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WHEREAS on St. Matthias' Day, the 24th day of February, 1979, sixteen Dioceses of Anglican communion within Nigeria were constituted into a separate Province of Nigeria with Archbishop Timothy Olufosoye as the first Primate;

WHEREAS the said Province of Nigeria constituted herself into the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and enacted a Constitution to regulate her affairs and promote her well-being;

WHEREAS it is considered desirable to amend the said Constitution;

The General Synod of the Church of Nigeria hereby enacts the following Constitution:


CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. This Constitution shall be known as the Constitution of the
Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), 1997.

2. The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), hereinafter called
"the Church of Nigeria", shall remain one united and indivisible Church under God.

(i) The membership of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican
Communion) shall be open to all persons who accept the aims, objectives and principles of the Church as stated in clause 3 (I) to 3 (4) immediately below.

(1) The aims, Objectives and Principles of the Church of
Nigeria (Anglican Communion) are:

(a) To evangelise and promote the knowledge
of God and adherence to the teachings and examples of Jesus Christ.
(b) To Promote Christians education, values and morals.
(c) To assist in the care and welfare of the poor, aged and needy.

(2) The Church of Nigeria shall be in full Communion with
the See of Canterbury and with all Dioceses, Provinces and
Regional Churches which are in full Communion with the See
of Canterbury.

(3) The Church of Nigeria shall hold and maintain the Faith,
Doctrine, Sacrament and Discipline of the Church of Christ as
the Lord has commanded in His Holy Word and as the same
are received and taught by the Church of England in the Book
of Common Prayer and the Ordinal of the year 1662 and in
Thirty-nine Articles of Religion.

(4) The Church of Nigeria may accept any alterations in
the said formularies as may hereafter be adopted by the Church
of England.

(5) In the interpretation of the aforementioned formularies
and in all questions of Faith, Doctrine and Discipline, the
decisions of the Ecclesiastical tribunals of the Church of
Nigeria shall be final.

4. The Church of Nigeria shall have three Orders of the Ministry, namely:

(a) Bishops who shall have a special responsibility and
authority for the preservation of the truth of the doctrine of the
Church for the purity of its life, and the worthiness of its
worship;

(b) the Priests who in co-operation with and under the
guidance of the Bishops have a special responsibility for
preaching the word of God and administering the Holy
Sacraments and generally for the cure of souls; and

(c) the Deacons, who have a special responsibility for the
care of the poor and distressed, for the instruction of the young
and the ignorant and for giving assistance to the Priests in
Divine Service.

5. The legislative and administrative organs of the Church of
Nigeria shall be:

(a) The General Synod which shall be the highest national
organ of the Church of Nigeria;

(b) the Provincial Council which shall be the
administrative organ of a Province and subject to the authority
of the General Synod shall have authority over every Diocese,
officer and member within the Province with regard to powers
conferred upon it under this Constitution; and

(c) the Diocesan Synod which shall have authority over
the internal affairs of the Diocese.

(d) The Headquaters of the Church of Nigeria (Angli-
can Communion) shall for the time being be 29 Marina, Lagos, Lagos State.

 

CHAPTER II
THE GENERAL SYNOD

6. The General Synod as hereby constituted, shall be the Legislative body of the Church of Nigeria and every enactment, resolution or directives thereof shall be binding upon the Church of Nigeria and on every Province, Diocese, Officer, and member thereof.

7. The General Synod shall consist of:

(a) The House of Bishops;
(b) The House of Clergy; and
(c) The House of Laity constituted in accordance with the
provisions of this Constitution.

8. The House of Bishops shall consist of:

(a) The Primate, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the
Church of Nigeria
(b) The Provincial Archbishops;
(c) The Diocesan Bishops;
(d) Suffragan and Assistant Bishops;
(e) Retired Bishops who are not engaged in remunerative
work outside the ordained Ministry: provided that they shall
have no right to vote.

9. (1) The House of Clergy shall consist of Priests and
Deacons who hold the Licence of the Bishop of the Diocese
they represent, elected in such manner and in accordance with
such rules as the Diocesan Synod may make in that behalf.

(2) Unless the General Synod or the Standing Committee
otherwise decides, every Diocese shall be represented by three
Clerical representatives.

10. (1) The House of Laity shall consist of such communicant
members of the Church of the age of 18 years and above
elected or appointed Lay Representatives of the Diocese they
represent in such manner and in accordance with such rules
as the Diocesan Synod may make in that behalf.

(2) Unless the General Synod or the Standing Committee
otherwise decides, every Diocese shall be represented by four
Lay representatives which shall include the Chancellor and at
least one woman.

11. Each Diocese shall make rules to provide for the filling of
vacancies in Clerical and Lay representation of the Diocese which may occur through death, resignation, loss of qualification or any other cause between the time of the election or appointment and the subsequent meeting of the General Synod.

