Armidale Community Church Inc.
Version 1.0
Adopted 23 April, 2017
Armidale Community Church Inc Constitution v1.0 Page 21 of 33
Resolutions pertaining to this Constitution
Rule 12.1 – Appointment of Senior Pastor as Public Officer
IT WAS RESOLVED that, in accordance with Rule 12.1 of the Armidale Community Church Inc Constitution v1.0, the Senior Pastor be appointed as Public OfficerMoved: Selliah Kanagaratnam / Seconded: Charmaine Kanagaratnam / Accepted: All
Dated:
Rule 14.6 – Designation of Senior Pastor as signatory
IT WAS RESOLVED that, in accordance with Rule 14.6 of the Armidale Community Church Inc Constitution v1.0, the Senior Pastor be designated a signatory of all banking accounts.Moved: Selliah Kanagaratnam / Seconded: Charmaine Kanagaratnam / Accepted: All
Dated:
Armidale Community Church Inc Constitution v1.0 Page 21 of 33
Preface
This Constitution hereby becomes the governing document of this Church, by virtue of having been adopted by a properly constituted meeting of members on 23 April, 2017.
Signed:
Michael Baumgartner
Senior Pastor
Signed:
Rhonda Mary Heyman
Secretary
Definitions
Association – is interpreted as the legal entity that is registered under the Associations Incorporation Act, 2009 (and subsequent amendments), and not to the local body of believers referred to in Biblical terms.
Board – the Management Committee function as outlined in the Model Rules of the Associations Incorporation Act 2009, is the legal and governance responsibility of the Board per Clause 10.
Church/church – are used interchangeably in the singular and plural, and are to be read in the context of the paragraph, sub-paragraph and section in which it appears.
Eldership – if a separate role for Elders is deemed necessary by the Senior Pastor, away from the Board, it is to be the spiritual covering, enablers and guidance to the Senior Pastor and the Church congregation. Not all Elders are required to be on the Board. New Elders are appointed by the Senior Pastor in consultation with the existing Eldership.
Gender terminology – in the construction and interpretation of this Constitution, any wording such as his or Chairman, etc. is deemed to be gender neutral, not as relating to male or female.
Members and Membership – is interpreted as the voting members of the Association. The local Church congregation is referred to as adherents on the basis they have NOT applied for membership as per clause 6 (and appendices/addendums). Adherents who are or were part of the membership pre-adoption of this new constitution remain voting members until ceasing to be so as per clause 6.4. The government and legal responsibility for the Association/Church, vests in the Association’s Board.
Nominating Board – this Board shall be comprised of the Eldership, two (2) Board Members and two (2) voting congregation members.
Table of Contents Page No.
1. THE CHURCH
1.1 The name of the Church 8
1.2 Affiliation 8
1.3 Withdrawal from Australian Christian Churches 8
1.4 Dissolution 8
1.5 Non-Profit 8
2. PRINCIPAL OBJECTS 8
3. POWERS OF THE ORGANISATION 9
4. DOCTRINAL BASIS 10
5. MINISTRATIONS AND CEREMONIES 11
6. MEMBERSHIP
6.1 Conditions of voting Membership 11
6.2 Register of Members 12
6.3 Membership Fee 12
6.4 Termination, Discipline and Cancellation of Membership 12
7. SENIOR PASTOR
7.1 Nomination 12
7.2 Remuneration 13
7.3 Resignation 13
7.4 Powers and Duties of Senior Pastor 13
7.5 Chief Executive Officer 14
8. ASSOCIATE MINISTER AND ASSISTANTS
8.1 Appointment of Associate Minister 14
8.2 Powers and Duties of the Associate Minister 14
8.3 Appointment of Assistant Ministers 14
8.4 Powers and Duties of Assistant Ministers 14
8.5 Resignation 15
9. DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF MINISTERS
9.1 Grounds 15
9.2 Procedure 15
9.3 State Discipline 15
9.4 Appeal Costs 16
9.5 Discipline of Associates and Assistants 16
10. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ORGANISATION/CHURCH
10.1 Appointment 16
10.2 Procedure 17
10.3 Term of Office 17
10.4 Size of the Church Governing Board 17
10.5 Responsibilities of the Board 17
10.6 Meetings of the Board 17
10.7 By-Laws 18
11. SECRETARY/ADMINISTRATOR
11.1 Appointment 18
11.2 Powers and Duties 18
12. TREASURER AND PUBLIC OFFICER
12.1 Appointment 19
12.2 Duties 19
13. MEMBERS MEETINGS (AGM, ORDINARY AND SPECIAL)
13.1 Notification of AGM 19
13.2 The Business 19
13.3 Agenda 19
13.4 Special General Meeting 20
13.5 Chairman 20
13.6 Interpretation of Constitution 20
14. INCOME AND PROPERTY
14.1 Application 20
14.2 Designated Income 20
14.3 Accounts 21
14.4 Financial Records 21
14.5 Banking 21
