{"id":"nsw:act-1977-039","name":"Fellowship of Congregational Churches (New South Wales) Incorporation Act 1977","slug":"fellowship-of-congregational-churches-new-south-wales-incorporation-act-1977","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nsw","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"39 of 1977","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":109861,"registerId":"nsw-act-1977-039-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name of Act","content":"#### 1 Name of Act\n\n1 Name of Act\n\n> This Act may be cited as the [Fellowship of Congregational Churches (New South Wales) Incorporation Act 1977](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1977-039).","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"#### 2 Commencement\n\n2 Commencement\n\n> > (1) This section and section 1 shall commence on the date of assent to this Act.\n> \n> > (2) Except as provided in subsection (1), this Act shall commence on the day appointed and notified under section 2 (2) of the [Uniting Church in Australia Act 1977](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1977-047).","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 3 Definitions\n\n3 Definitions\n\n> In this Act, except in so far as the context or subject-matter otherwise indicates or requires:\n> \n> affiliated church means a church affiliated with the Fellowship.\n> \n> appointed day means the day referred to in section 2 (2).\n> \n> Assembly means the General Assembly, as referred to in Schedule 2.\n> \n> Committee means the committee of the Assembly, as referred to in Schedule 2.\n> \n> Congregational Church means the Fellowship, and includes the affiliated churches, and any department, society, auxiliary, activity, fund, service, institution, or any interest of the Fellowship or of any affiliated church.\n> \n> conveyance includes transfer, assignment and assurance.\n> \n> Fellowship means the Fellowship of Congregational Churches (New South Wales).\n> \n> meeting means a meeting called as provided by clause 12 of Schedule 3 and conducted as provided by clauses 13 and 14 of that Schedule.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Constitution of the Fellowship","content":"#### 4 Constitution of the Fellowship\n\n4 Constitution of the Fellowship\n\n> > (1) There is hereby constituted a corporation, under the name of “Fellowship of Congregational Churches (New South Wales)”.\n> \n> > (2) The Fellowship consists of the members for the time being of affiliated churches, holding as their general tenets the doctrines set forth in Schedule 1.\n> \n> > (3) Subject to this Act, the Fellowship may:\n> > \n> > > (a) acquire, hold, deal with and dispose of property of any kind,\n> > \n> > > (b) mortgage, charge or otherwise encumber any of its property, or\n> > \n> > > (c) borrow money for the purposes of the Fellowship.\n> \n> > (4) Subject to this Act, the affairs of the Fellowship shall be managed by the Assembly.\n> \n> > (5) The constitution of the Fellowship shall be that set forth in Schedule 2, but the Fellowship may amend, alter, repeal or replace the constitution from time to time in accordance with the provisions made by the constitution in that regard.\n> \n> **s 4:** Am 1987 No 48, Sch 32.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Common seal","content":"#### 5 Common seal\n\n5 Common seal\n\n> > (1) The common seal of the Fellowship shall be kept as directed by the Committee.\n> \n> > (2) A majority of the members of the Committee present at any meeting of the Committee may use or direct the use of the common seal.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Vesting of property in Fellowship on appointed day","content":"#### 6 Vesting of property in Fellowship on appointed day\n\n6 Vesting of property in Fellowship on appointed day\n\n> Any land described in Schedule 5 or 6 that, immediately before the appointed day, was vested in The Congregational Union of New South Wales or any other person in trust for that Union is hereby divested from that Union or other person and is, to the extent that it was so vested immediately before that day, hereby vested (without conveyance) in the Fellowship and shall be held by the Fellowship in accordance with the provisions of this Act.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Vesting of property in Fellowship after appointed day","content":"#### 7 Vesting of property in Fellowship after appointed day\n\n7 Vesting of property in Fellowship after appointed day\n\n> > (1) This section does not apply to:\n> > \n> > > (a) any land described in Schedule 5, 6 or 7, or\n> > \n> > > (b) any land vested in The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (N.S.W.).\n> \n> > (2) Subject to this Act, any land vested in any person in trust for the Congregational Church is hereby divested from that person and is, to the extent that it was so vested, hereby vested (without conveyance) in the Fellowship and shall be held by the Fellowship in accordance with the provisions of this Act.