Our Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF ASSOCIATION FOR CHRISTIAN COUNSELLING (SINGAPORE)
Name
1.1
This Society shall be known as the Association for Christian Counselling (Singapore)
hereinafter referred to as the “Society”.
Place to Business
2.1
Its place of business shall be at "265 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427519".
Objects
3.1
Its objects are:
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a. To promote the practice of Christian counselling in Singapore;
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b. To encourage the development and advancement of Christian counselling
as a discipline in Singapore;
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c. To promote and assist in the research on Christian counselling theories and practices;
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d. To promote and reinforce high standards in education and training, competency and growth based on Biblical and Christian ethics;
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e. To promote and enhance public awareness and acceptance of Christian counselling in the community; and
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f. To foster co-operation and sharing of information and experience among Christians of different Biblical and Christian counselling approaches and specialisations.
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3.2
In furtherance of the objects, the Society shall with the approval of the relevant authorities:
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a. Organise, participate in arranging and providing for conferences, workshops, exhibitions, business and social meetings, lectures and discussions on subjects of interest for persons interested in Christian counselling, and also for conduct and publication of research relevant to Christian counselling;
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b. Print, publish and circulate papers, treatise, books, pamphlets, leaflets or communications to the Society, and proceedings and accounts of the Society;
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c. Keep a register of members, their qualification and appointments and particulars of their professional experience; and/or
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d. Consider and advise on any question of policy related to the practice of Christian counselling referred to it for consideration by any member of the Society or by any other body/agency (government, non government, public or private sector)
Statement of Faith
4.1
The Society believes that:
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a. There exists only one God, creator and sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally co-existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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b. The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the inspired, inerrant and trustworthy Word of God, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of human beings, and the final authority for all matters about which it speaks.
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c. Human nature derives from two historical personas, male and female, created in God's image. They were created perfect, but they sinned, plunging themselves and all human beings into sin, guilt, suffering, and death.
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d. The substitutionary death of Jesus Christ and his bodily resurrection provide the only ground for justification, forgiveness, and salvation for all who believe. Only those who trust in Him alone are born of the Holy Spirit and are true members of the Church; only they will spend eternity with Christ.
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e. The Holy Spirit is the agent of regeneration and renewal for believers in Jesus Christ. He makes the presence of Jesus Christ real in believers, and he comforts, guides, convicts, and enables believers to live in ways that honor Christ.
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f. Man is a physical, social, psychological, and spiritual being. The ultimate goal of Christian counselling is to help others move to personal wholeness, interpersonal competence, mental stability, and spiritual maturity.
Membership Qualifications and rights
5.1
Membership is opened to persons who are above 18 years of age and who profess the Christian faith and is a member of a registered church in Singapore, and/or involved in Christian counselling ministry.
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5.2
Only members who are 21 years of age and above shall have the right to vote and to hold office in the Society.
Application of Membership
6.1
A person wishing to join the Society should submit his particulars to the Secretary on a prescribed form.
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6.2
The Executive Committee will decide on the application for membership.
Entrance Fees, Subscriptions and other dues
7.1
An entrance fee is payable within two weeks of election to membership, in default of which membership may be cancelled by order of the Committee.
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7.2
Annual subscriptions are payable in advance within the first calendar month of each year.
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7.3
The entrance fees and subscriptions shall be determined by the General Meeting on recommendation from the Executive Committee from time to time.
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7.4
If a member falls into arrears with his subscription or other dues, he shall be informed immediately by the Treasurer. If he fails to settle his arrears within one month of their becoming due, the President may order that his name be posted on the Society's notice board and that he be denied the privileges of membership until he settles his account. If he falls into arrears for more than three months, he will automatically cease to be a member and the Executive Committee may take legal action against him provided that they are satisfied that he has received due notice of his debts.
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7.5
The Executive Committee is authorised to invite donations to the funds of the Society by lawful means, with the consent of the General Meeting of members, and to expend such sums of money as the Society may think fit in furtherance of the aims of the Society.
Supreme Authority and General Meetings
8.1
The supreme authority of the Society is vested in a General Meeting of members presided over by the President.
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8.2
An Annual General Meeting shall be held by June.
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8.3
At other times, an Extraordinary General Meeting must be called by the President on the request in writing of not less than 25% of the total voting membership or 30 voting members, whichever is the lesser, and may be called at anytime by order of the Executive Committee. The notice in writing shall be given to the Secretary setting forth the business that is to be transacted. The Extraordinary General Meeting shall be convened within two months from receiving this request to convene the Extraordinary General Meeting.