 

MEETINGS OF THE GENERAL SYNOD

12. Ordinary Sessions of the General Synod shall take place every THREE years; provided that the General Synod shall meet whenever the Primate and Archbishop decides that the circumstances of the Church require it and provided also that the General Synod shall be summoned by the Primate and Archbishop whenever requested to do so by at least one-third of the membership of a House.

13. (1) The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican
Communion) shall be President of the General Synod and shall
preside at all sessions thereof.
(2) During a vacancy in the office of Primate or the
absence of the Primate from any meeting of the General Synod
or any Committee, Council, Board or Commission constituted
under the Constitution or any Canon, unless otherwise
provided, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria or in his absence
then the Provincial Archbishop senior by presentation as
Archbishop, and if none be present, the Bishop senior by
consecration, shall preside.

14. (1) The Primate shall give to all the Bishops of the Church
of Nigeria at least six calendar months notice of every ordinary
session of the General Synod, and the Bishop of each
Diocese shall cause such notice to be published throughout
his Diocese and sent to all members of the General Synod in
his Diocese through their registered address within four weeks
of receiving such notice provided that when a special session
of the General Synod is convened, two months notice shall be
sufficient.

(2) The agenda for the General Synod shall be prepared
by the Primate in consultation with the Standing Committee of
the Church of Nigeria.

15. At least one-third of the members of each of the three Houses of Bishops, Clergy and Laity representing at least three-quarters of the number of Dioceses in the Church of Nigeria must be present for the transaction of business in the General Synod, and it shall be
competent for any member of the Synod, at any time to call for the counting of the members present.

 

VOTING

16. The three Houses shall sit together and unless a greater vote on any question is required by the Constitution or by the Canons or any regulation made hereunder in cases not specifically dealt with by this Constitution or unless a vote by Houses is required under this
Constitution, the affirmative vote of the majority of all the members present and voting at a duly constituted session of the General Synod shall suffice to carry any question.

17. Where any member present at a session of the General Synod so demands, voting shall be by Houses and shall be conducted in the following order: first, the House of Laity, then the House of Clergy and then the House of Bishops.

18. Where voting is by Houses the assent of the majority of
members present of each of the three Houses shall be necessary.

19. During every session of the General Synod the House of Clergy shall elect one of its members as Prolocutor, to preside over the House of Clergy and over a joint assembly of the Clergy and Laity and the House of Laity shall elect one of its members as Chairman, to preside over the House of Laity, should the Houses of the General Synod
deliberate separately.

20. The members and officers of the General Synod from the Houses of Clergy and of Laity shall remain in office until their successors have been appointed or elected.

21. No proceedings or enactment or resolution of the General Synod or of any House, Committee, Commission or Body thereof shall be invalidated by any vacancy in the membership of the body concerned or by any defect in the qualification, election or
appointment of any member thereof; neither shall failure or neglect on the part of any such representatives to attend invalidate the
enactments or resolutions of the General Synod which enactments and resolutions shall have the same force in that Diocese as if such representatives had been present.


CHAPTER III
FUNCTIONS, JURISDICTION AND POWERS OF THE GENERAL SYNOD

22. It shall be the duty of the General Synod -

(a) to consider matters concerning the Church of Nigeria
and make provision for the administration of its affairs and for
the promotion of the spiritual welfare and well being of its
members by Canons, Regulations, Resolutions, Directives or
other instruments as may be appropriate; and

(b) to consider and express their opinion on any matters
of religious or public interest.

23. For the avoidance of doubt, the General Synod as hereby
constituted shall be the legislative body of the Church of Nigeria and every enactment, resolution or directive of the said Synod shall have effect and be binding upon the Church, every Ecclesiastical Province or Diocese therein and upon all officers and members thereof and, subject as hereinafter provided the General Synod shall have authority and jurisdiction in all matters affecting in any way, the general interest and well-being of the whole Church and in particular:

(i) the constitution and organisation of the General Synod
including the regulation of the time and place of its meetings,
the order and conduct of its proceedings, and the appointment,
functions and duties of its officers, committees and other
organs;

(ii) the national character, constitution, integrity and
autonomy of the Church of Nigeria;

(iii) the relations of the Church to other religious bodies in
Nigeria and elsewhere;

(iv) the relations of the Church to other Churches of the
Anglican Communion;

(v) the election, retirement or resignation of the Primate
of the Church of Nigeria, the Provincial Archbishops and
Diocesan Bishops including the consecration of Diocesan
Bishops;

(vi) discipline of Clergy and of Laity of the Church of
Nigeria;

(vii) the constitution and powers of and procedure in courts
of original and appellate jurisdiction for the trial of offences and
the enforcement of judgements;

(viii) the revision, adaptation and publication of a Book of
Common Prayer and a Hymnal for the Church;

(ix) the establishment of minimum standards of
theological education and minimum qualifications and training
of candidates for the Ministry of the Church;

(x) the regulation of inter-diocesan transfer of clergy;

(xi) the relinquishment or abandonment of the Ministry of
the Church;

(xii) the administration of all funds and trusts established
in respect of the Church;

(xiii) the administration of a group insurance plan for the
benefit of the Clergy and lay employees of the Church;

