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Southern Africa Union Conference

3 days ago

Please find below the announcement from the Trans Orange Conference which has been placed in the special June edition of Maranatha issued on behalf of the TOC on 22 May, 2018.

TRANS-ORANGE CONFERENCE
OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
Notice of the Regular Business Session as by Order of Court
Whereas on 28 March 2018 and under case number 6277/2014 the Trans-Orange Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists Church was directed by order of the South Gauteng High Court to convene a regular business session of the Trans-Orange Conference;
And whereas the Court has ordered that the session be called in harmony with the Constitution of the Trans-Orange Conference, but subject to the directives and/or conditions issued by the said Court;
Notice is hereby given that a Regular Business Session (Regular Constituency Meeting) will be held in terms of the court order issued on 28 March 2018.
The Trans-Orange Conference Executive Committee voted (Action 18-231) on the 14 April 2018 that the meeting be scheduled as follows:
Date: 24 June 2018
Time: 09:00 – 17:00
Venue: SAU Auditorium
Agenda: 1. Election of Officers, Directors and the Executive Committee Members of the Trans-Orange Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
2. New Executive Committee Mandate.

Yours in Christ
Dr Simon Makuwa
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Trans-Orange Conference

Dr Paul Shongwe
PRESIDENT
Trans-Orange Conference

Guidelines and Mechanisms

1. Regular Delegates
1.1. All organised Churches of the Trans-Orange Conference (TOC) which include those churches whose status was reduced to company status on the basis of their affiliation or support of the Applicants in the abovementioned court proceedings, are required to send delegates as determined by the TOC Constitution.
1.2. Churches with a membership of 150 members or more, will have more than one delegate to be determined by the TOC.
1.3. All Churches currently aligned to Alberton are required within 07 days of date of publication of this Notice to provide TOC with their records of membership in order to allow the TOC to update its records accordingly. If the required records are not received by the stipulated deadline the membership will be determined on the last available records of the TOC.

2. Delegates at Large
2.1. Members of the TOC Executive Committee.
2.2. Main Case Applicants.
2.3. Members of the SAU EXCOM.
2.4. All TOC and Alberton employees holding credentials or ministerial licenses issued by TOC.
2.5. Members of the GC EXCOM present not exceeding 10% of the regular delegates.
2.6. Special delegates recommended by the TOC EXCOM and accepted by the delegates not exceeding 10% of the regular delegates.

3. Organising Committee
The Organising Committee shall be constituted as per the stipulations of the TOC Constitution.

4. The Nominating Committee
4.1. The Organising Committee shall nominate and the business session shall appoint a Nominating Committee that proportionally represents both the the organised Churches who supported the applicants and the organised Churches of the TOC. The proportionate numbers will be determined by the TOC after receipt of the information required in 1.3 above and the results will be provided to all parties by way of official notice.
4.2. The Nominating Committee shall nominate and the business session shall elect the President, Executive Secretary, Chief Financial Officer, Directors and a new Executive Committee comprising of a proportionate number of individuals representing the following parties:
4.2.1. Applicants and the local Churches supporting them.
4.2.2.The members of the Executive Committees of the TOC appointed during the February 2013 and October 2013 business sessions.
4.2.3. The members of the current TOC Executive Committees (representing the organised Churches of the TOC, excluding the Churches whose status was reduced to Company status).
4.3. The proportionate numbers with the names of the individuals eligible for nomination will be determined by the TOC and provided to all the parties by way of official notice.

5. Proposed Mandate for the new Executive Committee
5.1. Determine the number and identity of the Churches that supported the applicants and the Churches that remained with TOC.
5.2. List all the steps or actions taken by the executive committee of the applicants and all the steps taken by the executive committees of the TOC.
5.3. Determine which of the steps or actions above should be ratified and which ones should be reviewed and/or set aside and determine appropriate mechanisms to do so.
5.4. Determine and identify the necessary step to be taken to unify, if possible, the following:
5.4.1. Employment contracts of pastors and staff.
5.4.2. Leases and commercial contracts.
5.4.3. Bank accounts.
5.4.4. Audits that need to be conducted by the General Conference Auditing Services.
5.5. Any other appropriate mandates as may be formulated and decided upon by the delegates.