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8.4
If the Executive Committee does not within two months after the date of the receipt of the written request proceed to convene an Extraordinary Genera! Meeting, the members who requested for the Extraordinary General Meeting shall convene the Extraordinary General Meeting by giving ten days' notice to voting members setting forth the business to he transacted and simultaneously posting the agenda on the Society's notice hoard.
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8.5
At least two weeks' notice shall be given of an Annual General Meeting and at least ten days' notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting. Notice of meeting stating the date, time and place of meeting shall be sent by the Secretary to all voting members The particulars of the agenda shall he posted on the Society's notice board four days in advance of the meeting.
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8.6
Unless otherwise stated in this Constitution voting by proxy is allowed at all General Meetings.
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8.7
The following matters will be considered at the Annual General Meeting:
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a) The previous financial year's accounts and annual report of the Executive Committee.
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b) Where applicable, the election of office-bearers and Honorary Auditor(s) for the following term.
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8.8
Any member who wishes to place an item on the agenda of a General Meeting may do so provided he gives notice to the Secretary one week before the meeting is due to be held:
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8.9
At least 25% of the total voting membership or 30 voting members, whichever is the lesser, present at a General Meeting shall form a quorum. Proxies shall not be constituted as part of the quorum.
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8.10
In the event of there being no quorum at the commencement of a General Meeting, the meeting shall be adjourned for half an hour and should the number then present be insufficient to form a quorum, those present shall
be considered a quorum, but they shall have no power to amend any
of the existing rules.
Management and Executive Committee
9.1
The administration of the Society shall be entrusted to an Executive Committee consisting of the following to be elected at alternate Annual General Meeting:
i. A President
ii. A Vice-President
iii. A Secretary
iv. An Assistant Secretary
v. A Treasurer
vi. An Assistant Treasurer
vii. Four Ordinary Committee Members
Unless with the prior approval in writing of the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar of Societies, majority of the Executive Committee Members shall be Singapore Citizens.
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9.2
Names for the above offices shall be proposed and seconded at the Annual General Meeting and election will follow on a simple majority vote of the members. All office-bearers, except the Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer may be re-elected to the same or related post for a consecutive term of office. The term of office of the Executive Committee is two years.
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9.3
Election will be either by show of hands or, subject to the agreement of the majority of the voting members present, by a secret ballot. In the event of a tie, the Chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote.
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9.4
An Executive Committee Meeting shall be held at least once every three months after giving seven days' notice to the Executive Committee Members. The President may call an Executive Committee Meeting at any time by giving five days' notice. At least 50% of the Executive Committee Members must be present for its proceedings to be valid.
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9.5
Any member of the Executive Committee absenting himself from three meetings consecutively without satisfactory explanations shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Executive Committee and a voting member may be co-opted by the Committee to serve until the next Annual General Meeting. Any changes in the Executive Committee shall be notified to the Registrar of Societies within two weeks of the change.
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9.6
The duty of the Executive Committee is to organise and supervise the day-to-day activities of the Society. The Executive Committee may not act contrary to the expressed wishes of the General Meeting of members without prior reference to it and shall always remain subordinate to the General Meetings of members.
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9.7
The Executive Committee has power to authorise the expenditure of a sum not exceeding $2,500 per month from the Society's funds for the Society's purposes.
Duties of Office-Bearers
10.1
The President shall chair all General and Executive Committee meetings. He shall also represent the Society in its dealings with outside persons.
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10.2
The Vice-President shall assist the President and deputise for him in his absence.
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10.3
The Secretary shall keep all records, except financial, of the Society and shall be responsible for their correctness. He will keep minutes of all General and Executive Committee meetings. He shall maintain an up-to-date Register of Members at all times.
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10.4
The Assistant Secretary shall assist the Secretary and deputise for him in his absence.
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10.5
The Treasurer shall keep all funds and collect and disburse all moneys on behalf of the Society and shall keep an account of ail monetary transactions and shall be responsible for their correctness. He is authorised to expend up to $2,500 per month for petty expenses on behalf of the Society. He will not keep more than $1,500 in the form of cash, and money on excess of this will be deposited in a bank to be named by the Executive Committee. Cheques, etc. for withdrawals from the bank will be signed by the Treasurer and either the President or the Vice-President or the Secretary.
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10.6
The Assistant Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer and deputise for him in his absence.
