Contents

The Constitution of the Synod of the Missionary Diocese of Melanesia     5

The Standing Orders of the Synod of the Missionary Diocese of Melanesia     6

Canons of the Synod of the Missionary Diocese of Melanesia     7

Canons of Discipline and Order     10

Resolutions of the General Staff Council      14

A Statute to provide for the Constitutions of a Board of Missions     15

New Canon VIII.     21

A Statute to provide for the Constitution of a Melanesian Mission Finance Board     24

Regulations for the Mission Staff     27

[5] The Constitution of the Synod of the Missionary Diocese of Melanesia

In the Name of God. Amen.--Whereas at a meeting of the Bishop and Priests of the Missionary Diocese of Melanesia, held on Tuesday, October 25th, at Siota, Florida, British Solomon Islands, and called especially for the purpose, it was unanimously agreed by the Bishop and Priests of the Missionary Diocese of Melanesia that a Diocesan Synod should be constituted for the purpose if governing and regulating the affairs of the Diocese, and that the said Synod should be composed of the Bishop of the said Diocese and any Suffragan Bishop or Bishops who may be appointed to the said Diocese, and also the Priests of the said Diocese holding the license of the Bishop to a charge within the Diocese;

NOW THEREFORE we, the said Bishop of the Missionary Diocese of Melanesia and the Priests of the Missionary Diocese of Melanesia do hereby and herewith express our hearty agreement and concord with these decisions and do CONSTITUTE AND ESTABLISH THE SYNOD OF THE MISSIONARY DIOCESE OF MELANESIA.

AND FURTHER we do establish as follows:

1. The Synod shall consist of the Bishop of the Diocese as President together with the Priests of the Diocese holding the License of the Bishop of the Diocese.

2. No person shall be eligible to sit in the Synod unless he has previously signed the oath of Canonical Obedience to the Bishop, the Declaration of Submission to the General Synod of the Church of the Province of New Zealand, and also the following Declaration of Obedience:

IN THE NAME OF GOD. AMEN.

I do solemnly promise that to the utmost of my abilities I will faithfully and loyally obey and carry out the decisions of the Synod of the Missionary Diocese of Melanesia.

3. No decision of the Synod shall be binding unless approved by the Bishop and by a majority of the Priests present.

4. No canon shall be enacted unless it receive the assent of a majority of not less than two-thirds of the Priests present and be approved by the Bishop.

5. The Synod shall meet at least once every five years.

6. The Bishop may summon a Special Session of Synod at any time for any particular purpose, and shall he bound to summon such a Special Session when requested to do so by not less than half the members of Synod.

7. A quorum shall consist of the President and at least a majority of the other members of Synod.

8. This Constitution be alterable only by the vote of the President and a majority of at least three-quarters of all members of the Synod.

[6] THE STANDING ORDERS OF THE SYNOD OF THE MISSIONARY DIOCESE OF MELANESIA

1. No motion for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal or amend a Canon of the Synod shall be entertained unless notice of such motion setting forth the full scope of the Bill shall have been received by the Bishop, either personally or at his office at Siota, at least twenty-one clear days before the time appointed for the commencement of the Session.

2. The foregoing provision regarding notice shall apply to any matter of an important or contentious nature that any member wishes to bring before the Synod.

3. Members of Synod unable to attend must send a notification to that effect to the Bishop.

4. The President shall fix the days and hours of the Session, Provided that any sitting may be suspended upon a vote of two-thirds of those present.

5. An attendance book shall be provided and must be signed by every member on each day that the Synod is in Session.

6. If during the progress of the business of the Synod there shall not be a quorum present the President shall adjourn the Synod.

7. Strangers may be admitted to witness the proceedings of the Synod, but they shall withdraw upon the direction of the President.

8. The President shall direct the order in which the business of the Synod is to be taken.

9. Should other questions concerning Standing Orders arise they shall be decided by a vote of a majority of those present.

10. In the absence of the Bishop of the Diocese the said Bishop shall nominate a President or should he fail to do so the Synod shall elect a President for the time being.

[7] CANONS OF THE SYNOD OF THE MISSIONARY DIOCESE OF MELANESIA

1. The Bishop shall be assisted and guided in the discharge of his duties and especially on the control of the financial affairs within the Diocese by two Advisory Councils, one for the North and one for the South, which may meet either separately or together as the Bishop desires and which shall be known as THE BISHOP'S ADVISORY COUNCILS.

2. These Councils shall consist respectively of a Commissary for the North and a Commissary for the South nominated by the Bishop, and two other persons from the North and one from the South elected in the manner provided hereafter.

3. A conference of Members of the Staff resident respectively in the North and in the South shall be held at least every alternate year.

4. All members of the General Staff Council shall be eligible to take part in these Conferences.

5. In each division of the Diocese the Commissary of that division shall summon these Conferences and shall, in the absence of the Bishop, preside at their meetings.

6. The Members of each Conference shall elect the persons to represent them on the Bishop's Advisory Councils.

7. The Advisory Councils shall meet at such times and at such places as shall be determined from time to time by the Bishop, or on the demand of a majority of their members.

8. Written notice of meetings of the Councils shall be sent to every member of the Councils in time to admit of his presence at the meeting.

9. In the event of absence from the Diocese, sickness or any other cause making it impossible to obtain otherwise a legal meeting of the Advisory Councils the Bishop may appoint other persons to serve temporarily on the Councils in place of the absentees.

10. All expenditure for the general maintenance of the Mission shall be under the final control of the Bishop.

11. All financial obligations and agreements existing at the time of this Canon coming into force are hereby ratified and confirmed by this Canon for the unexpired term of their currency.

12. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Canon any sum voted to the Bishop for the purpose of meeting emergency demands not specified may be expended by the Bishop in whatsoever manner he may deem fit. The Bishop shall be authorised also to receive and expend any moneys forwarded to him for a definitely specified purpose upon that purpose.

