church plus all clergy, from all denominations, congregations or assemblies in the town who confess that Jesus Christ is Saviour and Lord and accept the Trinitarian doctrine of the Godhead.
  • The CTO shall seek to act to co-ordinate the life and witness of the Churches in every way currently open to it.
  • The CTO shall meet bimonthly.
  • The CTO shall hold an Annual General Meeting, which normally will be held in July, at which a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer shall be appointed. The Chairman of the CTO may be ex-officio chairman of all sub-committees. The Annual General Meeting shall receive reports from the Secretary of each existing sub-committee and annual audited accounts from each Treasurer. The Clergy shall be ex-officio members of each sub-committee.

Sub-Committees or Groups

To ensure that the work of CTO develops, sub-committees or groups may be formed.

Currently there are the following groups:

Bible Society
Christian Aid
North West Otley Development
Group planning KAAZ
Coffee Morning in the Weston Area
Youth
Six Hope08 groups
Ministers Meeting

In the past there has been:-

  1. Bible Society
    The Bible Society Action Group shall seek to promote the work of the Bible Society in our town, raising money and sharing information concerning literature available for the Church's mission.
  2. Christian Aid
    Christian Aid shall work to raise money and promote the work of Christian Aid.
  3. PND (People Next Door) and Good Neighbour Schemes
    The work of this sub-committee is primarily to foster the ecumenical relations in the churches through public witness and such other matters as may be referred to them by the Council from time to time.
  4. Youth and Children's Committee
    The sub-committee's aim is to foster pastoral concern and Christian education amongst young people at all levels.

Concerning Sub-Committees or groups

Each sub-committee shall consist of persons appointed from each of the Churches and from other local organisations as felt helpful. The officers of each sub-committee shall be ex-officio members of the CTO. Groups and Sub-committees will report back to CTO meeting regularly.

Finance

The Churches Together in Otley raises its money by a levy on each participating Church, the levy to be reviewed annually.
The Bible Society and Christian Aid sub-committees are charged to raise funds for the mission of the world Church at home and abroad.
The accounts of the Churches Together in Otley and its sub-committees shall be subject to an audit and accounts of the sub-committees shall be presented to the Churches Together in Otley.
The Churches Together in Otley shall seek to appoint representatives to such other organisations as can readily be seen to further the work of the Gospel.

Change of Name from Otley Council of Christian Churches to Churches Together in Otley - May 2001

Details of CTO can be seen at www.otley.co.uk/churches

4th June 2009