NZ Association for Christian Schools

The NZACS Constitution

Article 1 – NAME

This organisation shall be known as “The NZ Association for Christian Schools”.

Article 2 – BASIS

We confess the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the only written Word of God, the supreme and infallible rule of faith and life, indispensable and determinative for our knowledge of God, of ourselves and the rest of creation, and for the whole educational task.

ON THIS BASIS WE CONFESS THAT:

There is one God eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, being the same in nature, equal in power and glory, and worthy of equal honour, obedience and worship.
This one God is Creator of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible, and sustains and rules over all His creation, including man, in perfect wisdom and power.
Man was created in the image of God and was given authority and responsibility to rule over Creation for the praise and delight of his Maker.
In the whole of his life man either serves God, or a substitute of his own imagination. Education therefore is never neutral, but unfolds in obedience or disobedience to the Lord.
Man, through unbelief and disobedience, has fallen into sin and brought God’s wrath and curse upon himself and the rest of Creation. He is therefore separated from God and blinded to the goodness of God, and to the source, meaning and purpose of life.
Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, is the Mediator whom the Father sent to redeem and to reconcile the world to Himself, and the Lord to whom the Father has given all power and authority to give light and life to people lost in sin and death.
The substitutionary death and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ are the only ground of forgiveness of sin, of regeneration and of fellowship with God. God’s purposes for our world will culminate with Christ’s certain return.
The knowledge of God, of His Word and of Creation results from the work of the Holy Spirit in man’s heart.

The education of children is the responsibility of parents under God who must ensure their training is in the nurture and admonition of God. Christian Schools have the task of helping parents educate their children, and therefore employ Christian teachers who seek to shape their entire teaching practice on the basis of the Bible, call on children to exercise faith in Christ and seek to equip them with knowledge and skill that will enable them to honour and serve Him in all their work and endeavour.

Article 3 – AIMS

The aims of the New Zealand Association for Christian Schools are to further the interests of Christian education at all levels within New Zealand society by:

Encouraging assisting and advising those involved in the establishment and work of Christian schools.
Promoting amongst all branches of the Christian community in New Zealand a clear understanding of the Scriptural basis of the Christian Educational task.
Pooling information and sharing specialised skills and resources.
Making known the viewpoint of the Association with respect to issues of public concern of debate in education.
Any other appropriate means adopted by the Association.

Article 4 – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Full Membership

Full Membership of the New Zealand Association for Christian Schools is limited to those who are in agreement with this constitution, contribute their annual membership fees and fall into one of the following categories:

1. Christian Schools

2. Christian Organisations seeking to set up, or assist the work of Christian Schools.

Section 2 Associate Membership

Definition – Associate membership of the New Zealand Association for Christian Schools shall be open to those in agreement with the constitution and the various aims of the Association, but who do not fall into the various categories mentioned under Section 1 Article 4.
Rights and Restrictions – An Associate member shall be entitled to all rights and to receive the same benefits as full members, but shall not be eligible to vote.

Section 3. Admission to Membership

Full and Associate Membership shall be granted by the Association upon receipt of the appropriate form indicating full agreement with the constitution and receipt of annual membership fees.

Section 4 New Membership

The Executive has power to admit provisional, applications from schools or organisations as per Article 4, Sections 1 and 2, where such are received prior to the Annual General Meeting. The Executive is to notify Regional Co-ordinators of the same. At the Annual General Meeting authentication of the new school’s Biblical perspective is required in support of their application before full/associate membership of the Association can be given.

Article 5 – STRUCTURE

Section 1. Full and Associate members shall delegate representatives to the meetings of the Association. A school is entitled to one delegate for a roll of up to 300 students, two delegates for a roll of 301 to 600 students, and three delegates for a roll of more than 600 students.

Section 2. Each full member represented shall have one vote per delegate in

attendance.

Section 3. The executive of the Association shall comprise of a Chairman, and four members, elected from groups having full membership.