\n> \n> > (3) The vesting mentioned in subsection (2) shall not take effect without:\n> > \n> > > (a) the assent of the Assembly, and\n> > \n> > > (b) where the land is vested in or held on trust for an existing affiliated church—the assent by resolution of a majority of members of that church present and voting at a duly convened meeting,\n> > \n> > being assents given on or after the appointed day.\n> \n> > (4) A certificate under the hand of the ministerial or lay secretary for the time being of the Assembly shall be conclusive evidence of the assent referred to in subsection (3) (a).","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Provisions affecting property of the Fellowship","content":"#### 8 Provisions affecting property of the Fellowship\n\n8 Provisions affecting property of the Fellowship\n\n> > (1) The Fellowship shall hold land described in Schedule 5 that is vested in it by section 6, and land that becomes vested in it pursuant to section 7, subject to the provisions of and upon the trusts of Schedule 3.\n> \n> > (2) The Fellowship shall hold property (other than land referred to in subsection (1)) in trust for the purposes of the Fellowship and upon any other trust affecting the property.\n> \n> > (3) Subject to subsection (2), the Fellowship shall hold property (other than land referred to in subsection (1)) in accordance with the directions and resolutions of the Assembly.\n> \n> > (4) All land which pursuant to section 6 or 7 becomes vested in the Fellowship is freed and discharged from all of the provisions and trusts of The Congregational Union Incorporation Act.\n> \n> > (5) Except in relation to the trusts declared by The Congregational Union Incorporation Act, the vesting effected by section 6 or 7 shall be without prejudice to:\n> > \n> > > (a) any special trust,\n> > \n> > > (b) any resulting trust,\n> > \n> > > (c) any trust in favour of a donor, and\n> > \n> > > (d) any reservation, mortgage, charge, encumbrance, lien or lease,\n> > \n> > that, immediately before the vesting, affected the land vested.\n> \n> > (6) No attornment to the Fellowship by any lessees of land vested in it by section 6 or 7 shall be necessary.\n> \n> > (7) In this section, special trust means any trust other than a trust for the general purposes of the Fellowship.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Vesting of land in trustees on appointed day","content":"#### 9 Vesting of land in trustees on appointed day\n\n9 Vesting of land in trustees on appointed day\n\n> > (1) Subject to this Act, any land described in Schedule 7 that, immediately before the appointed day, was vested in The Congregational Union of New South Wales is hereby divested from that Union and is, to the extent that it was so vested immediately before that day, hereby vested (without conveyance) in the persons specified in that Schedule opposite the description of the land.\n> \n> > (2) The land described in Schedule 7 shall be held by the persons in whom it is vested by subsection (1) as trustees.\n> \n> > (3) The trustees of any land described in Schedule 7 shall hold the land in trust for the Church specified in Schedule 7 opposite the description and upon any other trust affecting the land.\n> \n> > (4) Subject to subsection (3), the trustees of any land described in Schedule 7 shall hold the land in accordance with the directions and resolutions of meetings of the Church specified in that Schedule opposite the description of the land.\n> \n> > (5) The land described in Schedule 7 is freed and discharged from the provisions and trusts of The Congregational Union Incorporation Act.\n> \n> > (6) The vesting effected by subsection (1) shall be without prejudice to any reservation, mortgage, charge, encumbrance, lien, or lease, that, immediately before the appointed day, affected the land vested.\n> \n> > (7) It is hereby declared that the [Trustee Act 1925](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1925-014) applies to and in respect of the trustees referred to in this section.","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"10","sectionType":"section","heading":"Co-operative use of property","content":"#### 10 Co-operative use of property\n\n10 Co-operative use of property\n\n> > (1) Where, with the consents for the time being and from time to time prescribed by the Assembly, an affiliated church has, at a duly convened meeting, resolved to enter into a scheme of co-operation with, or involving, a church of another denomination or any congregation or activity of such a church, being a scheme that involves the use of property vested in the Fellowship or in trustees under section 9, the Assembly may, while the scheme of co-operation continues in force, permit that property to be used, managed and administered in connection with that scheme in such manner and upon such conditions as the Assembly determines or prescribes.