Governing CTE

The governance of CTE is shared by representatives of the member denominations, who are 'churches together'.

Being a company limited by guarantee, there is a board of Directors who have ultimate responsibility, particularly for the finances and employment of staff. This board also act as the Trustees of the registered charity.

To enable the widest possible participation in the shaping of the life and work of CTE the Enabling Group draws together many more representatives of denominations, bodies in association and regional representatives of the Intermediate Bodies.

In addition the three-yearly Forum serves as a place where current work is celebrated and affirmed and general fresh directions are discerned.

In this section you will find material relating to each of these bodies and their respective responsibilities.

The Forum

The Forum meets every three years (or as determined by the Member Churches through the Enabling Group) and provides an opportunity for people representing churches at local, intermediate and national levels to meet.

The functions of the Forum are:
§ to engage in worship and discussion;
§ to recommend to the Member Churches such matters as it believes should be addressed jointly;
§ to support and encourage Intermediate Bodies in their role as the servants of their participating churches, especially in promoting local ecumenism;
§ to share its reflections on the activities and future programmes of the Enabling Group, Churches Co-ordinating Groups and Agencies in the fulfilment of their role of servicing the churches;
§ to elect a Moderator and a Deputy Moderator, and 10 members to be members of the Enabling Group (normally at least 4 of whom shall be aged between 18 and 30 years at the date of their appointment, and make such other appointments as are necessary.

The Forum does not have other roles in the governance of Churches Together beyond those mentioned above, i.e., in recommendation, and in the election of some of the membership of the Enabling Group.

The Enabling Group

The Members of the Charity comprise the Enabling Group. The Enabling Group is the General Meeting of the Charity “Churches Together in ”. Every member of the Charity undertakes to contribute up to £10 to the Charity’s assets in the event of the dissolution of the Charity

The Enabling Group has legal responsibilities in the governance of the Charity:
§ electing the Directors/Trustees
§ electing the Chairman of the Trustees
§ electing the Convenor and Deputy Convenor.
§ agreeing rules regulating to
§ the admission and classification of members of the Charity
§ procedures at general meetings and meetings of the Trustees
§ receiving the Annual Report and Accounts of the Directors/Trustees
§ appointing auditors

The Enabling Group is a reference point for Member Churches and other representatives
§ for making decisions together which are proper to them (where necessary referring matters back to the Member Churches);
§ for responding to initiatives from the Forum, Member Churches and Intermediate Bodies and enabling those initiatives to be carried out by the Churches in consultation with one another, through Co-ordinating Groups or other agencies.

The Enabling Group may make recommendations to the Trustees and comment upon their operation, but may not limit or otherwise affect the Trustees’ legal powers and obligations. 

Trustees

The Trustees manage the business of the Charity. They have responsibility for directing the affairs of the Charity.

The Trustees are responsible for
ensuring that the Charity is solvent, well-run, and delivering the charitable outcomes for which it has been set up.
ensuring that the Charity complies with charity law, and with the requirements of the Charity Commission, that the Charity does not breach any of the requirements in its governing document and that it remains true to the charitable purpose and objects set out there,
acting with integrity, and avoiding any personal conflicts of interest or misuse of the Charity’s funds or assets.
regulating the financial affairs of the Charity;

The Trustees may enter into contracts; appoint and employ staff, determine staff pay and conditions of service.

The Trustees may appoint an Honorary Treasurer.

The Trustees endeavour to consult the Enabling Group and to inform it of their decisions. They arrange the agenda of the Enabling Group, which the Enabling Group is free to amend.