How to read Approach A
What follows is a walk through the seven Parts of the Consumer Affairs Victoria Model Rules for an Incorporated Association. For each Part, two things are given. First, a brief summary of what the Model Rules already cover. Second, the church-specific amendments the framework calls for — drafted in language that can be inserted into the Model Rules document itself with a careful track-changes pass and a lawyer’s review.
Where the Model Rules text is already adequate without amendment, that is noted. Where the Model Rules text needs to be adjusted, replaced, or supplemented, the amendment is set out in italic indented text.
A note on numbering. The Victorian Model Rules use Part numbers (Part 1 to Part 7), with Divisions within each Part, and clause numbers within each Division. The amendments below preserve that numbering. Where a new clause is added, it is numbered with an "x" suffix (for example, "8x") to make it visible to a lawyer doing the formal track-changes pass.
A.1 — Part 1: Preliminary
What the Model Rules cover
Name of the Association. Statement of purposes. Financial year. Definitions of terms used in the Rules.
Amendment A.1.1 — Name
The Model Rules require the name to include "Incorporated" or "Inc." The church name is chosen by the founding eldership; common patterns include "[Locality] Christian Church Incorporated" or "[Name] Church Incorporated". Where the church will operate as Sonrise Revival or any other umbrella identity, the legal name is the incorporated name and the umbrella identity is recorded as a business name or trading name where required.
Amendment A.1.2 — Statement of Purposes (substantive replacement)
The default Model Rules statement of purposes is a generic placeholder. Replace it with a religious-charity statement appropriate to the body and the framework.
Suggested replacement clause:
"The purposes of the Association are to advance the Christian faith and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in [locality] and beyond, by: (a) gathering a body of believers for the worship of God, the proclamation of the gospel, the teaching of the scriptures, the breaking of bread, prayer, and fellowship (Acts 2:42); (b) equipping every Saint of the body for the works of ministry the Lord has prepared in advance for them to do (Ephesians 2:10; 4:11–13); (c) sending the Saints of the body into the world as ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20) and into the work of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20); (d) caring practically for the household of God and for the wider community in mercy, hospitality, and good works (Galatians 6:10; Matthew 25:31–46); (e) holding such property and resources as the body may need for the advancement of religion as defined by the Charities Act 2013 (Cth) and the regulator of charities in Australia; and (f) doing all other things consistent with the advancement of religion that the Association considers conducive to the above purposes."
Amendment A.1.3 — Definitions (addition)
Add definitions for the framework-specific terms that will appear in later amendments.
Suggested additions to the definitions clause:
"Spiritual Eldership" means the body of qualified men identified, installed, and walking together as set out in this Constitution and in Document 6 of the Sonrise Revival Series, providing spiritual oversight, teaching, shepherding, and discipline of the body.
"Diaconate" means the body of qualified Saints (men and women) identified, installed, and serving the body in practical ministry as set out in this Constitution and in Document 6 of the Sonrise Revival Series.
"Five-Fold Ministry" means the equipping gifts of Ephesians 4:11 — apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers — recognised in the body as set out in Document 8 of the Sonrise Revival Series.
"Saint" or "Member" means a member of the Association as defined in Part 3 below, and who has been baptised, professes faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and has been received into membership of the body.
"the Body" means the gathered Members of the Association in their spiritual identity as the Body of Christ at this locality, exercising the royal priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9).
A.2 — Part 2: Powers of Association
What the Model Rules cover
Grants the Association the power to do all things necessary or convenient for carrying out its purposes.
Amendment A.2.1 — Affirmation of religious purpose
The standard Model Rules language is adequate; minor wording adjustments only.
Suggested clarification at the end of the powers clause:
"For the avoidance of doubt, all powers exercised by the Association shall be exercised solely in furtherance of the religious purposes set out in Part 1, and in accordance with the spiritual oversight of the Eldership as set out in Part 5."
