CONSTITUTION (cont'd)

Do now promulgate the following revised Constitution as a more adequate expression of the Council's objects and functions to take the place of the Constitution presently in force.

The Registered Office of the Council is the Council of Churches of Malaysia, No.26, Jalan Universiti, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. It cannot be changed without the approval of the Registrar of Societies.

Place of Meeting:

Meetings of the Council shall ordinarily be held in Kuala Lumpur/Petaling Jaya within one the buildings of a member church/organization or at such places as may from time to time be decided by the Board of Management.

Name:

The name of the organization shall be Majlis Gereja-Gereja Malaysia ( the Council of Churches of Malaysia) hereinafter referred to as "the Council".

Basis:

The Council is founded :

4.1 on a common belief that God has revealed His eternal purpose for mankind in His Son Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit. Its members accept the scriptures of Old and New Testaments as the supreme standard of faith and practice, and confess their common faith as expressed in the Apostles' and Nine Creeds.

4.2 on the acceptance of the principal that the Church is in the Christian enterprise that the local congregation is basic to its life and witness, and that evangelism is its primary task.

4.3 As an association of Churches, and other Christian organizations, each believing that it is Christ's will that His Body, the Church should again be visibly one and each desiring to work towards this end.

4.4 As an association of cooperating members, each of which determines its own policy and action.

Objects:

The Objectives of the Council are:

5.1 to offer itself as an instrument or agency to the Churches in Malaysia whereby they can make more do together everything except what irreconcilable differences of sincere conviction compel them to do separately.

5.2 To show forth among its members that Christian unity which is God's gift to His people in Jesus Christ, and by common prayer, study, consultation and action, promote the Church's mission in Malaysia and the World.

5.3 Through common consultation and action to form Christian public opinion and bring it to bear on the moral, social, national and international problems of the day, particularly these problems affecting the life and welfare of the peoples of Malaysia.

5.5 To provide an agency through which governments in Malaysia both central and state, may consult with member-churches and organizations on matters of common concern to all member bodies of the Council.

5.6 To maintain fellowship with other Christian Councils or Councils of Churches of other countries and with such ecumenical bodies as the council may decide, and in particular to fulfil its obligations as an affiliated member of the World Council of Churches and the Christian Conference of Asia.

Membership :

6.1 The Council is composed of the member-churches and organizations mentioned in the preamble.

6.2 There shall be a distinction between full members and associate members.

6.3 Full members. Any Christian church in Malaysia that accepts this Constitution may be eligible to become a member by application to the Council.

6.4 Associate members. Any registered Christian organization that is acceptable to the Council and who accepts this Constitution may be eligible to become an Associate member of the Council.

6.5 Normally application should come from the highest court or committee of the said church or organization in Malaysia.

6.6.1 When an application for membership is received all members of the Council shall be informed.

6.6.2 Application shall normally be received at a meeting of the Board of Management. Addiction on the application will not, however , be made at the same meeting of the Board of Management but only at the next regular or any subsequent meeting of the Board of Management.

6.6.3 Applications shall be approved by two-thirds majority vote of the member-churches present at a meeting of the Board of Management. Each member-church shall only have one (1) vote.

6.7 Any full member or Associate member shall cease to be a member of the Council if :-

a) by a notice in writing the highest court or committee of the said Church or organization renounce its membership; or

b) the membership of the said Church or organization is revoked by a resolution of the General Assembly.

6.8 A resolution revoking the membership of a Church or organization shall require a two-thirds majority vote of delegates from member-churches present and voting at a meeting of the General Assembly and shall only be taken after such Church or organization have been given reasonable notice of such intention and after such Church or organization has had an opportunity to make representations, if any.