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Cook Islands Sessional Legislation |
COOK ISLANDS
COOK ISLANDS CHRISTIAN CHURCH INCORPORATION
AMENDMENT ACT 2003
ANALYSIS
Title
1. Short Title and Commencement
2. Interpretation
3. New Constitution
4. Private Act
Schedule
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2003, No. 1 - Private
An Act to replace the Constitution of the Cook Islands Christian Church
(10 November 2003
BE IT ENACTED by the Parliament of the Cook Islands in Session assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
1. Short Title and Commencement - (1) This Act may be cited as the Cook Islands Christian Church Incorporation Amendment Act 2003 and shall be read together with an deemed part of the Cook Islands Christian Church Incorporation Act 1968-69 ("the principal Act").
(2) This Act shall come into force on the date it is assented to by the Queen's Representative.
2. Interpretation - In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, -
"Cook Islands Christian Church" means the Christian Church body known as the Cook Islands Christian Church incorporated under the principal Act;
"Constitution" means the Constitution of the Cook Islands Christian Church.
3. New Constitution - The Constitution set out in the First Schedule to the principal Act is repealed and the Constitution set out in the Schedule to this Act is substituted.
4. Private Act - This Act is declared to be a private Act.
_____________
SCHEDULE
CONSTITUTION OF THE COOK ISLANDS CHRISTIAN CHURCH
ANALYSIS
PART I
THE CHURCH
1. Head of the Church
2. Name of the Church
3. Membership of the Church
PART II
FAITH AND BELIEF
4. The Faith of the Church
PART III
INTERPRETATION
5. Interpretation
PART IV
GOALS OF THE CHURCH
6. Goals of the Church
PART V
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
7. Establishment of General Assembly
8. Composition of the General Assembly
9. Powers and Functions of the General Assembly
10. Chairman of the General Assembly
11. Venue of each Session of the General Assembly
12. Secretary-General responsible for Administrative arrangements
13. Quorum
14. Decisions of General Assembly
15. Rules of Procedure
16. Language
17. Publication
PART VI
TE OROMETUA NGATEITEI
18. Appointment of Te Orometua Ngateitei
19. Functions of Te Orometua Ngateitei
PART VII
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
20. Establishment of the Executive Council
21. Powers and functions of Executive Council
22. Meetings of Executive Council
23. Suspension of members of Executive Council
PART VIII
COMMITTEES
24. Establishment of the Committees
25. Establishment and Powers of the Finance Planning and Evaluation Committee
26. Establishment of Committee of Ministers
27. Establishment of Disciplinary Committee
PART IX
THE SECRETARIAT
28. Establishment of Secretariat
PART X
EKALESIA
29. Ekalesia
30. Organisations
PART XI
FINANCE
31. Policy directives
32. Draft Programmes of Work and Budgets
33. Fiscal Year of General Assembly
34. Control of the funds of the Church
PART XII
TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
35. Existing Church Laws to Continue
36. Te Orometua Ngateitei, President, Secretary-General and Treasurer
37. Existing Ekalesias
38. Ministers, Pastors, Assistant Ministers and other Officials
PART XIII
AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION
39. Amendment to Constitution
40. Byelaws
41. Common Seal
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PART I
THE CHURCH
1. HEAD OF THE CHURCH - The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the Cook Islands Christian Church.
2. NAME OF THE CHURCH- (1) The name of the Church shall be the Cook Islands Christian Church (hereinafter called "the Church").
(2) The Headquarters of the Church shall be situated at Takamoa in the Island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands or at such other place as the General Assembly may by resolution decide.
3. MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHURCH - Any person who has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord of his/her life and has been accepted as a Member of a branch of the Church or an Ekalesia is a member of the Church.
PART II
FAITH AND BELIEF
4. THE FAITH OF THE CHURCH - The Bible reveals the facts of our faith, and is supported by Christian experience through the ages. We believe that God created the world and man, and that His purpose eternally is for man to live as His children; that He came into the world in Jesus Christ who lived and died and rose again for our salvation; and that He works still through the Holy Spirit so that all men may be brought into His Kingdom. We believe, that men can find everlasting life only through faith, which is shown in repentance, and through the forgiveness and grace, which God in His love offers to the world; and this new life in Christ means a continual obedience to the will of God. We believe that God calls His people together to form the Church, which lives to worship Him and proclaim His Gospel in word and deed. Until the end of all things when Christ will rule all men.
