The Constitution for the Stukeley Meadows United Church (Herein referred to as "the Church")
The Church
The name of the Church shall be "The Stukeley Meadows United Church.". Having been planted by All Saints (Church of England), Trinity Free Church (Baptist), and Huntingdon Methodist Church, it is now constituted as a Local Ecumenical Partnership with the Cambridge Ecumenical Council as its Sponsoring Body, while still looking to its original parent Churches for continued support and share ministry as may be both required and possible. Other local churches may also become involved as Supporting Churches with the agreement of the church and the approval of the Sponsoring Body.
Basis of Belief
We believe in God as revealed in the Bible, accept Jesus Christ as out risen Saviour and Lord, and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, seek to live according to His will and in accordance with Holy Scripture, worshipping and witnessing together in the unity for which Jesus prayed.
Mission
The Church's mission is primarily to Stukeley Meadows estate, to provide a Christian witness through public worship and encouraging faith in Jesus Christ and spiritual growth wherever possible.
Government
Subject to oversight by the Sponsoring Body, management shall be by a Church Committee elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), comprising the Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and up to 3 other Members, with provision for co-opting temporary members should the need arise, plus a representative of each of the Supporting Churches. The Minister is an ex-officio member of the committee. Elected Members of the committee shall serve for one year. They will be eligible for re-election but will normally serve no longer than three consecutive years. If the Church has no Minister, an approved minister/leader nominated by the Supporting Churches is invited to attend each meeting of the committee, the AGM and any extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). Decisions shall normally be by simple majority except when appointing a Minister. The committee shall meet at least bi-monthly including the AGM. At the AGM non-Members may speak but only Members may vote. An EGM may be called by the committee or by 25% of the Church Members whenever the need should arise. All General Meetings must be announced during a time of public worship at least seven days prior to the meeting taking place, and the subsequent minutes posted on the Church notice board.
Membership
Membership will be open to those who accept the basis of belief and who are in regular attendance at the Church. Those forming the regular congregation at the time of becoming an LEP will be invited to become Members. For newcommers who wish to become Members, a written recommendation from a previous place of regular worship will be appropriately recognized. Membership of the LEP will involve concurrent membership of the sponsoring church denominations, and is renewable on an annual basis.
Baptism
Given the diversity of the sponsoring churches and their respective denominations, the church adopts an inclusive policy on baptism. No single church's view will be adopted. Rather, each individual requesting baptism for themselves or for young children will indicate, after careful consideration of and instruction about the options that are available and appropriate, which form of baptismal rite they wish to receive. The individual's considered request will usually be honoured.
Ministry
If the church has a Minister (part-time or full-time) she/he shall wholeheartedly support the ecumenical nature of the Church and fully understand its implications. In the interests of removing barriers to ecumenism and providing adequate oversight, her/his ministry will be formally recognized by each of the denominations represented by the sponsoring churches. The appointment of the Minister shall be in accordance with the practices of whichever of the denominations is to provide the Minister, in consultation with and the approval of the Sponsoring Body and the Church Committee. When there is no Minister, the ministers of the Supporting Churches shall together make suitable arrangements for the needs of the ministry to be met.
Worship
The form of worship shall be according to the traditions of the denominations represented by the Supporting Churches and in rapport with that which has developed within the regular congregation. Services shall normally be conducted or co-ordinated by the Minister.
Communion
The Communion service may be part of public worship or a separate service, and conducted by the Minister or by one approved by the Supporting Churches. All Members are welcome to receive the Sacrament and so are non-Members who would be permitted to do so in any of the Supporting Churches, or, in the case of visitors, in their own Church. Those present but not receiving the Sacrament are welcome to share in the worship otherwise.
Pastoral Care
The Church shall exercise pastoral care of all within the Church family, including its Minister. The Church shall also reach out in Christian love to those outside it.
Officers
The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the Church which shall be independently examined and presented to the AGM for approval, also always keeping the Committee fully informed of the financial state of the Church. The Secretary shall provide an agenda for all General and Committee meetings, deal with correspondence, and bring to the notice of the Church and/or Committee as appropriate everything affecting the Church.
Oversight and Review
The Sponsoring Body shall appoint a local advisory group to support the Church and will ensure that between every five and seven years there will be a review of the LEP.
Finance
Besides appropriately supporting its own Minister, the Church will make regular contributions in support of the wider ministry of the denomination to which the supporting churches belong. This will be made according to an agreed formula and in accordance with denominational procedure. After meeting the legitimate running costs of the Church, contributions may be made to charities or similar bodies with the approval of the Committee. The Committee shall be responsible for the day to day expenditure but any major item or long-term commitment must be approved by a simple majority of the Members at a properly constituted General Meeting.
Amendments to the Constitution
This Constitution may be amended only by a majority vote of Church Members at an EGM called for the purpose and with the approval of the Sponsoring Body, or, should it no long exist, by the decision-making bodies of the Supporting Churches.
This constitution was finalised at a meeting of the Stukeley Meadows United Church Committee on Thursday 25th June 1998 at 7:45pm. The Inauguration service of the LEP took place at 3:30pm on 17th January 1999 at the Stukeley Meadows Primary School.
NB It was decided in a committee meeting in November2000 to abbreviate the Church's name in public to the SMC, the Stukeley Meadows Church, rather than use the name SMUCH which had been used up to this point. Constitutionally, we remain the Stukeley Meadows United Church.