\n> \n> > (2) The conditions that the Assembly may determine or prescribe under subsection (1) may include conditions with respect to the making of contributions of money for the acquisition, construction, alteration, maintenance or repair of assets vested in or held on behalf of a co-operating church or congregation upon such terms as to the giving of security or charges upon property vested in the Fellowship or in the trustees for any such contributions from other denominations and otherwise as may be so determined or prescribed, and any such contributions by or on behalf of an affiliated church or towards assets of or held on behalf of an affiliated church are, to the extent so determined at the time of the contributions, hereby so charged.\n> \n> > (3) Neither the Registrar-General nor any person dealing bona fide and for value with any property vested in the Fellowship or in the trustees shall be bound to inquire whether any security or charge referred to in subsection (2) exists or be deemed to have notice thereof or be bound thereby by virtue only of this Act or the existence of any scheme of co-operation under this section and:\n> > \n> > > (a) a conveyance to such a person shall operate as a discharge of any security or charge so referred to, in so far as the property conveyed would, but for this subsection, be subject thereto, and\n> > \n> > > (b) a mortgage or charge in favour of such a person shall have priority over any security or charge so referred to that affects the property mortgaged or charged in favour of that person.\n> \n> > (4) The proceeds of the sale, mortgage or other dealing with property referred to in this section, and all money collected or held in respect of a scheme of co-operation may be applied in such manner as the Assembly determines or prescribes.\n> \n> > (5) The minister or other person in charge of the religious services of a congregation that has entered into a scheme of co-operation may be of a denomination other than that of the religious body known as Congregationalists or Independents and, if that minister or other person is of another denomination, he shall, so long as he is in charge of the religious services and so long as that scheme of co-operation is in force, have the rights of a minister that are specified in clause 4 of Schedule 3.\n> \n> > (6) Where an affiliated church has entered into a scheme of co-operation, the committee of management of that church may include members of any other congregation that is a party to the scheme of co-operation and those members may be of a denomination other than that of the religious body known as Congregationalists or Independents.\n> \n> > (7) The provisions of subsections (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) shall apply to and in relation to all property at any time held on behalf of an affiliated church that has entered into a scheme of co-operation except to the extent that the property is held subject to any express trust expressly forbidding its use or administration in any manner referred to in those subsections.\n> \n> > (8) Subsection (7) shall not apply to prevent the use or administration of property in a manner referred to in subsections (1), (2), (4), (5) and (6) if the property is merely directed to be held on trust for worship according to the usages of the Congregational denomination commonly called Independents or the purposes of that denomination or of the Fellowship.","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"11","sectionType":"section","heading":"Construction of certain instruments","content":"#### 11 Construction of certain instruments\n\n11 Construction of certain instruments\n\n> Any deed, instrument, document, gift, will or other provision beneficially in favour of The Congregational Union of New South Wales coming into effect on or after the appointed day shall be read and construed as though any reference therein to that Union were a reference to the Fellowship unless the context otherwise provides.","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"12","sectionType":"section","heading":"Transitional provisions","content":"#### 12 Transitional provisions\n\n12 Transitional provisions\n\n> Schedule 4 has effect.","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"Schedule 1","sectionType":"schedule","heading":null,"content":"# Schedule 1\n\nSchedule 1\n\n(Section 4, Schedule 3)","sortOrder":12},{"sectionNumber":"Schedule 2","sectionType":"schedule","heading":null,"content":"# Schedule 2\n\nSchedule 2\n\n(Sections 3, 4)","sortOrder":21},{"sectionNumber":"Schedule 3","sectionType":"schedule","heading":null,"content":"# Schedule 3\n\nSchedule 3\n\n(Section 8)","sortOrder":32},{"sectionNumber":"13","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 13\n\n13\n\nThat only the members present at any such meeting of the age of eighteen years and upwards shall be allowed to vote and that no person who shall have been admitted as an occasional communicant or who shall not have been a member of the church and shall not have been so inscribed on the church books