SCIO Constitution (single-tier)
Constitution of
Gate Church International SCIO
CONTENTS
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GENERAL
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BOARD (CHARITY
TRUSTEES)
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DECISION-MAKING
BY THE CHARITY
TRUSTEES
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DECISION-MAKING
BY THE CHARITY
TRUSTEES AS
MEMBERS
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ADMINISTRATION
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MISCELLANEOUS
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type of organisation, Scottish principal office, name, purposes, powers, liability, general structure
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number, eligibility, appointment/ retiral, termination of office, register of charity trustees, office-bearers, powers
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notice, procedure at board meetings, minutes
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AGMs and other members’ meetings, notice, procedure, voting at members’ meetings, written resolutions, minutes
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sub-committees, operation of accounts, accounting records and annual accounts
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winding up, alterations to the constitution, interpretation
clauses 1 - 13
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clauses 14 -
42
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clauses 43 -
56
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clauses 57 -
77
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clauses 78 -
86
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​clauses 87 -
92
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GENERAL
Type of organisation
1 The organisation will, upon registration, be a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO).
Scottish principal office
2 The principal office of the organisation will be in Scotland (and must remain in Scotland).
Name
3 The name of the organisation is Gate Church International SCIO.
Purposes
4 The organisation’s purposes, which are all directed by our Christian faith and beliefs, are as follows:
4.1 to advance the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement of Beliefs in the Schedule hereto
attached in such parts of Dundee, Scotland or the world as the Trustees may from time to time think fit
and to fulfil such other purposes which are exclusively charitable according to the law of Scotland and are
connected with the charitable work of the charity;
4.2 to relieve those in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
in such parts of Dundee, Scotland or the world as the Trustees may from time to time think fit;
4.3 to provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and
other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age,
infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their
conditions of life; and
4.4 to advance education in particular but not by way of limitation through the provision of life-skills
courses as the Trustees may from time to time think fit.
Powers
5 The organisation has power to do anything which is calculated to further its purposes or is conducive or
incidental to doing so.
6 No part of the income or property of the organisation may be paid or transferred (directly or indirectly)
to the charity trustees - either in the course of the organisation’s existence or on dissolution - except
where this is done in direct furtherance of the organisation’s purposes.
Constitution of Gate Church International SCIO
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Liability of charity trustees
7 The charity trustees of the organisation (in their capacity as members - see clause 11) have no liability to
pay any sums to help to meet the debts (or other liabilities) of the organisation if it is wound up;
accordingly, if the organisation is unable to meet its debts, the charity trustees will not be held responsible.
8 The charity trustees have certain legal duties under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act
2005; and clause 7 does not exclude (or limit) any personal liabilities they might incur if they are in breach
of those duties or in breach of other legal obligations or duties that apply to them personally.
General structure
9 The structure of the organisation consists of the BOARD - who hold regular meetings, and generally
control the activities of the organisation; for example, the board is responsible for monitoring and
controlling the financial position of the organisation.
10 The board also appoints charity trustees to fill vacancies, and the people serving on the board (in their
capacity as members of the organisation - see clauses 11 and 13) have power to make changes to the
constitution itself.
11 The people serving on the board are referred to in this constitution as CHARITY TRUSTEES - and they are
also the MEMBERS of the organisation for the purposes of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland)
Act 2005.
12 Under the provisions of this constitution, no-one can be a member unless he/she is also a charity
trustee of the organisation.
13 The Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 requires certain decisions to be taken by the
charity trustees in their capacity as members of the organisation.
BOARD
Number of charity trustees
14 The maximum number of charity trustees is 12 (twelve).
15 The minimum number of charity trustees is 3 (three).
Eligibility
16 A person will not be eligible for election or appointment to the board if he/she is: -
Constitution of Gate Church International SCIO
16.1 disqualified from being a charity trustee under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act
2005; or
16.2 an employee of the organisation
Initial charity trustees
17 The individuals who signed the charity trustee declaration forms which accompanied the application for
incorporation of the organisation shall be deemed to have been appointed by the members as charity
trustees with effect from the date of incorporation of the organisation.
