The Constitution of Christ Church Bangkok

THE CONSTITUTION OF

CHRIST CHURCH BANGKOK

Approved by the Annual General Meeting, 9th March 1997 and amended on 5th March 2000

PREAMBLE

The Chaplaincy system was founded to meet the needs of Christians residing overseas. They were usually of one racial group and they wished to maintain the worship of the Christian Church in the manner to which they had been accustomed at home. Many such Chaplaincies were established throughout Asia, and many catered for the needs of more than one Christian denomination.

Most of these Chaplaincies have now developed into branches of the indigenous Church, seeking to serve the needs of Christians of all races and often of different languages. This change is found, for example, without exception, throughout Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.

It is therefore proposed by means of this constitution to recognize that this natural and logical development is also taking place at Christ Church, Bangkok, where men, women and children of all races are welcomed, At the same time the place of Christ Church in the fellowship of the Church in South East Asia (in our case, the Anglican diocese of Singapore) is acknowledged.

This in no way affects the duty of Christ Church - its Incumbent and people - in giving opportunities for all Protestants to worship in the Church. The terms of the Royal Gift, that Christ Church should be a place of worship "for all Protestants at present days and future", will continue to be observed and the Incumbent will always be ready to make special provisions where necessary as in the past, for non-Anglican worshippers, and non-Anglican Protestants of good standing in their own denomination will continue to be entitled to full communion in the life of Christ Church.

To this end, the congregation resolves that:

l. Christ Church is a parish in the Anglican Episcopal Church of Thailand, the Diocese of Singapore, and the Church in the Province of South East Asia, part of the world-wide Anglican Communion.

2. The Incumbent shall be known as the Vicar of Christ Church and shall be licensed and appointed by the Bishop at the invitation of the Parochial Church Council (hereafter, PCC).

3. The Parish of Christ Church shall take its place within the family of the diocese through its representatives at Synod and within the Deanery through its representatives on the Deanery Council. It will look to the Bishop and Synod and to the Dean and Council for guidance and authority in all lawful matters; the Diocese and Deanery taking care to recognize and guarantee the unique position, privileges, and responsibilities of Christ Church, Bangkok, as a churh for all Protestant Christians worshipping on land granted for that purpose by H.M. King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, which position, privileges, and responsibilities are defined in the Constitution of the Anglican/Episcopal Church ot Thailand (Section 5.02).

4. The Parish of Christ Church shall consist of the English-language congregation, the 'l'hai-speaking congregation, and other language congregations as may be established at the discretion of the PCC. The PCC may allow each congregation to maintain a Management Council to be chaired by the Vicar’s appointee, and reporting to the PCC.

ARTICLE I
THE ELECTORAL ROLL OF THE PARISH

1. Baptised persons, aged 16 years or over, who are members in good standing of another Christian church, upon application to the Vicar shall be enrolled by him on the Electoral Roll of Christ Church.

2. Persons aged 16 or over who are baptised at Christ Church (or baptised elsewhere by one of the clergy of Christ Church) shall be automatically enrolled by the Vicar on the Electoral Roll of the parish as well as in the Baptismal Register.

3. The Electoral Roll of the parish shall be revised annually. Persons listed on the Electoral Roll of the parish who desire to continue on the Electoral Roll shall signify that fact by re-enrolling in person at some time within the three calendar months preceding the Annual General Meeting.

(a) Persons who have been on the Electoral Roll for the preceding year and fail to re-enroll within the three months preceding the Annual General Meeting shall be kept for the following year on a List of Un-enrolled Members, provided that they have not otherwise indicated to the Vicar that they wish to withdraw from membership in the church.

(b) Persons whose names are on the List of Un-enrolled Members for a given year shall be invited to re-enroll during the normal three months’ re-enrollment period preceding the next Annual General Meeting. If they do not choose to re-enroll at that time, their names shall be dropped from the List of Un-enrolled Members.

(c) Persons whose names have been dropped from the Electoral Roll and the List of Un-enrolled Members pursuant to Article I, Sec. 3 (a) and (b), above, may be restored to the Electoral Roll of the parish upon application to the Vicar under the terms of Article I, Sec. l, above, provided that no such applications shall be received within the calendar month preceding the Annual General Meeting.

ARTICLE II
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

1. There shall be held annually, not later in the year than the fourth Sunday after Easter, the Annual General Meeting of those whose names are on the current Electoral Roll of Christ Church Parish.

(a) Announcement of the Annual General Meeting shall be conveyed by the Chairman (the Vicar) or, in the case of a vacancy in the Incumbency by the Churchwardens, by means of a notice to be affixed on or near the main door of Christ Church for a period including the two Sundays immediately preceding the date of the meeting and by means of an announcement to be distributed by hand or sent by post to all persons whose names appear on the Electoral Roll.

(b) The Annual General Meeting shall be held at such a place and on such a date and at such an hour as shall be directed by the PCC or in the absence of any such directions, as shall be appointed by the Chairman.

(d) During a vacancy in the Incumbency of the parish, or when the Chairman is incapacitated by illness or any other cause, the Vicar's Warden or if there be no Vicar's Warden, or if he shall be unable or unwilling to act, then the People’s Warden or some other person appointed by the PCC shall have all the powers vested in the Chairman under Article II of this Constitution.

2. The purpose of the Annual General Meeting shall be as follows:

(a) To receive from the PCC:

(i) A report on the work of the parish by the Vicar, together with a presentation of plans and priorities for the coming year.

(ii) A report on the financial status of the parish by the Hon. Treasurer.

(iii) The audited accounts of the parish for the year ending 31st December immediately preceding the meeting.