for the space of three calendar months immediately prior to such meeting shall be entitled to vote or take any part in any of the church matters aforesaid.","sortOrder":45},{"sectionNumber":"14","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 14\n\n14\n\nThat the chairman of every such meeting as aforesaid shall be the pastor of the church or in the case of his refusal absence or incapacity or of there being no pastor then a person chosen by the major part of the members present at the meeting and that the chairman of such meeting shall not have a deliberative vote but in case of an equality of votes on any question shall have a casting vote.","sortOrder":46},{"sectionNumber":"15","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 15\n\n15\n\nThat the administration of the affairs of the said church shall not except as herein specifically directed be in any manner affected.","sortOrder":47},{"sectionNumber":"16","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 16\n\n16\n\nProvided also that if at the time of the execution of the conveyance of the land to or the vesting of land in the Fellowship or at any time thereafter there shall be no such church as aforesaid formed or established in the district where such land is situate the Fellowship shall until such church be formed or established as aforesaid have power and authority to perform and do all things necessary for the carrying out of the trusts aforesaid as fully and effectually to all intents and purposes as if such church existed and consented thereto or directed the same to be done and performed.","sortOrder":48},{"sectionNumber":"17","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 17\n\n17\n\nProvided also that if no such church be formed within five years from the vesting of the land in the body corporate or if any church shall be dissolved or dispersed and not be again formed within six calendar months next thereafter or if the stated public worship of God in the said premises shall be discontinued for two years together then and in either of the said cases upon trust to let sell or otherwise dispose of the said premises or any part thereof and to deal with the net moneys received for or in respect of the same in such manner and for such religious purposes (not tending to the promulgation of doctrines inconsistent with those set forth in Schedule 1) as shall be directed by the Fellowship.","sortOrder":49},{"sectionNumber":"Schedule 4","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Transitional provisions","content":"# Schedule 4 Transitional provisions\n\nSchedule 4 Transitional provisions\n\n(Section 12)","sortOrder":50},{"sectionNumber":"Schedule 5","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Land vested in the Fellowship by section 6","content":"# Schedule 5 Land vested in the Fellowship by section 6\n\nSchedule 5 Land vested in the Fellowship by section 6\n\n(Sections 6, 8)\n\n| Congregation | Particulars of Title |\n| Bexley | All that land in Lot 11 in Deposited Plan No 520670 Parish of St George County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 10389 Folio 14. |\n| Bourke Street | All that land in Parts of Block 8 of that part of the Riley Estate known as the Surry Hills Estate Parish of Alexandria County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land described in Conveyance Registered Book 629 No 104. |\n| Brighton-le-Sands | All that land in Lot 4, Section D, in Deposited Plan No 6718 Parish of St George County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 3076 Folio 124. |\n| Como | All that land in Lot 44 in Deposited Plan No 10512 Parish of Sutherland County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 3237 Folio 158. |\n|  | All that land in Lot 45 in Deposited Plan No 10512 Parish of Sutherland County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 3220 Folio 17. |\n|  | All that land in Lot 46 in Deposited Plan No 10512 Parish of Sutherland County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 3496 Folio 60. |\n| Fairy Meadow | All that land in Lot 13 in Deposited Plan No 24459 Parish of Wonona County of Camden and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 6745 Folio 107. |\n| Gresford | All that land in the Parish of Gresford County of Durham and being the whole of the land described in Conveyance Registered Book 760 No 685. |\n|  | All that land in the Parish of Gresford County of Durham and being the whole of the land described in Conveyance Registered Book 2023 No 979. |\n| Jannali | All that land in Lot 9, Section D in Deposited Plan No 2092 Parish of Sutherland County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 5682 Folio 92. |\n|  | All that land in Lot 10, Section D in Deposited Plan No 2092 Parish of Sutherland County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 4150 Folio 12. |\n|  | All that land in part of Lot 12, Section E in Deposited Plan No 10381 Parish of Sutherland County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 