Appointment/Retiral
18 The board may at any time appoint any person to be a charity trustee - by way of a resolution passed by
majority vote at a board meeting.
19 At the conclusion of the first AGM, one third (to the nearest round number) of the charity trustees shall
retire from office; the question of which of them is to retire shall be determined by some random method.
20 At the conclusion of each AGM (other than the first)
20.1 any charity trustees appointed during the period since the preceding AGM (but excluding those re-
appointed under clause 22 during that period) shall retire from office;
20.2 out of the remaining charity trustees, one third (to the nearest round number) shall retire from office.
21 The charity trustees to retire under paragraph 20.2 shall be those who have been longest in office since
they were last appointed or re-appointed; as between persons who were last appointed/re-appointed on
the same date, the question of which of them is to retire shall be determined by some random method.
22 A charity trustee who retires from office under clause 19 or 20 at the conclusion of an AGM shall be
eligible for re-appointment under clause 18 at the next board meeting.
23 A charity trustee vacating office at the conclusion of an AGM will be deemed to have been re-elected at
the board meeting which next follows unless:
23.1 he/she advises the board that he/she does not wish to be re-appointed; or
23.2 a resolution for the re-appointment of that charity trustee was put to the board meeting and was not
carried.
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Constitution of Gate Church International SCIO
Termination of office
24 A charity trustee will automatically cease to hold office if: -
24.1 he/she becomes disqualified from being a charity trustee under the Charities and Trustee Investment
(Scotland) Act 2005;
24.2 he/she becomes incapable for medical reasons of carrying out his/her duties as a charity trustee - but
only if that has continued (or is expected to continue) for a period of more than six months;
24.3 he/she becomes an employee of the organisation;
24.4 he/she gives the organisation a notice of resignation, signed by him/her;
24.5 he/she is absent (without good reason, in the opinion of the board) from more than three consecutive
meetings of the board - but only if the board resolves to remove him/her from office;
24.6 he/she is removed from office by resolution of the board on the grounds that he/she is considered to
have committed a material breach of the code of conduct for charity trustees (as referred to in clause 41);
24.7 he/she is removed from office by resolution of the board on the grounds that he/she is considered to
have been in serious or persistent breach of his/her duties under section 66(1) or (2) of the Charities and
Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005; or
25 A resolution under paragraph 24.6 or 24.7 shall be valid only if: -
25.1 the charity trustee who is the subject of the resolution is given reasonable prior written notice of the
grounds upon which the resolution for his/her removal is to be proposed;
25.2 the charity trustee concerned is given the opportunity to address the meeting at which the resolution
is proposed, prior to the resolution being put to the vote; and
25.3 at least two thirds (to the nearest round number) of the charity trustees then in office vote in favour
of the resolution.
Register of charity trustees
26 The board must keep a register of charity trustees, setting out
26.1 for each current charity trustee:
26.1.1 his/her full name and address;
Constitution of Gate Church International SCIO
26.1.2 the date on which he/she was appointed as a charity trustee; and
26.1.3 any office held by him/her in the organisation;
26.2 for each former charity trustee - for at least 6 years from the date on which he/she ceased to be a
charity trustee:
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26.2.1 the name of the charity trustee;
26.2.2 any office held by him/her in the organisation; and
26.2.3 the date on which he/she ceased to be a charity trustee.
27 The board must ensure that the register of charity trustees is updated within 28 days of any change:
27.1 which arises from a resolution of the board; or
27.2 which is notified to the organisation.
28 If any person requests a copy of the register of charity trustees, the board must ensure that a copy is
supplied to him/her within 28 days, providing the request is reasonable; if the request is made by a person
who is not a charity trustee of the organisation, the board may provide a copy which has the addresses
blanked out - if the SCIO is satisfied that including that information is likely to jeopardise the safety or
security of any person or premises.
29 The members of the organisation are identical to its charity trustees - and therefore the organisation
does not require to keep a separate register of members.
Office -bearers
30 The charity trustees must elect (from among themselves) a chair and a treasurer.
31 In addition to the office-bearers required under clause 30, the charity trustees may elect (from among
themselves) further office-bearers if they consider that appropriate.
32 All of the office-bearers will cease to hold office at the conclusion of each AGM, but may then be re-
elected under clause 30 or 31.