(iv) A report upon the fabric, goods, and ornaments of Christ Church by the Churchwardens.

(v) An estimate of the cost of maintaining the buildings and grounds of the church and providing for the ministries of the church for the current year presented by the Churchwardens.

(b) To receive from the Vicar the nomination of a Vicar's Warden, and to elect a People's Warden.

(d) To elect eight other lay persons to be members of the PCC.

(e) Names of candidates to be office bearers or to be members of the PCC must be on the Electoral Roll of Christ Church at least one month prior to the Annual General Meeting. Candidates shall be nominated in writing to the Secretary of the Parochial Church Council at least three weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to ensure that printed information regarding each candidate shall be made available in the Church for at least two Sundays preceding the Annual General Meeting. This information shall include each candidate's name, occupation, number of years in Christ Church, listing of other church offices held here or elsewhere, and projected length of stay in Bangkok.

3. Copies of all reports and proposals required under Article II, Section 2(a) of this Constitution shall be made available in the church two weeks before the Annual General Meeting, and shall be open for free discussion before they are proposed for adoption.

4. It shall be open to any member of the meeting to ask any question about parochial church matters or to bring about a discussion in any matter of parochial or general church interest by moving a general resolution or by making any particular recommendation to the Council concerning the fulfillment of its duties.

5. Names of candidates for election as office bearers or as members of the PCC may be proposed from the floor during the Annual General Meeting, provided {1} that such nominations are made and seconded by persons whose names are on the Electoral Roll of the parish and, {2} that the information in writing described in Article II, Section 2(e) of this Constitution is immediately distributed to members of the meeting.

6. At every election, every person whose name is on the Electoral Roll of Christ Church is entitled to vote. Persons eligible to vote who are unable to be present may secure an absentee ballot from the Secretary of the Parochial Church Council. Such ballots will include only the names of those who have been nominated in writing in accordance with Article II, Section 2(e) of this Constitution.

7. Voting at the Annual General Meeting shall be by secret ballot. The eight persons who receive the eight highest shares of the total number of votes cast shall be elected as members of the PCC. In the event of a tie-vote between candidates in eighth place, the Vicar shall cast the tie-breaking vote.

8. Except as provided in Article II, Section 7 (above), no licensed clergy shall vote in the election of office bearers or members of the Parochial Church Council.

9. Forty persons whose names are on the Electoral Roll of the Parish shall be a quorum.

ARTICLE III
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

1. In addition to the Annual General Meeting, the Chairman or Churchwardens may convene an Extraordinary General Meeting, provided that he or they must do so on receipt of a written petition signed by not fewer than forty persons whose names are on the Electoral Roll of Christ Church.

2. The provisions of the rules relating to the convening. conduct, membership, and quorum of the Annual General Meeting described in Article II of this Constitution shall, with the necessary modifications regarding agenda, also apply to an Extraordinary General Meeting.

ARTICLE IV
COMPOSITION OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

1. The Parochial Church Council (PCC) shall consist of:

(a) The Vicar of Christ Church

(b) Other licensed priests and deaconesses appointed by the Bishop, without voting rights.

(d) The Hon. Treasurer and Hon. Secretary

(e) The eight lay members elected at the Annual General Meeting, provided that the PCC shall have power, if up to four members resign, to appoint persons to replace those members.

(f) One representative from each Management Council.

2. Chairmanship of the PCC

(a) The Vicar shall be Chairman of the PCC

(b) The Vicar’s Warden shall be Vice-chairman of the PCC.

(d) In the absence of both Chairman and Vice-chairman, the People’s Warden shall preside.

3. A quorum shall consist of 4 elected lay members and either Churchwarden.

ARTICLE V
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

1. It shall be the primary duty of the PCC to cooperate with the Vicar in the initiation, conduct and development of Christian ministries both within the Parish and outside it. In particular, the PCC shall be charged with the following:

(a) To recommend a new Incumbent for appointment by the Bishop and to conclude with the new Incumbent his terms of service.

(b) To review and act upon proposals of the Vicar which have met with the approval of the PCC.

(c) The conduct of the financial affairs of Christ Church including the collection and administration of all moneys which may be raised for Church purposes, and the keeping of accounts in relation to such affairs and moneys.

(d) The care, maintenance, preservation, and insurance of all the property and grounds of Christ Church, and the goods and ornaments thereof.

(e) The presentation of a report to the Annual General Meeting on its proceedings and on the financial affairs of the parish.

(f) In consultation with the Vicar, the employment of such staff as may be necessary for the effective administration of the affairs of Christ Church and responsibility for the appointment or dismissal of such staff and for their terms of employment.

(g) The appointment, in consultation with the Vicar, of such commissions, committees, or persons as shall be considered necessary for the assistance of the PCC in carrying out its duties.

(h) The appointment, in consultation with the Vicar, of an Electoral Roll Officer, if that be deemed necessary by the PCC.

ARTICLE VI
GENERAL

1. The PCC shall normally hold meetings monthly except that not more than two months shall elapse between meetings.

2. Any member of the PCC who is absent for more than three consecutive meetings without good and valid reason shall automatically cease to be a member of the PCC. The validity of any PCC member‘s excuse for absence from more than 3 consecutive meetings shall be determined by a vote of the PCC upon a request from either Churchwarden.

3. This Constitution may be amended only by an Annual General Meeting or by an Extraordinary General Meeting.

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APPROVED:

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The Most Rev, Dr. Moses Tay, Bishop of Singapore

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Date

AMENDMENTS

1. The Constitution was amended at the AGM held on 5/3/2000 by deleting the words: on the forms provided in the church from Article I, paragraph 3, line 3 immediately after the word "person".