Signed by:
1. Dr P. D. Shongwe President, TOC
2. Dr S. P. Makuwa Executive Secretary,TOC

TRANS-ORANJE KONFERENSIE VAN DIE SEWENDEDAG-ADVENTISTE KERK

Kennisgewing van die Algemene Sakesitting in Opdrag van die Hofbevel

Aangesien daar op 28 Maart 2018 en ingevolge die saaknommer 6277/2014 van die hofbevel deur die Suid Gautengse Hooggeregshof opdrag gegee word aan die TRANS-ORANJE KONFERENSIE van die Sewendedag-Adventiste Kerk om ’n algemene sakesitting te hou van die Trans-Oranje Konferensie;

En aangesien die Hof opdrag gee dat die sakesitting in ooreenstemming met die Konstitusie van die Trans-Oranje Konferensie gehou moet word, maar onderhewig is aan die bepalings en/of voorwaardes soos uitgereik deur die Hof;

Aldus hiermee kennisgewing dat ‘n Algemene Sakesitting (Algemene Konstitusionele Vergadering) gehou sal word in terme van die hofbevel uitgereik op 28 Maart 2018:

En dat die Uitvoerende Komitee van die Trans-Oranje Konferensie, soos gestem (ingevolge Besluit 18-231) op 14 April 2018, die vergadering as volg skeduleer:

Datum: 24 Junie 2018
Tyd: 09:00 - 17:00
Plek: SAU Ouditorium
Agenda: 1. Verkiesing van Ampsdraers, Direkteure en die Uitvoerende Komiteelede van die Trans-Oranje Konferensie van die Sewendedag-Adventiste Kerk.
2. Verkiesing van die Mandaat van die nuwe Uitvoerende Komitee.

Die uwe, in Christus

Dr Simon Makuwa
UITVOERENDE SEKRETARIS
Trans-Oranje Konferensie

Dr Paul Shongwe
PRESIDENT
Trans-Oranje Konferensie

Riglyne en Bepalings

1. Gewone Afgevaardigdes
1.1 Soos bepaal deur die Konstitusie van die Trans-Oranje Konferensie (TOK) moet alle georganiseerde kerke [gemeentes] van die TransOranje Konferensie (TOK), insluitend kerke wat groepstatus ontvang het op grond van hulle affiliasie met of ondersteuning aan die Applikante in die bovermelde hofverrigtinge, afgevaardigdes kies vir afvaardiging na die Sakesitting.
1.2. Die TOK bepaal verder ook dat Kerke (gemeentes) met ‘n lidmaatskaptal van 150 of meer lidmate, meer as een afgevaardigde afvaardig na die gemelde sakevergadering.
1.3 Daar word bepaal dat alle kerke [gemeentes] wat tans in gelid staan met Alberton binne 7 dae vanaf datum van die publikasie van hierdie Kennisgewing hulle lidmaatskapverslae stuur aan die TOK ten einde die TOK in staat te stel om die gemelde verslae ooreenkomstig te hersien of op datum te bring. Indien die vereiste lidmaatskapverslae nie ontvang word op die aangetoonde spertyd nie, sal die lidmaatskap bepaal word na aanleiding van die laaste beskikbare lidmaatskapverslae van die TOK.