WE DO NOW HEREBY ESTABLISH ADOPT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES this Constitution which shall come into force on the 25th day of July 2003.
THE APOSTLE'S CREED
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: AND in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I BELIEVE in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the life everlasting. Amen.
THE NICENE CREED
(Promulgated by the Council at Nicea in 325 A.D.)
I BELIEVE in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible:
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, Begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God, Begotten, not made, Being of one substance with the Father, By whom all things were made: Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man, And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead: Whose kingdom shall have no end.
I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord and giver of life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who Spake by the Prophets. And I believe in one Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the Resurrection of the dead, And the life of the world to come. Amen.
PART III
INTERPRETATION
5. INTERPRETATION - In this Constitution unless the context otherwise requires -
"Assistant Minister" means any person who is elected by the Congregation of any Branch of the Church and who is approved by the Committee of Ministers under this Constitution to deputise for or act as a Minister while the Office of a Minister of an Ekalesia is vacant, or to assist or relieve the Minister of an Ekalesia;
"Bylaws" means any Bylaws made or enacted pursuant to this Constitution;
"Branch of the Church" means any Ekalesia or branch of the Church;
"Church" means the Cook Islands Christian Church established under this Constitution;
"Committee of Ministers" means the Committee of Ministers established under this Constitution;
"Constitution" means this Constitution and includes any amendments thereof;
"Disciplinary Committee" means the Disciplinary Committee appointed under this Constitution;
"Executive Council" means the governing and management body of the General Assembly established under this Constitution;
"Ekalesia" means a branch of the Church;
"Finance Planning and Evaluation Committee" means the Finance Planning and Evaluation Committee established under this Constitution;
"General Assembly" means the General Assembly of the Church established pursuant to this Constitution;
"Minister" means any Minister ordained as a Minister of the Church pursuant to the provisions of this Constitution;
"Principal Officers" includes the Orometua Ngateitei, members of the Executive Council, the Secretary-General, the Principal of Takamoa Theological College, Ministers or Pastors and members of any committee including officers of the General Assembly specifically designated by the General Assembly as Principal Officers;
"Secretary-General" means the appointed person for the time being holding the office of Secretary-General pursuant to this Constitution
PART IV
GOALS OF THE CHURCH
6. GOALS OF THE CHURCH - It shall be the sacred duty of the Church to seek for the attainment and fulfilment of God's Will through the following goals -
(a) To Preach Salvation
It is the work of the Church to preach the gospel to every creature and to expound the plan of salvation as taught in the Scriptures. Christ has made salvation possible by providing it, the Church must make it actual by proclaiming it.
(b) To Provide a Means of Worship
The Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour and Mediator founded the Church, a Divine institution, to continue His work on earth, an institution that possessed a divinely established system by which the congregation approached God in all the needs and crises of life. The Church likewise must be a house of prayer for all manner of people where God is honoured in worship, prayer and testimony.
(c) To Provide Religious Fellowship
Man is a social being; he craves fellowship and an exchange of friendship. He naturally assembles with those who share common interests. The Church provides a fellowship based on the Fatherhood of God, and the Lordship of Christ. It is a brotherhood or sisterhood of those who share a common spiritual experience.
In this world one of the strongest drawing features of the Church is the warmth and solidarity of fellowship - a fellowship where all earthly distinctions are obliterated and where men and women become brothers and sisters in Christ.
(d) To Hold up the Moral Standard
The Church is the "light of the world", to banish moral ignorance; it is the "salt of the earth", to preserve it from moral corruption. The Church must teach men how to live as well as to die. It must hold forth God’s plan for the regulation of all spheres of life and activity. Against the downward trends of society it must lift a warning voice; at all danger points it must plant a beacon light.
(e) Promotion of Aims and Objectives of Organisations
The Church shall so far as it is practicable and expedient, encourage, promote and advance the aims and objectives of any Organisation, whether or not associated with the Church, which has aims and objectives similar to those of the Church.
PART V
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
7. ESTABLISHMENT OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY - (1) There is hereby established a body of the Church to be called the General Assembly.
(2) The General Assembly shall be the supreme governing body of the Church.