5057 Folio 182. |\n| Kogarah Bay | All that land in Lot 15, Section 2 in Deposited Plan No 1963 Parish of St George County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 3853 Folio 23. |\n|  | All that land in Lot 16, Section 2 in Deposited Plan No 1963 Parish of St George County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 3853 Folio 24. |\n| Kurri Kurri | All that land in Allotments 19 and 20, Section 29 in the Parish of Heddon County of Northumberland and being the whole of the land in Crown Grant Volume 1575 Folio 241. |\n| Leichhardt | All that land in Lots 4 and 5, Section 8 in Deposited Plan No 328 Parish of Petersham County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 330 Folio 219. |\n|  | All that land in Lot 6, Section 8 in Deposited Plan No 328 Parish of Petersham County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 503 Folio 60. |\n| Manly | All that land in Lot 2 in Deposited Plan No 570336 Parish of Manly Cove County of Cumberland and being part of the land described in Conveyance Registered Book 612 No 737. |\n|  | All that land in Lot 95, in Deposited Plan No 1729 Parish of Manly Cove County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 3448 Folio 87. |\n| Milperra | All that land in Lot 55 in Deposited Plan No 230101 Parish of Bankstown County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 10646 Folio 155. |\n| Miranda | All that land in Lot 2 in Deposited Plan No 8447 Parish of Sutherland County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 2842 Folio 24. |\n|  | All that land in Lot 22 in Deposited Plan No 8447 Parish of Sutherland County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 2865 Folio 106. |\n|  | All that land in Lot 23 in Deposited Plan No 8447 Parish of Sutherland County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 3752 Folio 142. |\n|  | All that land in Lot 65 in Deposited Plan No 8447 Parish of Sutherland County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 5471 Folio 80. |\n| Miranda West | All that land in Lot 17 in Deposited Plan No 30172 Parish of Sutherland County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 8117 Folio 187. |\n| Padstow | All that land in Lots 6 and 8 in Deposited Plan No 16709 Parish of Bankstown County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 5371 Folio 27. |\n|  | All that land in Lot 7 in Deposited Plan No 16709 Parish of Bankstown County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 5550 Folio 42. |\n| Panania | All that land in Lot 38 in Deposited Plan No 11520 Parish of Bankstown County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 4497 Folio 107. |\n| Picnic Point | All that land in Lot 7 in Deposited Plan No 17218 Parish of Bankstown County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 4971 Folio 250. |\n| Revesby | All that land in Lots 43 and 44, Section 10 in Deposited Plan No 2343 Parish of Bankstown County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 4287 Folio 182. |\n| Salisbury | All that land being part of Portion 28 in Parish of Underbank County of Durham and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 6244 Folio 235. |\n| Towradgi | All that land in Lot 11 on Registered Plan No 1075 Parish of Wonona County of Camden and being the whole of the land described in Conveyance Registered Book 2097 No 963. |\n|  | All that land in Lot 10 on Registered Plan No 1075 Parish of Wonona County of Camden and being the whole of the land described in Conveyance Registered Book 2736 No 132. |\n| Waterloo | All that right title and interest of The Congregational Union of New South Wales in all that land situated in the Parish of Alexandria County of Cumberland as more particularly described in Assignment of Lease Registered Book 273 No 61. |\n| West Cessnock | All that land in Lot 2 in Deposited Plan No 505697 Parish of Pokolbin County of Northumberland and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 9551 Folio 129. |\n| Willoughby | All that land in Lots 40 and 41, Section 1 in a Subdivision of land of David Etherington Parish of Willoughby County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land described in Conveyance Registered Book 569 No 159. |\n| Wollongong | All that land in part of allotment 4 Section 2 of Charles Throsby Smith’s Grant Parish of Wollongong County of Camden and being the whole of the land described in Conveyance Registered Book 3209 No 626. |\n|  | All that land in Lot 8 in Deposited Plan No 12417 Parish of Wollongong County of Camden and being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 4903 Folio 183. |","sortOrder":58},{"sectionNumber":"Schedule 6","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Additional land vested in the Fellowship by section 6","content":"# Schedule 6 Additional land vested in the Fellowship by section 6\n\nSchedule 6 Additional land vested in the Fellowship by section 6\n\n(Section 6)\n\n| Location of Property | Particulars of Title |\n| On Hazelbrook Creek and known