33 A person elected to any office will automatically cease to hold that office: -
33.1 if he/she ceases to be a charity trustee; or
33.2 if he/she gives to the organisation a notice of resignation from that office, signed by him/her.
Constitution of Gate Church International SCIO
Powers of board
34 Except where this constitution states otherwise, the organisation (and its assets and operations) will be
managed by the board; and the board may exercise all the powers of the organisation.
34.1 The spiritual government and leadership of the Church for the purposes of which the SCIO has been
established shall remain with the recognised spiritual leadership of the Church and to the extent to which
the board is not synonymous with the church leadership their powers shall be confined to the proper
management and administration of the SCIO in accordance with the provisions of this constitution and in
furtherance of the said objects and in doing so shall have full and proper regard to such spiritual leadership
provided always they shall not act outside their powers as conferred by this constitution or by the general
law.
35 A meeting of the board at which a quorum is present may exercise all powers exercisable by the board.
Charity trustees – general duties
36 Each of the charity trustees has a duty, in exercising functions as a charity trustee, to act in the interests
of the organisation; and, in particular, must:-
36.1 seek, in good faith, to ensure that the organisation acts in a manner which is in accordance with its
purposes;
36.2 act with the care and diligence which it is reasonable to expect of a person who is managing the
affairs of another person;
36.3 in circumstances giving rise to the possibility of a conflict of interest between the organisation and any
other party: -
36.3.1 put the interests of the organisation before that of the other party;
36.3.2 where any other duty prevents him/her from doing so, disclose the conflicting interest to the
organisation and refrain from participating in any deliberation or decision of the other charity trustees with
regard to the matter in question;
36.4 ensure that the organisation complies with any direction, requirement, notice or duty imposed under
or by virtue of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.
37 In addition to the duties outlined in clause 36, all of the charity trustees must take such steps as are
reasonably practicable for the purpose of ensuring: -
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Constitution of Gate Church International SCIO
37.1 that any breach of any of those duties by a charity trustee is corrected by the charity trustee
concerned and not repeated; and
37.2 that any trustee who has been in serious and persistent breach of those duties is removed as a
trustee.
38 Provided he/she has declared his/her interest - and has not voted on the question of whether or not the
organisation should enter into the arrangement - a charity trustee will not be debarred from entering into
an arrangement with the organisation in which he/she has a personal interest; and (subject to clause 39
and to the provisions relating to remuneration for services contained in the Charities and Trustee
Investment (Scotland) Act 2005) he/she may retain any personal benefit which arises from that
arrangement.
39 No charity trustee may serve as an employee (full time or part time) of the organisation; and no charity
trustee may be given any remuneration by the organisation for carrying out his/her duties as a charity
trustee.
40 The charity trustees may be paid all travelling and other expenses reasonably incurred by them in
connection with carrying out their duties; this may include expenses relating to their attendance at
meetings.
Code of conduct for charity trustees
41 Each of the charity trustees shall comply with the code of conduct (incorporating detailed rules on
conflict of interest) prescribed by the board from time to time and shall subscribe to the Statement of
Beliefs in the Schedule hereto attached and to the purposes of the organisation, and is actively committed
to helping fulfil them.
42 The code of conduct referred to in clause 41 shall be supplemental to the provisions relating to the
conduct of charity trustees contained in this constitution and the duties imposed on charity trustees under
the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005; and all relevant provisions of this constitution
shall be interpreted and applied in accordance with the provisions of the code of conduct in force from
time to time
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Constitution of Gate Church International SCIO
DECISION MAKING BY CHARITY TRUSTEES
Notice of board
43 Any charity trustee may call a meeting of the board
44 At least 7 days’ notice must be given of each board meeting, unless (in the opinion of the person calling
the meeting) there is a degree of urgency which makes that inappropriate.
Procedure at board meetings
45 No valid decisions can be taken at a board meeting unless a quorum is present; the quorum for board
meetings is 2 (two) or the nearest to one third of the total number of the charity trustees whichever is the
greater and present in person except for Board meetings at which a resolution(s) is to be considered, as
described in clause 71.