(3) The executive authority of the Church shall be vested in the General Assembly.
8. COMPOSITION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - (1) The General Assembly shall consist of -
(a) The Executive Council;
(b) Chairperson of any of the Committees established under Section 24;
(c) Elected representatives of each branch of the Church as hereunder provided:
(i) Each Branch of the Church shall be entitled to appoint one official representative except in the case of the Avarua Ekalesia and the Arorangi Ekalesia which shall be entitled to appoint two official representatives each;
(ii) Each Branch of the Church may appoint an alternate and an advisor to accompany its official representatives at the General Assembly.
(2) The official representatives referred to in clause 8(c)(i) above hold office until replaced by the branch of the Church.
(3) Ministers shall be ex officio members of the General Assembly.
9. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - The General Assembly shall have the power generally to make rules or regulations or enact law (to be known as Bylaws) for the peace order and good government of the Church, and for such other purposes as are conducive to the attainment and fulfilment of the goals of the Church and the provisions of this Constitution. To this end, the General Assembly shall have the following specific powers and functions -
(a) To promote encourage and implement programs for the achievement of the Goals of the Church as outlined in Part IV of the Constitution, namely:
(i) to preach salvation;
(ii) to provide a means of worship;
(iii) to provide religious fellowship
(iv) to hold up the moral standards; and
(v) to promote and advance the aims of other organisation similar to that of the Church;
(b) To approve or terminate the appointment of “Te Orometua Ngateitei", any Minister and any Principal Officer of the Church;
(c) To determine the qualifications and the terms and condition of the appointment of Te Orometua Ngateitei, Ministers, Assistant Ministers and Principal Officers;
(d) To determine the rate of stipend, emolument and other payments to be paid to Te Orometua Ngateitei, Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Principal Officers and to such staff as rnay be employed by the Church;
(e) To approve the establishment or acceptance (whether within or outside of the Cook Islands) of any Branch of the
(f) To remove, terminate or dismiss any branch of Church or Ekalesia;
(g) To prescribe the structure, powers and functions of any Branch of the Church;
(h) To prescribe the powers and functions of any committees, auxiliary and subsidiary bodies, Ministers and Assistant Ministers, and Principal Officers;
(i) To promote co-operation with the National Organisation of Christian Churches, Governments, international Organisations and non-governmental organisations of a public or quasi-public character having common interests in the area, in matters within the competence of the General Assembly;
(j) To set standards of behaviour for its Principal Officers and members;
(k) To discharge such other functions as may be necessary for the promotion and advancement of the provisions of this Constitution;
(l) To establish such rules, bylaws, and regulations as required for the administration, management or control of the Church.
10. CHAIRMAN OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY - The Orometua Ngateitei shall be the chairman of the General Assembly and the General Assembly shall elect its Vice Chairman.
11. VENUE OF EACH SESSION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY - The General Assembly shall meet in Rarotonga or at such other place as shall be decided upon by the General Assembly or the Executive Council at least once every two years.
12. SECRETARY-GENERAL RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS - The Secretary-General shall be responsible for the administrative arrangements for meetings of the General Assembly and the Executive Council.
13. QUORUM - Sixty percent (60%) of the Branches of the Church entitled to attend and vote shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of the General Assembly.
14. DECISIONS OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY – The decisions of the General Assembly shall be taken in accordance with the following rules -
(a) The official representatives of the Branches of the Church shall make every effort to reach agreement on matters, other than procedural matters, by way of consensus and voting on such matters shall not be invoked by the person presiding at the meeting until all reasonable efforts at consensus have been exhausted:
(b) Each Branch of the Church shall have one vote except for Avarua and Arorangi which shall have two votes each;
(c) Procedural matters shall be decided by a simple majority of votes cast;
(d) Decisions on all other matters, including whether a matter is procedural, shall be decided by a simple majority of all the votes of the Branches of the Church present entitled to vote; or represented by a written proxy;
(e) Any Branch of the Church may abstain from voting on any issue or resolution in the General Assembly.
15. RULES OF PROCEDURE - Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the General Assembly may establish rules of procedure governing its operations including the operation of the Executive Council, any committees of the Church or its auxiliary and subsidiary bodies or of the Secretariat or generally for the purposes of carrying into effect the terms and spirit of this Constitution.