(xiv) the sub-division of the Church into more Provinces and
the constitution of any number of Dioceses into a new
Province provided that no new Province shall consist of less
than fifteen Dioceses and that such separate Provinces shall
be related to one another by such common organs as the
General Synod may determine;

(xv) exclusive authority and jurisdiction in respect of all
matters of common concern to the whole Church as well as
matters affecting relations between the Church and the
Dioceses and between the Dioceses including (without
prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) the subdivision of
Dioceses and of Provinces, the rearrangement of existing
Dioceses and Provinces and the creation of new Dioceses and
all such other matters that affect the communion of the
Dioceses with one another as the General Synod shall think
fit;

(xvi) after such consultation as may be deemed necessary
by the General Synod, the determination of the location of
headquarters of Dioceses, Ecclesiastical Provinces and of the
Church of Nigeria including power to relocate such
headquarters; and

(xvii) either by itself or its Standing Committee to give
directives either directly or through the Archbishop and
Primate to any person appointed to, or holding any office
under this Constitution or the Constitution of an Ecclesiastical
Province or of a Diocese therein on any matter appearing to it
to relate to any powers conferred on it by this Constitution, or
to the well-being of the Church, and it shall be the duty of any
such officer or person to carry out such directive.

 

CHAPTER IV
FAITH AND ORDER

24. A provision touching doctrinal formulae of the service or
ceremonies of the Church of Nigeria or the administration of the
sacraments or sacred rites thereof shall, before it is finally approved by the General Synod, be referred to the House of Bishops, and shall be submitted for such final approval in terms proposed by the House of Bishops and not otherwise.

25. An Article or Canon or Regulation for permanent changes in the services of Baptism or Holy Communion or in the Ordinal, or a scheme for a constitutional union or a permanent and substantial change of relationship between the Church of Nigeria and another Christian Body, being a body a substantial number of whose
members reside in Nigeria, shall not be finally approved by the
General Synod unless at a stage determined by the Archbishop and Primate, the Article or Canon or Regulation or Scheme, or the
substance of the proposals embodied therein, shall have received the approval of the Diocesan Synods of at least two-thirds of the Dioceses of the Church of Nigeria.

26. The House of Bishops or Episcopal Synod shall have power to make such adaptations and abridgements of, and addition to, the
services of the Church as may be required from time to time and the General Synod may prescribe the manner,extent and circumstances in which a Bishop may authorise the use of any alterations in a service approved by the House of Bishops.


CHAPTER V
THE ARCHBISHOP & PRIMATE

27. (1) The President of the General Synod shall be the
Primate, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Church of Nigeria
who shall be elected and shall hold office under, and have
privileges, powers, authority and duties as are defined by the
Constitution, Canons and Regulations made by or under the
authority of the General Synod and shall exercise all the rights
and perform all the duties of the office of a Metropolitan.

(2) The Primate shall summon and preside over meetings
of the General Synod, Episcopal Synod, and the Standing
Committee, and is the Principal Minister of the Church of
Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

28. The Primate shall be an ex-officio member of all Committees, Boards, Commissions and Councils appointed under any provision of this Constitution or of any Canon enacted by the General Synod or under any resolution of the General Synod or of its Standing
Committee.

29. (1) During a vacancy in the Office of Primate or during the
illness or other incapacity of the Primate, the Dean of the Church
of Nigeria shall have authority to perform all the duties of the
Primacy and shall be styled Acting Primate.

(2) In the absence of the Primate from any meeting of
General Synod or any Committee, Council, Board or
Commission, constituted under the Constitution or any Canon
of the synod, unless otherwise provided, the Dean or the
Provincial Archbishop senior by presentation as Archbishop,
or if none should be present, the Bishop senior by
consecration, shall preside.

30. The office of the Primate shall become vacant when -

(1) he dies;

(2) he has held office for ten years from the date of his
presentation or when he attains the age of seventy years,
whichever first occurs;

(3) having given notice of his intention to resign or retire,
the Dean has in consultation with the Episcopal Synod
accepted the resignation; or

(4) upon representation made to the Dean by at least two
Diocesan Bishops his appointment is terminated or he is
required to retire by a resolution supported by a majority of
two-thirds of the General Synod: Provided that he shall be given
the fullest opportunity to defend himself against any charges
that may have been brought against him.

31. In addition to his functions as Diocesan Bishop, the Primate shall have the following functions:

(a) to have a general authority and supervision over the
whole of the Church of Nigeria in accordance with the
provisions of this Constitution and the Canons of the Church.

(b) to confirm the appointment of any person duly elected
a Bishop in the Church of Nigeria and to arrange for his
consecration if he be not already consecrated;

(c) to preside when he is so required by Regulations
pertaining thereto at the hearing of appeals in accordance with
the provisions of this Constitution concerning the trial of
Bishops, the Clergy, and the Laity and also on other occasions
when the House of Bishops sits as a court.