A.3 — Part 3: Members, Disciplinary Procedures and Grievances
Division 1 — Membership
What the Model Rules cover
Eligibility, application, membership register, rights of members, cessation, fees.
Amendment A.3.1 — Eligibility for membership (substantive change)
The framework calls for membership to be more than a transactional registration. It is the formal recognition by the body that a person is a Saint of this body, walking in the faith with this community.
Suggested replacement of the eligibility clause:
"Eligibility for membership of the Association requires that a person: (a) professes personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord; (b) has been baptised, by water and in the Triune Name, or is willing to be so baptised in a reasonable period of time; (c) has read and affirms the Statement of Faith adopted by the body as Schedule A to this Constitution; (d) has been received by the Spiritual Eldership as a Member of the body following a conversation in which their walk with the Lord, their understanding of the Statement of Faith, and their willingness to be discipled and held accountable within the body are confirmed; and (e) has reached the age of 18 years, or where the person has reached the age of 16 years, is received as a youth member with rights and obligations as adjusted by Rule [reference]."
Amendment A.3.2 — Application and admission
Replace the standard application form with a process that integrates the Statement of Faith affirmation and the Eldership conversation.
Suggested process clause:
"An applicant for membership shall: (a) submit a written application affirming the matters in Rule [eligibility] above; (b) meet with at least two members of the Spiritual Eldership for a conversation regarding their faith, baptism, and walk with the Lord; (c) where the Spiritual Eldership confirms eligibility, be presented at the next ordinary meeting of the Committee for formal admission to the membership register; and (d) be welcomed by the body at the next gathered meeting of the church following admission."
Division 2 — Disciplinary Action
What the Model Rules cover
Grounds for disciplinary action, notice, hearing by the Committee, appeal procedure.
Amendment A.3.3 — Matthew 18 layering (critical)
The framework calls for disciplinary action to follow the pattern Christ Himself laid down in Matthew 18:15–17, with the formal Committee disciplinary process engaged only after the spiritual process has been exhausted.
This is the single most important church amendment to the Model Rules. Without it, the legal disciplinary process under the Act can be triggered before the Lord’s own process has run, and the body has effectively chosen secular dispute resolution over Christ’s teaching. With it, the spiritual process leads, and the legal process supports rather than substitutes.
Suggested replacement of the disciplinary procedure (in summary):
"Where a Member is alleged to have engaged in conduct that may be the subject of disciplinary action under this Part, the following process shall be followed in order: Stage 1 — Direct conversation. A Member with knowledge of the alleged conduct shall first speak with the Member concerned, privately and in love, following Matthew 18:15. The Spiritual Eldership shall not be notified at this stage unless the conduct involves abuse, safety, or matters required to be reported by law. Stage 2 — One or two witnesses. If the matter is not resolved at Stage 1, the matter shall be raised in the presence of one or two trusted Members or members of the Eldership, following Matthew 18:16. Stage 3 — The Eldership. If the matter is still not resolved, it shall be brought to the Spiritual Eldership, which shall hear the matter, pray, and seek to bring the Member to repentance and restoration following Galatians 6:1. Stage 4 — The Body. Where the Eldership determines that the matter must be brought before the body, this shall be done in accordance with Matthew 18:17, with the discretion and pastoral care of the Eldership protecting the dignity of all involved. Stage 5 — Formal disciplinary action under the Act. Only where Stages 1 to 4 have been exhausted, or where the conduct involves matters that legally require formal action regardless (including but not limited to matters concerning the safety of children, abuse, financial misconduct, or matters required to be reported to authorities), shall the formal disciplinary procedure under Division 2 of this Part proceed. The formal procedure, when triggered, shall follow the Model Rules requirements as to notice, hearing, finding, sanction, and appeal, with the Spiritual Eldership advising the Committee throughout."
Division 3 — Grievance Procedure
What the Model Rules cover
Internal grievance procedure for disputes between members or between a member and the Association.
