Membership of the Uniting Church in Australia

Extracted from the UCA regulations

1. MEMBERSHIP

1.1 GENERAL

RECOGNITION OF MEMBERS

1.1.1 The members of the Church shall be:

• (a) those persons who at the date of the first Assembly are members of any one of the uniting churches, except those who decline to be members of the Church.
  (b) persons who at a later date become members in accordance with the procedures of the Church.

FORMS OF MEMBERSHIP

1.1.2 The membership of the Church shall be in one of the following forms:

• (a) baptised members — comprising all baptised persons who have not yet become confirmed members.
  (b) confirmed members — comprising persons confirmed by the Church or in a manner recognised by the Church.
  (c) members-in-association — being persons who are granted such recognition in accordance with Regulations 1.4.1. and 1.4.2.

1.2 BAPTISED MEMBERS

BAPTISED MEMBERS

1.2.1 (a) The names of candidates for baptism shall normally be submitted to the Church Council for prior approval.

• (b) The sacrament shall be administered by water and in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit according to an order which meets the requirements of the Assembly.
  (c) Normally the sacrament shall be administered in the presence of the Congregation within whose life the candidates or the parents of the candidates are currently or promise in future to be involved.

RECORD OF BAPTISMS

1.2.2 A record of each person baptised shall be made as prescribed in the records of the Congregation in which the sacrament was administered.

BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATE

1.2.3 All persons baptised shall be issued with a baptismal certificate in the form approved by the Assembly.

NURTURE OF BAPTISED PERSONS

1.2.4 The Congregation and the Church Council shall seek to ensure that all baptised persons are nurtured within the fellowship of the Church, equipped for witness and service in the community and prepared for confirmation.

1.3 CONFIRMED MEMBERS

CONFIRMED MEMBERS

1.3.1 Prior to confirmation the names of candidates shall be submitted to the Church Council for approval.

PREPARATION FOR CONFIRMATION

1.3.2 Candidates for confirmation who have not been previously baptised shall be baptised either prior to or in conjunction with the confirmation.

CONDITIONS AND MODE OF CONFIRMATION

1.3.3 Confirmation shall be according to an order which meets the requirements of the Assembly and which makes provision for the candidate to declare: acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, determination to follow him in daily life, intention to participate actively in the fellowship of the Church and to support its work, and resolution to seek the extension of the reign of God in human society.

CONFIRMED MEMBERS ROLL

1.3.4 Following confirmation the person’s name shall be recorded on the roll of confirmed members.

1.4 MEMBERS-IN-ASSOCIATION

MEMBERS-IN-ASSOCIATION

1.4.1 A person may apply to the Church Council for recognition as a member-in-association if the person:

• (a) is a member of another Christian denomination but not actively engaged in the life of that denomination and participates in the corporate life of the Congregation and accepts the polity and discipline of the Church; or
  (b) participates actively in the corporate life of two Congregations of the Church and is enrolled as a confirmed member of the other Congregation.

ADMISSION OF MEMBERS-IN-ASSOCIATION

1.4.2 A person so recognised by the Church Council shall be admitted to membership according to an order which meets the requirements of the Assembly and the person’s name shall then be entered on the roll of members-in-association.

1.5 MEMBERS’ RIGHT TO VOTE

1.5 All confirmed members and members-in-association shall have the right to vote:

• (a) at meetings of the Congregation in respect of which they are enrolled.
  (b) in any committee, council or other body to which they, being eligible, have been appointed.

1.6 MEMBERSHIP ROLLS

MEMBERSHIP ROLLS

1.6.1 (a) The rolls of the Congregation shall be kept by the Church Council and shall include:

• (i) a roll of baptised members indicating the name, place and date of baptism, and, in the case of infants, the date of birth of the infant and the names of parents;
  (ii) a roll of confirmed members indicating the name, the date of admission, transfer, removal or other action concerning each member;
  (iii) a roll of members-in-association, including the name of the other denomination and congregation in which membership is retained; and
  (iv) a roll of adherents.
  

• (b) The Church Council shall annually undertake a review of the rolls and in making the review, shall consider whether any person who is enrolled as a member-in-association in accordance with Regulation 1.4.1(b) continues to participate actively in the corporate life of both Congregations.

REMOVAL OF NAME FROM ROLL

1.6.2 (a) A member’s name shall be removed from the roll when such member

• (i) dies;
  (ii) is transferred to another Congregation;
  (iii) resigns or otherwise signifies a desire to discontinue membership; or
  (iv) is declared by the Church Council to be a person no longer qualified to be recognised as a member.
  

• (b) The removal of a member’s name from the roll in accordance with (a)(iv) shall not be effected until the member has first been given reasonable notice that the matter is to be considered, and until reasonable efforts have been made by the Minister and the Church Council to offer the member pastoral care.
  (c) Any person who considers that their name has been wrongfully removed from the roll of members shall have the same rights of appeal as those set out in Regulation 5.2.3.

INSPECTION OF ROLLS BY PRESBYTERY

1.6.3 The rolls shall be available for inspection by the Presbytery at such intervals as it determines. In the event of a Congregation being disbanded its roll shall be forwarded to Presbytery for safe keeping.

1.7 TRANSFERS

TRANSFER OF MEMBERS

1.7.1 (a) A member or the parents or guardians of a baptised member may request and shall be granted by the Church Council a certificate of transfer to a specific Congregation in another place. In addition, the secretary of the Church Council shall forward an appropriate letter to the secretary of the Church Council of the new Congregation.

• (b) In the event of a member moving beyond the bounds of the Congregation but no certificate of transfer being sought, the secretary of the Church Council shall forward an appropriate letter to the secretary of the Church Council related to the new Congregation, if known. If no request for transfer is received within two years of a member leaving the Congregation the member’s name shall be removed from the members’ roll and the reason for the removal entered therein.

ADMISSION OF MEMBERS BY TRANSFER

1.7.2 (a) Any member of the Church possessing a certificate of transfer may apply to the appropriate Church Council and shall be granted admission to membership, which shall be recognised by an appropriate ceremony and the member’s name entered on the roll.

• (b) A person who is a confirmed member of another denomination desiring to transfer membership to the Church shall present a certificate of transfer or other evidence to the Church Council which shall determine the matter. A person so accepted shall be received and recognised at an appropriate ceremony and the member’s name entered on the roll of confirmed members.

1.8 ADHERENTS

ADHERENTS

1.8.1 In addition to a roll of members, a roll of persons who, though not members or members-in-association, regularly attend the services of worship and share in the life of the Congregation shall be kept. Such persons shall be known as adherents of the Church.

PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1.8.2 (a) Adherents may attend and speak at meetings of the Congregation but not in the determination of any item of business.

• (b) Adherents may be appointed as members of committees of the Congregation.

(Extracted and formatted DLM July 2014)