(d) to visit officially the Dioceses of the Church of Nigeria
whether at the invitation of the Bishop of the Diocese or on his
own initiative;

(e) to represent the Church of Nigeria in its relationship
with the rest of the Anglican Communion and other Churches
in communion with it and on its behalf to correspond with other
Metropolitans;

(f) to perform such other functions prescribed by this
Constitution or as may from time to time be entrusted to him
by the General Synod or the Standing Committee.

 

CHAPTER VI
POWER TO APPOINT COMMITTEES AND
COMMISSIONS

32. (1) The General Synod may appoint or provide by their
Standing Orders for the appointment of a Standing Committee
and such other Committees, Commissions and bodies, which
may include persons who are not members of the Synod and
such Officers as they think fit.

(2) Each House may appoint or provide by their Standing
Orders for the appointment of such Committees of their
members as they think fit.

 

CHAPTER VII
POWER TO MAKE STANDING ORDERS

33. (1) The General Synod may make, amend and revoke
Standing Orders, providing for any of the matters for which
such provision is required or authorized by this Constitution to
be made, and consistently with this Constitution, for the
meetings, business and procedure of the General Synod.

(2) Provision may be made by the Standing Orders that
the exercise of any power of the General Synod to suspend
the Standing Orders or any of them shall require the assent of
such a majority of the members of the whole Synod present
and voting as may be specified in the Standing Order.

(3) Standing Orders of the General Synod may provide
for separate sittings of any of the three Houses or joint sittings
of any two Houses and as to who is to take the Chair at any
such separate or joint sitting.

(4) Each House may make, amend and revoke Standing
Orders to regulate its own proceedings.

 

CHAPTER VIII
ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCES

34. (1) There shall be for each Ecclesiastical Province
created within the Church of Nigeria a Provincial Council which
shall consist of:

(a) The Provincial Archbishop who shall preside as
Chairman;

(b) all Bishops or Missionary Bishops of the Church of
Nigeria having Sees within the Ecclesiastical Province;

(c) Suffragan or Assistant Bishops within the
Ecclesiastical Province; and

(d) one clergy from each Diocese elected at the Diocesan
Synod.

(e) one laity from each Diocese elected at the Diocesan
Synod.

(f) Any such persons not exceeding two to be co-opted
on ad hoc basis for their expertise; but they shall have no right
to vote.

(2) The Provincial Council shall meet on regular basis as
determined by each Province or as provided by the Canons.

35. The exact territorial limits of each Ecclesiastical Province and
of each Diocese therein as well as the location of the Headquarters of the same shall be determined by the General Synod or its Standing Committee.

36. The Constitution of a Province shall be contained in a Canon enacted by the General Synod, provided that a Canon approved by the House of Bishops shall be operative until approved or amended by the General Synod.

37. The Provincial Archbishop shall preside over meetings of the Provincial Council or in his absence, the Bishop senior by
consecration shall preside.

38. Provincial Councils shall have authority and jurisdiction to meet as often as occasions may demand either on the invitation of the
Provincial Archbishop or at the request of two Bishops to discuss all matters of general interest and the well-being of the Church within their territorial jurisdiction and to implement their decisions on the following matters:

(1) the training of priests;

(2) the location of newly trained priests within the
Province;

(3) inter-diocesan transfer of priests;

(4) pension and gratuities;

(5) maintenance of common institutions;

(6) co-operation with other Ecclesiastical Provinces within
the Church of Nigeria.

(7) such other matters as may be delegated by the
General Synod.

 

CHAPTER IX
DIOCESES

39. The General Synod shall have power -

(a) to create new Dioceses out of the existing Dioceses
within Nigeria;

(b) to create Missionary Dioceses in Nigeria;
(c) to adjust the boundaries of existing Dioceses;

(d) to incorporate into the Church of Nigeria any Diocese
in any adjacent country;

(e) to encourage Diocesan growth to full organisation; and

(f) to approve all Diocesan Constitutions in such a
manner that, while giving full liberty to meet local conditions and desires, a degree of uniformity in Diocesan Constitutions as may be desirable for the well-being of the Church, is secured.

40. Every fully organised Diocese shall have a Diocesan Synod
consisting of the Diocesan Bishop, a House of Clergy and a House of Laity and a Constitution approved by the Diocesan Synod to govern its administration.

41. A Diocese that is not fully organised may be governed by a Bishop and a Council whose membership and powers shall be
determined by the Bishop subject to the approval of the Primate.

42. The General Synod shall allow the Dioceses to deal with
matters which concern only the members of the Church within each Diocese: Provided that no enactment of any Diocesan Synod shall have any force in the Diocese if it conflicts with any enactment of the General Synod.

 

CHAPTER X
ELECTION OF BISHOPS

43. Every Diocesan Bishop of this Church shall be elected by the Episcopal Synod in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Canons and Regulations made under this Constitution but such
election shall not take effect until the same is confirmed by the
Primate and Archbishop.

44. A Bishop for any Diocese may be elected from among the
Bishops or Clergy of any Diocese of the Church of Nigeria or of any other Diocese in communion with the Church of Nigeria.

