A) The Church is governed under the Methodist Church Act 1976.
B) Charitable status is resolved under SI 2014, No, 242.
C) The procedures for Methodist Churches, Circuits and other bodies within the Church are governed by The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church, (‘CPD’) as amended from time to time by the Annual Conference.
D) The Constitution that follows is taken from the relevant clauses of CPD.
The Church exists to exercise the whole ministry of Christ. The Local Church, with its membership and larger church community, exercises this ministry where it is and shares in the wider ministry of the Church in the world. In this one ministry worship, fellowship, pastoral care, mission and service are essential elements. Administration and training enable their fulfilment. In the Methodist Church these various tasks are undertaken by the Local Church, through its Church Council and committees, in union with the ministry of the Circuit of which it is a constituent. It is represented in the Circuit Meeting and represents it locally. It engages in ecumenical work including, where appropriate, the support of ecumenical Housing Associations.
In the government of the Local Church the several responsibilities must be exercised without the loss of the unity of the one ministry. The Church Council is constituted to unite those who hold responsibility in the church in one working community. It has the authority to take decisions for the church and to manage its affairs to this same end. The General Church Meeting has a responsibility to consider the whole ministry of the church and every part of it and in making appointments to ensure the co-operation of the whole church in that ministry. This requires a proper representation of all the diversities present in the Local Church, including those who are newcomers to it.
The Church Council has authority and oversight over the whole area of the ministry of the church, including the management of its property. Aims and methods, the determination and pursuit of policy and the deployment of available resources are its proper responsibility. In many cases it will appoint committees which will have authority, in their own areas of responsibility, to initiate action, co-ordinate the work done in the church, advise the Church Council and report to it, being subject to its authority and oversight.
The appointment of committees or officers is dictated by the need to express the variety of function in the ministry of the Local Church. The whole church family of all ages, whether members of the Church or not, needs pastoral care, worship, fellowship, training and opportunities for service. The church has a responsibility for its neighbourhood, involving evangelism, service, participation in the life of the community and co-operation with statutory, private sector and voluntary agencies serving human needs; where possible it engages in these activities ecumenically. The church is committed to the whole world, in service and mission, in prayer and giving and the help of those in need, at home and overseas.
In the proper care of its property the church has to ensure that its work is neither hindered by inadequate or unworthy buildings nor embarrassed by the support of unnecessary ones, while its proper stewardship of finance means the right raising of money and the right spending of it, so that the one is seen as an invitation to Christian commitment and the other as an opportunity for real choice in the life of the Church.
The provisions as to eligibility for appointment to any office or membership of any official meeting, committee or other body (however described) in the Local Church shall be those set out in relation to the office or body in question, and may incorporate by reference one or more of the following categories of persons:
(i) ministers, probationers and other persons (including those authorised to serve as presbyters or deacons under Standing Order 733) who are stationed in the Circuit in accordance with clauses (3) and (4) of Standing Order 785 and are active in the life and work of the Local Church, so far as not otherwise eligible;
(ii) where there is a local ecumenical partnership approved by the Conference or (if so empowered) by the Synod, and subject to Standing Order 010, members of any communion participating in the partnership;
(iii) subject to Standing Order 010, persons named on the community roll of the Local Church.
Subject to Standing Order 611A(6)(iii) and to clauses (2) and (5) below all appointments and elections connected with the Local Church shall unless otherwise prescribed by Standing Orders be for one year and take effect from the date specified in the resolution of appointment.
(2) Subject to Standing Order 632(3), if a casual vacancy occurs the meeting with authority to appoint shall fill the vacancy with immediate effect for the remainder of the term of the appointment vacated. S.O. 632 (3) concerns casual vacancies among the church stewards.
(3) Subject to clause (4) below no person shall hold the office of church steward, church treasurer or secretary of the Church Council or Pastoral Committee, or be elected to the Church Council under Standing Order 623, for more than six successive years.
(4) If the operation of clause (3) above would make it impossible adequately to fill an essential office in the Local Church the Church Council or General Church Meeting, as the case may be, may by a 75% majority of those present and voting on a ballot vote reappoint annually beyond the sixth year.
(5) This Standing Order does not apply to the appointment of persons employed or engaged under a contract, nor to ex-officio membership.
Subject to Standing Orders 511, 611 and 611A, the Church Council shall consist of:
(i) the ministers, probationers and workers listed in clause (4) below;
(ii) the church stewards;
(iii) the church treasurer;
(iv) the secretary of the Pastoral Committee, where the committee is appointed;
(v) the secretary of the council;
(vi) not less than six representatives nor more than fifteen elected annually by the General Church Meeting, or, where the membership does not exceed 49 and the Church Council so resolves, all members of the Local Church who are willing to serve;
(vii) up to fifteen additional persons appointed by the council to ensure that all areas of the church’s life are adequately represented and in particular that, wherever possible, young people are included in its membership;
(viii) one circuit steward appointed by the circuit stewards.
Meetings. (1) The Church Council shall meet at least twice in each year. (2) Before each meeting the presbyter in pastoral charge or, if none, the Superintendent shall, with the secretary of the Church Council, make out a list, by name, of the persons who are in their opinion members of the council under Standing Order 511, 610, 611 or 612, as the case may be, distinguishing those, if any, who are not of full age. At the meeting, before any other business is transacted, that list shall be laid before the council which shall, after making any correction which seems to the council necessary, adopt it, and the list as thus adopted shall be final and conclusive as to the persons of whom the council then consists.
(a) Except as provided in sub-clause (c) below meetings of the Church Council are in open session.
(b) In open session persons who are not members of the council may speak but not vote nor propose or second any resolution. The Church Council shall in particular encourage young people to attend its open sessions.
(c) The Church Council may at any time resolve that a particular meeting or meetings be held, or particular business dealt with, in closed session, and shall do so whenever considering admission to membership or any other business on which it is required, or decides, to vote by ballot. It shall consider carefully whether to do so before embarking upon or continuing any business which may occasion statements which should be kept in confidence or which involve personal criticism.
The general oversight of the Local Church shall be undertaken by the Church Council, exercising leadership over the whole field of the church’s concern.
All or any other affecting the governance of church matters shall be conducted as prescribed under CPD.
This constitution was agreed by resolution of the Church Council of Castle Street Methodist Church at their meeting held on 18th March 2025