13. The Advisory Councils shall be empowered to make their own regulations.

[8] 14. The Conference of the Staff for the North and for the South shall elect also one person each in addition to their representative on the Bishop's Advisory Councils who shall act as deputy for the representative if necessary.

15. In order to secure the further assistance of the members of the General Staff in matters affecting the efficiency and advancement of the work and in order that the utmost unity and accord should prevail throughout the Diocese in matters affecting the discipline and order of the Diocese, the Bishop shall be assisted by a General Staff Council.

16. This General Staff Council shall consist of the Bishop of the Diocese, any Suffragan Bishop or Bishops who may hereafter be appointed and the Priests of the Diocese, with the Deacons and Laymen and women engaged in any form of educational work within the Diocese (not being natives of Melanesia or persons resident at Norfolk Island) and any other person or persons whom the Bishop may summon.

17. No person shall be eligible to a seat on the General Staff Council unless he shall have signed the following Declaration of Assent:--

IN THE NAME OF GOD. AMEN.

I do solemnly promise that to the utmost of my abilities I will faithfully and loyally obey the decisions of the General Staff Council of the Missionary Diocese of Melanesia.

Or be specially summoned to a Council meeting by the Bishop of Melanesia. No person so summoned shall address the Council except with the permission of the Chairman and no such persons shall be empowered to vote.

18. The President of the Synod or in his absence some person nominated by, him shall be the Chairman of the General Staff Council.

19. The General Staff Council shall be held about the same time as the meeting of the Diocesan Synod and shall be summoned by the Bishop after the same manner as the Synod is summoned.

20. The Bishop may summon a meeting of the General Staff Council at any other time also that he may wish and he shall summon such a meeting if requested in writing to do so by a majority of the Staff.

21. Any measure affecting the order and discipline of the Diocese that shall be passed by this Council and subsequently ratified by the Bishop shall be introduced into the next sitting of the Synod and voted upon without discussion. If the Synod shall pass the measure it shall be deemed to have the force and authority of a Canon of Discipline and Order and shall be binding upon all members of the Missionary Staff.

22. The General Staff Council shall be competent to make its own regulations.

[9] 23. When a vacancy shall occur in the Bishopric of Melanesia, by death, resignation or otherwise the Synod shall forthwith be summoned by the Missionary in charge at the Island Headquarters, and shall proceed to elect an Administrator and to take all such steps as shall be necessary for carrying on the work of the Mission until the Consecration of the succeeding Bishop.

24. The Synod shall then proceed to appoint a Delegation consisting of not more than three persons who may be Priests or Laymen to confer with the Bishops of the Province and to recommend, if they shall be directed to do so by the Synod, for the consideration of the Bishops, a person to be Bishop of the Diocese.

25. The Delegation shall be appointed in the following way:--

Any member of Synod may submit the name or names of one or more persons whom he considers suitable for the purpose. If the names of more than three persons are submitted, the Synod shall ballot for the persons required and the persons thus selected shall be deemed to be the duly appointed members of the Delegation. The ballot shall be secret.

26. When the Delegation shall have been duly appointed the Synod shall debate as to whether or no its members desire to recommend to the Bishops of the Province any persons to
be Bishop of the Diocese.

27. No person shall be recommended to the Bishops of the Province except with the consent of at least three-fourths of the members present.

[10] CANONS OF DISCIPLINE AND ORDER

 

MADE AT SIOTA, OCTOBER-NOVEMBER, 1921.

1. No teacher shall be appointed without a license. Licenses shall be issued as follows:--

(a) To preach.
(b) To teach.
(c) To read the Services and Lessons in Church.

Each license shall be signed by the Missionary in charge of the district in which the teacher resides, and countersigned by the Bishop.

2. As far as it is possible no teacher shall be appointed to a head-teachership unless he has resided for not less than six months at a recognised training college, and has obtained a certificate of competence from the head of such a college.

3. It is undesirable that a period of more than two years, or less than one year, should elapse between the Baptism of an adult and his Confirmation. Where it is desirable to present a candidate for Confirmation in less than one year after Baptism the consent of the Bishop must first be obtained.

4. All candidates for Confirmation should be duly instructed and prepared to receive the Holy Communion.

5. The most suitable age for Confirmation is between the apparent ages of fourteen and eighteen years.

6. The restoration to full Communion of a public and notorious offender against the Laws of the Church may not be made except publicly and openly before the congregation.

7. Any Priest shall be competent to pronounce the sentence of the Lesser Excommunication which excludes the sinner from participating in the Public Services of the Church. Teachers can only advise and warn.

8. The Bishop alone shall be competent to pronounce the sentence of the Greater Excommunication which temporarily severs the sinner from the Church which is the Body of the Living Christ.

9. Under no circumstances shall any fee be charged for re-admission of a penitent or for the Celebration of any other Rite or Sacrament of the Church.

10. No priest shall presume to exercise his power of binding or loosing except in that district the oversight of which has been committed to him by the Bishop or by other competent authority, unless he shall be--

(a) Requested to do so by the Priest in charge of that other district.
(b) Authorised to do so by the Bishop or other competent authority.

11. The officiating Priest at the Celebration of the Holy Communion shall be vested either in cassock, surplice and stole, or amice, alb, girdle, stole, maniple and chasuble.

[11] 12. The assistant Priests at the Celebration of the Holy Communion shall be vested either in cassock, surplice and stole, or in amice, alb, girdle, stole, maniple and, where such vestments are provided, in tunicle or dalmatic.

13. If the Officiating Priests se desire, any fully qualified teacher may be considered as being in Sub-deacon's orders to such an extent that in the absence of another minister in Deacons' or Priests' orders he may read the Epistle at a Celebration of the Holy Communion.

14. At a Baptism, Wedding, Re-admission of Penitents, Absolution, or any other Sacramental Rite the Officiating Minister shall be vested in cassock, surplice and stole.

15. At any other Public Service the Officiating Minister should wear some decent garment, and where he is in Deacons' or Priests' Orders, shall be vested at least in cassock and surplice.

16. A scaff or tippet may also be worn by Priests and Deacons, of black silk, if the wearer has a Master's Degree of any University in the British Empire, or of black stuff if he have not such a Degree.

17. The hood of any Degree, or of any Theological College which is duly qualified to grant the right to wear a hood, may be worn over the surplice by any person qualified to wear such a Hood, when taking part in the Public Services of the Church.

HOLY BAPTISM.

18. No infant should be presented for Baptism unless there be three, or at least two, God-parents besides the actual father or mother of the child.

19. No infant shall be baptised unless the Officiating Minister shall have reason to believe that the child will be brought up in the Faith into which it receives its baptism.

20. The infant children of persons lying under the Lesser Excommunication may be baptised if not less than three Communicants are prepared to stand as Sponsors for their Christian upbringing.

21. The infant children of heathen, or of persons lying under the Greater Excommunication, should not be baptised unless there be very geed reason to believe that they will not be brought up under conditions which would tend to make it difficult for them to do and believe such things as their God-parents will promise on their behalf.

22. No adult shall be presented for Baptism unless there be good reason to believe that he is in earnest in renouncing heathenism and truly desires to live a Christian life and repents of his misdeeds.

23. The wives of a polygamist may be baptised, but it should be clearly explained to them that it will be part of their duty as Christians to try and persuade their husband to permit all but one of them to leave him.

24. The infant children of a Christian wife of a polygamist may be baptised unless there is good reasons to fear that the father will oppose their being brought up as Christians.

[12] 25. Where one of the parents of an infant is a heathen while the other is baptised, great care must be taken to ensure the probability of the child being brought up as Christian.

26. In all other cases in which there is any doubt as to, the advisability or otherwise of baptising an infant, or as adult, the case shall be referred to the Bishop, whose ruling on the matter shall be binding until such time as the matter can be brought before the Synod.

HOLY MATRIMONY.

27. None but baptised persons who are not Excommunicate can be married with the full Service of the Church, and this service can only be taken by a Priest or by a Deacon.

28. No Christian or Catechumen should be married without some form of service authorised by the Bishop.

29. Any baptised person deliberately marrying without any Christian Service shall be considered as having committed a crime worthy at least of the Lesser Excommunication.

30. Any marriage contracted by a Christian and recognised as a marriage by the parties living together openly as man and wife, after their Baptism, shall not be voidable whether such a marriage be contracted with a Church Service or not.

31. Women who have been living in polygamy but have separated from their husbands owing to either party accepting Christianity, are free to contract another marriage.

32. If a heathen shall divorce his or her wife or husband because the latter has accepted. Christianity, the separated party shall be held free to contract another marriage.

33. If a baptised person marry a heathen, or live openly with a heathen as his wife or her husband, that marriage shall be considered binding on the Christian party, and shall not be voidable nor shall the Christian party be free under any circumstances to contract another marriage during the lifetime of the other party.

BURIAL OF THE DEAD.

34. In every Christian village there shall be as far as possible a plot of land set apart as a burial ground.

35. Where there is such a burial ground no baptised person shall be buried in any other place.

36. None but baptised persons who are not Excommunicate shall be buried with the full Service of the Church.

37. No heathen shall be baptised on his death-bed unless he has shown a clear desire for Baptism for some time before his death.

38. Should any uninstructed persons so baptise a heathen the Minister shall not read the full Service of the Church at the burial nor shall the body be brought into the village Church before burial.

[13] MARRIAGE OF UNSUITABLE PERSONS.

39. No Minister shall marry (1) persons who have not reached the age of puberty; (2) an unwilling bride or bridegroom; (3) any couple whom he shall have good reason to consider unsuitable for being joined together in Holy Matrimony.

CHRISTIANS OBSERVING HEATHEN CUSTOMS.

40. Any baptised persons who shall have in his or her possession or shall make use of any harmful heathen charm or shall invoke heathen spirits or shall be known to reverence heathen powers or places shall be liable to the Lesser Excommunication.

41. Any baptised person having in his or her possession or making use of any charm intended to cause death or grievous bodily or mental harm shall be treated as though he or she had actually committed the crime which the charm is intended to accomplish.

42. Any baptised person who is accessory to the use of such a charm by another person shall be liable to the Lesser Excommunication.

CHURCHING OF WOMEN.

43. The mother of an illegitimate child should not be Churched until the period for which she is Excommunicate is passed.

44. Although it is a good and laudable custom that the woman shall make an offering at the time of her Churching, no Minister shall refuse to Church a woman who may be unable or even unwilling to make such an offering.

[14] RESOLUTIONS OF THE GENERAL STAFF COUNCIL

1. That Mota be taught in all our Schools and English in our Central Schools and especially at the Technical School.

2. That the heads of Central Schools should keep the men in charge of Districts informed of vacancies likely to occur in their Schools and should notify the men in charge of Districts of such of their boys as are returning, and state whether these boys are to return to the School or no.

3. Boys on holiday from Central Schools must not preach or conduct Services.

4. In the Marriage Service Deacons should be instructed not to give the Nuptial Blessing.

5. The policy of the Mission is to put a School in any Village where the people of the place ask for it whether there is a school of another Mission there or no.

6. That the General Staff Meeting be held in June rather than in November.

SPECIAL SERVICES PERMITTED BY THE BISHOP.

