1. Parochial Church Council & Synod Members Orientation Summit
“Stand Firm in the Faith”

2. Lawyer Bliss Nee Amartei
Presentation by
Lawyer Bliss Nee Amartei
(Diocesan Registrar)

3. Diocesan Boards, Ministries & Committees
Lawyer Bliss Nee Amartei
(Diocesan Registrar)

4. THE STANDING COMMITTEE
There shall be a Standing Committee of Synod which shall be composed of the following members of the Diocese – a) the Bishop b) the Dean c) the Archdeacons; d) the Chancellor; e) the Registrars; f) one Clergy elected by the House of Clergy; g) the Chairman, Board of Finance; h) the Chairman, Projects and Planning Committee; i) the Chairman, Board of Education; j) the Chairman, Synod Action Committee;

5. THE STANDING COMMITTEE
There shall be a Standing Committee of Synod which shall be composed of the following members of the Diocese –

6. FUNCTIONS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE
The Standing Committee of Synod shall –
a) act on behalf of Synod between sessions of Synod;
b) ensure the implementation of programmes of the Diocese; and
advise the Bishop on such matters as the Bishop may require.

7. DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE
1. There shall be a Diocesan Board of Finance which shall consist of the following members – a) a Chairman who shall be a person knowledgeable in accounting appointed by Synod; b) the Dean, Archdeacons, the Director of Finance, the Diocesan Secretary and the Directors of Programmes, Projects and Administration, all of whom shall be ex-officio members; and c) eight other persons appointed by Synod. 2. The Diocesan Board of Finance referred to in this Constitution as “the Board of Finance” shall be responsible for all matters relating to the finances of the Diocese. 3. Without prejudice to clause (2) of this article the Board of Finance shall –

8. a) oversee all diocesan revenues and shall account for them through the Standing Committee to the Synod; b) make annual evaluation of the properties of the Church; c) receive, examine and deal with the accounts of each parish; d) propose assessment payable by each parish as diocesan assessment and any other special offerings payable, and e) perform such other functions related to the foregoing as Synod or the Bishop may direct.

9. 4) The Board of Finance shall present through the Standing Committee to each session of Synod –
a) report of its work from the date of the conclusion of the proceeding session of Synod;
b) annual accounts audited by the auditor appointed by Synod; and
c) proposed budget of the Diocese for the next financial year.
5) The financial year of the Diocese shall be from 1st January to 31st December.
6) Subject to regulations made by Synod and the provisions of this article, the Board of Finance shall regulate its own procedure.

10. COMMISSION ON THE MINISTRY FOR THE CLERGY AND LAITY
1. There is hereby established a Commission on the Ministry for the Clergy and Laity referred to in this Constitution as “the Commission on Ministry”. 2. The Commission on Ministry shall consist of the following members– a) three clergy, elected by Synod from the House of Clergy; and b) four lay members elected by Synod from the House of Laity. 3) The Commission shall be responsible for matters pertaining to the promotion, encouragement, development and training of the clergy and lay members in the ministry.

11. 4) Without prejudice to clause (3) of this article, the Commission shall 
a) assist the Bishop in determining the present and future needs for the ministry in the Diocese;
b) formulate and recommend policy on the selection and education for sacred ministry including post ordination training;
c) interview candidates before their ordination to the Diaconate and where it considers fit, before their ordination into the priesthood, to ascertain the personal readiness of the candidates for the ordination, and shall report thereon to the Bishop and the Standing Committee;
except otherwise provided in respect of Lay Readers, provide for continuing education of clergy and laity and the development of the parishes and ministries;

12. e) promote, encourage and develop the ministry of the Laity and consider places for lay education; and f) perform such other functions relating to the ministry as may be assigned to it by the Bishop. 5. The Chairman of the Commission on Ministry shall be appointed by the Bishop. 6. The Commission shall appoint a secretary and regulate its own procedure.

13. BOARD OF EDUCATION
1) There shall be an Education Unit of the Anglican Church in Ghana. 2) There shall be a Board of Education which shall be responsible for the governance of the Education Unit. 3) Without prejudice to clause (2) of this article the Board of Education shall – a) be primarily concerned with pre-university education of children in the schools of the Diocese; and b) advise Synod on educational matters and may submit to Synod proposals for new educational projects.

14. 9) The Chairman of the Board of Education shall be appointed by Synod
9) The Chairman of the Board of Education shall be appointed by Synod. 10) The Board may co-opt not more than five other persons to attend any of its meetings or to assist with its work for a period not exceeding three years at a time. 11) The Board shall meet at such time and place as the Chairman shall determine but shall meet at least once in every school term. 12) An emergency meeting of the Board shall be convened at the request of the Chairman, the General Manager or any other four members of the Board. 13) The quorum for a meeting of the Board shall be six of the members.

15. 4. There shall be appointed by the Joint Anglican Diocesan Council a regional manager of the schools and training institutions in the Diocese. 5) The Regional Manager shall be responsible for the administration of the Education Unit. 6) The priest-in-charge o the parishes shall be the managers of the schools in their parishes unless the Board of Education directs otherwise. 7) There shall be appointed by the Board of Education a Treasurer for the Unit who shall be responsible to the Regional Manager of School. 8) The Board of Education shall consist of the following members –

16. 14) The Board shall appoint a finance committee from among its membership and such other committees as it may consider necessary for the better performance of its functions. 15) The Chairman of the board of Education shall submit to the Standing Committee – a) annual report on the education in the Unit; and b) statement of account of the Unit audited by the auditor appointed by Synod. 16) The Board of Education shall appoint a secretary to the Board who shall serve for a period of three years subject to renewal by the Board. 17) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Board of Education shall regulate the procedure for its meetings.

17. PROJECT & PLANNING COMMITTEE
1) There shall be in the Diocese Projects and Planning Committee which shall – a) initiate, advise and plan out development projects in the Diocese; b) co-ordinate development projects in the parishes; c) examine and approve development projects planned for any parish in the `Diocese; and d) perform such other functions relating to such structural development a synod or the Bishop may assign to it. 2) There shall be appointed by Synod a Diocesan Project Officer who shall, subject to the directions of the Projects and Planning Committee, be responsible for ensuring the implementation of the policies and decisions of the Project and Planning Committee.

18. 3) The Projects and Planning Committee shall be composed of a) a Chairman appointed by Synod; b) four other persons appointed by Synod; and c) the Registrar, the Diocesan Project Officer, the Chairman, Board of Finance all being members by virtue of their offices with voting rights. 4) The members of the Project and Planning Committee other than the ex-officio members shall hold office for a period of three years and are eligible on the expiration of the period for re-appointment. 5) The Project and Planning Committee shall appoint a secretary on such conditions as it shall determine. 6) The Project and Planning Committee shall in each year submit quarterly reports and an annual report on its activities covering the relevant period to Synod through the Standing Committee. 7) The Projects and Planning Committee shall take action on any request submitted to it as soon as practicable and in any event not later than three months from the date of receipt of the request.

19. WOMEN’S DESK
There shall be established in the Diocese a Women’s Desk with responsibility for organizing the female members of the Church in the Diocese for the growth and development of the Church and for promoting the involvement of women in the activities of the Diocese.
There shall be appointed by the Bishop in consultation with the Standing Committee for the Women’s Desk, a Co-ordinator with responsibility for co-ordinating the church work and activities of the women members in the Diocese.

20. Lawyer Bliss Nee Amartei
(Diocesan Registrar)