Section 4. The election of the chairman shall take place annually. The four members shall be elected to two year terms. Upon completing a two year term a member shall retire, but may be nominated for reappointment. At least two of the four members shall be elected each year.

Section 5 The elected executive shall appoint from its membership a vice chairman, secretary, and treasurer, and shall meet as often as necessary to carry on the work of the Association.

Article 6 DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE

Section 1 It is the duty of the executive to carry on the business of the Association, to keep the various associations informed of progress and developments through their representatives to the Executive Committee, to notify the members when the annual meeting, and in general to take the initiative in vigorously promoting the aims of the Association.

Section 2 The executive shall report on all its activities on behalf of the Association to the Annual Meeting and be responsible to the Association for all its activities.

Section 3 Subject to the AGM appointing a paid administrator to serve the Association, the executive may delegate duties and functions to such person as required.

Article 7 OFFICERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND THEIR INDIVIDUAL DUTIES.

Section 1 It shall be the duty of the Chairman to preside at all meetings of the Executive and of the Association and to endorse the provisions of the constitution.

Section 2 The Vice-Chairman shall assist the Chairman whenever possible in the discharge of his duties. In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice- Chairman shall take his place.

Section 3 The Secretary shall be responsible for seeing that the decisions of the Executive and of the Association are carried out. He shall attend to all routine correspondence, and keep the minutes of all meetings.

Section 4 The Treasurer is entrusted with the Association’s funds. All moneys received by him shall be deposited in the name of the Association at a bank approved by the Association and no disbursements shall be made except by cheque to be signed by two members of the Executive. The Treasurer shall report regarding the finance of the Association at the annual meeting.

Section 5 Auditors shall be appointed annually to check the books and report to the Association.

Section 6 The officer adjunct shall carry out any duties delegated to him by the Chairman of the Association.

Article 8 PROPOSALS, RESOLUTIONS AND AMENDMENTS

Section 1 Member groups may present their proposals, resolutions and amendments to the annual meeting of the Association.

Section 2 This constitution may be amended by a 75% vote at any annual or special meeting of the Association, provided that six months notice has been sent to each full member stating the desired change, provided however that no amendment shall be made which would enable any part of the funds held by the Association (whether income or capital) to be used for purposes which are not charitable according to the law of New Zealand.

Article 9 FINANCES

Section 1 The annual membership fee shall be fixed from time to time by the Association.

Section 2. All funds including capital, profits or other income including donations of the Association whensoever derived shall be applied solely in the promoting of the objects setforth in Article 3 hereof and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend or bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profit to members of the Association or the Executive PROVIDED HOWEVER that:

1. Members of the Association or the Executive may be paid out of the pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with carrying on duty of the Association of Executive;
2. The executive may pay to any person lending money to the association interest not exceeding a reasonable commercial rate on money so lent;
3. The executive may pay to any members of the Executive or Association at any time any reasonable fee or remuneration for any professional work done by such Executive or Association members;
4. The executive may make payment in good faith of reasonable remuneration to any officers, agents or servants of the Executive of the Association or any other persons (including Executive or Association members) in return for services actually rendered to the executive or the Association.

Section 3 The fiscal year shall be from 1st January to 31st December.

Article 10 – FUNDS

The disbursement of all funds other than for the day to day running of the Association shall be decided by the meetings of the Association.

Article 11 – DISBANDMENT

In the event of a disbandment of the Association, funds on hand after liquidation of all assets and discharge of all obligations shall be donated to any incorporated body established for similar charitable purposes to those setforth in Article 3 herein and the receipt of the secretary or treasurer of any such incorporated body shall be a sufficient discharge to the members and executive herein for any such payment or transfer of property.

Article 12 – INTERPRETATION

The Association shall have power to interpret and construe this constitution and all rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto in all cases where the interpretation shall be called into question.

Article 13 – ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION

Upon the adoption of this constitution as amended by the Association it shall go into effect immediately.

Initially adopted at the Annual Meeting of the Association on Saturday 21 April 1979, and amended at the Annual General Meeting of the Association on 7 July 1997.