Charter of Operations

The charter of the Baptist Women of the Pacific (hereafter referred to as BWP) sets out how this body of women across the Pacific region operates with integrity, accountability and transparency as we fulfil the call God has placed on our lives in this ministry.

BWP is not a registered legal entity therefore this is not a legally binding document. However, it is anticipated and expected that all parties will act in good faith within the requirements set out in the charter, motivated by ethical and spiritual integrity.

1. PREAMBLE

The BWP exists to represent the Baptist women of the Pacific, defined by the membership bodies, within the network of Baptist global bodies as recognised by the Baptist World Alliance (hereafter referred to as BWA).

BWP is an autonomous body but is committed to collaboration and cooperation with relevant BWA organisations, including, but not limited to the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (APBF), and Baptist World Alliance Women (BWAW).

BWP recognises the traditional autonomy and interdependence of the Baptist churches and member bodies.

The BWP is not a legal entity but is an unregistered association of volunteers.

2. NAME
The name of the organisation is Baptist Women of the Pacific.

3. MISSION
Flourishing faith, celebrating culture, empowering women.

4. PURPOSE
To connect, equip and mobilise the Baptist women of the Pacific to love and serve Jesus Christ.

5. VALUES

Unity: We believe this is the core of the church and her ministries. Unity is an expression of love, the highest goal. We believe we are stronger together.
Fellowship: Fellowship is the conduit by which to carry out the command to love one another and the mission of the church. Fellowship enables each woman to grow, be challenged, be comforted, and be encouraged.
Cultural diversity: We believe each culture makes a uniquely significant and valuable contribution to this ministry. We believe our cultural diversity gives us strength. We believe cultural diversity is an expression of God’s beauty and wonder and is to be celebrated and cherished together as oneness.
Spirit-led: We seek to be led by the Holy Spirit in the mission of this organisation. We recognise the Pasifika sensitivity to the spirit realm as a contributing strength of our continental union.
Justice: Women are discriminated against and thus disadvantaged in their communities, and this impacts their ability to serve Christ fully. This discrimination means our women experience greater levels of poverty, violence, illiteracy and health problems in ways that do not reflect the kingdom of God. We believe as an organisation which seeks to serve and love women, we are tasked to bring Christ’s redemption and renewal into this dark space.

6. STATEMENT OF FAITH

We believe there is only one true God.
We believe God is three coexisting persons in one: God the father, Jesus Christ the son and the Holy Spirit.
We believe we are saved by God’s grace alone. Salvation was achieved through atonement achieved on the cross by the sacrifice of a perfect Jesus and through the power of the resurrection.
Followers of Christ are filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit to glorify God and serve his kingdom purposes.
The Bible is the inspired living word of God.
The church was established at Pentecost. It is the living body of Christ commissioned to act on the four mandates: Creation Mandate, the Great Commission, the Great Commandment, and the New Commandment.
We believe women and men are equally created in the image of God. We believe the Holy Spirit empowers women and men with gifts regardless of gender.
We believe Christians should live in a manner consistent with a Christ-like character which emerges from a continuously developing intimate relationship with God.
We believe Christ will come again to complete the redemption and restoration of earth.
We believe that Believers’ Baptism by immersion is the Biblical means by which those who have repented of sin and come into a personal faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, publicly declare their discipleship.

7. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of BWP shall be:

To encourage and promote the development of women’s leadership at all levels of our Baptist world fellowship, and particularly the Pacific region.
To promote fellowship, deeper unity and understanding of the richness of the expressions of faith and mission of Baptist women in the Pacific region.
To promote the worldwide Baptist Women’s World Day of Prayer.
To encourage and support programmes within our members which deepen our sisters’ relationship with Christ and enable the outworking of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
To facilitate the exchange of information concerning strategic delivery of women’s ministry.
To support the five key ministry areas of the BWA among Baptist women of Pacific.

8. BOUNDARIES
The continental union of BWP currently includes Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Papua, West Papua, Tonga and Vanuatu.