(a) The blessing of canoes, nets, houses, gardens, etc., wherever it was the custom of the people in their heathen state to have some Ceremony or Rite, provided that the form of Blessing be submitted to the Bishop for his approval.

(b) At the Burial of Infants Psalm 23 and the Gospel for the Baptism of Infants may be substituted for the Psalms and Lesson appointed in the present Burial Service.

EXTRACTS FROM THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE GENERAL SYNOD DEALING WITH MELANESIA.

(a) Twenty-second Session, ninth day, May 9th, 1922.

"The Bishop of Melanesia obtained leave to move without notice. That the Synod approves of the appointment of two Assistant. Bishops for the Missionary Diocese of Melanesia, one to work in the Southern part of the Diocese, including the New Hebrides, Banks and Torres Groups and adjacent islands, and one to initiate work in those islands of the Solomon Group which were lately under the rule of the German Empire." Carried.

(b) The Bishop of Nelson moved, inter alia

7. That the General Synod regard with sympathetic interest and cordial approval the development of the Church's work in the islands of the Pacific towards the ultimate establishment of an Island Province. Carried.

[15] A STATUTE TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONSTITUTION OF A BOARD OF MISSIONS

WHEREAS it is desirable to constitute a Board of Missions and to provide for the efficient performance of its duties.

BE 1T ENACTED by the Bishops, Clergy and Laity of the Church of the Province of New Zealand, commonly called the Church of England, in General Synod assembled as follows:--

Short Title.

Short Title "Of the Board of Missions."

Board Constituted.

1. A Board of Missions is hereby constituted and shall be known as "The New Zealand Anglican Board of Missions."

Board to Consist of

2. The New Zealand Anglican Board of Missions (hereinafter called "the Board") shall consist of:--

(1) The Bishops of the Province. The Primate shall be the President and the remaining Bishops shall be Vice-Presidents of the Board.

(2) One representative appointed by each Diocesan Missionary Committee as hereinafter provided.

(3) One person nominated, if so desired, by each Mission or Missionary Agency, co-ordinated under Clause 14 of this Canon.

(4) The members for the time being appointed to the Executive as hereinafter provided.

Chairman of Board.

3. The Primate shall be Chairman of the Board.

Duties of the Board.

4. The duties of the Board shall be:--

(1) To promote the missionary work of the Church.

1920 (3) I.

(2) To appoint an Executive which shall perform such duties as are hereinafter prescribed and such additional duties as may be assigned to it by the Board.

1920 6 (3) IV.

(3) To present an annual report and balance sheet to the Standing Committee of General Synod and a triennial report and balance sheet to the General Synod at every ordinary session.

Payment of Expenses.

5. It shall be competent for the Board to appropriate from the funds raised through its organisations, except as provided in Section 14. V., such moneys as shall be required to cover its expenses, including the transport expenses of members incurred in attending meetings of the Board.

[16] 6. (1) It shall be competent for the Board from time to time to make, alter and repeal By-laws for the better carrying into effect of the objects of this Canon and for the transaction of the business of the Board and of the executive.

Provided that no By-law affecting any agreement made with a co-ordinated Mission or Missionary Agency shall take effect until accepted by such Mission or Missionary Agency.

(2) A document purporting to be a copy of any such Bylaw and signed by the President shall be PRIMA FACIE evidence that the same was duly made.

7. An Executive of the Board shall be constituted as follows:--

(1) The Board at its first meeting after each ordinary session of General Synod shall elect a Bishop to be a member of the Executive.

(2) The Board at its first meeting after the ordinary session of the General Synod in 1922 shall elect two Priests and four Laymen to be members of the Executive.

Provided that the Board may choose persons who are not already members of the Board to be members of the Executive.

(3) The members of the Board appointed under Clause 2, Sub-section 3, shall be appointed additional members of the Executive of the Board.

The members so elected or appointed to the Executive shall continue in office until the election or appointment of their successors.

8. (1) The names of the members of the Executive other than the Bishop shall be numbered by the Board, and at the close of the meeting previous to the annual meeting of the Board the number of members nearest to one-third of such Executive shall be deemed to have retired. The rotation of retirement shall be in accordance with the numbers attached to the names on the list.

(2) Any member retiring may be re-elected or re-appointed. The places of elected members shall be filled by the Board, and those of appointed members shall be filled by the co-ordinated Missions or Missionary Agencies respectively by writing under the hands of their Presidents or other principal officers.

Casual Vacancies.

9. The office of a member of the Board or of the Executive shall become vacant on his resigning the same by writing under his hand delivered to the President in the one case or to the Chairman of the Executive in the other case, or on being declared vacant under Title F, Canon I., Clause 13.

[17] How Vacancies on Executive are to be Filled.

10. (1) Whenever the Bishop who is a member of the Executive shall cease to be a member of the Executive otherwise than on retirement under Clause 9 hereof, the Primate shall nominate a Bishop in his place. Such Bishop shall hold office until the next meeting of the Board, when an appointment shall be made by the Board.

(2) Whenever any other elected member of the Executive ceases to be a member of the Executive otherwise than on retirement by rotation the remaining members of the Executive shall have the power to fill the vacancy, and the person so appointed shall hold office until the next meeting of the Board, when an appointment shall he made by the Board.

(3) Whenever the person nominated by any co-ordinated Mission or Missionary Agency ceases to be a member of the Executive otherwise than on retirement by rotation the Mission or Missionary Agency concerned shall forthwith by writing under the hand of its President silent or other principal officer make a new nomination to the Executive, and such, person shall hold office until the next meeting of the Board, when an appointment shall be made by the co-ordinated Mission or Missionary Agency by writing under the hand of its President or other principal officer.

(4) Every person appointed by the Board or by a Mission or Missionary Agency under this present clause shall hold office for the unexpired term of his predecessor in office.

Duties of Executive.

11. The special powers of the Executive shall be:--

(1) To organise missionary effort throughout the Church of the Province.

(2) To co-ordinate all missionary efforts at the home base.

(3) To assist the vicars of Parishes in maintaining and extending such missionary organisations as already exist and in creating new organisations.

(4) To conduct such missionary depots as it may deem fit.

(5) To publish a missionary magazine or paper and such literature as may be necessary.

(6) To collect money for missionary purposes and to administer the same.

(7) To select, train and locate candidates, and to maintain missionaries.

(8) To act as Trustees for such special funds as may be entrusted or bequeathed to the Board, and for this purpose it may become an incorporated Trust Board.

(9) To receive and to transmit through the proper channels in accordance with the wishes of donors any funds appropriated to missionary work for which the Board is not financially responsible.

(10) To obtain from every Mission or Missionary Agency co-ordinated within the Board such annual ordinary, and supplementary budgets as provided in this Canon, and [17/18] to prepare the ordinary and supplementary budgets for preparation to and approval by the annual meeting of the Board.

(1) To publish an Annual Report and Balance Sheet and to prepare for the Board the Triennial Report and Balance Sheet for presentation to General Synod.

Chairman, Secretaries and Treasurer of Executive.

12. The Executive shall have power to appoint and remove .its own Chairman, Secretaries and Treasurer and such other officers as may be required, all of which officers shall discharge such duties and hold office on such terms and conditions as the Executive may from time to time determine. No member of the Executive shall be a salaried officer thereof.

Power to Defray Expenses.

The Executive shall have rower to defray the transport expenses of its elected members.

Executive may Make By-laws.

13. Subject to By-laws of the Board the Executive may from time to time make By-laws for the better transaction of its business.

Condition of Co-ordination.

14. The Executive may co-ordinate any existing Mission or Missionary Agency on the following conditions:--

I. Every such Mission or Missionary Agency shall have power:--

(1) To appoint its own Executive or Administrative Committee.

(2) To select, train and locate its own Missionaries.

(3) To retain and administer its own funded moneys and endowments.

(4) To administer the funds committed to it by the Board.

(5) To publish its own literature.

(6) To publish its own appeals.

Provided that such appeals shall be issued by the Executive of the Board. The Executive shall not have power to revise or alter in any way the appeals of any Mission or Missionary Agency except at the request of the Mission or Missionary Agency concerned.

(7) And in all other respects to carry on its work and exercise its functions in accordance with its own constitution.

II. Every such Mission or Missionary Agency shall submit to the Executive on or before the first day of April in each year:--

(1) An annual ordinary budget based on the actual needs in effectively maintaining the work which its Provincial Executive or Administrative Committee has undertaken.

(2).An annual supplementary budget containing an estimate of any new work which it proposes to undertake. Provided that if any co-ordinated Mission or Missionary Agency fail to supply such budgets on or before [18/19] the said date, the Executive of the Board may proceed with its calculations on the basis of the budgets for the preceding year; or at the request of a coordinated Agency may prepare budgets for that Agency.

III. In any paper or magazine or Annual Report published by the Board or its Executive, every such co-ordinated Mission or Missionary Agency shall have reasonable portions of the space allocated to its special work, and shall supply all the necessary information for such publication.

Conditions of Co-ordination.

IV. In the appointment of Organising Secretaries, the existing co-ordinated Mission or Missionary Agency, after conference with the Executive, shall nominate one secretary each for appointment by the Executive.

V. Whenever the Executive shall receive any money, earmarked by the donor for any Mission or Missionary Agency it shall forthwith inform the Mission or Missionary Agency concerned to which such ear-marked money shall he transmitted together with the name and address of the donor, and all such ear-marked money shall be included in the budgets.

VI. Any Mission or Missionary Agency co-ordinated within the Board may receive subscriptions and donations for its own work, but such money shall be reckoned and included in the annual budget and shall be appropriated to that work.

VII. Any Mission or Missionary Agency co-ordinated in the Board may maintain and extend its own parochial organisations. Such parochial organisations, with the consent of the Vicar, shall be under the control of the Mission or Missionary Agency concerned, but the money raised by such organisations shall be reckoned and included in its annual budgets.

Provided that in order to avoid clashing with other propaganda of the Board the said Mission or Missionary Agency shall consult with and obtain the authority of the Board as to the itinerary of the organiser of such organisation, and that during the itinerary such organisers shall be regarded as organisers of the Board.

VIII. The Board may co-ordinate other missions on such terms as it may deem advisable.

Withdrawal from Co-ordination.

15. Any co-ordinated Mission or Missionary Agency desiring to withdraw from the Board may do so by giving six months' notice of such withdrawal at any regular meeting of the Beard, such notice shall be in writing signed by the Chairman or other principal officer of such Mission or Missionary Agency.

Diocesan Missionary Committees.

16. The Synod or the Standing Committee in each Diocese shall take the necessary steps for the constitution and regulation of a Missionary Committee for the Diocese, and such Diocesan Missionary Committee shall be the auxiliary of the Board for the promotion of Missionary interest.

[20] Treasurer of the Diocesan Missionary Committee.

17. The Diocesan Missionary Committee shall appoint its .own Treasurer for the Board in each Diocese.

Special Duties of the Diocesan Missionary Committees.

18. The special duties of the Diocesan Missionary Committees shall be:--

(1) To appoint trienially under the hands of their Chairman respectively, their representatives on the Board and on such representatives ceasing from any cause to be members of the Board to appoint in like manner their successors.

(2) To co-operate with the Executive in the maintenance and extension of such parochial missionary organisations as already exist, and in the creation of such new organisations as may he thought desirable.

(3) To furnish to the Executive such statistics and reports from time to time as may be required by it for the purposes of the Board.