2. Algemene Afgevaardigdes
2.1. Lede van die Uitvoerende Komitee van die TOK.
2.2. Hoofsaak Applikante.
2.3. Lede van die SAU Uitvoerende Komitee. 2.4. Alle werknemers van die TOK en Alberton met Geloofsbevestigingsbriewe (Eng.: Commissioned Ministerial Credentials) of ministeriële bemagtiging (Eng.: ministerial licenses) uitgereik deur die TOK.
2.5. Lede van die Uitvoerende Komitee van die Wêreldkonferensie teenwoordig; moet nie 10% van die gewone afgevaardigdes oorskry nie.
2.6. Spesiale afgevaardigdes soos aanbeveel deur die Uitvoerende Komitee van die TOK en aanvaar is deur die afgevaardigdes; moet nie 10% van die gewone afgevaardigdes oorskry nie.

3. Organiseringskomitee

Die bepalings vir die Organiseringskomitee geld soos vervat of omskryf in die Konstitusie van die TOK.

4. Die Benoemingskomitee
4.1 Die Organiseringskomitee nomineer en die Sakesitting stel ‘n Benoemingskomitee aan wat beide die georganiseerde Kerke wat ondersteuning bied aan die applikante, en die georganiseerde Kerke van die TOK, eweredig verteenwoordig. Die proporsionele getalle word bepaal deur die TOK na die ontvangs van die vereiste inligting soos bepaal in 1.3 hierbo en die resultate word voorsien aan alle partye deur amptelike kennisgewing.
4.2 Die Benoemingskomitee nomineer en die Sakesitting verkies die President, die Uitvoerende Sekretaris, die Finansiële Hoofampsdraer, die Direkteure en ‘n nuwe Uitvoerende Komitee saamgestel as ‘n proporsionele (eweredige) aantal individue wat die volgende partye verteenwoordig: 4.2.1 Applikante en die plaaslike Kerke wat hulle ondersteun.
4.2.2 Lede van die Uitvoerende Komitee van die TOK soos aangestel gedurende die sake sittings van Februarie 2013 en Oktober 2013. 4.2.3 Lede van die Uitvoerende Komitees van die TOK tans (soos verteenwoordig deur die georganiseerde Kerke van die TOK, uitsluitend die Kerke wat toe klein- of grootgroepstatus ontvang het).
4.3. Die proporsionele getalle met die name van individue wat verkiesbaar is vir nominasie word bepaal deur die TOK en voorsien aan al die partye deur amptelike kennisgewing.

5. Voorgestelde Mandaat vir die nuwe Uitvoerende Komitee
5.1 Bepaal die aantal en die identiteit van die Kerke wat die applikante ondersteun het, asook die Kerke wat by die TOK ondersteun. 5.2 Stel ‘n lys op van stappe of aksies geneem deur die Uitvoerende Komitee van die Applikante, asook ‘n lys van stappe of aksies geneem deur die Uitvoerende Komitees van die TOK.
5.3 Bepaal watter van hierdie bogemelde stappe of aksies goedgekeur of bekragtig is, en watter hersien en/of ter syde gestel moet word; bepaal gepaste riglyne om sulke bepalings daar te stel.
5.4 Bepaal en identi seer die nodige stappe wat geneem moet word om ooreenstemming - indien moontlik – te bereik, ten opsigte van: 5.4.1 Werknemersooreenkomste van leraars en personeel.
5.4.2 Huurkontrakte en kommersiële ooreenkomste.
5.4.3 Bankrekenings.
5.4.4 Ouditerings wat uitgevoer moet word deur die Ouditeringsdienste van die Wêreldkonferensie.
5.5 Enige ander gepaste mandate soos geformuleer en oor besluit mag word deur die afgevaardigdes.

Geteken deur:

1. Dr PD Shongwe - President, TOK
2. Dr SP Makuwa - Uitvoerende Sekretaris, TOK ... See MoreSee Less

Southern Africa Union Conference

4 weeks ago

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Dr David Birkenstock. He was the longest serving president of Helderberg College. He also served as Dean of the Graduate School and President at AIIAS.

His last work assignment was as the Director of the EG White Centre for the SID.

His memorial will be conducted at Annerley on Monday, 30 April, at 14:00.