9. MEMBERSHIP

REQUIREMENTS
Each member organisation shall participate as fully as possible in achieving the mission, purpose and objectives of the BWP.
All categories of members require ongoing alignment and commitment to the mission, purpose, values, and statement of faith of BWP.
Member bodies will seek to participate in BWP events.
Each member organisation shall have their own independent governance arrangements and financial identity.
CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP
Full membership
Countries which are part of conventions recognised by the BWA are eligible for membership. Members may be invited by the BWP Executive Committee or make a request for membership to the BWP Executive Committee.
Associated membership
National Baptist women’s ministries which are not currently eligible to membership to BWA due to political sensitivities or organisational difficulties which have disadvantaged the women’s representation or other valid reasons deemed by the executive committee may be eligible for membership subject to the discretion of the BWP executive committee.
CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP
The Executive Committee will recommend cessation of membership if;
a member does not act in accordance with the values, statement of faith and objectives of BWP.
the relevant member body is wound up.
the member body delivers to the BWP Executive Committee a written notice of resigning membership.
the member body is inactive for five years.

Cessation of membership does not limit future reapplication.

10. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND FUNCTIONS

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The Executive Officers of BWP shall be:

The President
The Vice-President
The Secretary
The Treasurer

An additional woman may be appointed to the Executive Committee to perform a specific function other than the positions already described. For example, an emerging leader’s advisor, or a project manager.

Executive Officers must be a member of a church of a member body of the Baptist World Alliance.

The Executive Officers will act as an Executive Committee and shall:

Meet regularly (online) to progress the mission, purpose and objectives of BWP
Consult, where appropriate, with the members on significant matters
Communicate major decisions to the members
Act for the members when consultation with members is not appropriate or possible.
PRESIDENT

The president is the official representative of the Baptist Women of the Pacific (BWP).The president acts as a liaison between the Baptist Women of the Pacific and the Baptist World Alliance, Baptist World Alliance Women and the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation.

By virtue of her office, she is:

Vice-president of Baptist World Alliance Women (BWAW).
Member of the General Council of the Baptist World Alliance .
Member of the Executive Committee of the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (APBF).

She is expected to:

Attend the annual BWA gathering.
Attend Annual BWAW meetings in person.
Submit an annual report to the BWAW.
Submit an annual report to the APBF.
Attend BWAW Executive Committee meetings via Zoom.
Attend APBF Executive Committee meetings via Zoom (usually quarterly).

DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT

Create a strategic plan to fulfil the mission and purpose of BWP as decided by the BWP Executive Committee.
Convene and chair regular BWP Executive committee meetings (usually monthly) to decide on actions to fulfil BWP mission.
Convene and chair BWP ministry team meetings as required.
Ensure actions decided as a result of said meetings are carried out to completion.
Promote BWP amongst member bodies and associated global Baptist bodies.
Pastorally and practically support country Presidents of Women’s Ministries of BWP member bodies.
Submit an annual report to the BWP Ministry team.
Promote World Day of Prayer and disseminate World Day of Prayer information to member countries.
Visit each member body country during term of office with the purpose of developing network relationships, gather relevant information to carry out duties, encourage and develop women in leadership, and support and encourage leaders of women’s ministry.
Lead planning of BWP Continental Conference.
Seek supportive and collaborative relationships with like-minded organisations.
VICE-PRESIDENT OF BWP

The Vice-President supports the work of the President and carries out requests on behalf of the President.

DUTIES OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT

Fill the President’s role as necessary.
Share in organising of continental assembly and other BWP events.
Contribute to the establishment and enacting BWP mission and purposes.
Share in carrying out actions resulting from BWP Executive Committee meetings.
Promote and participate in World Day of Prayer.
SECRETARY

The Secretary supports the work of the president and BWP.

DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY

Record and disseminate minutes from BWP Executive committee meetings.
Upload minutes and other relevant documents including updated operational procedures, forum/seminar statements, any official articles, paper presentations from seminars, publications and official photos in the APBF SharePoint.
Undertake correspondence in consultation with the BWP President.
Share in organising of continental assembly and other BWP events.
Contribute to the establishment and enacting BWP mission and purposes.
Share in carrying out actions resulting from BWP Executive Committee meetings.
Promote and participate in World Day of Prayer.
Maintain BWP website in consultation with BWP President.
Maintain and contribute regularly to BWP social media in consultation with the BWP President.

(d) TREASURER

The treasurer fulfils the important function of financial management of BWP. The treasurer should have professional accounting or bookkeeping experience.

DUTIES OF THE TREASURER

Prepare budgets in consultation with the BWP Executive committee.
Request and disseminate monthly reports. Request other reports as needed by the BWP Executive committee.
Organise and manage finances and ensure and assist with correct coding of entries.
Liaise with APBF Treasurer to maintain BWP Accounts with relevant accounting software and APBF SharePoint.
Obtain a copy of the annual audit from APBF for our records once audit is completed.
Provide an annual letter for BWAW indicating the state of the BWP books.
Prepare and maintain budgets for BWP events.
Prepare and deliver a financial report to the BWP assembly at the end of term.
Ensure a smooth transition to incoming treasurer at end of term.

11. TERM OF OFFICE FOR ELECTED MINISTRY TEAM MEMBERS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Ministry Team members shall serve for one five-year term, beginning from the conclusion of the Continental Assembly, and continuing until the conclusion of the next Assembly. Alterations may be made to the term at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
In the case of a position falling vacant between Assemblies, the Executive Officers shall determine the procedure for replacement for the unexpired term.

12. BWP MINISTRY TEAM

The BWP Ministry team is a group which represents the leadership of women’s ministry within member countries. Each Baptist Women of the Pacific Continental Union Ministry Team member must be a member of a church of a member body of the Baptist World Alliance within the Continental Union.

(a) COMPOSITION OF THE BWP MINISTRY TEAM

The BWP Ministry Team shall be composed of: –

The BWP Executive Officers
Member country Presidents or Chairs
Representative members
1. Up to three representatives from Australia either drawn from the ABM Women’s leadership Body or an influential women’s ministry leader as recognised by ABM, or State Baptist Union or BWP Executive Committee.
1. Up to two representatives from New Zealand appointed by the National Baptist Women’s organisation in consultation with regional groups
1. Up to three representatives from Papua New Guinea, (one from each region, the Min people, the Highlands, and the Urban area) appointed by the Baptist Women’s Association of Papua New Guinea
1. Two representatives from Papua, (Coastal Region and the Highland Region) appointed by the Baptist Women’s Fellowship of Papua
1. Two representatives from West Papua appointed by the Baptist Women’s Fellowship of Papua
1. One representative from Fiji, appointed by the Fiji Baptist Women’s Fellowship
1. One representative from Tonga, appointed by the Tongan Baptist Women.
1. One representative from Vanuatu, appointed by the Vanuatuan Baptist Women.
1. One appointed representative each from the official women’s group of any other member body of the Baptist World Alliance within the Continental Union
Ex-officio voting members
1. The President of the Baptist women’s organisation of any member body within the Continental Union. Currently: Australian Baptist Ministry and associated churches and Unions, New Zealand Baptist Women’s Ministries, Baptist Women’s Association of Papua New Guinea, Baptist Women’s Fellowship of Papua and the Fiji Baptist Women’s Fellowship
1. One woman appointed by the Ministry Team to perform a specific function other than the positions already described

Each woman who permits her name to be considered for election or appointment to the Ministry Team is encouraged to attend the Continental Union Assembly.

(b) DUTIES OF BWP MINISTRY TEAM MEMBERS

The Member country Presidents or Chairs shall act as the liaison person between women in her area, BWP and BWAW.

In addition, the Member country Presidents or Chair, and all other representatives shall

Participate in BWP Ministry team activities including regular meetings with the BWP Executive Committee which seek to further the strategic goals of BWP.
Promote the activities of the BWP Continental Union and BWAW.
Maintain regular contact with the President/Secretary and provide an annual report of her promotion of the Continental Union and the Women’s Department, including a Day of Prayer report.
Distribute communications from BWP and BWAW and maintain an up-to-date contacts list.
Promote the Day of Prayer in her area.
Participate in the Continental Union Assembly.
Participate in the selection of the incoming BWP Executive Committee.
To be called upon to make alterations to the BWP Operational procedures.

