{"id":"baptist-union-incorporation-act-1930","name":"The Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930","slug":"the-baptist-union-incorporation-act-1930","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":176396,"registerId":"vic-baptist-union-incorporation-act-1930-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"The Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930","content":"Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documentsi\nVersion No. 001\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\nAct No. 3903/1930\nVersion as at 13 October 1999\nTABLE OF PROVISIONS\nSection Page\n1. Short title 2\n2. Incorporation and seal of the Baptist Union of Victoria 3\n3. Vesting of property etc. in the Union 4\n4. Property held on trust 6\n5. Execution of conveyance or transfer 7\n6. Members voting at church meetings 7\n7. Appointment of the Union as trustee 8\n8. Execution of conveyances or transfers in certain cases 8\n9. Register of successory trusts 9\n10. Powers of the Union as to property 9\n11. References to \"Executive Committee\" etc. 9\n12. Alteration etc. of Schedule \"B\" 10\n__________________\nSCHEDULES 11\nSCHEDULE \"A\" 11\nSCHEDULE \"B\" 19\nSCHEDULE \"C\" 24\n═══════════════\nENDNOTES 26\n1. General Information 26\n2. Table of Amendments 27\n3. Explanatory Details 28\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents1\nVersion No. 001\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\nAct No. 3903/1930\nVersion as at 13 October 1999\nAn Act to incorporate The Baptist Union of Victoria and for\nother purposes.\nPreamble\nWHEREAS certain persons being members of the\nreligious denomination called Baptists in the State\nof Victoria and holding as their general tenets the\ndoctrines set forth in the declaration of Baptist\nChurch Trusts 1892 which is deposited with the\nRegistrar-General of Victoria at Melbourne and\nnumbered 6888 (and which declaration is similar\nto the statement of Trusts in Schedule \"B\" hereto)\nhave formed an Association called \"The Baptist\nUnion of Victoria\" a copy of the constitution of\nwhich is set out in Schedule \"A\" hereto:\nAND WHEREAS certain real and personal\nproperty is held by certain trustees upon trust for\nthe said Association itself or for its Executive\nCouncil or for the Victorian Baptist Home\nMissionary Society a constituent of the said\nAssociation or for certain committees of the said\nAssociation or for purposes connected therewith:\nAND WHEREAS a number of churches are\nconstituents of the said Association (any church\nwhich is now or may hereafter become a\nconstituent of the said Association being\nhereinafter called a local church) and real and\npersonal property is now vested in various persons\nas trustees for and on behalf of the said respective\nlocal churches upon certain trusts and generally in\naccord with the general tenets above mentioned or\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n2\nfor various purposes connected with the said\nchurches:\nAND WHEREAS certain real and personal\nproperty has been conveyed to trustees or has been\ndeclared to be held upon trust for certain churches\nwhich churches have been dissolved or dispersed\nor upon trust for various purposes connected with\nsuch churches and which were prior to their\ndissolution or dispersion constituents of the said\nAssociation:\nAND WHEREAS it is expedient that the said\nAssociation should be incorporated and should be\ninvested with the powers and authorities\nhereinafter set forth and that the real and personal\nproperty so vested in various persons as trustees\nupon trust for the said Association or its Executive\nCouncil or the Victorian Baptist Home Missionary\nSociety or for certain committees as aforesaid or\nfor purposes connected therewith or for churches\nwhich have been dissolved or dispersed or for\npurposes connected with such churches should be\nvested in the said Association when incorporated\nand that the real and personal property so vested in\nvarious trustees for and on behalf of the said\nrespective local churches or for purposes\nconnected therewith should be capable of being\nvested in the said Association when incorporated\nupon the trusts hereinafter set forth:\nBE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the King's Most\nExcellent Majesty by and with the advice and consent of the\nLegislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of Victoria\nin this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of\nthe same as follows (that is to say):\n1. Short title\nThis Act may be cited as The Baptist Union\nIncorporation Act 1930.\ns. 1\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n3\n2. Incorporation and seal of the Baptist Union of\nVictoria\n(1) All persons who from time to time in accordance\nwith the constitution for the time being thereof are\nmembers of the religious body or denomination\ncalled Baptists in the State of Victoria holding as\ntheir general tenets the doctrines set forth in\nSchedule \"B\" hereto and who now or hereafter\nconstitute the Association called \"The Baptist\nUnion of Victoria\" from henceforth shall be a\nbody corporate by the name of \"The Baptist Union\nof Victoria\" and shall have perpetual succession\nand a common seal and under that name may sue\nand be sued prosecute and defend and take and\nsuffer all other proceedings in all courts civil and\ncriminal within the said State and it shall be\nlawful for the said body corporate (hereinafter\nreferred to as \"the Union\") to make by-laws and\nsuch alterations in and additions to the\nconstitution of the Union a copy of which is set\nout in Schedule \"A\" hereto as may be found from\ntime to time necessary and it shall be further\nlawful for the Union to take purchase receive hold\nand enjoy real and personal property of any\ndescription whatsoever and also to sell grant\ntransfer convey exchange demise (whether by way\nof building lease or otherwise) give easements\nover or otherwise dispose of either absolutely or\nby way of mortgage charge lien or other\nencumbrance any of the property real or personal\nat any time belonging to the Union whether\nsubject to trusts or not and if subject to trusts with\npower to the Union to carry out the provisions of\nsuch trusts and generally to exercise subject to the\nprovisions of this Act all powers rights and\nprivileges incident to a body corporate and the\nExecutive Council for the time being of the said\nAssociation duly appointed under the said\nconstitution (hereinafter called \"the Executive\ns. 2\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n4\nCouncil\") shall have the custody and use of the\ncommon seal of the Union and a majority of the\nmembers of such Council present at any meeting\nduly convened shall have power to use or direct\nthe use of such seal for all purposes for which the\nuse of such seal is required.\n(2) The seal shall only be affixed by virtue of a\nresolution of the said majority and in the presence\nof two members of the Executive Council and of\nthe President or the Secretary for the time being of\nthe Union and the said two members and the\nPresident or Secretary shall sign their names to the\ndocument to which the seal has been affixed.\n3. Vesting of property etc. in the Union\n(1) All the estate and interest of the several persons\nnamed in Schedule \"C\" hereto in the real and\npersonal estate therein set forth and all other the\nestate and interest in real and personal property\n(not including the Victorian Baptist Fund) within\nthe said State held by any person or persons as\ntrustee or trustees in trust for the said body or\ndenomination called Baptists or for its Executive\nCouncil or for the Victorian Baptist Home\nMissionary Society or for any committee of the\nsaid Association whether for any special purposes\nor generally for such body or denomination\nexecutive council society or committee shall from\nand after the coming into operation of this Act\nvest in the Union without the necessity for any\nconveyance transfer or other assurance of such\nproperty.