14.6 Signatories 21
14.7 Expenditure Authority 21
14.8 Financial Year 21
14.9 Auditor 21
14.10 Trustee 21
14.11 Finance Committee 22
14.12 Other Bodies 22
14.13 Fees, Subscriptions and Members’ Liability 22
15. DISPUTE RESOLUTION 22
16. AUTONOMY 23
17. LEGAL ACTION 23
18. COMMON SEAL 23
19. INSURANCE 23
20. WINDING UP 23
21. PROXY/POSTAL/ELECTRONIC VOTING 24
APPENDIX: A 25
ARTICLES OF FAITH OF THE AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN CHURCHES
APPENDIX: B 28
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
APPENDIX: C 29
BIBLICAL GUIDELINES FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF ELDERS AND BOARD MEMBERS
APPENDIX: D 31
MEMBERSHIP
ADDENDUM: A 32
CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP
ADDENDUM: B 33
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
1. THE CHURCH
1.1 The name of the Church:
ARMIDALE COMMUNITY CHURCH INCORPORATED
Preamble:
This constitution replaces the prior constitution adopted on 12 December, 2000 and includes a redefinition of membership.
The trading name of the Church is Armidale Community Church Incorporated. In November, 2015 the Church was rebranded and is thereafter known as Armidale City Church. The name change was to signify the new season for the Church and a declaration of its desire to be relevant, uplifting and involved in the whole span of the city of Armidale. The Church maintains a heart to be a community but its vision is for the whole city.
1.2 Affiliation:
This Association/Church is affiliated member Church of the Australian Christian Churches. The United Constitution, National By-Laws, State By-Laws, and District Charter of the Australian Christian Churches are endorsed and accepted together with all National, State and District Conference decisions.
1.3 Withdrawal from Australian Christian Churches:
The Association/Church’s affiliation with the Australian Christian Churches may be revoked by a resolution carried by not less than seventy-five percent of the current Church membership.
1.4 Dissolution:
The Association/Church shall be dissolved if membership shall become less than five persons or the members may, at a meeting called only for that purpose, resolve to dissolve the Association/Church if such resolution is carried by a seventy-five percent majority.
Any such dissolution by reduced membership or any other means shall be settled in accordance with Clause 20 of this Constitution.
1.5 Non-Profit:
The assets and income of the church shall be applied solely in furtherance of the principal and secondary objects, and no portion shall be distributed directly or indirectly to the members of the church, except as a bona fide compensation for services rendered or expenses incurred on behalf of the organisation.
2. PRINCIPAL OBJECTS
2.1 To preach and teach and generally to further the cause of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to advance the Christian Faith in Australia and other Nations and to work for the building up and extension and renewal of the Christian Church.
2.2 To meet for the worship of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the preaching and teaching of the Word of God and the administration of the Sacraments mentioned in Clause 5 hereof.
2.3 To further and propagate the Christian Faith in Australia or elsewhere by the conduct of Evangelism or by the establishment of further Assemblies or missionary works with similar objectives.
2.4 To develop assistant ministers and to train Christian leaders to function within the Association/Church and throughout the world.
2.5 To render Spiritual oversight, care and assistance (whether material or otherwise) and such other help as may be deemed appropriate to meet the needs of Church members, those associated with the Church and as far as practicable, to all persons everywhere.
2.6 To make donations to assist, undertake the oversight of or in any way co-operate with other Churches, organisations, societies or individuals who have similar objects.
2.7 To provide some educational or other programs or institutions as will assist members to live whole and balanced lifestyles and to be a blessing to the society in which they live.
2.8 To be a co-operative fellowship of the Australian Christian Churches as defined in the United Constitution of the Australian Christian Churches (National Conference) from time to time.
2.9 To provide a Christian focused ministry for the relief of poverty, suffering, distress, misfortune and helplessness of people wheresoever found in Australia regardless of age, sex, race, ethnic background, religion, political beliefs or material status.
