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Anglican Media Council Ordinance 1993

(Reprinted under the Interpretation Ordinance 1985.)

The Anglican Media Council Ordinance 1993 as amended by the Committee Membership Ordinance 1995, the Accounts, Audits and Annual Reports Ordinance 1995, the Anglican Media Council Ordinance 1963 Amendment Ordinance 1999 and the Anglican Media Council Amendment Ordinance 2006.

Long Title

An Ordinance to constitute and define the functions of the Anglican Media Council and for purposes connected therewith.

Preamble

Whereas it is expedient to constitute and define the functions of the Anglican Media Council.

Now the Standing Committee of the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney in the name and place of the said Synod Hereby Ordains Declares Directs and Rules as follows.

Part 1 - Preliminary

Citation

1. This ordinance may be cited as the "Anglican Media Council Ordinance 1993".

Definitions

2. In this ordinance, unless inconsistent with the context or subject matter -

"Appointed Member" means a member of the Council appointed by the Archbishop.

"Archbishop" means the Archbishop of the Diocese or in his absence his Commissary or if the See be vacant the Administrator of the Diocese.

"Chairman" means the member of the Council who, from time to time, is elected chairman of the Council under clause 21.

"Chief Executive Officer" means the person appointed as chief executive officer under clause 14.

"Council" means the Anglican Media Council.

"Declaration" means the declaration set out in the Schedule to this ordinance.

"Deputy Chairman" means the member of the Council who, from time to time, is elected Deputy Chairman of the Council under clause 21.

"Elected Member" means a member of the Council elected by the Standing Committee.

"electronic media" means any form of communication media other than paper based print media and includes TV, radio, video, disc, cassette and computer media.

"Public Relations Officer" means the person appointed as public relations officer of the Diocese under clause 16.

"Synod" means the Synod of the Diocese.

Interpretation

3. In this ordinance -

(1) headings are used for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of this ordinance;

(2) references to any legislation or to any section of any legislation include any modification or re-enactment of it and any legislation substituted for it;

(3) a reference to a clause is a reference to a clause of this ordinance;

(4) words denoting the singular include the plural and vice versa; and

(5) words referring to any gender include all genders.

Part 2 - Constitution, Functions and Powers

Constitution

4. The Council is constituted with the functions set out in this ordinance.

Functions of the Council

5. The functions of the Council are to use and to promote the use of the media as a means of presenting the Christian message in accordance with the policies endorsed from time to time by the Standing Committee and especially the gospel of the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to exercise the additional functions conferred on it from time to time by the Standing Committee but only for so long as those functions are so conferred.

Powers of the Council

6. The Council has power to carry out its functions and, in particular, has the powers set out in clauses 7 and 8.

7. For the purpose of its functions the Council may -

(a) release news statements and information concerning church affairs;

(b) publish books, periodicals, pamphlets and other literature of a Christian nature;

(c) facilitate the researching, writing, creating, production and distribution of items and programs through the electronic media;

(d) acquire electronic media based items and programs from sources whether inside the Diocese or otherwise;

(e) supply and distribute electronic media based items and programs within the Diocese or outside;

(f) maintain and operate a library of electronic media based materials;

(g) assist, train and advise other persons or organisations in the creation and production of printed and electronic media based materials and programs; and

(h) co-operate with any other body or bodies with similar or associated functions and contribute to any such body which carries on the whole or part of its activities in the Diocese.

Further Powers of the Council

8. For the purposes of its functions the Council may also -

(a) acquire property by purchase, donation or otherwise;

(b) use any money paid to or property vested in the Council;

(c) enter into contracts, employ persons and do all things as are necessary or incidental to the carrying out of its functions;

(d) open and operate bank accounts and determine the persons by whom cheques and other banking documents shall be signed or endorsed; and

(e) raise or borrow money for the purposes of the Council provided that a resolution of the Council to borrow must be approved by resolution of the Standing Committee before action is taken upon it.

Part 3 - Membership of the Council

Membership of the Council

9. The members of the Council are -

(a) the Archbishop who is the president of the Council;

(b) 6 persons elected by the Standing Committee;

(c) 3 persons appointed by the Archbishop; and

(d) the Chief Executive Officer, ex officio.

Completion of Declaration

10. (1) Every person who is elected or appointed to the Council must, upon being elected or appointed and before becoming a member of the Council, sign the Declaration and deliver the same to the secretary of the Council within 4 weeks of the date of that person's election or appointment. If a person fails to sign and deliver the Declaration as required by this clause the person will be deemed not to have been elected or appointed.

(2) A person who is an insolvent under administration may not be elected or appointed to or act as a member of the Council.

Retirement of Elected Members and Appointed Members

11. (1) Each Elected Member and an Appointed Member must retire on the first meeting of the Standing Committee which next follows the first day of the first ordinary session of each Synod provided that a member continues to hold office until his/her successor is elected or appointed.

(2) Subject to this ordinance a retiring member is eligible to be re-elected or re-appointed.

Casual Vacancies

12. (1) A casual vacancy in the office of a member of the Council occurs if a person ceases to be a member of the Council by reason of this clause.