\n(2) All real and personal property within the said\nState held by any person or persons as trustee or\ntrustees in trust for any church or for any purpose\nconnected therewith under the provisions of the\nModel Deed of Trust of the Baptist Union of\nVictoria deposited with the Registrar-General of\ns. 3\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n5\nVictoria at Melbourne numbered 6888 or upon\nand subject to the trusts set out in a prior Model\nDeed of Trust of the Baptist Association (now\nknown as the Baptist Union) of Victoria deposited\nwith the Registrar-General of Victoria at\nMelbourne and numbered 5510 which church was\nprior to the coming into operation of this Act\ndissolved or dispersed and which church was prior\nto its dissolution or dispersion a constituent of the\nsaid Association shall from and after the coming\ninto operation of this Act vest in the Union\nwithout the necessity of any conveyance transfer\nor other assurance of such property and shall\ncease to be held upon the express trusts to which it\nwas heretofore subject and shall henceforth be\nheld managed and dealt with by the Union in such\nmanner as the Executive Council may from time\nto time direct subject nevertheless to all mortgages\nliens and other charges affecting the same\nimmediately prior to the date of such vesting.\n(3) Where any property vested in the Union under this\nsection consists of property registered under the\nTransfer of Land Acts the Registrar of Titles on\napplication made to him in that behalf and proof\nto his satisfaction of the facts relating thereto and\non payment of the necessary fees shall give effect\nto such vesting by registering the said Union as\nproprietor.\n(4) Save as herein otherwise provided all property\nbecoming vested in the Union as hereinbefore\nmentioned or which shall in any manner be\nacquired by the Union shall so far as the same is\nsubject to any express trust be held by the Union\nin conformity with such express trust and shall so\nfar as the same is not subject to any express trust\nbe held managed and dealt with in such manner as\nthe Executive Council may from time to time\ndirect.\ns. 3\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n6\n4. Property held on trust\nThe trustee or trustees being entitled to any estate\nor interest in real or personal property in the State\nof Victoria under any deed instrument or will\nupon trust for any local church or for any purpose\nconnected therewith may convey or transfer the\nsame to the Union and the same shall in that case\nbe held by it (subject and without prejudice to any\nmortgage charge encumbrance lien or lease\naffecting the same respectively) for the benefit of\nsuch local church upon the following trusts, that is\nto say—\n(a) if such property shall be held by such\ntrustees upon and subject to the trusts set out\nin the Model Deed of Trust numbered 5510\nor the Model Deed of Trust numbered 6888\nreferred to in sub-section (2) of section three\nof this Act then such property shall as from\nthe date of such conveyance or transfer be\nheld by the Union upon the trusts contained\nin Schedule \"B\" hereto;\n(b) if such property shall not be held by such\ntrustees upon either of the trusts referred to\nin the preceding sub-section then the same\nshall as from the date of such conveyance or\ntransfer be held by the Union upon any\nexpress trusts to which the same was then\nsubject and in so far as the said property was\nnot subject to any express trusts shall be held\nupon such trusts as such local church may at\nany time thereafter declare such declaration\nto be made by resolution passed by not less\nthan two-thirds of the members of the church\nin trust for whom or in trust for a purpose\nconnected wherewith such property is held\nwho are present and vote at a special meeting\nconvened and held in the manner provided in\nclause 10 of Schedule \"B\" hereto relating to\ns. 4\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n7\nthe convening and holding of a special\nchurch meeting and in the meantime shall be\nheld managed and dealt with in such manner\nas a majority of the members of such church\nwho are present and vote at any general\nmeeting may by resolution direct:\nProvided always that a minute of a resolution\ncontained in the minutes of the meeting and\nsigned by the chairman thereof shall be\nconclusive proof for all purposes that such\nmeeting was duly convened and that such\nresolution was duly passed thereat by the\nrequisite majority.\n5. Execution of conveyance or transfer\nSuch trustee or trustees shall not execute any such\nconveyance or transfer as aforesaid to the Union\nuntil he or they shall have been directed so to do\nby a resolution passed by not less than two-thirds\nof the members of the church in trust for whom or\nin trust for a purpose connected wherewith such\nreal or personal property is held who are present\nand vote at a special meeting duly convened and\nheld in the same manner as provided in clause 10\nof Schedule \"B\" hereto relating to the convening\nand holding of a special church meeting:\nProvided always that a minute of the said\nresolution contained in the minutes of the meeting\nand signed by the chairman thereof shall be\nconclusive proof for all purposes that such\nmeeting was duly convened and that such\nresolution was duly passed thereat by the requisite\nmajority.\n6. Members voting at church meetings\nOnly such of the members present at any church\nmeeting referred to in this Act as have attained the\nage of twenty-one years and who would be\ns. 5\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n8\nentitled to vote at a special church meeting\nconvened and held under the provisions of\nclause 10 of Schedule \"B\" hereto for any of the\npurposes therein mentioned shall be allowed to\nvote upon any resolution hereinbefore referred to.\n7. Appointment of the Union as trustee\nSuch conveyance or transfer of property subject as\naforesaid shall be deemed to include an\nappointment of new trustees the Union being\nsubstituted for the individual trustees and such\nconveyance or transfer when completed and\naccepted by the Union shall from and after the\ndate thereof operate as a discharge of all the\nindividual trustees from any further duties under\nthe trust.\n8. Execution of conveyances or transfers in certain\ncases\nIn case in relation to any conveyance or transfer as\naforesaid any trustee or trustees in whose name or\nnames the property stands shall refuse or neglect\nfor one month after request by his or their\nco-trustee or co-trustees to execute such\nconveyance or transfer or shall in the opinion and\nbelief of the representative for the time being of\nthe Baptist Union of Victoria registered under\nPart II of the Religious Successory and\nCharitable Trusts Act 1928 be dead or unable to\nbe found or absent from Victoria then such\nrepresentative may execute such conveyance or\ntransfer in lieu of such trustee or trustees:\nProvided always that the execution by such\nrepresentative of a conveyance or transfer under\nany of the circumstances aforesaid shall be as\nvalid and effectual for all purposes as if the same\nhad been executed by the trustee or trustees\nrefusing or neglecting to execute or being dead\nunable to be found or absent from Victoria as\ns. 7\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n9\naforesaid and the mere fact of execution by such\nrepresentative shall be conclusive proof for all\npurposes that all matters and conditions\npreliminary to such execution by him as required\nby this section have duly occurred or have been\nduly complied with.\n9. Register of successory trusts\nWhere under or in pursuance of any of the\nprovisions of this Act any property becomes\nvested in the Union the Register of Successory\nTrusts shall thereupon as to such property be\nclosed and the Registrar of Titles shall upon\nproduction to him of any document of title\nendorsed under section sixteen of the Religious\nSuccessory and Charitable Trusts Act 1928\ncancel such endorsement.\n10. Powers of the Union as to property\nExcept in so far as it may be shown to be\nexpressly prohibited from so doing by the original\ntrusts to which such property is subject the Union\nmay demise for any term (whether upon building\nleases or other leases or tenancies) charge\nmortgage encumber give easements over alien\nexchange partition or sell any property vested in it\nand generally deal with the same as fully and\neffectually as if it were the beneficial owner\nthereof.\n11. References to \"Executive Committee\" etc.\nWhere any property is held by any person or\npersons as trustee or trustees in trust for any local\nchurch or for any purpose connected therewith\nunder the provisions of the Model Deed of Trust\nnumbered 5510 or the Model Deed of Trust\nnumbered 6888 referred to in sub-section (2) of\nsection three of this Act then any reference in\neither of such Model Deeds to the Executive\ns. 9\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n10\nCommittee of the Baptist Association of Victoria\nor the Executive Committee of the Baptist Union\nof Victoria shall in relation thereto be read and\nconstrued as from the coming into operation of\nthis Act as the Executive Council of the Baptist\nUnion of Victoria.