At least two churches.
- Initial trustee body (Church Council) for NMC: the old Church Councils (CC) of those churches who have decided to be part of NMC to nominate ONE MEMBER of their Worshipping Community (WC) to be a managing trustee and Church Steward of NMC.
- Other members of this trustee body to be elected at NMC’s first General Church Meeting (in September). The number so elected will match the number of WCs who are part of NMC.
- NMC Church Council can also appoint further members (up to 15);
- Members appointed to NMC Church Council are representing NMC NOT their Worshipping Communities.
- In addition, NMC will need a Treasurer, a CC Secretary & a Safeguarding Officer. Other officers, as required by CPD, would also be appointed.
- NMC will set up committees for Property & Finance, and for Mission. Both of these committees may have members who are not NMC CC members. The Mission committee will provide a framework, working with Local Teams within WCs.
- Additional members may well be elected to meet specific requirements.
- Members of NMC Council will serve the same term of office as all Church Council appointees on an annual basis.
Church Councils are required to nominate one church member to be a managing trustee and Church Steward of NMC when initially joining NMC. Churches unable to do this will not be able to join NMC at its formation.
Yes, churches can join at a later date. After NMC has been formed churches can apply to NMC CC to join NMC.
- Need to create a new body – Northampton Methodist Church (NMC) – aiming for 1st September 2022 start.
- NMC CC will meet monthly initially, during the set up process.
- The venue for meetings will be for the NMC Council to decide.
- September – December 2022 to be a transition period, so that by January 2023 NMC, WCs and their Local Teams will be up and running.
Members appointed to the NMC Church Councils are representing NMC NOT their Worshipping Communities.
The officers of NMC will be recruited on a voluntary basis. This does not preclude the employment of paid staff, consultants, or advisors. The NMC Treasurer will be a member of the Methodist Church.
Local Teams will be responsible for fulfilling the Our Calling priorities in each WC.
- NMC Church Council will regularly consult with Local Teams and there will be constant dialogue.
- NMC Church Council will have members from across all the WCs
Churches which choose not to join NMC will continue as at present, with responsibility for meeting assessments, managing all the responsibilities of trustees, fundraising for projects, dealing with property issues, etc.
- All bank accounts of a WC will be formally transferred to NMC; actual bank account consolidation will be a long term task, with a clear objective to minimise bank charges.
- The unrestricted existing balances of the General Accounts of WCs will become the General Account of NMC;
- The restricted & designated funds of WCs will be separately identified as they join NMC .
- The payment of assessments will be the responsibility of NMC from the ‘common pot’ – the General Account containing monies from all WCs. This will be the collective responsibility of all members. Looking at a wider administrative role – NMC would have responsibility for the bills to be paid.
- Appropriate Christian Copyright Licences will be purchased for all the activities of NMC following review of requirements for each WC .
- Contracted roles, e.g. cleaners, will be engaged by NMC, who will arrange the contracts.