Affinity - Special General Meeting

10am, March 3, 2012 at Doncaster church

Since 2007 the Council of Churches of Christ in Victoria and Tasmania Inc. has invited dialogue with affiliated churches about our shared identity and purpose. Emerging from this is the current conversation about what it means to be part of a network of churches being renewed as a 21st Century mission-shaped movement. This dialogue has taken place in a range of ways, including several Annual General Meetings, Dreaming Days (2007 and 2010), as well as two rounds of regional conversations, a Ministers conversation and lots of other less organised dialogues too.

Affinity will be presented for approval at a Special General Meeting (SGM) of Churches of Christ in Victoria and Tasmania Inc. planned for March 3, 3012. This SGM is being called in accordance with Constitution clause 8.4. Its primary purpose will be to approve Affinity as the document that fulfils Constitution clause 5.4, and also to accept several related Constitutional amendments. Full details of the proposed Motions will be available to churches following the February 1 meeting of Council.

Churches are encouraged to distribute the Affinity document as widely as possible. Please feel free to make copies or share it electronically. 

In preparation for the March 3, 2012 SGM, please prayerfully consider the appointment of your church’s delegates to this important special meeting. The SGM Delegates registration form is here. This includes an opportunity to place a lunch order.

If your church is unable to appoint any delegates, the Executive Officer according to Constitution clause 9.4 can appoint proxy delegates on your church’s behalf. We hope to have a close to 100% participation in this decision, through the appointment of delegates or proxies. The Request for Proxy Delegates form can be used for this purpose, including any voting instruction.

Q. What is ‘Affinity’?

Affinity means a feeling of identification; a close relationship; a similarity or connection between people; relationship or resemblance in structure between species that suggests a common origin; attraction or force between particles that causes them to combine.