16. LANGUAGE - (1) The official language of the General Assembly and its auxiliary and subsidiary bodies shall include the Maori language as spoken in the Cook Islands and English.
(2) Notwithstanding subclause (1) of this Article, the General Assembly and its auxiliary and subsidiary bodies may authorise or approve the use of any other language.
17. PUBLICATION OF ANNUAL REPORTS - The Secretary General shall publish and transmit to the Branches of the Church an annual report on the activities of the General Assembly and the Executive Council including those of its auxiliary and subsidiary bodies.
PART VI
TE OROMETUA NGATEITEI
18. APPOINTMENT OF TE OROMETUA NGATEITEI- (1) There shall be appointed by the General Assembly a person who shall be known as “Te Orometua Ngateitei” and shall hold office for a term of four (4) years.
(2.) No person shall be eligible for appointment and consecration as "Te Orometua Ngateitei" of the Church unless -
(a) He is a graduate of Takamoa Theological College and/or such other recognised Christian Education Institution; and
(b) He has served as a Minister of the Church for a period of not less than 10 years immediately before his appointment as "Te Orometua Ngateitei" of the Church; and
(c) Such other qualifications as the General Assembly may prescribe.
(3) The appointment of the Orometua Ngateitei shall cease if he -
(a) Resigns by writing under his hand and delivered to the General Secretary;
(b) Is convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment for a term of one year or more;
(c) Becomes of unsound mind and is so certified by two medical officers;
(d) Renounces publicly the faith of the Church.
19. FUNCTIONS OF TE OROMETUA NGATEITEI - The "Te Orometua Ngateitei" shall be -
(a) The temporal and religious head of the Church responsible for the observance, teaching, expansion and growth of the beliefs and aims and objects of the Church;
(b) The Chairman of the General Assembly and the Executive Council.
PART VII
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
20. ESTABLISHMENT OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL - (1) There is hereby established an Executive Council of the Church which shall consist of -
(a) The persons for the time being holding the offices of Te Orometua Ngateitei, the Secretary General and the Treasurer, respectively;
(b) One member elected by the General Assembly to represent the Overseas Branches of the Church;
(c) One member elected by the General Assembly to represent the Church Branches in the Southern Group of the Cook Islands;
(d) One member elected by the General Assembly to represent the Church Branches in the Northern Group of the Cook Islands;
(e) One member elected by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Rarotonga Church Council;
(f) The Legal Advisor for the time being of the Cook Islands Christian Church;
(g) The Principal for the time being of Takamoa Theological College;
(h) A representative of the Committee of Ministers;
(i) Such other members of the Church as the General Assembly may elect.
(2) All members of the Executive Council shall hold office for the term of four (4) years and shall be eligible for re-election.
(3) The Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council shall be one of the members of the Executive Council so elected.
(4) The quorum for any meeting of the Executive Council shall be five (5) persons one of whom shall be either the Chairman or the Secretary General.
21. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL - (1) The Executive Council shall have and exercise powers and authorities of the General Assembly in between meetings of the Assembly including the power to establish ad hoc bodies and or committees.
(2) All decisions made by the Executive Council shall by virtue of this Article, be deemed to have been made by the General Assembly.
22. MEETINGS OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL - (1) The Chairman of the Executive Council shall be Te Orometua Ngateitei and he shall preside at all meetings of the Council and whenever he is unable to preside at any meeting the Deputy Chairman shall preside and if either is unable to preside then the members present at the meeting shall elect one of their members to be the Chairman for the meeting.
(2) The Executive Council shall meet at such times and places as the Chairman or Deputy Chairman may determine provided that any two members of the Executive Council may by notice in writing delivered to the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman cause a meeting of the Executive Council to be convened within seven (7) days from the date that the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman received such notice.
(3) The Executive Council shall meet at least once every month.
(4) The quorum for any meeting of the Executive Council shall be not less than five (5) members.
(5) Every decision of the Executive Council shall be decided by a simple majority of the votes cast by the members present at the meeting and the Chairman shall have a deliberative as well as a casting vote in the event of an equality of votes cast at the meeting.
(6) Every decision of the Executive Council decided by a simple majority of the votes cast at the meeting shall be binding on all the members of the Executive Council whether or not the member voted against the decision or was absent from the meeting at which the decision was made.
