By Phillip McCallum
Director of Administrative Services
One item that will be on the agenda at Assembly is the approval of the proposed new constitution for The Baptist Union of Queensland. You may recall the story behind this – last year’s Annual Assembly suspended those parts of the constitution which contradicted the outcomes of the QB Review recommendations, so we could begin to implement those changes. We committed to bringing a new constitution to the following Annual Assembly that took into account all the changes. In February, we gave notice of motion that we intended to introduce the new constitution at Assembly in April, and then of course that meeting was postponed. So, notice has been served, and now Assembly will be held on 30th October, and the matter will be back on the agenda.
However, a few issues have been reviewed since last February, and as a consequence, the constitution we wish to approve has been changed slightly from the one presented when we last served notice. As a consequence, we have given a new notice of motion based on the constitution we now intend to present. The full wording of the new constitution is available on the QB web site and can be found by clicking here.
The latest changes are confined to three areas only and are detailed below.
1
Removal of Eldership Reference
The purpose of the Board is reworded specifically to remove the phrase “operate as an eldership” due to potential confusion associated with the use of the simile. Instead the wording ought to directly describe how the Board is to operate.
2
Define Associate Churches
The term “Churches in Formation” or “Formation Churches” was used in the previously proposed constitution, although the term was regarded by the committee as a place-holder until such time as the proper name could be identified. Going back through history, these churches have been termed “Phase 1” and “Phase 2” Churches in the current constitution, and earlier still were referred to as “Fellowships”.
The Board is now recommending the use of the term “Associate Churches” and has added wording changes to clarify the meaning of this term.
The new section of the constitution is proposed as follows:  |
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B2.05 Associate Churches The Board may recognise a group of people who meet regularly in worship and witness as an Associate Church upon receipt of a written application. Associate Churches shall be Baptistic in nature but not full constituent members of QB. |
B2.05 (a) For general guidance – Associate Churches shall have established a constitution, appointed leaders, and shall have undertaken the processes to be recognised as a religious entity by the Charities Commission. |
B2.05 Associate Churches The Board may recognise a group of people who meet regularly in worship and witness as an Associate Church upon receipt of a written application. Associate Churches shall be Baptistic in nature but not full constituent members of QB. |
B2.05 (b) Associate Churches shall implement a membership at least with responsibility for the appointment of leaders and the oversight of property matters. |
B2.05 (c) The Board may withdraw recognition of Associate Churches at any time. |
B2.05 (d) QB Services may provide services to Associate Churches. |
B2.05 (e) The pastoral leader(s) of an Associate Church shall submit to a suitable form of recognition through Ministerial Services, but will not be eligible for registration as a Minister. |
B2.05 (f) For clarity – Associate Churches are NOT Members of QB. |
3
Other forms of ministerial recognition
There is a desire for Ministers leading Associate Churches to be recognised through Ministerial Services so their role will have some of the attributes of a Registered Minister, but stopping short of requiring full registration. The intention is for the details of this recognition to be specified in the Registration Guidelines document. This clause is added to enable this to occur.
It is noted that the same clause will give constitutional support for the handling of “retired ministers” as it has already been implemented, in that retired ministers are recognised but not registered as they are not required to be serving in a QB context and have a current Personal
Ministry Development Plan.
The proposed clause is as follows:
B3.04 The Board may approve Ministerial Services Committee to manage other recognition categories specified in the registration policy, provided people recognised by these processes are not referred to as “registered” and are not members of QB.
Sign up to attend Assembly
The Assembly will be a COVID-safe event. Social distancing will be encouraged. Please note that you need to register with us by Sunday night, 25th October. A COVID-Safe Management Plan will be in place for the event. Registration is more important than at any previous Assembly, so please take this seriously!
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