\n12. Alteration etc. of Schedule \"B\"\nThe provisions of the statement of trusts set out in\nSchedule \"B\" to this Act may at any time and\nfrom time to time be altered modified or amended\nby the Union by resolution duly passed in\naccordance with the constitution.\n__________________\ns. 12\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n11\nSCHEDULES\nSCHEDULE \"A\"\nI—NAME\nTHE BAPTIST UNION OF VICTORIA\nII—CONSTITUENTS\nAll Churches belonging to the Union and the Societies and Institutions,\nconstituents of such Union or affiliated therewith at the date this Constitution\nbecomes operative, the Trustees of the Victorian Baptist Fund, the Board of\nTrustees appointed by this Union on the 18th November, 1884, or their\nsuccessors for the time being, together with such Churches, Societies,\nInstitutions and Associations as shall be hereafter admitted or affiliated in\nconformity with this Constitution, and the by-laws hereinafter set forth.\nFor the guidance of this Union, and of those who may hereafter constitute the\nsame, it is hereby noted that this Union approves and adopts those doctrines\nwhich constitute the Doctrinal Basis of the Victorian Baptist Fund, and other\nTrust Funds, and the principles and ideals of the Baptist faith, both of which\nare as follows:\nIII—DOCTRINAL BASIS\n1. The Divine inspiration and supreme authority of the Scriptures of the\nOld and New Testaments.\n2. The existence of One God in Three Persons—the Father, the Son, and\nthe Holy Ghost.\n3. The Deity and Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Son of\nGod, the second Person in the Holy Trinity.\n4. The fallen, sinful and lost estate of all mankind.\n5. The salvation of men from the penal consequences and the power of sin,\nthrough the perfect obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ, His atoning\ndeath, His resurrection from the Dead, His ascension to the right hand of\nthe Father, and His unchanging Priesthood.\n6. The immediate work of the Holy Spirit in the regeneration of men, in\ntheir sanctification, and in their preservation to the Heavenly Kingdom\nof the Lord Jesus Christ.\n7. The necessity, in order to salvation, of repentance towards God, and of\nfaith in the Lord Jesus Christ.\nSection 2.\nSch. A\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n12\n8. The resurrection of the Dead, the final judgment of all men by the Lord\nJesus Christ.\n9. The two ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ, namely, Baptism and the\nLord's Supper, which are of perpetual obligation—Baptism being the\nimmersion of Believers upon the profession of their faith in the Lord\nJesus Christ, and a symbol of the fellowship of the regenerate in His\nDeath, burial and resurrection; the Lord's Supper being a memorial,\nuntil He come, of the sacrifice of the body and blood of the Lord Jesus\nChrist.\nIV—PRINCIPLES AND IDEALS OF THE BAPTIST FAITH\nWhilst holding many phases of Christian Truth, in common with other\nDenominations, Baptists place a distinctive emphasis upon the following\nfundamental principles of the Christian Faith, as revealed in the New\nTestament.\n1. The Child in the Kingdom—\n(a) Baptists believe that infants are God's little ones, whether children\nof Christian or non-Christian parents, and accept without\nmodification the word of the Lord. \"Of such is the Kingdom of\nHeaven.\" This Christian view of the child makes the external act of\n\"Infant Baptism\" unnecessary;\n(b) Baptists approve of the presentation of children to God by parents,\nif thereby they solemnly undertake to train them in the nurture and\nadmonition of the Lord, in the home, and in the Church.\n2. The Significance of Conversion—\n(a) to all who at the stage of personal responsibility ignore God's law,\nand wander as prodigals from the Father's Home, Baptists preach\nthe gospel of the Father's love, and the message of the Cross, as the\nWay of Life. Conversion is acceptance of Jesus Christ as Saviour\nand Lord;\n(b) this acceptance of Christ is a personal and deliberate act, involving\nthe assent of the mind, the decisions of the will, and the love of the\nheart;\n(c) this avowal of allegiance to Christ implies a constant endeavour to\nlive a life worthy of, and well-pleasing to Him in all things.\n3. The Church—a Spiritual Society—\nBaptists hold that the Church, as established by the Lord Jesus Christ,\nshould consist of persons who have personally and intelligently\naccepted Him as Saviour and Lord, and pledged themselves to\ndiscipleship and service in the Kingdom of God.\nSch. A\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n13\n4. The Lordship of Christ in the Church—\n(a) Baptists hold and teach that Jesus Christ alone is the Head of the\nChurch, as He is Prophet, Priest and King of the Soul, without the\nintervention of any person or ritualistic ceremony;\n(b) therefore, He is the sole authority in all matters of faith and\nconduct, in the life both of the Church and of the individual;\n(c) this involves liberty of thought and of conscience, and the right of\nthe believer and the Church freed from any ecclesiastical or other\nexternal authority, to interpret His mind.\n5. The Standard of Belief—\n(a) believing that the voice of the Church is subordinate to the voice\nof Christ, and that the mind of the Master is the standard of\nChristian belief, Baptists do not subscribe to any formal Church\nCreed lest it hamper the development of Christian thought;\n(b) further, in their interpretation of the Lord's farewell declaration\n\"When He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all\nTruth,\" Baptists accept the principle that God has yet \"more light\nand truth to break forth from His Word\";\n(c) therefore, Baptists claim the personal privilege, and accept the\nChristian responsibility of courageously thinking God's thoughts\nafter Him, under the guidance and inspiration of the Spirit of\nTruth.\n6. The Ministry of Leadership—\n(a) in adopting the Congregational Principles of Church government,\nwith no formal creed, with no external authority, and no defined\necclesiastical polity, and each member having equal rights and\nresponsibilities the Baptist Church is largely dependent on the\nreality and vigour of the spiritual life of its individual members;\n(b) this spiritual life is generated by the understanding and inspiration\nof Christ's ideals, and by the creation and maintenance of a\nspiritual atmosphere, in which all that is unworthy dies, and in\nwhich Christian life becomes healthy and aggressive;\n(c) the Baptist Minister accepts his office from the Lord of the\nChurch, and while he is a \"servant of the Church\", the Church is\nnot his master, He is the spiritual leader in the life and ministry of\nthe Church;\n(d) associated with the Minister in the spiritual oversight of the\nChurch are men and women chosen for their Christian gifts and\ngraces, who are called to be examples to the members of the\nChurch, in conduct, zeal, self-denial and generosity;\nSch. A\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n14\n(e) Church officers are appointed as spiritual leaders to work in\nsympathetic co-operation with the Minister and Church members;\n(f) the periodic Church Business Meeting is the centre of the Church's\nChristian activities, and is the seat of authority in the management\nof Church business.\n7. The Christian Significance of Baptism—\n(a) Christian Baptism, by which is meant the immersion of believers\nas instituted by our Lord, is a personal, public confession of the\nbeliever's identification with Christ, and is a means of grace to the\nChristian;\n(b) Baptism is an outward act which symbolizes, but does not effect\nregeneration and salvation is not dependent on it;\n(c) Baptism is a glorious privilege and a personal responsibility and is\na help to the believer in reminding him of his spiritual union with\nChrist in His death, burial and resurrection.\n8. The Fellowship of the Lord's Supper—\n(a) to Baptists the Church is not so much an organization as a\nfellowship, effective only as there is spiritual association with the\nHead of the Church;\n(b) the Lord's Supper is a service of spiritual fellowship whereby\nthrough remembrance of His Life and Death, believers may\nexperience in supreme degree the reality and influence of His\nPresence;\n(c) it is an opportunity of entering into close fellowship with the Lord\nin the Holy of Holies, where there is a rekindling of love and a\nreconsecration of life to His service.