45. The tenure of office of a Bishop or a Provincial Archbishop shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Canon or Regulations made in respect thereof by the General Synod.

 

CHAPTER XI
OFFICERS OF THE GENERAL SYNOD

46. (1) The Officers of the General Synod shall be:

(i) the Primate, Archbishop and Metropolitan of
the Church of Nigeria;

(ii) the Dean of the Church of Nigeria;

(iii) the Registrar of the Church of Nigeria;

(iv) the Chancellor of the Church of Nigeria;

(v) the General Secretary of the Church of
Nigeria;

(vi) the Provincial Treasurer of the Church of
Nigeria;

(vii) the Clerical Secretary; and

(viii) The Lay Secretary.

(2) The Registrar of the Church of Nigeria shall be elected
by the General Synod from among the members of the House
of Laity and shall hold office for the duration of the Synod.

47. During the meetings of each session, the General Synod shall elect one of its members as Treasurer who shall serve until the
beginning of the next ordinary session. In the event of his being
unable to serve, the Primate, after consultation with the Prolocutor and the Chairman of the House of Laity, shall appoint a member to act until the next ordinary session of the Synod.

48. (1) There shall be established for the Church of Nigeria a
Secretariat which shall be headed by a General Secretary who
shall be a Clergyman in Priests' Order not below the status of
an Archdeacon appointed by the Standing Committee on full-
time basis upon such terms as it shall deem fit.

(2) It shall be the duty of the General Secretary to:

(a) attend meetings of the General Synod and of
the Standing Committee of the General Synod and of
any other Committee or body appointed by the
Standing Committee as the Primate shall direct; and
(b) carry out such administrative or other duties
as the Primate or the Standing Committee shall from
time to time direct.

 

CHAPTER XII
THE STANDING COMMITTEE AND OTHER
COMMITTEES OF THE GENERAL SYNOD

49. (1) There shall be a Standing Committee of the General
Synod constituted as hereinafter provided.

(2) The Standing Committee, hereinafter called "The
Committee" shall consist of the Primate and Archbishop, the
Provincial Archbishops, the Diocesan Bishops, the Bishops in
charge of Missionary Dioceses, the Suffragan and Assistant
Bishops, the Registrar of the Church of Nigeria, the Chancellor
of the Church of Nigeria, the General Secretary of the Church
of Nigeria, the Treasurer of the Church of Nigeria, the Clerical
Secretary, the Lay Secretary, the Diocesan Chancellors, one
Clerical and one Lay member from each Diocese elected
during the session of the General Synod from amongst the
members of the General Synod on the nomination of their
respective Dioceses: Provided that in the event of the creation
of a new Diocese in between two General Synods, the
Diocesan Synod concerned shall elect one clerical and one lay
member to represent the Diocese.

(3) The Primate shall be Chairman of the Standing
Committee while the General Secretary shall be Secretary to
the Committee.

50. It shall be the duty of the Standing Committee to act on behalf of the General Synod between sessions of the Synod, to advise the Primate in regard to such matters as he may think fit to refer to it, or that the Standing Committee may desire to bring to the notice of the Primate assist him in drawing up the agenda of the General Synod and carrying into effect the resolutions, programmes and policies of the General Synod and to administer the common fund of the Church
provided that all decisions of the Standing Committee shall be liable to be reviewed by the General Synod.

51. The General Secretary of the General Synod shall prepare a written report in summary form of all matters considered and dealt with by the Standing Committee since the last regular meeting of the
General Synod not less than thirty days prior to each regular meeting of the General synod which shall be presented by the General
Secretary at the session of the General Synod.

 

CHAPTER XIII
DISCIPLINE

52. The General Synod shall have exclusive power to make
provisions with regard to Discipline and in particular -

(i) to prescribe and define offences for which a Bishop,
Priest or Deacon or any member of the Laity of this Church
may be tried:and

(ii) to determine the constitution and rules of procedure of
Diocesan, Provincial and final appellate Tribunals for the
exercise of Ecclesiastical discipline and establish a final court
of Appeal for the purpose.

53. Any Bishop, Priest or Deacon of a Diocese of this Church against whom a charge is brought shall be tried in accordance with the provisions of the Canon of Ecclesiastical Discipline.


CHAPTER XIV
FUNDS AND PROPERTY: TRUSTEES

54. (1) There shall be a body known as "The Registered
Trustees of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)" which
shall have perpetual succession and may sue and be sued in
its corporate name.

(2) The Registered Trustees of the Church of Nigeria
(Anglican Communion) shall consist of the following -

(a) the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican
Communion);
(b) the Dean of the Church of Nigeria;
(c) the Registrar of the Church of Nigeria;
(d) The General Secretary of the Church of Nigeria
(Anglican Communion).

55. With effect from the registration of the Trustees under the
Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990, all property of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), movable or immovable, real or
personal, shall become vested in the Registered Trustees of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) for and on behalf of the General Synod.

