Article 23 - Officers and Members

Article 23 - Officers and Members

ARTICLE 23

OFFICERS AND MEMBERS




UNPAID OFFICERS


23.1 There shall be unpaid officers of The Church


23.2 AREA DEACON


The Area Presbytery shall appoint an Elder of good repute and integrity with a fair accounting knowledge to be the Area Deacon.


23.2.1 FUNCTIONS


(a) He shall be responsible for the finances of The Church
at the Area, District and Local Levels


(b) He shall be responsible for the submissions of tithes and
other funds of The Church to the Headquarters


(c) He shall be responsible to the Area Head and the Area
Presbytery


(d) He shall prepare annual financial reports to the Area
Presbytery and the Finance Board


(e) He shall chair meetings of the Area Finance Committee


(f) He shall be an ex-omcio member of every District and
Local Finance Committee within the Area


(g) He shall perform such duties as may be assigned him by
the Area Head or the Area Executive Committee.


23.2.2 ELECTION OF AREA DEACON


One qualified Elder shall be nominated by the Area Executive Committee and all other Ministers in the Area to be voted upon by the Area Presbytery. The candidate so nominated shall be elected by two-thirds (2/3) majority votes of members present and voting.


23.2.3 TERM OF OFFICE


He shall hold office for four (4) years and may be reviewed for further terms.


23.3 ELDERS


There shall be Elders of The Church ordained by an Apostle or Prophet who will be unpaid Officers,They shall be recommended by the District Minister in consultation with the District/Local Presbytery for approval of the Area Head,


23.3.1 QUALIFICATION


(a) These persons must be born-again and be baptized in
the Holy Spirit


(b) They must qualify in terms of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus



(c) They must possess at least a moderate amount of
education or be functionally literate


(d) They must possess a clear voice without impediment in
their speech


(e) They must be willing to learn


(f) They must be mature persons of sound body and mind



23.3.2 FUNCTIONS


(a) They shall be responsible for the effective running of the
Local Assembly


(b) They shall administer the Lord's Supper


(c) They shall conduct funerals in the absence of the Minister


(d) They shall teach sound biblical doctrine


(e) They shall conduct naming of children


(f) They shall keep the register of names and addresses of
members of The Church


(g) They shall acquire property for The Church in the name
of the Trustees


(h) They shall act in the absence of the Minister


(i) They shall perform any other functions as may be assigned by the District Minister.


23.4 PRESIDING ELDER


a) The District Minister shall present one of the Elders to be
voted upon by the Local Presbyter)' to preside over a Local
Assembly and the Local Presbytery in the absence of the
Minister. Where this is not applicable, the District Minister,
in consultation with the District Executive Committee, shall
transfer an Elder to preside at a Local Assembly


b) For a Worship Centre, the Resident Minister shall present
one of the Elders to be voted upon by the Worship Centre
Presbytery to preside over the Centre and the Centre
Presbytery in the absence of the Minister.


23.4.1 TERM OF OFFICE


The term of office of a Presiding Elder shall be two (2) years and may be reviewed for further terms.


23.5 DEACONS AND DEACONESSES


(a) These are ordained brothers and sisters called to look
after the physical assets of the Local Assembly.


(b) The District Minister shall in consultation with the


Local Presbytery recommend members to the District
Ministerial Committee for vetting and;


(c) The District Minister shall forward the candidates
recommended by the District Ministerial Committee
to the Area Head for vetting by the Area Ministerial
Committee and the approval of the Area Head


23.5.1 QUALIFICATION


(a) These persons must be born-again and be baptized in
the Holy Spirit


(b) They must qualify in terms of iTimothy 3:8-13 and Titus
2:3-5


(c) They must possess a clear voice without impediment in
their speech


(d) They must be willing to learn


(e) They must be of sound body and rnind


23.5.2 FUNCTIONS
They shall look after the material things of the Local Assembly, namely:




(a) Collections (local funds), lighting, cleaning the Church
and the Lord's Supper utensils


(b) They shall perform any other functions assigned by the
Presiding Elder or the District Minister.


23.6 RETIREMENT OF UNPAID OFFICERS


Unpaid Officers of The Church shall be retired fropa active service at the age of sixty-five (65) years.