Amendment A.3.4 — Matthew 18 layering (mirror of disciplinary)
The grievance procedure follows the same Matthew 18 pattern as disciplinary action above. Replace the Model Rules grievance procedure with a parallel five-stage process (direct conversation, witnesses, Eldership, the Body, formal grievance procedure under the Act).
A.4 — Part 4: General Meetings of the Association
What the Model Rules cover
Annual General Meeting (AGM) timing, special general meetings, notice, quorum, voting, minutes.
Amendment A.4.1 — AGM aligned with the Annual Plan
Align the timing and agenda of the AGM with the Annual Plan rhythm set out in Document 5 (The Annual Plan) of the Series.
Suggested addition to the AGM clause:
"The Annual General Meeting shall be held within the period specified by the Act, and shall be timed to coincide with or follow the body’s annual planning rhythm. The agenda shall include, in addition to the matters required by the Act: (a) the presentation of the Annual Prospectus (Document 5 [Stage 5](/library/doc-5/section-2b#stage-5-the-prospectus-and-funding)) for the year ahead; (b) confirmation of the Spiritual Eldership and the Diaconate as constituted for the year ahead; (c) review of the disclosed base operating funding (Document 5 [Section 5.8](/library/doc-5/section-5)) and any updates for the year ahead; and (d) such other matters as the Committee or the Spiritual Eldership shall bring before the body."
Amendment A.4.2 — Voting matters (separation of legal and spiritual)
The framework calls for a clear distinction between matters voted on by Members (legal, financial, property, constitutional) and matters discerned by the Spiritual Eldership (doctrine, discipline, ministry direction).
Suggested addition:
"Members vote on matters that are reserved to the Association under the Act and these Rules, including without limitation: the election of the Committee; the alteration of these Rules; the approval of the audited financial statements; the disposal of significant property; and the winding up of the Association. Spiritual matters of the body — including the recognition and confirmation of Elders, Deacons, and Five-Fold Ministers, doctrinal positions, the spiritual oversight of programs, and matters of church discipline — are discerned by the Spiritual Eldership in prayer and confirmed before the body in accordance with this Constitution, and are not subject to a vote of Members under this Part."
Amendment A.4.3 — Affirmation of the annual plan; borrowing; unallocated matters
The framework opens the affirmation of the annual plan to every contributing Saint, not only formal Members, and gives the Eldership and Committee a prayerful discretion over genuine overlap decisions. These three provisions match Approach B (clauses 7.7, 10.4 and 13.7) and should be carried into Approach A so both constitution paths reflect the same governance. A church filing the Model Rules overlay should add the substance of the following, or import those clauses directly from Approach B:
"(a) **The annual plan** — the year's ministry works, budget and funding ask set out in the Annual Prospectus — is presented at the Annual General Meeting and affirmed by all contributing saints (every person walking with the church who is contributing through giving, through service, or both), whether or not they are formal Members. This affirmation is a spiritual act of corporate commitment and is not one of the legal-entity matters reserved to Members under Amendment A.4.2. The receiving of the audited financial statements, being reserved by the Act, remains a vote of Members. (b) **Significant borrowing** shall be supported by a resolution of the Eldership and affirmed by the body, given either by a resolution of Members or, at the discretion of the Eldership and Committee having regard to the scale, term and risk of the borrowing, by an affirmation of all contributing saints; the Committee in either case formalises the borrowing as the body legally competent to do so. (c) Where a decision is neither strictly reserved to the Members by the Act nor clearly allocated by these Rules, and Scripture affords no fixed precedent, the Spiritual Eldership, in consultation with the Committee, shall determine in prayer the appropriate manner of decision — including whether it is affirmed by all contributing saints or reserved to a vote of Members — save that this discretion may not remove from the Members any matter the Act reserves to them."
A.5 — Part 5: Committee
What the Model Rules cover
Powers, composition (Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, other members), election, tenure, meetings, conflicts of interest.
