1962-HKRS28-8-29_Part01 — Page 14

Deacons” Court.

Trustees.

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(2) If an honorary secretary of an honorary treasurer shall be absent from the Colony or otherwise for any good reason be unable to act the committec may elect a member of the committee to hold such office during his absence or inability,

14. (1) There shall be a Deacons' Court which shall be responsible with the Minister for all matters relating to the spiritual welfare of the Church and shall carry out such other duties as may be prescribed.

(2) The Deacons Court shall consist of the Minister and such other persons as shall be nominated and approved as deacons or received as deacons in accordance with the provisions of subsection (3).

(3) Every deacon shall be either-

(a) nominated by the Deacons' Court, subject to approval by a general meeting of the Church in such manner as may be prescribed, and inducted as a deacon by the Minister; or

(8) if he had previously been elected and received into any other Christian church in an office equivalent to that of deacon, received as a deacon, by the Deacons' Court.

(4) No person shall be nominated to be a deacon or be received as a deacon unless he is a voting member and a communicant.

(5) Every member who is inducted as a deacon or is received as a deacon shall continue to hold office as a deacon until he ceases to be a member or resigns.

(6) The Minister shall act as Moderator at every meeting of the Deacons' Court at which he is present and, if he is absent, a deacon, who shall be selected by the deacons present at such meeting, shall act as Moderator.

(7) There shall be a clerk to the Deacons' Court who shall be elected at the first meeting of the Deacons' Court held after the annual general meeting of the Church and who shall be responsible for the summoning of meetings of the Deacons Court and the maintenance of the minutes of the Deacons' Court and for carrying out such other duties as the Deacons' Court may decide.

(8) The Deacons' Court shall meet at intervals of not less than two months.

15. (1) There shall be not more than ten and not less than three trustees.

(2) Each trustee shall be a voting member and shall be elected by the members of the Church at a general meeting in such manner as shall be prescribed and shall bold office until he ceases to be a member, resigns or has been absent from the Colony for a continuous period of not less than two years.

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(3) If the number of trustees falls below four, at least one additional trustee shall be elected as soon as is practicable thereafter.

(4) When a person has been elected to be a trustee, the secretary shall, within three weeks after his election or within such further time as may be allowed by the Governor, furnish to the Governor such evidence as the Governor may require of the election of such person.

(5) A notification in the Gazette under the hand of the Colonial Secretary that such evidence has been furnished to the Governor by the secretary shall be conclusive evidence of such election,

(6) The trustees, in such manner as they may consider appropriate, may from time to time elect one of their number to be Chairman of Trustees for the purpose of summoning and presiding at meetings of trustees.

16. (1) Each Minister, on first appointment, shall be selected at Minister. a general meeting in such manner as may be prescribed, on the joint recommendation of the Deacons Court and the committee, meeting together and, on such selection, shall be appointed by the committee upon such terms as may be agreed.

(2) The appointment of a Minister may be renewed by the com- mittee on the joint recommendation of the Deacons Court and of the committee, meeting together, subject to approval by a general meeting, in such manner as may be prescribed,

(3) The Deacons' Court and the committee meeting together may appoint any person to act as Minister during the absence from the Colony or inability to perform his duties, through illness or for any other cause, of any person appointed as Minister under this section.

17. The Minister, trustees, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, Chair- Transitional man, Vice-Chairman, deacons and members of the general committee provisions. appointed or deemed to have been appointed in accordance with the provisions of the repealed Ordinance and holding office immediately before the commencement of this Ordinance shall be deemed to bave been elected or appointed, as the case may be, for all purposes, in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance.

18. (1) The Deacons' Court and the committee, meeting together, Rules. may, by rules, prescribe or provide for→

(a) the selection and appointment of ministers of the Church;

(b) the election of trustees, members of the committee and office.

bearers of the Church;

(c) the enrolment of full members, associate members and ad-

herents;