DUBLIN COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

CONSTITUTION OF THE DUBLIN COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

1. Name

The Council shall be called the Dublin Council of Churches.

 

2. Basis

The basis shall be the fellowship of churches which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the Scriptures, and therefore seek to fulfil together their common calling to the glory of the One God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

 

3. Patrons

Each of the Churches in membership may appoint a Patron. These are:

The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin,

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin,

The Moderator of the Presbytery of Dublin and Munster,

The District Superintendent of the Southern District of the Methodist Church in Ireland,

The Clerk of the Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends,

The Dublin Regional Commander of the Salvation Army,

The Pastor of the Lutheran Church in Ireland,

The Priest of the Greek Orthodox Church in Dublin,

The Priest of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Ireland,

The Priest of the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Dublin,

The Priest of St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church in Dublin,

The Priest of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Dublin,

The Priest of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church in Dublin,

and equivalent representatives of such other churches as may be in membership.

 

4. Objectives

(a) To explore within a Christian fellowship, based on mutual love and the presence of Christ among us, the calling of the People of God to pray and work together for the fulfilment of Jesus’ prayer ‘that all may be one’ (John 17:21).

(b) To encourage co-operation between churches and inter-church groups, at both local and district level.

(c) To facilitate an exchange of information and views of member Churches on matters of concern.

(d) To support joint study and action.

(e) To disseminate information on ecumenical activities and resources.

 

5. Composition

(a) Each of the local governing bodies of the member churches shall appoint up to three members of the Council, to serve for a stated period. At least one representative from each church shall be lay.

(b) The Council shall have power to co-opt up to six members.

 

6. Meetings

The Council shall meet not less than twice a year and hold an Annual General Meeting in June.

 

7. Officers

At the Annual General Meeting the Council shall elect a Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer and such other officers as it may deem appropriate.

 

8. Finance

The appointing bodies of member Churches shall be asked to contribute such sums annually as may be agreed from time to time by the Council.

 

9. Reports

The council shall annually give a general report and a financial report to the appointing bodies of the member Churches.

 

10. Changes

Amendments to the Constitution and applications from other Churches to join the Council shall be referred to the appointing bodies and must be approved by two thirds of them.

                                                                                                                                                     (June, 2019)