as “Camp Fletcher” | All that land in Portion 89, Parish of Woodford County of Cook and being the whole of the land in Crown Grant Volume 1284 Folio 71. |\n| At Summer Hill | All that land in part of Lot 5 of the Canterbury Estate Parish of Petersham County of Cumberland and being the whole of the land described in Conveyance Registered Book 1238 No 889. |","sortOrder":59},{"sectionNumber":"Schedule 7","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Land vested in trustees by section 9","content":"# Schedule 7 Land vested in trustees by section 9\n\nSchedule 7 Land vested in trustees by section 9\n\n(Section 9)\n\n| Congregation | Particulars of Title | Trustees |\n| Denistone Congregational Church | All that land in Lot 1 in Deposited Plan No 212770 Parish of Hunters Hill County of Cumberland being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 9232, Folio 27. | Leslie George Bennett, Ruby Flora Evelan Lander, and Douglas Norman Cavanagh. |\n|  | All that land in Lot 2 in Deposited Plan No 212770 Parish of Hunters Hill County of Cumberland being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 9232, Folio 28. |  |\n| Engadine Congregational Church | All that land in Lot 14, Section A in Deposited Plan No 10933 Parish of Heathcote County of Cumberland being the whole of the land in Certificate of Title Volume 4192 Folio 32. | Colin George Jones, Garry Charles Martin, Brian Francis Shortman, and Lesley George Wallace. |","sortOrder":60}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available metadata, the Act appears to have remained within its original narrow scope of incorporating the Fellowship of Congregational Churches in NSW. No amendments are recorded since its effective date of 1 September 1987, suggesting no scope expansion or contraction has occurred."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow, single-purpose legislation affecting only one specific religious organisation","Private incorporation Acts of this type follow a well-established, simple template","No amendments have been made since at least 1987, suggesting minimal legal evolution","The actual operative text was not available for review, preventing assessment of any unusual provisions","No apparent cross-references to complex regulatory schemes"],"plain_english_summary":"The Fellowship of Congregational Churches (NSW) Incorporation Act 1977 is a private law that gives this specific religious group a separate legal identity in NSW, letting the Fellowship own property, enter contracts and sue or be sued in its own name. It primarily affects the Fellowship’s members, leaders and anyone dealing with or donating to the church, protecting individuals from personal liability for the organisation’s affairs."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act transfers the ownership and control of specific land and property interests from The Congregational Union of New South Wales (and persons holding on its trusts) to the newly incorporated Fellowship, thereby changing the legal holder and governance framework for those assets (ss 4, 6–9). It preserves existing special trusts and encumbrances (s 8(5)), excludes certain lands and retains trustee vesting for named parcels (s 7(1), s 9), and sets transitional rules about which churches become affiliated (Schedule 4), so the scope of control and beneficiaries is materially reallocated rather than merely reaffirmed."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple vesting mechanisms for property: automatic vesting on the appointed day (s 6) and conditional vesting after that day requiring consents (s 7(2)–(4)).","Extensive schedules listing parcels of land and specified trustees (Schedules 5–7) requiring precise title handling and potential dealings with existing encumbrances (s 8(5), s 9(6)).","Trust law layering: land held on trusts with specific local church directions (Schedule 3) while some land is freed from prior statutory trusts but subject to special or resulting trusts (s 8(1)–(5)).","Centralised management and broad discretion for the Assembly and its Committee over property use, charges, co-operation schemes and application of proceeds (s 4(4)–(5), s 10(1)–(4)).","Priority and notice rules affecting third-party dealings: protections for bona fide purchasers and priority of new mortgages over certain charges (s 10(3)).","Procedural and consent requirements that create compliance burdens: church meeting notice and voting rules (Schedule 3 cl 12–14), member contributions and delegate representation rules (Schedule 2), and certificate evidence for assent (s 7(4)).","Transitional and exclusion provisions that alter who becomes an affiliated church and preserve exceptions (Schedule 4 cl 1–2), which requires administrative onboarding and record updates.","Commencement dependency on an external statute (Uniting Church in Australia Act 1977) creating sequencing and interpretation complexity (s 2)."],"plain_english_summary":"Creates an incorporated body called the Fellowship of Congregational Churches (NSW) and transfers (or enables transfer of) land and other property previously held for The Congregational Union of New South Wales to that Fellowship (ss 4, 6–9). The Assembly runs the Fellowship, controls property use, contributions and cooperative schemes with other denominations, and the Act preserves existing special trusts while setting rules for meetings, vesting consents and trustee arrangements (schedules, ss 7–10)."