(7) The proceedings and decisions of the Executive Council shall be strictly confidential and no disclosure of any kind whatsoever shall be made by any member of the Executive Council unless the Executive Council so directs in which case the sole official channel for the disclosure shall be the Secretary-General.
(8) The Executive Council shall determine its own procedure.
23. SUSPENSION OF MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL - The Executive Council may, if it considers the behaviour or conduct of any member of the Executive Council to be prejudicial to the best interests of the work and functions of the Executive Council suspend such member for such period and upon such conditions as the Executive Council may deem necessary.
PART VIII
COMMITTEES
24. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEES - To assist the General Assembly in its work, the following Committees shall be set up -
(a) a Finance Planning and Evaluation Committee with the functions specified in Article 25;
(b) a Committee of Ministers with the functions specified in Article 26;
(c) a Disciplinary Committee with the functions specified in Article 27;
(d) such other committees as the General Assembly or the Executive Council may consider necessary.
25. ESTABLISHMENT AND POWERS OF THE FINANCE PLANNING AND EVALUATION COMMITTEE - (1) There is hereby established a Committee to be known as the Finance Planning and Evaluation Committee which shall consist of not less than three (3) nor more than five (5) persons appointed by the General Assembly, who shall appoint the Treasurer who shall else be the Chairman of the committee. The Secretary-General shall also be an ex officio member of the committee.
(2) The members of the Committee shall hold office for a term of four (4) years and shall be eligible for re-appointment for a further term or terms of four (4) years each.
(3) The Committee shall hold its meetings at least six (6) times a year at such places and times as the Chairman may determine.
(4) The quorum for any meeting of the Committee shall be three (3) of the appointed members personally present.
(5) Every matter or question before the Committee shall be decided by a majority of the votes of those present.
(6) In addition to any powers which may be conferred upon it by By-laws, the Committee shall -
(a) implement all resolution passed by the General Assembly concerning the Church's finances;
(b) ensure the proper and efficient management of the Church’s finances;
(c) evaluate the effectiveness of the work programme currently being implemented;
(d) examine the draft work programme and draft or budgets (other than the administrative budget) presented by the Treasurer in accordance with Article 32;
(e) prepare and develop the annual budget for the Church for approval by the Executive Council and or General Assembly;
(f) preparation of annual financial reports and arranging for the audit of account;
(g) exercise or perform such other powers or functions as the General Assembly or Executive Council may determine.
26. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS - (1) There is hereby established a Committee of Ministers of the Church which shall comprise of five (5) Ministers appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Executive Council, one of which shall be Te Oremetua Ngateitei who shall be Chairman.
(2) The Committee members shall hold office for a term of four (4) years and shall be eligible for re-appointment for a further term or terms of four (4) years each,
(3) The Committee shall hold its meetings at least once every month at such places and times as the Chairman may determine.
(4) The quorum for any meeting of the Committee shall be three (3) of the appointed members personally present.
(5) Every matter or question before the Committee shall be decided by a majority of the votes of those present.
(6) In addition to any powers which may be conferred upon it the Committee shall –
(a) review, study, research and address current theological, doctrinal and biblical issues affecting the Church and may make recommendations of its findings to the General Assembly or the Executive Council;
(b) review Church literature as required;
(c) recommend and implement training workshops for the Church;
(d) exercise or perform such other functions as shall be referred to it by the General Assembly, Executive Council or Te Orometua Ngateitei.
27. ESTABLISHMENT OF DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE - (1) There is hereby established a Committee to be known as a Disciplinary Committee which shall consist of a layman member, one Minister, and the Solicitor or the person for the time being acting as Legal Advisor to the Church appointed by the General Assembly. Members of the Executive Council (other than the Legal Advisor) shall not be eligible to be appointed on the Disciplinary Committee.
(2) The Legal Advisor to the Church shall be the Chairman.
(3) The Disciplinary Committee shall hold office for a term of four (4) years and shall be eligible for re-appointment for a further term or terms of four (4) years each.
(4) The Disciplinary Committee shall hold its meetings at such places and times as the Chairman may determine.
(5) The quorum for any meeting of the Disciplinary Committee shall be two (2), one of whom shall be the Chairman.