56. The Primate of the Church shall be the Chairman of the
Registered Trustees.
57. The Trustees shall have a common seal, such common sealwill be kept under the custody of the Registrar of the Church of Nigeria and shall be used only with the consent in writing of the other Trustees.

All documents to be executed by the trustees shall be signed with such of them and sealed with the common seal.
The Trustees shall apply to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Certificate of Incorporation under the Companies and Allied Matters Decree No 1 of 1990 Part 3
The Trustees shall accept and hold in trust all lands belonging to the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and to acquire on behalf of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) all other lands and properties.

58. (a) The Trustees of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican
Communion) for the purpose of the Companies and Allied Matters Decree No 1 of 1990, Part C shall be appointed at the meeting of the General Synod at which 1/3 of the members representing at least 3/4 of the number of dioceses shall constituted a quorum.

(b) Such Trustees shall be four in number and shall be
known as "THE REGISTERED TRUSTEES OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)",

(c) A Trustee may hold office for life but shall cease to
hold office if he

(i) Resigns his office

(ii) Ceases to be a member of the Registered Trustees of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

(iii) Becomes insane

(iv) Is officially declared bankrupt

(v) Is convicted of a criminal offence involving dishon-
esty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(vi) Is removed as a Trustee by the General Synod.

(vii) Ceases to reside in Nigeria

(d) Upon a vacancy occuring in the number of Trustees, a meeting of the General Synod shall be convened to appoint another eligible member of the Church ofNigeria (Anglican Communion) to the office.

(e) An Auditor shall be appointed at the meeting of the General Synod and the Auditor so appointed shall hold office for three years i.e. till the next General Synod unless re-appointed. The Auditor shall report as at and when required by the Standing Committee on the accounts and properties of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

59. All Trustees holding property in trust for and on behalf of the Church of Nigeria shall henceforth be deemed to be the agents of, and be accountable to, the Registered Trustees of the Church of
Nigeria (Anglican Communion), who shall have power to extend,
terminate or vary the terms of the Trust where circumstances so
warrant.

60. The Registered Trustees shall render reports and accounts to the General Synod in respect of all properties vested in them or their Agents.

61. A General Fund shall be established for the Church of Nigeria for the following purpose:

(a) contributing toward the official expenses incurred by
the Primate in the administration and visitation of the Church;

(b) providing in part or whole for the expenses of the
meetings of the Episcopal Synod, the General Synod, and the
Standing Committee of the General Synod as from time to
time may be determined by the Standing Committee;

(c) contributing toward the maintenance and development
of any Institution of the Church or any works approved by the
General Synod; and

(d) providing for such other purposes as may be approved
by the General Synod or by its Standing Committee.

62. (1) The General Fund shall be vested in and be
administered by the General Synod.

(2) Any funds, money or properties whatsoever which may
be found due from Church of the Province of West Africa to
the Church of Nigeria at its inauguration shall be transferred to
and become vested in the General Synod of the Church of
Nigeria.

63. The General Synod shall determine, and may from time to time increase or diminish, the contribution to be paid annually by
each Diocese within the Church of Nigeria to the General Fund.

64. The General Synod shall frame such Regulations as may be necessary from time to time for the management of property held in trust for the Church of Nigeria and shall have full power and authority to determine in what manner, and upon what conditions suchproperty shall be used or occupied, provided, however, that all
regulations as to the tenure, management, and use of Church
Property which have been hitherto made and shall be made hereafter by any Diocesan Synod, shall have force in that Diocese until other regulations be made by the General Synod, and except they be contrary to any regulations previously made in that behalf by the General Synod.

65. The General Synod may delegate to any Synod, Board,
Committee, or any other body, either specifically, as the case may require, or under such general regulations as may from time to time be laid down by the General Synod, any powers which may be
required for the management of any property of the Church of
Nigeria.

66. All property, of whatever nature or kind, whether movable or immovable, real or personal, which is or may be given, purchased, obtained or held for the benefit of the Church of Nigeria, shall, as soon as it is practicable, be transferred to and be vested in Trustees acting on behalf of the General Synod who shall be constituted the
Registered Trustees of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and all such property thus transferred shall be in trust, that such
Trustees shall and do hold the same, or otherwise shall and do
transfer the same, upon and according to such charitable Trusts,
intents and purposes, whether Ecclesiastical, Evangelistic, Religious,
Collegiate, Scholastic, as the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria shall from time to time direct or appoint in writing under the hand of any person or persons authorised by the General Synod in that
behalf, subject, however, to any special Trusts imposed by the founder,
Donor, Testator, or other benefactor. But no property subject to any such special Trusts shall be held by any Trustee or Trustees acting on behalf of the General Synod, unless the same shall have been
accepted, in terms of such Trusts, by the General Synod, or by some Synod, Board, Committee, or other body authorised by the General Synod in that behalf: Provided that no property shall, in any case, be vested in a sole Trustee, except it is so required by particular will or deed of Gift.