45.1 A charity trustee may participate in a meeting of the board by means of a conference telephone,
video conferencing facility or similar communications equipment – so long as all the charity trustees
participating in the meeting can hear each other; a charity trustee participating in a meeting in this manner
shall be deemed to be present in person at that meeting.
46 If at any time the number of charity trustees in office falls below the number stated as the quorum in
clause 45, the remaining charity trustee(s) will have power to fill the vacancies or call a members' meeting -
but will not be able to take any other valid decisions.
47 The chair of the organisation should act as chairperson of each board meeting.
48 If the chair of the organisation is not present within 15 minutes after the time at which the meeting was
due to start (or is not willing to act as chairperson), the charity trustees present at the meeting must elect
(from among themselves) the person who will act as chairperson of that meeting.
49 Every charity trustee has one vote, which must be given personally; for the avoidance of doubt, a vote
given by a charity trustee participating in the meeting through any of the methods referred to in clause
45.1 will be taken to be given personally for the purposes of this clause.
50 All decisions at board meetings will be made by majority vote.
51 If there is an equal number of votes for and against any resolution, the chairperson of the meeting will
be entitled to a second (casting) vote.
52 The board may, at its discretion, allow any person to attend and speak at a board meeting
notwithstanding that he/she is not a charity trustee - but on the basis that he/she must not participate in
decision-making.
53 A charity trustee must not vote at a board meeting (or at a meeting of a sub-committee) on any
resolution which relates to a matter in which he/she has a personal interest or duty which conflicts (or may
conflict) with the interests of the organisation; he/she must withdraw from the meeting while an item of
that nature is being dealt with.
54 For the purposes of clause 53: -
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Constitution of Gate Church International SCIO
54.1 an interest held by an individual who is “connected” with the charity trustee under section 68(2) of
the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (husband/wife, partner, child, parent,
brother/sister etc) shall be deemed to be held by that charity trustee;
54.2 a charity trustee will be deemed to have a personal interest in relation to a particular matter if a body
in relation to which he/she is an employee, director, member of the management committee, officer or
elected representative has an interest in that matter.
Minutes
55 The board must ensure that proper minutes are kept in relation to all board meetings and meetings of
sub-committees.
56 The minutes to be kept under clause 55 must include the names of those present; and (so far as
possible) should be signed by the chairperson of the meeting.
DECISION-MAKING BY THE CHARITY TRUSTEES - IN THEIR CAPACITY AS MEMBERS
57 For certain purposes of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the charity trustees
make decisions in their capacity as members of the organisation, rather than as a board; the provisions of
clauses 58 to 77 relate to those situations.
Annual general meetings
58 The board must convene a meeting of the charity trustees - in their capacity as members of the
organisation - in each calendar year; that meeting will be called an annual general meeting or "AGM".
59 The gap between one AGM and the next must not be longer than 15 months.
60 Notwithstanding clause 58, an AGM does not need to be held during the calendar year in which the
organisation is formed; but the first AGM must still be held within 15 months of the date on which the
organisation is formed.
61 The business of each AGM must include:-
61.1 a report by the chair on the activities of the organisation; and
61.2 consideration of the future strategy for the organisation, including a review of key risks and
opportunities.
62 The board may convene any other meeting of the charity trustees - in their capacity as members of the
organisation - at any time.
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Constitution of Gate Church International SCIO
Notice of members’ meetings
63 At least 14 clear days’ notice must be given of any AGM or any other members' meeting.
64 The notice calling a members' meeting must specify in general terms what business is to be dealt with
at the meeting; and, in the case of a resolution to alter the constitution, must set out the exact terms of
the proposed alteration(s).
65 The reference to “clear days” in clause 633 shall be taken to mean that, in calculating the period of
notice,
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65.1 the day after the notices are posted (or sent by e-mail) should be excluded; and
65.2 the day of the meeting itself should also be excluded.
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66 Notice of every members' meeting must be given to all the charity trustees; but the accidental omission
to give notice to one or more charity trustees will not invalidate the proceedings at the meeting.
67 Any notice of a members’ meeting which requires to be given to a charity trustee - in his/her capacity as
a member of the organisation - under this constitution must be: -
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67.1 sent by post to the charity trustee, at the address last notified by him/her to the organisation; or
67.2 sent by e-mail to the charity trustee, at the e-mail address last notified by him/her to the
organisation.