(6) In addition to any powers which may be conferred upon it by By-laws the Disciplinary Committee shall have the following powers -
(a) to inquire into any complaint, referred to it by the Executive Council, affecting any Minister or Assistant Minister, or other person holding any office on behalf of the Church or any Branch of it;
(b) to inquire when requested by the Executive Council, into the behaviour, conduct, ability, fitness and competence of any Minister or Assistant Minister;
(c) to suspend any Minister or Assistant Minister upon such terms and conditions as it considers necessary, pending the result of an inquiry;
(d) to make recommendations to the Executive Council to terminate the appointment of a Minister or Assistant Minister;
(e) to inquire into the behaviour, conduct, ability fitness and competence of any Principal Officer or staff and to make such recommendation as may be necessary to the Secretary-General or to the appropriate authority;
(f) to investigate into any complaint of misappropriation of any Church Fund;
(g) exercise or perform such powers or functions as the General Assembly may determine.
PART IX
SECRETARIAT
28. ESTABLISHMENT OF SECRETARIAT - (1) There is hereby established a Secretariat to serve the General Assembly and the Executive Council.
(2) The Secretariat shall be in the charge of and under the administrative control of the Secretary General who shall be the Chief Executive Officer.
PART X
EKALESIA
29. EKALESIA - There shall be branches of the Church each called an Ekalesia which shall have a Minister, Deacons and other officers as shall be defined by the General Assembly.
30. ORGANISATIONS - An Ekalesia may form the following organisations -
(a) Women's Fellowship;
(b) Youth Organisation;
(c) Uniform Organisation;
(d) Sunday School; and
(e) such other organisation as may be approved by the General Assembly or the Executive Council.
PART XI
FINANCE
31. POLICY DIRECTIVES - (1) The General Assembly or Executive Council shall from time to time direct the Treasurer as to the policy to be followed in the preparation of the work programme and budget of the Church.
(2) Such policy directive shall contain instructions on the preparation and control of long-term projects of the Church.
32. DRAFT PROGRAMMES OF WORK AND BUDGETS - (1) The Treasurer shall prepare, in consultation at the option of the Treasurer with the Principal Officers of the Church and any Ekalesia as may be necessary, a draft annual work programme, draft budget or budgets and budget forecast for as many of the succeeding years as the General Assembly may determine.
(2) The Treasurer shall circulate the draft work programme, draft budget or budgets and budget forecast to the Finance Planning and Evaluation Committee and to all Ekalesias or branches of the Church no later than one (1) month before the meeting of the General Assembly at which the drafts will be considered.
(3) The Finance Planning and Evaluation Committee shall examine the draft work programme, draft budget or budgets (other than administrative budget) and budget forecast circulated by the Treasurer and report on them to the plenary meeting of the General Assembly.
33. FISCAL YEAR OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY - The fiscal year of the General Assembly shall be from the 1st day of January to the 31st day of December of each year or such other period as the General Assembly may determine.
34. CONTROL OF THE FUNDS OF THE CHURCH - (1) Subject to the directions of the General Assembly or the Executive Council the Treasurer shall be responsible for the control of the funds of the Church and of its auxiliary and subsidiary bodies and for the accounting of all outgoings and expenditure of the Church. The Treasurer shall also ensure that the annual accounts or financial statements of the Church are audited.
(2) Audited statements of accounts for each fiscal year shall be forwarded by the Treasurer to each participating Ekalesia no later than the 31st day of March after the close of the fiscal year or such other period as the General Assembly may determine.
PART XII
TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
35. EXISTING CHURCH LAWS TO CONTINUE - Subject to the provisions of this Constitution-
(a) All existing Church laws, rules, bylaws, regulations or decisions shall, until repealed or superseded by this Constitution, continue in force;
(b) All rights obligations and liabilities arising under the existing Church laws shall continue to exist and shall be recognised, exercised and enforced accordingly.
36. TE OROMETUA NGATEITEI SECRETARY-GENERAL AND TREASURER - The persons respectively holding the offices of Te Orometua Ngateitei, Secretary-General, Treasurer and Principal Officers of the Church immediately before the coming into force of this Constitution shall continue to hold such offices subject to the terms of this Constitution.
37. EXISTING EKALESIAS - Each branch of the Church or Ekalesia listed in the Schedule to this Constitution shall be the Ekalesias of the Church at the coming into force of this Constitution.