67. Every Trustee in whom any property, whether movable or
immovable, real or personal, shall be vested, either solely or jointly with any other person or persons, for and on behalf of the General Synod, shall hold the same with the powers and subject to the
limitations, restrictions, declarations and provisions contained in
section 66 of this Constitution, so far as the same may be consistent with any special Trusts affecting such property and any Synod, Board, Committee, or other Body appointed by the General Synod for that purpose, shall possess and may exercise any such of the powers belonging to the General Synod as shall be by the General Synod in that behalf prescribed.

68. Every Trustee appointed in the manner and for the purposes herein specified shall be subject to all and singular the regulations and directions which may from time to time be issued by or under the authority of the General Synod and shall be bound to obey and give effect to all decisions of the Tribunals for the exercise of Discipline, appointed by the said General Synod.

69. Every Diocesan Synod, or Diocesan Trusts' Board appointed by such Synod, shall be a body authorised to exercise on behalf of the General Synod, the powers designated in this Constitution and
hereafter in respect to property given or acquired for the benefit of the Church in that Diocese. All diocesan Trustees shall carry out the
objects of the Trusts in such manner, consistent with the terms of the Trust, as the several Diocesan Synods shall from time to time direct.

70. (1) The General Synod, or the Episcopal Synod, Board,
Committee, or other Body, acting under its authority may, from
time to time, appoint a Trustee or Trustees, for the whole or
any portion of the property held in Trust; and may from time to
time, as often as it shall think proper, cancel and revoke every
such appointment, and may appoint another Trustee, or other
Trustees, in the place of all or any one or more of the Trustees
named in, or thereafter to be appointed by, or on behalf of, the
said General Synod.

(2) Any Trustee or Trustees may under the authority of
the General Synod, as provided in the foregoing clause sell,
and absolutely dispose of, either together or in parcels, and
either by public sale or private contract, all or any part of the
said Trust Property in respect of which no Trust shall have
been created inconsistent with the exercise of this present
power: or, by the like direction may exchange the said
property, or any part thereof, for any other freehold or quitrent
lands, tenements, or hereditaments; and give (out of any money
in their hands, applicable to such purpose) or receive any money
by way of equality or exchange, and may execute all such
transfer as may be requisite for effectuating such sale or
exchange; or, by the like direction may mortgage the said
property or any part thereof. Provided, always that all money
arising from such sale, or received by any Trustee or Trustees
for equality or exchange, as aforesaid, after payment of the
costs and expenses, payable by such Trustee or Trustees in
relation to such sale or exchange shall be expended in the
absolute purchase of other freehold or quitrent lands, tenements, or hereditaments; or, failing such purchase, then
under the special leave and sanction of the said General Synod,
or of the Synod, Board, Committee, or other Body acting on its
behalf, such Trustees or Trustee may invest and put out at
interest, on good and sufficient security, any money arising as
aforesaid.

(3) All property which shall be so purchased, or received
in exchange, as aforesaid, and all such investments as are
provided for in the foregoing clause, shall be held by the
Trustees or Trustee, in whom it shall become vested, upon
such trusts as the property so to be sold or given in exchange
was held subject to: provided nevertheless, that subject to any
provisions of the trust to the contrary, the General Synod, or
the Synod, Board, committee, or other Body acting in its
behalf may, in respect to the peculiar circumstances of any
case, allocate any of the moneys mentioned in the two
foregoing clauses, to purposes in the same Diocese other
than those provided in the said clauses, such purposes being
always, as far as practicable, of the same nature as those
which were contemplated in the original Trust.

(4) The receipt, in writing, of any Trustees or Trustee shall
be a good and effectual discharge for all money paid to them,
or him under or by virtue of these presents and shall exonerate
the person or persons paying such money from all obligation
of seeing to the application thereof, and from all liability on
account of the loss, mis-application, or non-application thereof:
and it shall be incumbent on any purchaser or other person, to
or with whom such sale, exchange, or lease as aforesaid shall
be made, to inquire as to the necessity for, or propriety of such
sale, exchange, or lease.

(5) Every Trustee shall be chargeable for such money only
as he shall actually have received, although he shall have joined
in any receipt for money received by any Co-Trustee. He shall
not be liable for any loss which may arise by reason of any
Trust money being deposited in the hands of any Banker or
Agent, or from the insufficiency or deficiency of any security
upon which the Trust money, or any part thereof, may be
invested, nor for any loss in the execution of the Trust, unless
the same shall happen through his own wilful neglect or
default.


CHAPTER XV
AMENDMENT

71. No formal notice for the amendment, alteration or repeal of, or addition to the Constitution shall be received unless it proceeds out of a resolution of the Episcopal Synod, the General Synod, a Diocesan Synod or the Standing Committee of the General Synod.

72. It shall not be lawful to alter, add to, amend or repeal any of the provisions of this Constitution except it shall have been resolved and approved at a meeting of the Standing committee of the General Synod that the alteration, addition, amendment or repeal be agreed to in the session of the General Synod next ensuing and except it shall, before the session of the General Synod, have received the approval of the Diocesan Synods of at least two-thirds of the
Dioceses of the Church of Nigeria. Provided that where the approval of the Diocesan Synods of at least two-thirds of the Dioceses of the Church of Nigeria is not obtained, the proposed amendment may be placed before the General Synod, and if the same shall be passed by at least two-thirds of the members of the General Synod the
proposed amendment shall be deemed to be validly passed.