Procedure at members’ meetings
68 The provisions of clauses 45, 47 and 48 (quorum and chairperson) shall apply in relation to all meetings
of the charity trustees in their capacity as members of the organisation.
68.1 The board may make arrangements, in advance of any members’ meeting, to allow charity trustees (in
their capacity as members of the organisation) to participate in the members’ meeting by means of a
conference telephone, video conference facility or similar communications equipment – so long as all
those participating in the meeting can hear each other; a charity trustee participating in a members’
meeting in this manner shall be deemed to be present in person at the meeting.
Voting at members’ meetings
69 Every charity trustee shall have one vote in his/her capacity as a member, which must be given
personally; for the avoidance of doubt, a vote given by a charity trustee participating in the meeting
through any of the methods referred to in clause 68.1 will be taken to be given personally for the purposes
of this clause.
70 All decisions at members' meetings will be made by majority vote - with the exception of the types of
resolution listed in clause 71.
71 The following resolutions will be valid only if passed by not less than two thirds of those voting on the
resolution at a members’ meeting (or if passed by way of a written resolution under clause 755):
71.1 a resolution amending the constitution;
71.2 a resolution approving the amalgamation of the organisation with another SCIO (or approving the
constitution of the new SCIO to be constituted as the successor pursuant to that amalgamation);
71.3 a resolution to the effect that all of the organisation’s property, rights and liabilities should be
transferred to another SCIO (or agreeing to the transfer from another SCIO of all of its property, rights and
liabilities);
71.4 a resolution for the winding up or dissolution of the organisation.
72 If there is an equal number of votes for and against any resolution, the chairperson of the meeting will
be entitled to a second (casting) vote.
73 A resolution put to the vote at a members' meeting will be decided on a show of hands - unless the
chairperson (or at least two other members present at the meeting) ask for a secret ballot.
74 The chairperson will decide how any secret ballot is to be conducted, and he/she will declare the result
of the ballot at the meeting.
Written resolutions
75 A resolution agreed to in writing (or by e-mail) by all the charity trustees, in their capacity as members
of the organisation, will be as valid as if it had been passed at a members’ meeting; the date of the
resolution will be taken to be the date on which the last charity trustee agreed to it.
Minutes
76 The board must ensure that proper minutes are kept in relation to all members' meetings.
77 Minutes of members' meetings must include the names of those present; and (so far as possible) should
be signed by the chairperson of the meeting.
ADMINISTRATION
Delegation to sub-committees
78 The board may delegate any of their powers to sub-committees; a sub-committee must include at least
one charity trustee, but other members of a sub-committee need not be charity trustees.
79 The board may also delegate to the chair of the organisation (or the holder of any other post) such of
their powers as they may consider appropriate.
80 When delegating powers under clause 78 or 79, the board must set out appropriate conditions (which
must include an obligation to report regularly to the board).
81 Any delegation of powers under clause 78 or 79 may be revoked or altered by the board at any time.
82 The rules of procedure for each sub-committee, and the provisions relating to membership of each sub-
committee, shall be set by the board.
Operation of accounts
83 Subject to clause 84, the board shall implement a policy in regard to all operations on the bank and
building society accounts held by the organisation to ensure appropriate controls are in place in order to
protect funds and reduce risk of financial loss;
84 Where the organisation uses electronic facilities for the operation of any bank or building society
account, the authorisations required for operations on that account must be consistent with the approach
reflected in clause 833.
Accounting records and annual accounts
85 The board must ensure that proper accounting records are kept, in accordance with all applicable
statutory requirements.
86 The board must prepare annual accounts, complying with all relevant statutory requirements; if an
audit is required under any statutory provisions (or if the board consider that an audit would be
appropriate for some other reason), the board should ensure that an audit of the accounts is carried out by
a qualified auditor.
MISCELLANEOUS
Winding-up
87 If the organisation is to be wound up or dissolved, the winding-up or dissolution process will be carried
out in accordance with the procedures set out under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act
2005.