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10.7
Ordinary Executive Committee Members shall assist in the general administration of the Society and perform duties assigned by the Executive Committee from time to time.
Audit and Financial Year
11.1
One voting member, not being members of the Executive Committee, shall be elected as an Honorary Auditor at alternate Annual General Meeting and will hold office for a term of two years and shall not be re-elected for a consecutive term.
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11.2
The Auditor:
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a) Will be required to audit each year's accounts and present a report upon them to the Annual General Meeting.
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b) May be required by the President to audit the Society's accounts for any period within their tenure of office at any date and make a report to the Executive Committee.
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11.3
The financial year shall be from 1st January to 31st December.
Trustees
12.1
If the Society at any time acquires any immovable property, such property shall be vested in trustees subject to a declaration of trust.
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12.2
The trustees of the Society shall:
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a) Not be more than four and not less than two in number.
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b) Be elected by a General Meeting of members.
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c) Not effect any sale or mortgage of property without the prior approval of the General Meeting of members.
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12.3
The office of the trustee shall be vacated:
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a) If the trustee dies or becomes a lunatic or of unsound mind.
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b) If he is absent from the Republic of Singapore for a period of more than one year.
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c) If he is guilty of misconduct of such a kind as to render it undesirable that he continues as a trustee.
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d) If he submits notice of resignation from his trusteeship.
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12.4
Notice of any proposal to remove a trustee from his trusteeship or to appoint a new trustee to fill a vacancy must be given by posting it on the notice board in the Society's premises at least two weeks before the General Meeting at which the proposal is to be discussed. The result of such General Meeting shall then be notified to the Registrar of Societies.
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12.5
The address of each immovable property, name of each trustee and any subsequent change must be notified to the Registrar of Societies.
Visitors and Guests
13.1
Visitors and guests may be admitted into the premises of the Society but they shall not be admitted into the privileges of the Society. All visitors and guests shall abide by the Society's rules and regulations.
Prohibitions
14.1
Gambling of any kind, excluding the promotion or conduct of a private lottery which has been permitted under the Private Lotteries Act Cap 250, is forbidden on the Society's premises. The introduction of materials for gambling or drug taking and of bad characters into the premises is prohibited.
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14.2
The funds of the Society shall not be used to pay the fines of members who have been convicted in a court of law.
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14.3
The Society shall not engage in any trade union activity as defined in any written law relating to trade unions for the time being in force in Singapore.
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14.4
The Society shall not attempt to restrict or interfere with trade or make directly or indirectly any recommendation to, any arrangement with its members which has the purpose or is likely to have the effect of fixing or controlling the price or any discount, allowance or rebate relating to any goods or service which adversely affect consumer interests.
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14.5
The Society shall not indulge in any political activity or allow its funds and/or premises to be used for political purposes.
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14.6
The Society shall not hold any lottery, whether confined to its members or not, in the name of the Society or its office-bearers, Executive Committee or members unless with the prior approval of the relevant authorities.
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14.7
The Society shall not raise funds from the public for whatever purposes without the prior approval in writing of the Head, Licensing Division, Singapore Police Force and other relevant authorities.
Amendments to Constitution
15.1
No alteration or addition/deletion to this Constitution shall be made except at a General Meeting and with the consent of two-thirds of the voting members present at the Genera! Meeting, and they shall not come into force without the prior sanction of the Registrar of Societies.
Interpretation
16.1
In the event of any question or matter pertaining to day-to-day administration which is not expressly provided for in this Constitution, the Executive Committee shall have power to use its own discretion. The decision of the Executive Committee shall be final unless it is reversed at a General Meeting of members.
Disputes
17.1
In the event of any dispute arising amongst members, they shall attempt to resolve the matter at an Extraordinary General Meeting in accordance with this Constitution. Should the members fail to resolve the matter, they may bring the matter to a court of law for settlement.
Dissolution
18.1
The Society shall not be dissolved, except with the consent of not less than 3/5 of the total voting membership of the Society for the time being resident in Singapore expressed, either In person or by proxy, at a General Meeting convened for the purpose.
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18.2
In the event of the Society being dissolved as provided above, all debts and liabilities legally incurred on behalf of the Society shall be fully discharged, and the remaining funds will be disposed of in such manner as the General Meeting of members may determine or donated to an approved charity or charities in Singapore.
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18.3
A Certificate of Dissolution shall be given within seven days of the dissolution to the Registrar of Societies.