38. MINISTERS, PASTORS, ASSISTANT MINISTERS AND OTHER OFFICIALS - Each Principal Officer of the Church immediately before the coming into force of this Constitution shall continue to hold such positions under and subject to the provisions of this Constitution.
PART XIII
AMENDMENTS OF CONSTITUTION
39. AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION - (1) The General Assembly shall be empowered to amend, modify, extend or replace this Constitution or any provision of the Constitution provided that any resolution to amend, modify, amend or replace this Constitution shall -
(a) be circulated to all branches of the Church or Ekalesias at least six months prior to the holding of the General Assembly meeting to discuss the resolution, and
(b) be passed by at least two-thirds of all the branches of the Church or Ekalesias (whether present at the meeting of the General Assembly or not).
(2) The Secretary-General shall on the passage of any amendment, modification, extension or replacement of this Constitution advise all Ekalesia of such change.
(3) The General Assembly shall also be determined the date when the change shall come into effect.
40. REGULATIONS OR BY-LAWS - (1) The General Assembly may establish such rules, regulations or by-laws for the administration, management or control of the Church and its operation or activities.
(2) The General Assembly shall also determine the date when such rule, regulation or by-law shall come into force.
41. COMMON SEAL - (1) There shall be a Common Seal of the Church and shall be in such form or forms as the General Assembly may from time to time by resolution approve.
(2) The Common Seal shall be in the custody of Te Orometua Ngateitei and may be used by Te Orometua Ngateitei for the authentication of any public document in relation to the government of the Church or for the execution of any document required by law to be executed under the Seal of the Church.
(3) Judicial notice shall be taken of the Common Seal of the Church in all Courts and tribunals in the Cook Islands.
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SCHEDULE
(Article 37)
COOK ISLANDS EKALESIAS
Rarotonga
1. AVARUA CICC EKALESIA
2. NIKAO CICC EKALESIA
3. ARORANGI CICC EKALESIA
4. TITIKAVEKA CICC EKALESIA
5. NGATANGIIA CICC EKALESIA
6. MATAVERA CICC EKALESIA
Aitutaki
1. AUTANGA CICC EKALESIA
2. VAIPAE CICC EKALESIA
3. TAUTU CICC EKALESIA
Mangaia
1. ONEROA CICC EKALESIA
2. IVIRUA CICC EKALESIA
3. TAMARUA CICC EKALESIA
Mauke
l. OIRETUMU CICC EKALESIA
2. KIMIANGATAU CICC EKALESIA
Atiu CICC Ekalesia
Mitiaro CICC Ekalesia
Manihiki
1. TAUHUNU CICC EKALESIA
2. TUKAO CICC EKALESIA
Rakahanga CICC Ekalesia
1. OMOKA CICC EKALESIA
2. TETAUTUA CTCC EKALESIA
Pukapuka CICC Ekalesia
Nassau CICC Ekalesia
Palmerston Island CICC Ekalesia
NEW ZEALAND EKALESIAS
Auckland
1. OTARA CICC EIKALESIA
2. SOUTH AUCKLAND CICC EKALESIA
3, OTAHUHU CICC EKALESIA
4. EAST TAMAKI CICC EKALESIA
5. OTARA CENTRAL CICC EKALESIA
6. MANGERE CTCC (In NZ) EKALESIA
7. AUCKLAND CITY CICC EKALESIA
8. MAUNGAREI CICC EKALESIA
Wellington
1. EKALESIA KERESITIANO O TE KUKI AIRANI CICC EKALESIA (EKKA - PORIRUA)
2.PORIRUA CICC (in NZ) EKALESIA
Hastings CICC Ekalesia
Rotorua CICC Ekalesia
Hamilton CICC Ekalesia
Palmerston North CICC Ekalesia
Christchurch CICC Ekalesia
Southland CICC Ekalesia
AUSTRALIA EKALESIAS
Sydney
1. BELARA CICC EKALESIA
2. LIVERPOOL CICC EKALESIA
3. DULWICH HILL CICC EKALESIA
Melbourne
1. BAILKARA CICC EKALESIA
2. RESERVOIR CICC EKALESIA
3. DANDENONG CICC EKALESIA
Cairns
1. WESTCOURT CJCC EKALESIA
2. WHITE ROCK CICC EKALESIA
Brisbane CICC Ekalesia
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