\n9. The Church and the Kingdom—\nBaptists recognize their responsibility to strive for the establishment of\nthe Kingdom of God in the world, and teach that membership in the\nChurch implies service and sacrifice. This involves a stewardship of\ntime, talents, and money, worthy of the Son of God who loved and\nserved mankind, even unto Death.\nV—OBJECTS OF THE UNION\n1. To promote the unity of the Churches in faith, fellowship and worship.\n2. Church Extension—\n(a) by establishing, taking over, assisting, and/or maintaining\nChurches in suitable localities in Victoria and in adjoining States,\nwith the consent of the State Union concerned;\nSch. A\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n15\n(b) by assisting in the erection of buildings for Church, School and\nother Denominational purposes;\n(c) by assisting, when necessary, the Churches in the maintenance of\ntheir Ministers.\n3. To carry on Home Mission work.\n4. To establish and conduct Denominational Schools or Colleges and\nHostels.\n5. To carry on any work for the physical, mental, and spiritual welfare of\nchildren, whether by way of Free Kindergarten or otherwise.\n6. To give assistance to necessitous Churches.\n7. To carry on Foreign Mission work.\n8. To educate students for the ministry.\n9. To assist aged and infirm Ministers and Home Missionaries, their\nwidows and/or children.\n10. To establish and administer any fund or funds for the benefit of\nMinisters and Home Missionaries, their widows and/or children,\nwhether by way of a pension or annuity scheme or otherwise.\n11. To provide for properties being held in trust for the Churches, Societies,\nand Institutions of this Union and to protect the interests of the\nChurches, Societies and Institutions, in reference to Trusts for Church,\nSchool, or any other purpose whatsoever connected with this Union.\n12. To become a constituent of or associated with any federated body or\nbodies of or created by the Baptist Union of the States of Australia or\nany of them, and to delegate to such body or bodies any of the activities\nof this Union, and to transfer to such body or bodies any of the funds of\nthis Union.\n13. To give advice and guidance to Churches which are or are about to\nbecome pastorless, and to Ministers and Churches in circumstances of\ndifficulty.\n14. To aid in the promotion of public morality and social reform.\n15. To collect and disseminate information relative to the history, condition,\nand activities of Baptists throughout the world, and to promote fraternal\nintercourse between Baptists in Victoria and elsewhere.\n16. To afford opportunity for conference and for public declaration of\nprinciples and opinion; and to confer and co-operate with other\nChristian communities as occasion may require.\n17. Generally to devise and carry out such schemes as may be found to be\nof benefit to the Denomination.\nSch. A\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n16\nVI—OPERATIONS\nThe Union shall act through its Assembly, Officers, Executive Council,\nCommittees and Departments and Constituent Bodies.\nVII—ASSEMBLY\nThe Assembly shall consist of such of the following as shall be members of a\nBaptist Church belonging to the Baptist Union of Victoria:\n1. The Officers of the Union.\n2. (a) Ministers of or belonging to the Baptist Union of Victoria whose\nnames are on the official list referred to in the by-laws; or\n(b) who have been commended to the confidence of the Churches, and\nregistered for the celebration of marriages.\n3. Home Missionaries on the Home Mission Staff, and whose appointment\nhas been approved by the Executive Council.\n4. Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer of each Committee, or Department\naffiliated or constituent body other than Churches of the Union.\n5. Delegates appointed by the Churches of the Union.\n6. Members of the Advisory Board.\n7. Trustees for the time being of the Victorian Baptist Fund.\n8. The Board of Trustees appointed by this Union on the 18th November,\n1884, or their successors for the time being.\n9. The Principal and Professors for the time being of the Baptist College of\nVictoria.\n10. The Principal for the time being of the Carey Baptist Grammar School,\nand any other school or schools that may hereafter become affiliated\nwith the Union.\n11. Honorary Members who shall be persons who have rendered important\nservices to the Denomination, provided always that the number of\nHonorary Members shall not at any time exceed ten (10).\nThe Annual Session of the Assembly shall be held in the month of October\neach year, in such place as the Executive Council (hereinafter named) shall\ndetermine.\nThere shall also be a half-yearly Session held at such time and in such place\nas the said Council shall determine.\nThe Council shall have power, from time to time, to convene any other\nSession at such time and place as it shall determine.\nThirty members shall form a quorum.\nSch. A\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n17\nVIII—OFFICERS\nThe Officers of the Union shall be President, Vice-President, immediate past\nPresident, Treasurer, General Secretary, Hon. Legal Adviser, and any other\nperson who shall be appointed to an office permanently created by the Union\nat an Annual Session of the Assembly (all of whom shall be elected as\nprovided in the By-laws) and the Representative for the purposes of the\nTrusts Act 1915, and of any other Act of Parliament that may be hereafter\npassed, who shall hold office during the pleasure of the Assembly.\nIX—EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND COMMITTEES\nThe Executive Council shall consist of such of the following as shall be\nmembers of a Baptist Church belonging to the Baptist Union of Victoria:\n1. Officers of the Union.\n2. Honorary Members of the Assembly.\n3. Trustees for the time being of the Victorian Baptist Fund.\n4. The Board of Trustees appointed by this Union on the 18th November,\n1884, or their successors for the time being.\n5. Members of the Advisory Board.\n6. Ministers of or belonging to the Baptist Union of Victoria—\n(a) whose names are on the official list referred to in the By-laws; or\n(b) who have been commended to the confidence of the Churches and\nregistered for the celebration of marriages.\n7. Home Missionaries on the Home Mission Staff, and whose appointment\nhas been approved by the Executive Council.\n8. Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer of each Committee, Department\naffiliated, or constituent body other than Churches of the Union.\n9. The Principal and Professors for the time being of the Baptist College in\nVictoria.\n10. The Principal for the time being of the Carey Baptist Grammar School\nand any other school or schools that may hereafter become affiliated\nwith the Union.\n11. One representative from each Church having twenty-five or less\nmembers, and an additional representative for every hundred members\nor part thereof above the first twenty-five.\n12. Not more than ten (10) special members appointed by the Executive\nCouncil for a term not exceeding twelve months and who shall be\neligible for re-appointment.\nTwenty-five shall form a quorum.\nSch. A\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n18\nThe Executive Council shall partly or wholly from its members appoint\npersons to serve on the Committees, as provided in the said By-laws.\nX—FINANCE AND PROPERTY\nThe Funds of this Union shall consist of private donations, bequests,\ncollection at Meetings of the Union, and contributions from the Churches,\neach contributing donor, subscriber, Church, Society, or Institution to have\nthe right to designate the branch of the work of the Union which it is desired\nto aid. Separate accounts shall be kept of the Funds dealt with by each\nCommittee named in the By-laws; and accounts certified by auditors\nappointed by the Council shall be presented to every Annual Session of the\nAssembly.\nXI—REPORTS\nReports, setting forth the receipts, expenditure, financial position and\nproceedings of each Committee and Department, as well as information\nrespecting matters demanding the attention of the Constituents, together with\nstatistics and letters relative to the condition and progress of each associated\nChurch, Society or Institution, shall be prepared and submitted to the Annual\nSession of the Assembly. There shall also be interim reports thereon\nsubmitted to the Half-yearly Session.