(2) A person ceases to be a member of the Council if the person -

(a) dies;

(b) resigns by written notice given to the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman and, in such a case, unless the notice specifies a later date, the resignation is effective when the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman receives the notice;

(c) becomes an insolvent under administration;

(d) becomes an incapable person, a patient, a protected patient or a voluntary patient under any statute relating to mental health; or

(e) is absent from all meetings of the Council held during 3 consecutive months without the leave of the Council and the Council by resolution declares the member's office vacant.

(3) In addition to the circumstances set out in subclause 12(2), an Elected Member ceases to be a member of the Council if the office of that member is declared vacant by resolution of the Standing Committee.

(4) In addition to the circumstances set out in subclause 12(2), an Appointed Member ceases to be a member of the Council if the office of that member is declared vacant by the Archbishop.

Filling of Casual Vacancies

13. (1) A casual vacancy in the office of an Elected Member may be filled by Standing Committee

(2) The Archbishop may appoint a person to fill a casual vacancy in the office of the Appointed Member.

Part 4 - Chief Executive Officer

Appointment of Chief Executive Officer

14. The chief executive officer of the Council shall be appointed by the Council with the concurrence of the Archbishop and of the Standing Committee and upon such salary, terms and conditions as the Council may determine and the Standing Committee may approve.

Functions of the Chief Executive Officer

15. The Chief Executive Officer shall be chief executive of the Council. The Chief Executive Officer shall be responsible for the management of the Council's operations and shall perform such other duties and exercise such other functions as the Council may from time to time entrust to that person.

Part 5 - Public Relations Officer

Appointment of Public Relations Officer

16. The public relations officer of the Diocese shall be appointed by the Council with the concurrence of the Archbishop and of the Standing Committee and upon such salary, terms and conditions as the Council may determine and the Standing Committee may approve.

Functions of the Public Relations Officer

17. The Public Relations Officer shall be responsible for -

(a) the public relations of This Church in the Diocese; and

(b) communications to members of This Church in the Diocese,

in accordance with -

(c) the policies laid down from time to time by the Archbishop and by the Standing Committee; and

(d) if the Archbishop and/or the Standing Committee appoint a person or persons to represent them in relation to the operational functions of the Public Relation Officer - the direction of that person or those persons.

Part 6 - Proceedings of the Council

Meetings of the Council

18. The Council will meet at such times as it may determine.

Minutes of Meetings

19. The Council shall cause minutes of each meeting of the Council to be prepared.

Archbishop to Preside

20. The Archbishop, when present, shall preside at meetings of the Council.

Chairman of the Council

21. (1) The Council shall, from time to time, elect from among its members a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman.

(2) In the absence of the Archbishop or the Archbishop, being present, is unwilling or is unable to act, the Chairman is to preside at a meeting of the Council.

(3) If the Archbishop and the Chairman are both absent from a meeting of the Council, or being present both are unwilling or are unable to act, the Deputy Chairman is to preside at the meeting. If the Deputy Chairman is absent from the meeting or, being present is unwilling or unable to act, the members of the Council must appoint another member to be chairman of the meeting.

(4) A person is only eligible to be Chairman or Deputy Chairman while he or she remains a member of the Council.

Quorum

22. The quorum for a meeting of the Council is 3 members.

Voting at meetings of the Council

23. Each member present at a meeting of the Council has 1 vote. In an equality of votes the chairman of the meeting has a casting vote in addition to a deliberative vote.

Vacancies do not Invalidate Proceedings

24. A vacancy in the membership of the Council or a defect in the election or appointment of a person acting as a member of the Council will not invalidate any act or proceeding of the Council.

Regulations

25. Subject to the provisions of this ordinance, the Council may regulate its own proceedings and for that purpose may make, rescind or alter regulations from time to time.

Part 7 - Committees of the Council

Council may appoint Committees

26. For the purpose of assisting the Council in carrying out its functions the Council may, by resolution, establish one or more committees with such powers and duties as the Council may think fit.

Membership of Committees

27. A committee established by the Council may include persons who are not members of the Council.

Part 8 - Miscellaneous

Accounts Ordinance

28. The Council must comply with the terms of the Accounts, Audits and Annual Reports Ordinance 1995.

Investments

29. All property held for the Council and available for investment must only be invested in accordance with the Investment of Church Trust Property Ordinance 1990.

Reports to be made to Synod and Standing Committee

30. The Council must provide to the Synod and the Standing Committee such information as to the Council's affairs as may be requested from time to time by resolution.

Indemnification

31. The Council may take out indemnity insurance for its members.

32. Each member of the Council is indemnified out of the assets held by or for the purposes of the Council against all loss or liability properly incurred for or on behalf of the Council by reason of being or having been a member of the Council other than that incurred or occasioned by the member's own wilful act or neglect.

33. …

Schedule

Declaration

1. I believe and hold the faith of the Christian Church and, in particular, as set forth in the creeds known as the Nicene Creed and the Apostles' Creed and the doctrine contained in the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion interpreted according to their plain and literal sense.

2. In particular I believe -

(a) that the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the ultimate rule and standard of faith given by inspiration of God and containing all things necessary to salvation; and

(b) that people are justified before God by faith only.

3. I shall endeavour to fulfil my duties as a member of the Anglican Media Council ("Council") in accordance with this declaration and the ordinance by which the Council is constituted.

4. I undertake to resign from the Council forthwith if at any time I become unable conscientiously to subscribe to this declaration.

Signed : __________________________

Date : __________________________

Table of Amendments

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