The Helderberg memorial service of Dr. David Birkenstock will be conducted by Ps. Hein von Horsten on 4th June at 2.00pm in the Helderberg Church ... See MoreSee Less

Southern Africa Union Conference

1 month ago

TOC Court Case: Way Forward
Regarding the Trans-Orange Conference (TOC) Court case in November, 2017, and the Judgement handed down on 28 March, 2018, the SAU would like to share the following information on the way forward:

On Friday, April 13, 2018 the TOC officers, SAU officers and legal counsel from Conference, Union and Division met with external Legal Counsel, seeking clarity on the Constitutional complications brought about by the judgment; the further implication thereof on the ordination process of the SAU; the reinstatement of some of the Applicants and the meaning and effect of the proportionality directive. All these matters formed part of the scope of the meeting. After extensive discussion between the parties relating to the aspects highlighted above the overall conclusion was that the Church should refrain from appealing the Judgement, but should rather focus on implementing the Judgement in order to align the Church with the reconciliatory spirit evident in the judgement. Obviously, the difficulties in the practical implementation of the judgement will require earnest prayer and innovative thinking on the part of the Church, but we believe that God will give us the wisdom that is required to do so. What is of importance is the fact that some of the directives given by the judge, which are contrary to the TOC Constitution, might seem unusual and inexplicable. However, it is only an interim measure in order to remedy the divide in the Church. In other words, ‘unusual circumstances require unusual intervention’.

The SAU Administrators’ Committee (ADCOM), representing the Second Respondent, took a decision on the same day to also not appeal the judgement.

On Saturday night, April 14, 2018, the TOC Executive Committee (Excom) met, and received a comprehensive report from the Legal Counsel of Conference, Union and Division concerning the options with regard to the Judgement which was delivered on March 28, 2018. The TOC Excom resolved not to appeal the judgement, and to implement the instructions given by the Judge. The TOC Excom also recognised that the judgement has many challenging aspects. But these will be dealt with during the process of implementation.

On Sunday, April 15, the TOC Administrators conducted a meeting of all their pastors and other workers, held at KwaThema Adventist Church. Thereafter, Elders representing all the congregations in the constituency were also called together. Once again, comprehensive information-sharing and open discussion was encouraged. A presentation by Adv. N. Bangisi and Adv B Mkize gave clarity on all the issues. The action voted by the TOC Executive Committee was also adopted by the representatives of the Churches.

The TOC plans to go ahead with the Session scheduled for Sunday, June 24, 2018. The court ruling prescribes an interim process moving towards the Session. This interim process is not meant to set a precedent for future sessions. Regarding the view that “the judgement is in contradiction with some aspects of the constitution of the Conference,” here is one clarification: The judge has prescribed a mechanism for the Business Session to be called, and representation to the session will follow the steps outlined by the Judge. Although this will not be exactly according to the TOC Constitution, the judgement supersedes the constitution in this regard. The election process for the coming Session can be compared to setting up an “interim governance” strategy, specifying proportional representation of the TOC and “Alberton” bodies in the next Executive committee. The new officers and Excom will serve for their 3-year term, but at the following Session, all appointments will be made according to the constitution.

A further aspect that requires attention by the SAU is the question surrounding the current control and management of the TOC. In terms of the judgment the current TOC Excom and Administration under Dr Paul Shongwe is the only legitimate structure of the TOC. It is this Excom that has been mandated by the Court to manage the affairs of the TOC in the interim and it is also this structure that has been called upon by the Court to call the TOC Session. In accordance with the judgement it is important for the SAU to recognise this structure as the legitimate structure of the TOC and for organizational purposes we are not required to recognise any other.

On Sunday, April 15, 2018, a statement regarding the way forward after the Court Judgement was released by Dr Paul Shongwe, the President of the TOC. In his fifteen minute video address, he called for all parties to work towards unifying God’s Church in the territory of the TOC. ... See MoreSee Less