By-laws
The South Australian Council of Churches Incorporated
BY-LAWS (October 2009)
Various Recommendations in relation to the implementation of the new Constitution (approved December 2007) were accepted at SA Council of Churches Annual General Meeting in March 2008 and tabled for information at the first AGM of the new General Council in October 2008.
Some of the Recommendations required the development of by-laws to assist with the understanding, application and processes around the new Constitution and Core Purpose. These were considered and accepted at the meeting of the General Council on 17 October 2009. [Refer: Clause 16 of the Constitution: The General Council shall approve by-laws to cover detailed procedures for the functioning of SACC.]
1. GENERAL COUNCIL: MEMBER CHURCHES’ REPRESENTATION (refer Clause 8.2 of the Constitution)
a. Members of the South Australian Council of Churches
Anglican Church of Australia, Diocese of Adelaide
Anglican Church of Australia, Diocese of The Murray
Anglican Church of Australia, Diocese of Willochra
Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide
Catholic Diocese of Port Pirie
Churches of Christ in South Australia/Northern Territory
Coptic Orthodox Church, Diocese of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia – District of SA and NT
Lutheran Church of Australia - South Australia and Northern Territory District
Religious Society of Friends South Australia Regional Meeting
Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Australia and New Zealand – SA Parish
Salvation Army South Australian Division
St Urael Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church in South Australia Inc
Uniting Church in Australia - Synod of South Australia
b. Appointments
Each Member Church may appoint up to 3 representatives to General Council. In addition, the head of each Member Church may form part of the General Council. This equal basis of appointment is to reflect that we are a discipleship of equals in Christ.
Appointments are for a period of two years.
Member Churches will be invited in July as necessary to make appointments.
2. STANDING COMMITTEES (refer Clause 8.9 of the Constitution)
General Council may establish Standing Committees to reflect the four Priorities of SACC and other needs as required and that Standing Committees will be listed in the By-Laws of SACC. A Standing Committee is a permanent/ongoing and regular meeting of people, the majority of whom are appointed/endorsed by Member Churches, to ensure the accomplishment of particular aspects of the Priorities of SACC.
Priorities 2007 - 2012
1. Formation and Education for Leadership in Ecumenism in the Spirit of Christ
2. Conversations to advance Christian Unity and to deepen the churches place in culture and society
3. Ecumenical Partnership in the Mission of Christ
4. Pastoral Care and Support to Witnesses of Ecumenism
The following are Standing Committees of the Council:
1. Standing Committee for Ecumenical Learning (Priority 1)
2. Standing Committee for Local Ecumenism (Priority 2)
3. Standing Committee for Christian World Service (Priority 3)
For the four Priorities to be effective, relationships at the various layers of Church are required. It is also recognized that the work of a Standing Committee may straddle more than one Priority.
Priority 4 does not currently have a Standing Committee but is animated by how we act in our everyday lives and being aware of what joys/anxieties are happening in the lives of one another, in our communities and in our world.
Project Groups may be established from time to time in response to the Core Purpose of SACC. eg Theology, Welfare and Spirituality Network, Disability Issues Task Group. Sometimes a project group will be proposed from the people in our churches, sometimes they will be established by a Standing Committee. All will be identified as having a focus on at least one priority and will report accordingly.
3. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES/TERMS OF REFERENCE
See document “Terms of Reference: Standing Committees and Related Bodies” which was considered and accepted in principle by General Council in October 2008, with a review to be held within 24 months.
4. APPOINTMENTS TO SACC: CRITERIA FOR APPOINTMENT
SACC invites the Member Churches to appoint people whose gifts and skills would demonstrate two or more of the following:
o theological awareness
o capacity for ecumenical attitudes/ways of being
o openness to others and a desire to grow and change
o sense of service
o people with ability/potential to develop a good relationship with the local church
o capacity for strategic planning and review.
It is assumed that all who are appointed will be people who have a commitment to, appreciation for and knowledge of one’s own tradition.
Diversity
a. As well as people in parishes/congregations, SACC encourages the Member Churches to consider appointing people working in our Churches in areas such as:
o Welfare
o Health
o Education
o Finance/Property
o Other ecumenical organisations
These areas would provide a different range of people as well as leading us towards a possible conversation on ecumenism in these aspects of the life of the church.
b. In considering the appointments, the Executive Committee would be aware of diversity of:
o life experience
o age
o gender
and would seek to ensure that overall SACC reflects the diversity of God’s people in South Australia.
5. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SA COUNCIL OF CHURCHES INC AND NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN AUSTRALIA
Any Church which at national level is a member of the NCCA shall be granted membership of the Council.