(4) To assist the Board in any way as the Executive may from time to time require.

When the Report is to be taken by General Synod.

19. At every ordinary session of the General Synod a discussion of the triennial report and balance sheet presented by the President of the Board, or some person appointed by him, shall be made the first order of the day for the second evening of the Session.

Validity of' Acts of Board and Executive.

20. No act of the Board or of the Executive shall be invalid by reason of any vacancy in the number of the Board or of the Executive at the time of such act, or of the subsequent discovery of any defect in the election or appointment of any person as a member of the Board or of the Executive.

Interpretation. "Earmarked Money."

21. Where money is ear-marked by the donor for any Agency co-ordinated in the Board it forms part of the money required by the Board to meet the annual Budgets for such Agency, and is transmitted to such Agency subject only to the cost of exchange and postage.

"Appropriated Money."

(2) Where money is set apart by the donor for Missionary work for which the Board is not at present financially responsible, or for which no specific provision is made in the Budgets, the Board acts in the office of Trustee, and remits such money to the purpose indicated by the donor, subject only to the cost of exchange and postage.

I certify that this Statute was passed by General Synod this eighth day of May, 1922.

C. NEW ZEALAND.

[21] NEW CANON VIII.

OF MISSIONARY DIOCESES.

Association of a Missionary Diocese.

1. When the General Synod desires, in accordance with Clause 18 of the Constitution, to associate with itself any Missionary Diocese among the Islands of the Pacific, the association shall, with the assent of such Diocese expressed through its Bishop, be effected by a Statute passed by the Synod, and the name of such Diocese shall be entered in the Schedule to this Canon.

Associated Diocese an Integral Part of the Province.

2. A Missionary Diocese so associated with the General Synod shall be deemed to be an integral part of this Ecclesiastical Province, and the Canons of the Province shall, so far as the circumstances of the said Diocese permit, unless by General Synod otherwise ordered, apply to such Diocese.

PROVIDED THAT any question arising in regard to the application of any Canon to such Diocese shall be determined by the Standing Commission.

PROVIDED FURTHER THAT, no Missionary Diocese shall be liable for the payment of any portion of the expenses of General Synod or of other Provincial expenditure.

Bishop not to act as Senior Bishop.

3. Where, in the Canons of the Province, action is enjoined upon the Senior Bishop, the term Senior Bishop shall not apply to the Bishop of a Missionary Diocese.

Representatives in General Synod.

4. The Bishop of any Missionary Diocese associated with the General Synod may appoint two Clergymen and two Laymen to represent the said Diocese in the General Synod.

PROVIDED THAT, if there be a vacancy in the Bishopric, the Synod as hereinafter constituted of the said Diocese may make such appointment.

PROVIDED FURTHER THAT, if such appointment be not made before the meeting of the General Synod, it shall be lawful for the Primate to make such appointment.

Status in General Synod.

5. The Bishop and the Clerical and Lay Representatives of an associated Missionary Diocese shall have in all respects an equal status in General Synod with the Bishops, Clergy, and Laity of this Ecclesiastical Province.

Synod of Missionary Diocese.

6. The Bishop of a Missionary Diocese may constitute a Synod for his Diocese in such manner as shall to him seem practicable.

PROVIDED THAT every Priest holding the License of such Bishop shall he entitled to be a member of such Synod if and when he shall have assented to a declaration that he will be bound by the decisions of such Synod.

PROVIDED FURTHER THAT such Synod shall not be deemed to be a Diocesan Synod for the purposes of Clause 21 of the Constitution; and that a Standing Committee of such a Synod shall not he deemed to be a Standing Committee for the purposes of Title A, Canon I., Clause 7.

[22] Quorum.

7. The quorum of the Synod of a Missionary Diocese shall be fixed by such Synod:

PROVIDED THAT it consist of the Bishop and of not less than one-half of the members in Priests' Orders.

Acts of Synod. 

8. No act of such Synod shall be valid unless it shall have received the assent of the Bishop:

PROVIDED THAT the Synod may meet during a vacancy in the Bishopric and transact business not involving the enactment, repeal, or amendment of Canons.

Control of Mission when Bishopric Vacant.

9. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in a Missionary Bishopric, by death, resignation, or otherwise, it shall be competent for the Synod of the Diocese to take such steps as shall be necessary for carrying on the work of the Mission until the consecration of the succeeding Bishop.

Bishop may Resign.

10. The Bishop of a Missionary Diocese may, by writing under his hand, addressed to the Primate, resign his office, and the office of such Bishop shall become vacant on the date named by him in his resignation, or, if no date be named, upon the receipt of such resignation by the Primate.

Steps to Appoint Successor.

11. As soon as conveniently may be after the receipt of such resignation, or the occurrence otherwise of a vacancy in the See, the Primate shall cause the necessary steps to be taken for the appointment of a person to succeed as Bishop, and for the Consecration of the person so appointed.

Synod may Appoint Delegation.

12. When the Bishop of an associated Missionary Diocese shall have resigned, or announced his intention to resign, or the See shall otherwise become vacant, the Synod of such Diocese may appoint a delegation consisting of not more than three persons, who may be Priests or Laymen, to confer with the Bishops of the Province and to recommend, if they so desire, for the consideration of the Bishops, a person to be Bishop of the Diocese.

PROVIDED THAT the Bishop so resigning shall not take part in such delegation or in the appointment hereinafter referred to of his successor.

Bishops to Confer with Delegation and Appoint.

13. The Bishops shall confer with such delegation, if one be so appointed, and shall then appoint, subject to the sanction of General Synod, or, if the General Synod be not in session, of the Standing Committee thereof, a person to be the Bishop of such Missionary Diocese.

Sanction by General Synod.

14. If the General Synod, or the Standing Committee, thereof, as the case may be, sanction such appointment the Primate shall take the necessary steps for the consecration of the Bishop-elect.