88 Any surplus assets available to the organisation immediately preceding its winding up or dissolution
must be used for purposes which are the same as - or which closely resemble - the purposes of the
organisation as set out in this constitution.
Alterations to the constitution
89 This constitution may (subject to clause 90) be altered by resolution of the charity trustees - in their
capacity as members of the organisation - passed at a members’ meeting (subject to achieving the two
thirds majority referred to in clause 71) or by way of a written resolution of the charity trustees in their
capacity as members.
90 The Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 prohibits taking certain steps (e.g. change of
name, an alteration to the purposes, amalgamation, winding-up) without the consent of the Office of the
Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).
Interpretation
91 References in this constitution to the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 should be
taken to include: -
91.1 any statutory provision which adds to, modifies or replaces that Act; and
91.2 any statutory instrument issued in pursuance of that Act or in pursuance of any statutory provision
falling under paragraph 91.1 above.
92 In this constitution: -
92.1 “charity” means a body which is either a “Scottish charity” within the meaning of section 13 of the
Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 or a “charity” within the meaning of section 1 of the
Charities Act 2011, providing (in either case) that its objects are limited to charitable purposes;
92.2 “charitable purpose” means a charitable purpose under section 7 of the Charities and Trustee
Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 which is also regarded as a charitable purpose in relation to the application
of the Taxes Acts.
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SCHEDULE
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​WHAT WE BELIEVE
1. The Authority of Scripture
We believe that the Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. It is the ultimate
standard for faith, life, and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
2. The Triune God
We believe in one God, the creator of all things, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit. Each is fully God, yet there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). He is
totally loving and completely holy.
3. Jesus Christ
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His
substitutionary death on the cross for our sins, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of
the Father, and His personal return in power and glory (John 1:1-4; Matthew 1:18-25; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4;
Acts 1:9-11). He lived a sinless and exemplary life, died on the cross in our place, and rose again to prove
His victory and empower us for life.
4. The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is fully God and works to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and
judgment. He indwells, empowers, and equips believers for godly living and service, filling us and equipping
us with spiritual gifts so that we can successfully achieve His purpose for our lives which is to worship God,
fulfil our role in the Church and serve the community in which we live. (John 16:7-14; Acts 1:8;
Galatians 5:16-23; 1 Cor 12:1-11; Eph 4:11-13, 5:18).
5. Salvation
We believe that salvation is a gift of God’s grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ alone. It is not
earned by human effort but is the result of Christ’s atoning work on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans
3:21-26; John 3:16). We believe that in order to receive forgiveness and the ‘new birth’ we must repent of
our sins, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and submit to His will for our lives (Acts 3:19; 4:12).
6. The Church
We believe that the church is the body of Christ, composed of all believers, and exists to glorify God by
worshiping Him, building up believers, and reaching the world with the gospel (Ephesians 4:4-6; Matthew
28:19-20). It is essential for all believers to meet regularly together for fellowship, prayer and the ‘breaking
of bread’ (Acts 2:40-47).
7. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances commanded by Christ for His followers, and
are essential for living the holy and fruitful lives that God intends for us. Baptism is an outward expression
of faith, and the Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 22:14-20; 1
Corinthians 11:23-26).
8. Human Nature and Sin
We believe that all people are created in the image of God but have sinned and fallen short of His glory. As
a result, humanity is separated from God and His purpose for our lives, and in need of redemption through
Jesus Christ (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23).
9. The Resurrection and Eternal Life
We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost: the saved to eternal life and the lost
to eternal separation from God (John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:11-15).
10. Marriage and Human Sexuality
We believe that marriage is a covenantal union between one man and one woman, instituted by God as
the foundation for family and society. Sexual intimacy is a gift from God, to be expressed exclusively within
the boundaries of marriage (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Hebrews 13:4).
11. Gender
We believe that God has intentionally created humans as male and female and that biological sex is sacred,
a gift from God. We affirm that living in alignment with the biological sex as created by God is part of His
design to allow humans to flourish (Gen 2:24; Matt.19:4-6).
12. The Return of Christ
We believe in the personal and visible return of Jesus Christ as He promised, who will establish His
kingdom and fulfil God’s eternal purposes (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 21:1-4).