Christians Across Watford - Purpose & Structure

Our Purpose

To encourage and express Christian unity in Watford - 'Learning to be One Church in this town and for this town.'

Our Structure

CAW is a body made up of 3 primary constituent groups:

Churches Together in Central, South and West Watford
Churches Together in North Watford and Garston
GO Watford (a collective of Evangelical churches)

Plus a number of Christian agencies committed to working in unity with others:

Watford Schools Trust
Watford Town Centre Chaplaincy
Watford New Hope Trust
The Hub (Christian business community)
Youth Across Watford - network of youth workers

Representatives fr0m these groups meet periodically to share information and coordinate various united events and initiatives.

Every 3 years a Moderator is elected, as well as a Deputy Moderator and other administrative roles.

Structure Diagram

Click here for a diagram illustrating the role CAW has to play with regards to its constituent groups

Our Constitution

BASIS

CHRISTIANS ACROSS WATFORD unites in pilgrimage those Churches, Fellowships and Ministries in Watford which acknowledge God’s revelation in Christ, confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the scriptures, and in obedience to God’s will and in the power of the Holy Spirit, commit themselves.

- to seek a deepening of their communion with Christ and with one another in the Church, which is His body; and

- to fulfil their mission to proclaim the Gospel by common witness and service in the world;

to the glory of the one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

(Churches and groups without a creedal basis may be a part of Christians Across Watford if they show that they manifest faith in Christ and agree to work in the spirit of the Basis of Christians Across Watford.)

AIMS

The aims of Christians Across Watford shall be

a) to enable the churches, fellowship and ministries, as pilgrims together, to develop mutual relationships, to seek a common mind, and to make decisions together,

b) to enable the churches, fellowships, and ministries to respond to the needs of society and to witness to the Gospel together. In particular, to provide a focus for relating to the local authority and other statutory and voluntary bodies;

c) to serve as a means of communication between churches, fellowships and ministries within its area. In particular, to avoid conflict and competition between the church, fellowships and ministries and to prevent unnecessary duplication of effort;

d) to co-ordinate involvement in town twinning schemes.

AREA

Christians Across Watford aims to serve the neighbourhood of Watford.

RELATIONSHIPS

Christians Across Watford is in informal association with Churches Together in Hertfordshire.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership of Christians Across Watford shall be open to:

a) Ecumenical associations in Watford which affirm the basis of Christians Across Watford and commit themselves to promote the aims of Christians Across Watford.

b) Any network or movement which brings together Christians of different denominations in the area for purposes congruent with basis and aims of Christians Across Watford.

OFFICERS

Christians Across Watford does not intend to have tight formal structures but shall elect a Moderator (or Link Person) and a Deputy Moderator (one of whom shall normally be a minister and the other a lay person), at an Annual meeting. These shall serve for an initial period of 3 years and may be re-elected if willing to serve for one further period not exceeding 3 years.

MEETINGS

a) Meetings of Christians Across Watford shall be constituted by three members from each of the ecumenical associations in Watford, and one member from each ecumenical network or movement.

b) The meetings shall take place at least twice annually. The members of the Meeting shall decide when these shall take place. The aim of the meetings shall be to keep others informed about the issues for the Churches in Watford to delegate the responsibility for carrying out ecumenical initiatives to individuals and groups. One meeting shall be an Annual Meeting at which any necessary officers may be elected.

FINANCE

Any financial commitment entered into by Christians Across Watford shall be supported by proportionate contributions from each ecumenical group and can be only made with the agreement of each ecumenical group and network.

CONSTITUTION

Amendment to the above constitution shall require the approval of 2/3rds of the Meeting present and voting.

Revision 1 – June 2000