[23] Request for Assistant Bishopric.

15. It shall be competent for the Bishop of any associated Missionary Diocese to move in General Synod for the authorisation of the appointment of one or more Assistant Bishops in his Diocese.

Bishop to Nominate.

16. If the General Synod authorise any such appointment, the Bishop of the said Diocese shall nominate to the Bishops of the Province a person to be Assistant Bishop.

Bishops of Province to Appoint.

17. As soon as the Bishops shall have accepted a person so nominated, the appointment shall be made as hereinbefore provided for the appointment of a Missionary Bishop.

Status of Assistant Bishop.

18. An Assistant Bishop appointed under this Canon shall have no right of succession, nor shall he sit or vote as a Bishop in any Synod, Diocesan or General, but he may have a
seat in such Synod, and may vote as a Clerical Member thereof.

Subdivision of Diocese.

19. No subdivision of a Missionary Diocese, or alteration of the boundaries thereof, shall be made without the consent of the Synod of such Diocese and of the General Synod.

Repeals.

20. Title A. Canon L, Clauses 35 to 43 inclusive, and Title B, Canon I., Clauses 15 and 22 to 34, inclusive, are hereby repealed.

Temporary Clause.

21. Any Synod heretobefore constituted in a Missionary Diocese shall be deemed to be a Synod constituted under this Canon.

Temporary Clause.

22. The provisions of this canon shall come into operation immediately upon the Synod passing this Statute.

SCHEDULE OF MISSIONARY DIOCESES.

MELANESIA.

This Statute was passed by General this ninth day of May, 1922.

1925.

POLYNESIA

Was added to this Schedule.

C. NEW ZEALAND.

[24] A STATUTE TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONSTITUTION OF A MELANESIAN MISSION FINANCE BOARD

WHEREAS, under the authority of Title B, Canon VIII., the Diocese of Melanesia has been associated with the General Synod and has thereby become an integral part of the Ecclesiastical Province of New Zealand;

AND WHEREAS it is acknowledged to be a primary duty of the Church of the Province of New Zealand to assist in maintaining the Melanesian Mission;

AND WHEREAS the said Church, through the New Zealand Anglican Board of Missions, constituted under the authority of Title B, Canon IX. (hereinafter called "the Board of Missions"), provides, in conjunction with the English Committee of the Melanesian Mission and the Australian Board of Missions, large sums of money annually towards the maintenance of the Melanesian Mission.

AND WHEREAS other sums of money for the same purposes are provided by other organisations;

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to constitute a body charged with authority to administer and regulate the expenditure of such sums of money and to co-ordinate the work of the various organisations providing financial support for the Melanesian Mission and to provide for the efficient performance of the duties of such body;

BE IT ENACTED by the Bishops, Clergy and Laity of the Church of the Province of New Zealand, commonly called the Church of England, in General Synod assembled, as follows:--

Short Title, "Of the Melanesian Mission Finance Board."

1. A Board is hereby constituted and shall be known as "Melanesian Mission Finance Board."

2. (i) The Melanesian Mission Finance Board (hereinafter called "the Board") shall consist of the Commissary in New Zealand of the Bishop of Melanesia ex officio and six members, of whom two shall be appointed by the Bishop of Melanesia, one by the Board of Missions, and three by General Synod. The Bishop of Melanesia when present shall have a seat on the Board with the right to speak, but shall not vote.

(ii.) The first member to be appointed by the Board of Missions shall be appointed by the Executive of the Board of Missions at its first meeting after the ordinary session of General Synod in 1925, and thereafter his successor shall be appointed by the Board of Missions as hereinafter provided.

(iii.) The first members to be appointed by General Synod shall be appointed at its ordinary session in 1925, and hereafter their successors shall be appointed by the Standing Committee of General Synod as hereinafter provided.

3. The Board of Missions is hereby authorised and required to pay to the Board all sums of money provided or received by it from time to time for the support of the Melanesian Mission.

4. The duties of the Board shall be:--

(1) To administer the sums of money provided by the Board of Missions, or which may he paid to or placed under the control of the Board by any other organisation for the support of the Melanesian Mission, and to [24/25] supervise and regulate the expenditure of the same, and generally to exercise control over the finances of the Mission, but not to interfere with such internal management and direction as rightly belong to the Bishop and Synod of the Diocese of Melanesia;

(2) To co-operate with and as far as possible to co-ordinate the work of all organisations providing funds for the support of the Melanesian Mission;

(3) To co-operate with and assist the Bishop of Melanesia in all matters relating to the financial affairs of the Melanesian Mission;

(4) To prepare a yearly budget of estimated receipts and expenditure, which shall contain, in addition to other matters, the information usually stated in the annual ordinary and supplementary budgets required to be submitted to the Board of Missions by Title B, Canon IX., and which shall he submitted to the Board of Missions in lieu of such ordinary and supplementary budget;

(5) To act as Trustees for such special funds as may be entrusted or bequeathed to the Board;

(6) To present an annual report and balance sheet to the Standing Committee of General Synod, and a triennial report and balance sheet to the General Synod at every ordinary session. A copy of such annual report and balance sheet shall be sent to the Synod of the Diocese of Melanesia.

5. The Board shall sit in Auckland and shall have power to appoint and remove its own Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer, who shall discharge such duties and hold office on such terms and conditions as the Board may from time to time determine. No member of the Board shall be a salaried officer thereof.

6. The Board may fix its own quorum and may from time to time make by-laws for the better transaction of its business. Until otherwise appointed, four members of the Board shall form a quorum.

7. There shall be no increase in the expenditure provided for in the yearly budget except under special circumstances, notice whereof and of the amount of any increased expenditure required shall he given to the Board at the earliest possible opportunity, and where ever possible in advance of such increased expenditure. And in no case shall such increased expenditure be made without the express consent of the Bishop of Melanesia or, in his absence, of his Commissary in the district concerned.