Amendment A.5.1 — Composition (the critical amendment)
The framework calls for the Committee of Management — the legal body required by the Act — to be drawn from the Spiritual Eldership and Diaconate of the church wherever practical, so that the legal entity and the spiritual leadership are not separate centres of authority. Where this is not practical (for example, where the church has not yet identified its full Eldership at the time of incorporation), the Committee may include other suitable Members on an interim basis with the Eldership’s confirmation.
Suggested addition to the composition clause:
"The Committee shall comprise not fewer than four (4) Members of the Association, of whom: (a) the Chairperson shall be a member of the Spiritual Eldership; (b) the Treasurer shall be a Deacon with the necessary administrative and financial gifting as confirmed by the Spiritual Eldership; and (c) the Secretary shall be a Member nominated by the Committee and confirmed by the Spiritual Eldership. The relationship between the Committee and the Spiritual Eldership shall be as set out in the new Division below."
Amendment A.5.2 — A new Division: The Spiritual Eldership
This is the second-most-important church amendment to the Model Rules, and arguably the most distinctive. The Victorian Model Rules contemplate one decision-making body (the Committee). The framework calls for two: the Committee (legal entity) and the Spiritual Eldership (spiritual oversight). This new Division names the Eldership inside the legal constitution and defines its relationship to the Committee, so that the two layers operate together without conflict.
Suggested new Division within Part 5 (new Division 5):
"Division 5 — The Spiritual Eldership Clause Sx.1 — Constitution of the Spiritual Eldership. The Association shall be spiritually led by a Spiritual Eldership comprising not fewer than three (3) and not more than nine (9) qualified men identified, installed, and walking together in accordance with the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:6–9, and the identification process set out in Document 6 of the Sonrise Revival Series. Clause Sx.2 — Function. The Spiritual Eldership shall provide spiritual oversight of the body. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Eldership shall: (a) watch over the souls of the Members (Hebrews 13:17); (b) teach and guard sound doctrine (Titus 1:9); (c) shepherd the flock by example (1 Peter 5:1–4); (d) exercise spiritual discipline in accordance with Part 3 above; (e) recognise and release Five-Fold Ministry and other gifts of the body in accordance with Document 8 of the Series; (f) lead the annual planning rhythm in accordance with Document 5 of the Series; and (g) confirm appointments to the Committee. Clause Sx.3 — Relationship to the Committee. The Committee handles the legal, financial, property, and corporate-governance matters required of the Association by the Act. The Spiritual Eldership handles spiritual oversight, doctrinal direction, ministry leadership, and church discipline. Where a matter has both legal and spiritual dimensions, the Committee shall consult the Eldership and act in accordance with the Eldership’s spiritual discernment within the legal authority granted by the Act. Nothing in this Division shall be construed to limit the Committee’s statutory duties under the Act. Clause Sx.4 — Identification, installation, and stepping down. The Spiritual Eldership shall be identified, installed, and (where required) released in accordance with the process set out in Document 6 of the Sonrise Revival Series. Confirmation of new Elders shall be presented before the body at a General Meeting following installation. Stepping down of an Elder shall be communicated to the body with honour and pastoral care. Clause Sx.5 — Plurality. The Spiritual Eldership shall operate as a team. No single Elder shall exercise authority above the team. Decisions of the Eldership shall be made in unity following prayer and discussion. Where unity cannot be reached, decisions shall be deferred for further prayer and discernment until unity is achieved, or where the matter is urgent, by majority of the Eldership with the dissent recorded. Clause Sx.6 — The Diaconate. The Association shall also be served by a Diaconate of qualified Members (1 Timothy 3:8–13) identified and installed in accordance with Document 6 of the Series, attending to the practical needs of the body so that the Eldership may give itself to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:1–7). Clause Sx.7 — Recognition of Five-Fold Ministry. The Spiritual Eldership shall recognise and release Five-Fold ministers (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers — