Presbyterian Church of Australia Act 1971 (Qld)

Presbyterian Church of Australia Act 1971

An Act to vary the trusts of property in the State of Queensland held for the purposes of the Presbyterian Church of Queensland and to enable certain arrangements entered into between the Presbyterian Churches of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia to be carried into effect and for other purposes

Preamble Whereas the Presbyterian Church of Queensland was on 13 June 1876 duly incorporated pursuant to the provisions of the Religious Educational and Charitable Institutions Act 1861. And whereas on 24 July 1901 the Presbyterian Church of New South Wales (now known as the Presbyterian Church of Australia in the State of New South Wales), the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, the Presbyterian Church of Queensland, the Presbyterian Church of South Australia, the Presbyterian Church of Tasmania and the Presbyterian Church in Western Australia, holding the same doctrine, government, discipline and form of worship, agreed to unite on the basis of a Scheme of Union whereby there was constituted a body known as the Presbyterian Church of Australia, within which the said churches continued to exist as part of a federal ecclesiastical structure. And whereas an Act of the Parliament intituled the Presbyterian Church of Australia Act 1900 has been passed prior to the said union to enable the said union to be entered into. And whereas pursuant to the Presbyterian Church Property Act 1909 certain lands situated within the State coming within the definition of church property and formerly held by individuals as trustees have now become vested in the Presbyterian Church of Queensland. And whereas the affairs of the Presbyterian Church of Queensland are conducted in accordance with standing orders prepared by the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Australia and adopted by the Presbyterian Church of Queensland in conjunction with rules and forms of procedure adopted by the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Queensland. And whereas it is expedient that the federal union of the said churches constituted as aforesaid be enlarged so that the said churches be completely united within the said Presbyterian Church of Australia and that the general assembly of the said Presbyterian Church of Australia should have all the powers and authorities usually vested in the supreme court of an ecclesiastical body holding the Presbyterian system of church government and that it have the power to enter into union with other churches subject to due and proper safeguards for minorities. And whereas the assent of the Parliament of Queensland is necessary to effect this object.