\nXII—BY-LAWS\nBy-laws for carrying out this Constitution may be made, rescinded, or altered\nby the Assembly at an Annual Meeting. No addition or alteration shall be\nmade except after three months' notice in writing has been given to the\nExecutive Council.\nXIII—ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTION\nNo change in this Constitution shall be made except by the approval of two-\nthirds of the members present and voting at an Annual Session of the\nAssembly, written notice of the proposed change having been given at the\npreceding Annual or Half-yearly Sessions of the Assembly.\nXIV—OPERATION\nThis Constitution and the By-laws above referred to shall become operative\nas from the 31st day of October, 1928.\n_______________\nSch. A\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n19\nSCHEDULE \"B\"\nTHE UNION shall hold and stand seised and possessed of the land\nhereditaments and premises UPON THE TRUSTS and for the intents and\npurposes and with under and subject to the powers declarations and provisoes\nhereinafter declared and contained (that is to say)—\n1. To build or permit to be built upon the land a Chapel and schoolroom\nand residence and such other buildings as may be convenient or any of\nthem and to permit the said land with the Chapel and other buildings\nerected thereon and any other buildings that may hereafter be erected\nthereon (all of which are hereinafter referred to as \"the trust premises\")\nto be used occupied and enjoyed under the direction of the Church for\nthe time being assembling for worship therein (the said Church being\nsuch as those from time to time belonging to the Baptist Union of\nVictoria and possessing nevertheless the powers set out in Clause 2\nhereof) as a place for the public worship of God and for Sunday and\ndaily tuition or instruction and as a residence and generally for such\nother purposes as the said Church shall direct and under the direction of\nthe said Church to permit any such Chapel or other buildings to be\ncompleted repaired altered enlarged taken down and wholly or partially\nrebuilt.\n2. The said Church shall be governed on Congregational principles that is\nthe members of the Church for the time being shall subject to the\nprovisions of Clause 10 hereof have full power to manage all their\naffairs according to their uncontrolled discretion in every respect.\n3. To permit the Deacons or other persons appointed for the purpose by the\nsaid Church to receive all moneys for the use of pews and sittings or\notherwise given or paid for the purposes aforesaid which moneys shall\nbe applied and disbursed as the said Church shall from time to time\ndirect.\n4. To permit such persons only to officiate or reside in or upon any of the\ntrust premises as Pastors as shall be Baptists and as shall have been\nchosen by the said Church at a Special Meeting duly convened and held\nfor that purpose as provided in Clause 10 hereof (and shall not have\nbeen subsequently dismissed as hereinafter mentioned or shall not have\nresigned the said office of Pastor) and who shall moreover hold preach\nteach and maintain the doctrines and practices following (that is to\nsay)—\n(a) the divine inspiration and supreme authority of the Scriptures of\nthe Old and New Testaments;\n(b) the existence of One God in Three Persons—the Father, the Son,\nand the Holy Ghost;\nSections 2, 4,\n5, 6, 12.\nSch. B\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n20\n(c) the Deity and Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Son\nof God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity;\n(d) the fallen, sinful, and lost estate of all mankind;\n(e) the salvation of men from the penal consequences and the power\nof sin through the perfect obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ, His\natoning death, His resurrection form the dead, His ascension to the\nright hand of the Father, and His unchanging Priesthood;\n(f) the immediate work of the Holy Spirit in the regeneration of men,\nin their sanctification, and in their preservation to the heavenly\nkingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ;\n(g) the necessity, in order to salvation, of repentance towards God and\nof faith in the Lord Jesus Christ;\n(h) the resurrection of the dead, and the final judgment of all men by\nthe Lord Jesus Christ;\n(i) the two ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ, namely, Baptism and\nthe Lord's Supper, which are of perpetual obligation:\nBaptism being the immersion of believers upon the profession of\ntheir faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and a symbol of the fellowship\nof the regenerate in His death, burial, and resurrection; the Lord's\nSupper being a memorial, until He come, of the sacrifice of the\nbody and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ—\nand who shall with regard to Baptism observe and practice it by\nimmersion only.\nAnd to remove and in all lawful ways eject from the trust premises any\nPastors whom the said Church at a Special Meeting duly convened and\nheld as provided in Clause 10 hereof shall dismiss and the Union shall\nnot permit to officiate or reside in or upon any of the trust premises as\nPastor any person who shall be known to be guilty of immoral conduct\nor who shall cease to be a Baptist or who shall have been dismissed as\nlast aforesaid but shall permit such other Ministers or persons to\nofficiate occasionally in the Chapel on the trust premises as the Pastor\nor Pastors or Deacons shall authorize or appoint unless the said Church\nshall otherwise direct.\n5. To raise and borrow such sum or sums of money and upon such terms\nas shall be directed by the said Church at a Special Meeting duly\nconvened and held as provided in Clause 10 hereof and as\ncircumstances will permit upon or by mortgage or further charge or\notherwise on the security of the trust premises or any part thereof and to\nexecute all necessary or proper documents for such purpose.\nSch. B\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n21\n6. In such manner and on such terms and subject to such conditions as the\ntitle or otherwise as shall be directed as last aforesaid to create\neasements or to construct roads and absolutely to sell the trust premises\nor any part thereof either together or in parcels and either by public\nauction or by private contract or to exchange the same or any part\nthereof for any other land or hereditaments and in the said respective\ncases to convey assure or transfer the same accordingly.\n7. To stand possessed of the money which from time to time shall or may\nbe borrowed raised or received by way of mortgage or upon any sale or\nexchange or otherwise under or in pursuance of the trusts or powers\naforesaid or which may be received in respect of any Insurance Policy\nupon the trust premises. Upon trust to lay out and apply the same in or\ntowards the erection of a Chapel on the said land or the enlargement\nrebuilding improvement or repair of the Chapel or other buildings\nstanding on the said land or the purchase of any other land or\nhereditaments or otherwise for the benefit of the said Church such\nexpenditure and application being for purposes not inconsistent with\nthese presents and being directed by the said Church at a Special\nMeeting duly convened and held as provided in Clause 10 hereof. And\nsuch moneys or any part thereof until required for the purposes of this\nclause may be invested in such Real or Government security in the State\nof Victoria as to the Union shall seem fit and the annual income shall be\napplied in such manner as the said Church shall from time to time direct\nat any Church Meeting. Any lands or hereditaments which shall be\nacquired by virtue of these presents shall be held by the Union upon the\ntrusts herein contained.\n8. From time to time to demise or let the trust premises or any part or parts\nthereof when for such period at such rent and upon such terms and\nconditions as shall be directed by the said Church at a Special Meeting\nduly convened and held as provided in Clause 10 hereof and for such\npurposes to execute all necessary or proper documents. But it is\nexpressly declared that the reversion in the premises so demised or let\nshall continue subject to all the powers herein contained. And that any\nrent received shall be applied in such manner as the said Church shall\nfrom time to time direct at any Church Meeting.