73. A proposal for the amendment of the constitution shall not be deemed to be passed unless it receives the affirmative vote of a
two-thirds (2/3) majority of each House voting at a session of the
General Synod.

74. (1) Canons I to XVIII of the Church of Nigeria shall be
known as "Canons of the Constitution" and shall not be liable
to alteration, amendment or repeal and no new Canon shall
be added at any future General Synod unless formal notice of
such proposed alteration, amendment, repeal or addition shall
have been notified to the Primate at least six months before
the date fixed for the opening of the Synod.

(2) Such a notice shall consist of two parts namely:

(a) a statement of the reasons why such
amendment is desirable; and

(b) the precise amendment proposed and such
notice shall be communicated by the Primate not less
than four months before the meeting of the General
Synod to all the Diocesan Bishops of the Church of
Nigeria for the information of the delegates to
represent the Dioceses at the General Synod provided
that the Standing Committee may submit a proposal
for the amendment of a Canon at any time for the
consideration of the General Synod.
(3) A Canon may be amended or added to by a two-thirds
majority of each House voting at a session of the General
Synod.

 

CHAPTER XVI
DEFINITIONS

75. For the purpose of construing this Constitution, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings hereby assigned to them respectively (unless there be something in the subject or
context repugnant thereto) -

(1) "The Archbishop and Primate" or "the Primate,
Archbishop, and Metropolitan" means the Bishop elected to
the office of Primate in accordance with the provisions of this
Constitution;

(2) "Bishop" is and shall mean a Diocesan Bishop of the
Church of Nigeria.

(3) "Canon" means a law or regulation passed by the
General Synod for giving effect to or pursuant to any powers
conferred by this Constitution and designated as such.

(4) "Chancellor of the Church of Nigeria" is and shall mean
the Chancellor of the Diocese over which the Primate is
Diocesan.

(5) "Church of Nigeria" is and shall mean the Churches
associated under the provisions of this Constitution and known
in full as Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

(6) "Clergy" is and shall mean all Priests and Deacons
who, according to this Constitution of the Church of Nigeria,
exercise spiritual functions under the authority and spiritual
jurisdiction of any Bishop of the Church of Nigeria.

(7) "Constitution of the Church of Nigeria" is and shall mean
this Constitution subject to such alterations or additions as may
hereafter be made by the General Synod in accordance with
the procedure herein provided.

(8) "Diocesan Synod" is and shall mean an assembly
consisting of the Diocesan Bishops, Suffragan Bishops, the
House of Clergy and the House of Laity of a Diocese
constituted according to such Regulations as have been or
shall be made in such Diocese and approved by the General
Synod.

(9) "Episcopal Synod" is and shall mean a general
meeting of the Bishops of the Church of Nigeria summoned
independently of the General Synod to discuss episcopal
matters.

(10) "General Synod" is and shall mean an assembly of the
Houses of Bishops, Clergy and Laity of the Church of Nigeria,
constituted, convened and held in accordance with the
provisions of the Constitution of this Province.

(11) "House of Bishops" is and shall mean the Bishops of
the Church of Nigeria assembled as a body or group within the
General Synod in accordance with the provisions of the
Constitution of the Church of Nigeria.

(12) "House of Clergy" is and shall mean all ordained priests
of the Church of Nigeria who are members of the General
Synod, assembled as a body in accordance with the
provisions of this Constitution.

(13) "House of Laity" is and shall mean all members of the
Laity of this Church who are members of the General Synod,
assembled as a body in accordance with the provisions of this
Constitution.

(14) "Primate" means the Bishop elected to be the
Principal Minister of the Church of Nigeria and who may also
be designated as the Primate, Archbishop and Metropolitan of
the Church of Nigeria.

(15) "Regulation" means any measure, regulation or law
made by or under the authority of the General Synod or by any
House, Committee or Body of or appointed by the General
Synod or any body set up by or under its authority.

(16) "Standing Committee" is and shall mean those special
members of the Houses of Bishops, Clergy and Laity of the
General Synod who have authority under the Constitution to
act and function as the Executive Committee of the General
Synod.

76. Wheresoever this Constitution and the Canons of the
Constitution are silent, the provisions of the Constitution of the Church of Nigeria (1979) shall be binding until the General Synod otherwise
provides.

77. The provisions of this Constitution and the Canons of the
Constitution shall be binding and take effect from the 20th day of
September, 1997.
78. Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution or any Canon or Regulation made by the General Synod, all disputes arising within the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) shall be determined by the Standing Committee of the Church, whose decision shall be final and binding unless it is reversed or varied by the General Synod.


Authenticated by the Primate, Archbishop & Metropolitan this 20th day of September, 1997.

_______________________________________
Primate, Archbishop & Metropolitan
Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).




 
 


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