• Preamble

  WHEREAS by clause five of the constitution of the Church of the Province of New Zealand, commonly called the Church of England, and hereinafter referred to as the Church, it is provided that there shall be a representative governing body for the management of the affairs of the Church (therein described as the Branch of the United Church of England and Ireland, in the Colony of New Zealand) which shall consist of three distinct orders, viz, the Bishops, the clergy, and the laity, the consent of all of which orders shall be necessary to all acts binding upon the Synod, and upon all persons recognizing its authority: And whereas by clause eighteen of the said constitution it is provided “That the General Synod of this Branch of the United Church of England and Ireland may associate with itself any missionary dioceses which may be formed among the other islands of the Pacific Ocean”: And whereas doubts have from time to time arisen as to the meaning of the word associate as used in the said clause eighteen and certain interpretations have been given to it by the Standing Commission established by the General Synod pursuant to clause twenty-seven of the said constitution as the tribunal to which any doubts arising in the interpretation of the constitution for the time being of the Church are to be submitted for final decision: And whereas further doubts have arisen and may from time to time arise as to the interpretation of the said clause eighteen and as to its application to particular existing and future circumstances: And whereas the General Synod has already in exercise of the power conferred upon it by the said clause eighteen associated with itself the Missionary Dioceses of Melanesia and Polynesia and the Bishops and representatives of the clergy and laity of the said dioceses have attended meetings of the General Synod and on some occasions have voted and on other occasions have not voted at those meetings: And whereas it is desirable to empower the General Synod to define from time to time the extent, nature, and terms of association under the said clause eighteen:

BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: