Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Churches of Christ, Scientist Incorporation Act 1958 - SECT 2

First Church of Christ, Scientist to be incorporated

2. First Church of Christ, Scientist to be incorporated



(1) All persons who are members of the said First Church of Christ, Scientist,
Melbourne accepting and holding the principles faith and doctrines known as
Christian Science and adhering to the tenets set forth in the First Schedule
to this Act and acknowledging and adopting the principles of church
organization, discipline, teaching, worship, service, procedure and practice
laid down in the said Manual and who now or hereafter constitute the body or
association called First Church of Christ, Scientist, Melbourne from
henceforth shall be a body corporate by the name of First Church of Christ,
Scientist, Melbourne and shall have perpetual succession and a common seal and
under that name may sue and be sued prosecute and defend and take and suffer
all other proceedings in all courts civil and criminal within the said State.

(2) The said body corporate (hereinafter referred to as "First Church") may by
resolution as hereinafter provided make by-laws and rules to provide for the
following-

   (a)  the admission, expulsion or re-admission to membership of the said
        Church;

   (b)  the conduct of the officers of the said Church and the election and
        duties of officers;

   (c)  the appointment rotation and duties of readers, librarians and Sunday
        School superintendents;

   (d)  the keeping of accounts and records;

   (e)  the appointment of auditors;

   (f)  the convening and conduct of meetings;

   (g)  the custody, care and maintenance of church property;

   (h)  the execution and authentication of documents;

        (i)    the authorization of expenditure;

   (j)  the recission or amendment of by-laws and rules;

   (k)  the remuneration of officers and employees.

(3) Any such by-law or rule or any rescission or amendment thereof shall be
made by a resolution carried at a meeting of the members of the said Church
convened as hereinafter provided by the majority so provided.

(4) It shall be further lawful for the said First Church to take purchase
receive hold and enjoy real and personal property of any description
whatsoever and also to sell grant transfer convey exchange demise (whether by
way of building lease or otherwise) give easements over or otherwise dispose
of either absolutely or by way of mortgage charge lien or other encumbrance
any of the property real or personal at any time belonging to the said First
Church provided that if any such property is subject to any trust the
provisions of such trust shall be carried out by the said First Church in
accordance with the trust deed or other instrument creating such trust, and
generally to exercise subject to the provisions of this Act all powers rights
and privileges incident to a body corporate.

(5) The administration of the affairs and the exercise of the powers of the
said body corporate shall be vested in the Executive Board duly appointed
pursuant to the by-laws and rules of the said body for the time being subject
to any by-law or resolution of the said body corporate or any resolution of
the members of the said body corporate carried at a meeting of such members
convened as hereinafter provided.

(6) The said Board shall have the custody and use of the common seal of the
said First Church and a majority of the members of such Board present at any
meeting duly convened shall have power to use or direct the use of such seal
for all purposes for which the use of such seal is required.

(7) The seal shall only be affixed by virtue of a resolution of the said
majority and in the presence of two members of the Board and of the Chairman
or the Clerk for the time being of the said First Church and the said two
members and the Chairman or Clerk shall sign their names to the document to
which the seal has been affixed.