13. SELECTION PROCESS OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS

The BWP Executive Committee will commence the process of nominating the incoming executive between 9 – 6 months prior to the BWP Continental assembly.
The BWP Executive will request from the BWP ministry team and ex-officio members of the Executive of the Continental Union, suggestions for Executive Officers. Nomination forms will then be distributed through the BWP Executive Committee and BWP Ministry team.
The BWP Ministry team will appoint a Nominating Committee composed of six members of the Continental Union Ministry Team 6-9 months prior to continental assembly.
The President or her nominee shall serve as the Chair of the nominating committee.
The nominating committee will agree on criteria appropriate to the position and reflective of the values and requirements to best serve BWP for selecting nominees to move forward in the selection process.
The nominating committee shall receive nominations and using the above criteria will select nominees for interviews.
Based on the interviews and discussion, the nominating committee will select the incoming executive committee officers and present these as recommendations to the BWP Ministry team.
Where there are no nominations or suitable candidates for a role, the nomination committee may make a recommendation of a suitable person who then can be invited into the role.
The BWP ministry team will then endorse the recommendations and recorded in meeting minutes which will be stored in the ABPF SharePoint site.
The incoming executive committee will be invited to shadow the current BWP Executive committee for the remainder of their term with the goal of making the induction process as effective as possible.
The geographical location of the Executive Officers shall not be a significant factor as the Committee are seeking the women of God’s choice. This should be held in balance with the aim to create an executive committee that is representative of the BWP membership.
Upon selection of the new Executive Committee the Executive Directors of both the BWAW and APBF will be informed in writing by the BWP Secretary.

14. REMOVAL OF OFFICERS

Officers will be removed immediately if they fail to uphold the mission, purpose, values and statement of faith of BWP.

Actions which will cause removal of officers includes but is not exclusive to:

Using BWP funds for personal benefit.
Using BWP funds in an unauthorised manner.
Acting in an unlawful manner.
Renouncing their faith.
Acting in a manner which is grievously inconsistent with faithful discipleship to Jesus.

15. BWP EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING PROCEDURE

Meetings should be held regularly (recommendation is monthly)
Meetings should include an agenda circulated prior to the meeting
Agenda items should include welcome, apologies, confirmation of previous minutes, actions update, financial reports, officer’ updates, matters for decision, matters for discussion
All BWP Executive Committee meetings will be recorded by the Secretary as minutes.
Minutes and actions will be shared to the Executive Committee within two weeks of Committee meetings
Decisions should be presented as proposed motions, seconded and confirmed by a majority. All decisions should be recorded in the Minutes.
Flying minutes may be utilised for decisions with limited or urgent timeframes
Minutes will be stored in the APBF SharePoint site

16. FINANCE

The financial support of the BWP Continental Union shall be derived from the Day of Prayer offerings, individual donations, grants and other gifts.
All Day of Prayer offerings shall be forwarded in total to the Treasurer who will retain up to two thirds to one half for the Baptist Women of the Pacific Continental Union and send at least one third half to the office of the BWAW.
In collaboration with the APBF treasurer, an annual audit will be prepared and given to BWAW.

FINANCIAL PROCEDURES

BWP accounts will be held in tandem with APBF accounts.
BWP has full autonomy and authority over their funds.
BWP must seek APBF authority for use of sums over the amount of $10 000.
Access to BWP internet banking is restricted to BWP President, treasurer and one other nominated executive committee officer.
All transactions will require the approval of two BWP Executive Committee members. Approval shall not be given by a member for whom is receiving the reimbursement/ benefit.
All cash receipts, bank transfers and cheques are to be banked into the BWP bank account.
All money transferred out of the account must go into a recognised organisational account unless the executive committee makes an exception as noted in minutes.
All payments and transactions should be supported by appropriate documentation.

17. BWP ASSEMBLY

The BWP will hold an Assembly for all women who are members of the BWP every five
The time and place of this meeting will be determined by the Executive Committee in consultation with the ministry team.
The Assembly shall be a time of celebration, inspiration, training, business and fellowship as co-ordinated by the BWP Executive Committee.
The BWP President will prepare and present a term report, which is approved by the BWP Executive Committee, to present to BWP members.
The incoming Executive Committee will be formally introduced at the Assembly.

18. AMENDMENTS

These Operational Procedures may be amended from time to time by the BWP Ministry team upon the recommendation by either the BWP Executive Committee or BWP Ministry
Proposed changes should be presented in a written form to the BWP Executive Committee and BWP three months prior to voting decision.
A meeting for vote requires a quorum of three quarters of the BWP Executive Committee and BWP Ministry team.
A change to procedures requires a two thirds majority positive vote.
The procedure should be reviewed consequent on any changes to the BWAW operational procedures.

19. DISSOLUTION OF BWP

BWP may be dissolved if the BWP Executive Committee and BWP Ministry team come to the conclusion that BWP should be dissolved as it is no longer sustainable or no longer fulfils its mission an/or purpose.
The BWP Executive Committee shall inform BWAW and APBF in writing of their intention to dissolve BWP.
The balance of BWP funds will be given to a like-minded Baptist women’s association.