\n9. The receipts of the Union for any mortgage sale exchange rent or other\nmoneys payable in respect of the trust premises shall exonerate the\nperson paying the same from all liability to see to the application thereof\nand it shall not be incumbent on any mortgagee purchaser or tenant or\nlessee of the said premises or any part thereof or on any person taking\nthe same on exchange to inquire into the necessity or propriety of any\nsuch mortgage sale demise letting or exchange or its due authorization.\n10. The Special Meetings of the said Church referred to in Clauses 4, 5, 6,\n7, 8, and 13 hereof may be convened at any time by or by the authority\nof the Deacons for the time being of the said Church by or by the\nSch. B\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n22\nauthority of the Pastor alone if there shall be no Deacons or if there shall\nbe no Deacons or Pastor or being such if they or he shall not duly\nconvene such Meeting forthwith after written request to them or him to\ndo so from any one-sixth or more of the members for the time being of\nthe said Church or from the Union then by or by the authority of such\none-sixth or more members or (as the case may be) by or by the\nauthority of the Union. Every such Special Church Meeting as aforesaid\nshall be convened by public notice specifying the time and place of\nholding such Meeting and the purpose thereof given in the Chapel or\nbuilding for the time being upon the said land and hereditaments once at\neach service held on each of the two Lord's Days next preceding such\nMeeting at the usual time for giving notices during Divine service or by\nwritten notices affixed conspicuously to the said Chapel or the principal\nbuilding (or if there be no Chapel or building then upon the land) and\nsuch meeting shall not be held earlier than the second day next\nfollowing the latter of such Lord's days or the fourteenth day after the\naffixing of such notices. Those persons only shall be entitled to make\nrequest for such Special Meetings or to vote thereat who have been\nmembers of the said Church for the space of at least six months and\nhave attained the age of twenty-one years and have been present at the\nCommunion of the said Church at the Lord's table once at least during\nthe preceding six months. The vote of two-thirds at least of such\nmembers so entitled to vote as shall be personally present and vote at\nsuch Special Meeting of the said Church duly convened and held as in\nthis clause provided shall for the purposes hereof be deemed and taken\nto be the vote of and bind all the members of the said Church. At every\nsuch Special Meeting a Chairman shall be appointed before proceeding\nto business. The provisions in this Clause contained for calling and\nregulating Special Church Meetings shall not apply to the Ordinary\nMeetings of the said Church for the management of its internal affairs.\n11. A memorandum or minute signed by the Chairman of any Church\nMeeting for any of the purposes aforesaid of any resolution or\nresolutions adopted or business transacted thereat shall for all purposes\nof mortgage sale demise letting exchange or any other of the purposes\nof these presents be deemed conclusive evidence of the due adoption of\nsuch resolution or resolutions and of the transaction of such business at\na duly convened and duly held Meeting and it shall be presumed that the\nperson subscribing such memorandum or minute as Chairman was duly\nappointed to that office.\n12. All which has been properly done or may be properly in course of\naction at the date of the adoption of these presents in or relating to any\nof the matters herein referred to or the trust premises shall be as valid\nand binding as if done under these presents and in accordance with the\ndirections herein contained.\nSch. B\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n23\n13. In addition and without prejudice to the power hereinbefore contained in\ncase the Union shall be required to pay any money for which it shall be\nliable and the same shall not be duly provided by the said Church or\notherwise than by such Union it shall be lawful for it without the\nconsent request or direction of the said Church or any member thereof\nafter the expiration of Six calendar months' written notice from the\nSecretary of the Union to the Deacons or officers for the time being of\nthe said Church if there shall be any such Deacons or officers requiring\npayment of such money and stating the intention of the Union in case\npayment thereof be not made to it within Six calendar months of the\nservice of such notice to mortgage or sell all or any part of the trust\npremises so to mortgage or sell the same when and in such manner in all\nrespects as the Executive Council of the Union shall think proper and\nout of the proceeds thereof to pay all expenses of and incident to such\nmortgage or sale and fully to reimburse and indemnify the Union so\nliable and then to dispose of the net residue thereof (if any) as the said\nChurch shall direct at a Special Meeting duly convened and held as\nprovided in Clause 10 hereof.\n14. In the event of the removal of the said Church to another locality the\npower hereby vested in the said Church in regard to the trust premises\nshall not thereby be suspended or in any manner impaired or affected.\n15. Provided lastly that until a Church has been duly formed such as those\nfrom time to time belonging to the Baptist Union of Victoria or in case\nthe Church so formed or the Church already existing shall at any time\nhereafter be dissolved or dispersed or the members thereof be reduced\nto five in number or if the stated Public Worship of God in the trust\npremises shall be discontinued for Six calendar months continuously\n(except in the case of altering or rebuilding) then and in any of such\ncases the Union shall stand seised and possessed of the trust premises or\nthe proceeds to arise from all or any part of the same in trust for such\npurpose or purposes and to deal with and dispose of the trust premises\nand proceeds as and in such manner as the Executive Council of the\nUnion if then in existence shall direct by resolution passed by a majority\nof two-thirds of the members of the said Council present and voting at a\nSpecial Meeting called for the purpose thereof and certified under the\nhand of the President for the time being of the Union or if such Union\nbe not then in existence then as the Pastors of the five Baptist Churches\nconnected with the Union at the date of its ceasing to exist then in\nexistence nearest to the trust premises shall in their discretion direct or\nappoint by writing under their hands.\n_______________\nSch. B\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n24\nSCHEDULE \"C\"\nREAL ESTATE\nDescription of Land Persons in Whom Vested\nTitle\nReference\n1. Part Crown Allotments\n19 and 20 Section 81\nTown of North\nMelbourne Parish of\nJika Jika County of\nBourke\nJoseph Hunter Goble,\nEdward Doery, Andrew\nDuncan, Arthur Parker and\nAbia Neville\nCertificates\nof Title\nVolume 1706\nFolio 341170\nand\nVolume 2574\nFolio 514741\n2. Parts Crown Allotments\n5 and 6 Section 30 at\nCarlton Parish of Jika\nJika County of Bourke\nGeorge Lush, William\nHenry Garibaldi\nEllingworth and George\nHenry Doery\nCertificate\nof Title\nVolume 4490\nFolio 897842\n3. Lot 15 on Plan of\nSubdivision Number\n5338 lodged in the\nOffice of Titles being\npart of Crown\nAllotment 7 Section 2\nParish of Frankston\nCounty of Mornington\nWilliam Montague\nCartwright, Frank Stone\nand George Henry Doery\nCertificate\nof Title\nVolume 3983\nFolio 796574\n4. Part Crown Portion 71\nParish of Boroondara\nCounty of Bourke\nAlfred Fairey Fullard,\nFrederick William Biggs,\nAlfred Albert Milton\nSpicer and Leonard\nEvenden Tranter\nCertificate\nof Title\nVolume 3451\nFolio 690021\n5. Part Crown Portion 71\nParish of Boroondara\nCounty of Bourke\nLeonard Evenden Tranter,\nAlfred Milton Spicer,\nFrederick William Biggs\nand Alfred Fairey Fullard\nCertificate\nof Title\nVolume 5148\nFolio 1029453\nSection 3.\nSch. C\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n25\nDescription of Land Persons in Whom Vested\nTitle\nReference\n6. Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4 Plan\nof Subdivision Number\n10930 lodged in Office\nof Titles being Crown\nAllotment 21 and part\nof Crown Allotment 22\nSection 81 at North\nMelbourne Parish of\nJika Jika County of\nBourke\nJoseph Hunter Goble,\nEdward Doery, Andrew\nDuncan, Arthur Parker and\nAbia Neville\nCertificate\nof Title\nVolume 5124\nFolio 1024769\n7. Surface and down to a\ndepth of 50 feet below\nthe surface of Lot 17 on\nPlan of Subdivision\nNumber 8407 lodged in\nOffice of Titles being\npart of Crown\nAllotment 6 Section F\nParish of Monbulk\nCounty of Evelyn\nWilliam Henry Garibaldi\nEllingworth, Edmund\nHenry Jenkin, Percy John\nKing, Daniel McRorie and\nWilliam John Moore\nCertificate\nof Title\nVolume 5253\nFolio 1050506\nMORTGAGE SECURITIES\nDescription of Land Persons in Whom Vested\nRegistered\nNumber\n1. Second mortgage from\nFrancis Clemens of land\ncomprised in Certificate\nof Title Volume 4045\nFolio 808806\nEdmund Henry Jenkin,\nArthur Ernest Gordon\nWebb, William Henry\nGaribaldi Ellingworth and\nWilliam Gallant\n485352\n2. First mortgage from\nMary Sophia Thompson\nof land comprised in\nCertificate of Title\nVolume 3789\nFolio 757604\nEdmund Henry Jenkin,\nArthur Ernest Gordon\nWebb, Daniel McRorie\nand Percy John King\n546696\n═══════════════\nSch. C\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n26\nENDNOTES\n1. General Information\nThe The Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930 was assented to on\n24 December 1930 and came into operation on 24 December 1930.\nEndnotes\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n27\n2. Table of Amendments\nThere are no amendments made to the The Baptist Union Incorporation\nAct 1930 by Acts and subordinate instruments.\nEndnotes\n\nVictorian Legislation and Parliamentary DocumentsAct No. 3903/1930\nThe Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1930\n28\n3. Explanatory Details\nNo entries at date of publication.\nEndnotes","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"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":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: incorporating the Baptist Union of Victoria and establishing a framework for holding Baptist church property. The scope has not expanded beyond religious property management, corporate governance for the denomination, and the specific doctrinal and procedural requirements for local churches. No subsequent amendments have broadened the Act's application."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple overlapping trust mechanisms: distinguishes between property held for the Union itself, property held for local churches under Model Deed 5510/6888, and property of dissolved churches","Extensive cross-referencing between sections and three schedules (A, B, C), with Schedule B containing 15 clauses of detailed trust provisions","Conditional voting requirements: two-thirds majority thresholds, age restrictions (21+), communion attendance requirements, and specific notice periods for meetings","Nested exceptions: Section 4 has provisos (exceptions) regarding conclusive proof of meeting validity; Section 8 has provisos about representative execution; Schedule B Clause 15 has cascading fallback provisions for dissolved churches","Historical baggage: references to obsolete deeds (Model Deed 5510 from pre-1930, Model Deed 6888), specific Crown allotments and title references in Schedule C that are meaningless without external land registry knowledge","Dual governance structure: must read Act alongside the Constitution in Schedule A (which itself has 14 sections plus by-laws) to understand how the Union operates","Interaction with external statutes: references to Transfer of Land Acts, Religious Successory and Charitable Trusts Act 1928, and Trusts Act 1915 without reproducing their provisions"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis 1930 Victorian law creates a legal \"body corporate\" (a legal entity that can own property, sue, and be sued) called **The Baptist Union of Victoria**. Before this Act, the Baptist Union was just an unincorporated association—basically a group of people without a separate legal identity. This law gives it formal legal standing.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n*   **The Baptist Union of Victoria** itself—now it can own land, sign contracts, and manage assets in its own name rather than through individual trustees.\n*   **Local Baptist churches** in Victoria—the law sets up a system where individual churches can transfer their property to the Union to hold \"in trust\" (meaning the Union legally owns it, but must use it for the church's benefit according to specific religious rules).\n*   **Individual trustees** who previously held Baptist property—they can hand over responsibility to the incorporated Union.\n\n**Key things the law does:**\n\n*   **Automatic transfer of property:** Certain property already held by trustees for the Baptist Union, its committees, or dissolved churches automatically vests (transfers) to the newly incorporated Union without needing separate paperwork.\n*   **Standard trust rules:** When local churches transfer property to the Union, it must be held according to **Schedule B**—a detailed set of religious trusts requiring, among other things, that pastors be Baptists who believe in specific doctrines (like the Trinity, salvation through Christ, and baptism by immersion only).\n*   **Church democracy:** Local churches keep control through \"Congregational principles\"—members vote on major decisions (like selling property or borrowing money) at special meetings, needing a two-thirds majority of eligible voters (members over 21 who have attended communion in the last 6 months).\n*   **Protection for existing mortgages:** The law respects existing debts and charges on property.\n*   **Emergency powers:** If a church dissolves or stops meeting, or if the Union is owed money it can't recover, the Union can sell the property and use proceeds for other Baptist purposes.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis is a classic example of **religious succession legislation**—law designed to solve a practical problem: how do churches hold property over generations without individual trustees dying, moving away, or creating legal headaches? It creates a perpetual \"corporate trustee\" that survives changes in personnel while keeping property tied to specific religious purposes. It also reflects the Baptist tradition of local church autonomy combined with denominational cooperation."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This version does not materially change the Act's original scope. The Act, as printed, appears to be the original 1930 legislation (with its schedules and trust provisions) and the version notes no later amendments. Its purpose remains the same: to incorporate the Baptist Union of Victoria and to vest and regularise denominational and church trust property in that corporate body (preamble; sections 2–3). There is no indication in the current text that the legislation has been expanded beyond that original incorporation and property‑vesting purpose."},"complexity_factors":["12 substantive sections plus 3 detailed schedules (Schedules A–C) that contain governance, doctrinal and trust terms","Schedule B is a multi-clause trust instrument with conditional powers (e.g. clauses on sale, mortgage, special meetings, pastor appointment, default) increasing interpretive detail","Cross-references to external instruments and statutes (Model Deeds numbered 5510 and 6888; Religious Successory and Charitable Trusts Act 1928; Transfer of Land Acts; Trusts Acts)","Multiple procedural conditions and thresholds (two‑thirds voting for transfers, special meeting notice rules, age and membership-duration voting qualifications)","Automatic vesting mechanics that operate without conveyance (section 3) — interacts with registry procedures (section 3(3) and section 9)","Powers to alter the trust terms internally (section 12) — creates dynamic rule changes dependent on union governance","Representative-execution provisions (section 8) and trustee discharge upon vesting (section 7) introduce substitutional legal effects"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this Act does (mechanically)\n\n- Incorporates the Baptist Union of Victoria as a legal body with perpetual succession, a common seal and the capacity to hold, manage and deal with property (section 2).\n- Automatically vests (transfers) into the incorporated Union a large set of real and personal property that was already held on trust for the Baptist denomination, for its Executive Council, for the Victorian Baptist Home Missionary Society, for committees, and for local Baptist churches — without needing individual conveyances (section 3 and Schedule C).\n- Provides a standard statement of trusts and operating rules for local church properties (Schedule B). Where a church’s property is held under the Model Deeds referenced in the Act, the property is to be held by the Union on the trusts set out in Schedule B (sections 3(2) and 4(a)).