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation appears to maintain its original scope. It was enacted specifically to incorporate the Fellowship of Congregational Churches and transfer property from the old Congregational Union to the new entity following the 1977 church union. The content—property transfers, governance structures, and doctrinal statements—aligns with this original purpose. While the Act contains detailed schedules listing specific properties, this specificity was inherent to the original intent of ensuring proper property vesting during the denominational split."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple property transfer mechanisms with different rules (direct vesting in Fellowship vs. vesting in named trustees)","Extensive cross-referencing between sections and seven schedules (some schedules reference clauses in other schedules)","Conditional vesting requiring dual assent (Assembly plus local church resolution) under section 7","19th-century style trust language in Schedule 3 with nested provisos and archaic terminology ('hereditaments', 'demise', 'exonerate')","Complex transitional provisions coordinating commencement with the Uniting Church in Australia Act 1977","Specific land descriptions using historical title references (Crown Grants, Deposited Plans, Registered Books) that require specialist knowledge to interpret","Exception to exception structure in section 10(7) and (8) regarding cooperative use of property","Interaction between statutory trusts and general trust law (explicit reference to Trustee Act 1925)"],"plain_english_summary":"This Act creates a new legal entity called the **Fellowship of Congregational Churches (New South Wales)**—essentially giving official legal status to a group of Congregational (also known as Independent) churches in NSW.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Incorporates the Fellowship** as a corporation (a legal body that can own property, borrow money, and enter contracts) made up of member churches.\n- **Transfers property** from the old Congregational Union of New South Wales to the new Fellowship. Different parcels of land are treated differently—some go directly to the Fellowship, some go to local trustees for specific churches.\n- **Sets up governance rules** including an annual General Assembly (a meeting of representatives from member churches), a Committee to manage day-to-day affairs, and procedures for electing officers.\n- **Defines religious beliefs** in Schedule 1 (basic Christian doctrines plus specific Congregational principles like local church autonomy).\n- **Allows inter-denominational cooperation** by letting affiliated churches share property with other denominations under approved schemes.\n- **Protects existing trusts** so that property transferred keeps any special conditions attached to it (like gifts with specific purposes).\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Congregational churches in NSW that chose **not** to join the Uniting Church in 1977 (when most Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian churches merged).\n- The specific churches listed in Schedules 5, 6 and 7 (mostly Sydney suburbs and regional NSW towns like Wollongong, Gresford, Kurri Kurri).\n- Trustees named in Schedule 7 who hold specific properties for local churches.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis Act was part of the fallout from the creation of the Uniting Church in 1977. When most Congregational churches joined the merger, those that wanted to remain independent needed a new legal structure to hold their property and operate. This Act provides that structure, ensuring these churches could continue owning land, managing funds, and functioning as a denomination without being absorbed into the Uniting Church."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/fellowship-of-congregational-churches-new-south-wales-incorporation-act-1977","history":"/api/acts/fellowship-of-congregational-churches-new-south-wales-incorporation-act-1977/history","analysis":"/api/acts/fellowship-of-congregational-churches-new-south-wales-incorporation-act-1977/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/fellowship-of-congregational-churches-new-south-wales-incorporation-act-1977/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/fellowship-of-congregational-churches-new-south-wales-incorporation-act-1977/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/fellowship-of-congregational-churches-new-south-wales-incorporation-act-1977/documents"}}