8. Any member of the Board may by writing under his hand addressed to the Chairman of the Board resign his office, and upon receipt of such resignation by the Chairman the office of such member shall become vacant.

9. In case any member of the Board shall become bankrupt or insolvent, or shall become insane or incapable of discharging the duties of his office, or shall be convicted of an indictable offence, or shall be absent from the meetings of the Board without leave for a period exceeding three months, or shall die, his office shall become vacant.

[26] 10. The vacancies occurring under the two last preceding clauses shall be called casual vacancies. Notice of any casual vacancy shall be given by the Chairman of the Board to the appointer of the member whose office has become vacant immediately upon the occurring of such vacancy, and such appointer shall thereupon proceed to fill such vacancy.

11. Subject to the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereof, the members of the Board shall continue in office until the appointment of their successors. The names of the members of the Board other than the Commissary of the Bishop of Melanesia shall be numbered by the Board, and at the 31st July, 1925, and in each year succeeding two members shall be deemed to have retired. The rotation of retirement shall be in accordance with the numbers attached to the names on the list. Any member retiring shall be eligible for re-appointment and shall be re-appointed or his successor appointed as follows: A member appointed by the Bishop of Melanesia, by the Bishop of Melanesia or his Commissary in New Zealand; a member appointed by General Synod, by the Standing Committee of General Synod at its Annual Meeting; and the member appointed by the Board of Missions at its Annual Meeting.

12. No act of the Board shall be invalid by reason of any vacancy in the number of the Board at the time of such act or of the subsequent discovery of any defect in the appointment of any person as a member of the Board.

13. In the event of the Melanesian Mission withdrawing from the Board of Missions, or in the event of the Board of Missions being dissolved or ceasing to exist, the following provisions shall have effect:--

(i) It shall be lawful for the Board, either alone or conjointly with any other organisation or organisations or body of persons, to undertake the duties and responsibilities hitherto undertaken by the Board of Missions in relation to the Melanesian Mission, and in particular, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing:--

(a) To, collect money and to administer, control and disburse the same as provided in Clause 4 hereof.

(b) To organise effort and to set up such organisations as it may deem necessary throughout the Church of the Province;

(c) To conduct Melanesian Mission Depots.

(ii.) The members of the Board appointed by the Board of Missions shall continue in office until the next meeting of the General Synod or the Standing Committee of General Synod, whichever shall first take place, when the said members shall retire and their offices shall be filled by the General Synod, if in session; or if General Synod be not in session, by the Standing Committee of General Synod, which shall continue to act in place of the Board of Missions for the purpose of filling subsequent vacancies in the office of the members hitherto appointed by the Board of Missions until the next ensuing session of General Synod, which shall make further provision in that behalf.

[27] 14. In case any person or body having the right to appoint a member or members of the Board shall fail or neglect to make such appointment or appointments for a period of three calendar months from the time when the right to, make such appointment or appointments shall have accrued or been notified to such person or body, the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Auckland may make such appointment or appointments which shall be deemed to have been duly made by the person or body entitled to make the same, and the member or members so appointed shall hold office accordingly.

REGULATIONS FOR THE MISSION STAFF

1. The Stipend of all Missionaries shall be the same, i.e., £150 a year.

2. The Mission will, in addition, pay:--

(a) Travelling expenses of Missionaries to their homes and back to their stations, and at other times when they are travelling on Mission business.

(b) Medical attendance, including Dentist's and Oculist's fees; but will not be responsible for expenses incurred in Private Hospitals or Nursing Homes, unless permission to incur such expense has been granted beforehand.

(c) The expense of the maintenance of Mission property.

(d) Expenses incurred in Missionary work, e.g., for boats' crews.

All other personal expenses, food, customs duties, attendance, etc., are paid by the Missionary.

3. Every Missionary must remember that it is his duty to care for, and preserve in good condition, all Mission property under his control.

4. Each person who joins the Mission will be granted £35 for personal outfit, which includes bedding, a house-lamp and a lantern. A further grant of £5 will be made for Medicines and medical appliances.

5. The Mission will provide a House, and the necessary furniture, which will include table, chairs, bed and cooking stove.

6. No person will be accepted for work in the Mission without a certificate from a Doctor, of good health: and from Clergyman, of good character.

7. Any member of the Mission staff marrying without the Bishop's permission ipso facto ceases to be a member of the staff.

8. Each person joining the Mission staff shall sign an agreement to resign when asked to do so by the Bishop.

9. The first year in the Mission is to be a period of probation; at the end of which time the engagement can be terminated either by the Bishop, or by the person concerned.

[28] 10. No man will be accepted under the age of 21 or over the age of 40, and no woman, under the age of 25 or over the age of 40.

11. Before any woman is accepted she must be carefully examined by a Doctor, with special consideration of the state of her health since girlhood, and a report sent to the person responsible for her acceptance or rejection. Having passed this test, she should be required further to undergo a period of not less than six months' religious training at a place approved by the Bishop.

12. Furloughs will, as far as possible, be granted as follows:--After 12 months' service, 3 months. After a further period of not more than 3 years, 6 months. After a further period of not more than 3 years, 12 months.

Missionaries should bear in mind that the Stipends are fixed at a reasonable minimum for supporting life in the Mission in health and reasonable comfort, but persons without private means will have to exercise very careful economy if they are to keep within their income. While every consideration will be, shown, the Mission cannot be responsible for the private expenses of Missionaries.

A newly-joined member of the staff draws his stipend as from the date of his leaving his home port to join the Mission.

JOHN, BISHOP OF MELANESIA.
Siota, October 31st, 1924.

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