\n- Sets out how trustees can transfer property to the Union (sections 4–5), and empowers an authorised Union representative to sign transfer documents if original trustees refuse, cannot be found, or are dead (section 8).\n- Gives the Union broad powers to mortgage, charge, lease, sell, exchange or otherwise deal with property vested in it, except where expressly prohibited by an original trust (section 10 and Schedule B clauses 5–8, 13).\n- Substitutes the new corporate Executive Council for earlier bodies named in older Model Deeds (section 11), and allows the Union itself to alter the statement of trusts in Schedule B by resolution under the constitution (section 12).\n\n**Who it affects\n\n- The Baptist Union of Victoria (once incorporated) — gains legal personality and property management powers (section 2).\n- Local Baptist churches that are, or become, constituents of the Union — their property may vest in, be held by, or be managed under the Union's direction according to Schedule B (sections 3–4 and Schedule B).\n- Individual trustees of church property — their trustee role can be discharged on vesting (section 7), and in some circumstances a Union representative may execute transfers for them (section 8).\n- Registrars and land title authorities — required to register the Union as proprietor where land is registered and to close the religious successory trusts register entries for property that vests (section 3(3) and section 9).\n\n**Why it matters (stated purpose, then trade-offs and practical consequences)\n\nStated purpose in the Act: to create a corporate entity to hold and manage Baptist property centrally and to regularise the title of many church properties by vesting them in the Union (preamble and sections 2–3).\n\nPractical effects, incentives and trade-offs:\n\n- Transaction costs and legal clarity: Automatic vesting (section 3) removes the need for many individual conveyances, simplifying title records and reducing transactional friction for the denomination. That reduces paperwork for trustees and registries (section 3(3)).\n\n- Centralised control over property: Once vested, property not subject to express trusts is to be managed as the Executive Council directs (section 3(4)). Schedule B also gives local churches powers to direct use of their trust premises but, in cases such as dissolution or prolonged discontinuance of worship, the Executive Council gains decisional control (Schedule B clause 15). This centralisation changes who decides how property is used or realised and can change incentives for local churches (sections 3, 10 and Schedule B clauses 13 and 15).\n\n- Flexibility to deal with property vs. local autonomy: The Union has broad commercial powers (mortgage, sale, lease, charge — section 10; Schedule B clauses 5–8). That enables professional asset management (potentially producing funds for denominational activities), but it also creates a risk that local congregations’ control over their premises can be altered if the Union exercises those powers — particularly where Schedule B trusts apply or are amended (sections 3(2), 4 and 12).\n\n- Internal rule-making and amendment: The Union can amend Schedule B by passing a resolution under its constitution (section 12). That gives the Union an internal route to change the default trust terms for church properties, shifting rights and obligations by internal governance rather than by external legislation or separate trust instruments.\n\n- Protections and required procedures: The Act imposes procedural safeguards for transfers and for major property decisions: special church meetings with notice and voting thresholds (Schedule B clause 10; sections 4–6). Voting is limited to members aged 21+ and, for some church actions, to members with at least six months’ standing who have attended communion in the previous six months (Schedule B clause 10; section 6). Those rules constrain how easily property can be transferred or altered.\n\n- Exposure to creditors and markets: The Union’s power to mortgage and sell (section 10 and Schedule B clauses 5–8, 13) places trust property in potential contact with the property market and with lenders. Clause 13 of Schedule B allows the Union to act to recover sums it has had to pay on a local church’s behalf by mortgaging or selling trust premises after notice, which shifts certain financial risks onto local church assets.\n\n**Who pays, who decides, and what behaviour changes\n\n- Who pays: Local churches and their members ultimately face the direct financial consequences where the Union mortgages or sells trust property to satisfy liabilities (Schedule B clause 13). The Union may initially meet liabilities but can recover by charging or selling trust property.\n- Who decides: The Executive Council of the Union has custody of the seal and broad property-management powers (section 2), and the Union’s internal processes (Assembly, constitution and by-laws in Schedule A) determine how the Council is constituted and how it may act (Schedule A and section 11). Local church special meetings have decision-making power for certain matters (Schedule B clause 10), but the Union can act in specific circumstances (Schedule B clause 15 and section 3(4)).\n- Behaviour changes: Trustees will be incentivised to use the Union route for title regularisation. Local churches may alter their reliance on local trustees and on keeping independent title, since the Union can assume and control property. Lenders and purchasers will rely on Union authority and receipts (Schedule B clause 9) rather than investigate internal church procedure.\n\n**Implementation, compliance and administrative points\n\n- Registration: For Torrens-title land the Registrar of Titles is given power to register the Union as proprietor upon proof and payment of fees (section 3(3)).\n- Records and proof: Minutes signed by chairmen or resolution minutes are treated as conclusive proof of properly convened meetings and votes (sections 4(b), 5, Schedule B clause 11).\n- Interaction with other statutes: The Act interacts with the Religious Successory and Charitable Trusts Act 1928 and the Trusts Act and Transfer of Land Acts (sections 3(3), 8 and 9), so administrators must attend to those cross-references.\n\n**Key sections to read for each audience\n\n- Trustees and churches: sections 3–5, Schedule B (clauses 4, 10, 13, 15).\n- Union officers and Executive Council: sections 2, 10, 11, 12 and Schedule A (governance and amendment powers).\n- Land title officers and lenders: sections 3(3), 9 and Schedule C.\n\n**Bottom line**: The Act formalises the Baptist Union as a corporate owner of a large stock of church property, sets a standard trust instrument (Schedule B) governing local church premises, and vests many existing trust assets automatically in the Union while giving the Union broad powers to manage, mortgage or sell that property subject to specified procedural safeguards (sections 2–4, 10; Schedule B)."},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This appears to be a straightforward private incorporation Act with a consistent and narrow original purpose — legally incorporating the Baptist Union. There is no indication from the available information that its scope has shifted from its original intent."},"complexity_factors":["Very narrow and specific scope — applies to a single named organisation only","Historical legislation from 1930 with minimal amendments apparent from the version history provided","Limited metadata provided makes full assessment of any technical provisions difficult","Standard incorporation mechanics are well-established in law, reducing interpretive complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"The Act formally incorporates the Baptist Union of Victoria, giving the Union recognised corporate status so it can own property, enter contracts, and sue or be sued as an organisation rather than through individual members. It affects the Union, its member churches, ministers and staff, and anyone dealing with it legally or financially, providing legal certainty and protecting individual members from personal liability for the organisation’s obligations."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/the-baptist-union-incorporation-act-1930","history":"/api/acts/the-baptist-union-incorporation-act-1930/history","analysis":"/api/acts/the-baptist-union-incorporation-act-1930/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/the-baptist-union-incorporation-act-1930/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/the-baptist-union-incorporation-act-1930/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/the-baptist-union-incorporation-act-1930/documents"}}