3. POWERS OF THE ORGANISATION
For the purpose of carrying out the Principal Objects in their spiritual and secular context, the Association/Church shall have the further powers as follows:
3.1 To collect and raise moneys for the purpose of purchasing or otherwise acquiring land and buildings.
3.2 To purchase, take on, lease, hire, exchange or acquire by gift or otherwise and to manage, sell, transfer, lease, hire, mortgage or otherwise dispose of, invest or deal with any real or personal property or any estate or interest therein.
3.3 To borrow or raise or secure the payment of money for the purposes of the Church whether the same shall have been borrowed or is intended to be borrowed on overdrawn account or otherwise in such manner and upon such terms and whether with or without security as may seem expedient.
3.4 The buying, selling, and/or supplying of, and dealing in, goods of all kinds.
3.5 The construction, maintenance, and alteration of buildings or works necessary or convenient for any of the objects or purposes of the Church.
3.6 To guarantee, indemnify, or receive payment, or act as Trustee on behalf of another body, association, company or person, as the Board deems appropriate.
3.7 To engage, conduct, enter into joint venture, partnership or contract with another body, association, company or person for such purpose as the Board deems appropriate.
3.8 To act as Trustee in respect of any trust, as the Church in general meeting may deem expedient.
3.9 The accepting of any gift whether subject to a special trust or not, for any one or more of the objects or purposes of the Church.
3.10 The taking of such steps from time to time as the Board or the Church in general meeting may deem expedient for the purposes of procuring contribution to the funds of the Church whether by way of donation, subscriptions or otherwise.
3.11 The printing and publishing of such newspapers, periodicals, books, leaflets, CD’s, multi -media or other documents as the Board or the Church in general meeting may think desirable for the promotion of the objects and purposes of the Church.
3.12 The making of gifts, subscriptions or donations to any fund, authority or institution or individual as determined by the Board.
3.13 The establishment and support or aiding in the establishment and support of associations, institutions, funds, trust schemes, and conveniences, calculated to benefit servants or past servants of the Church and their dependents, and the granting of pensions, allowances, or other benefits to servants or past servants of the Church and their dependents and the making of payments towards insurance to any of those purposes.
3.14 The establishment and support or aiding in the establishment or support of any other association formed for any of the basic objects of the Church.
3.15 Purchase or acquisition and undertaking of all or any part of the property, assets, liabilities and engagements of any Church or association with which the Church may at any time become amalgamated.
3.16 Subject to the provisions of the current State Trust Act, the investment of any moneys of the Association/Church not immediately required for any of its objects or purposes in such manner as the Board may from time to time determine.
3.17 The doing of all such other lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the objects.
4. DOCTRINAL BASIS
The Association/Church shall have such Doctrines as are expressed in the United Constitution of the Australian Christian Churches Article 4 from time to time.
See Appendix A.
5. MINISTRATIONS AND CEREMONIES
The following shall be observed as a Church ordinance or as commanded by the Holy Scriptures:
5.1 Baptism by single immersion in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit in respect to all those who have repented and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.
5.2 The Lord's Supper or Holy Communion.
5.3 The Dedication of infants and children.
5.4 Prayer for the sick upon their request with the anointing of oil and laying on of hands by the Eldership.
5.5 The ministry of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to those seeking the power of God.
5.6 The institution of marriage.
5.7 Funeral services shall be conducted
6. MEMBERSHIP
6.1 Conditions of voting Membership:
The members shall be deemed to be the following persons who have applied in writing through the application form at Appendix B and have been accepted at a correctly convened meeting of the governing Board.
The membership shall be deemed to be:
(a) The Senior Pastor of the Church.
(b) The Elders.
(c) The Board (if they are distinct from the Elders).
(d) Nominated Department Heads of the Church Departments who have been pre-endorsed by the Senior Pastor.
(e) Other Church Congregation members who in the opinion of the Elders are significant stakeholders in the church.
(f) The existing membership as at the time of adoption of the new version of the constitution on 23 April, 2017.
A right, privilege or obligation that a person has by reason of being a Member of the Association is not capable of being transferred or transmitted to another person, and terminates on cessation of the person’s membership.
An adherent or attendee of the Church is NOT a member, unless they meet the criteria set down in clause 6.1 (a) to (f), and have applied in writing.
See Addendum A.
6.2 Register of Members:
(a) The public officer of the Association/Church must establish and maintain a register of members of the association specifying the name and address of each person who is a member of the association together with the date on which the person became a member.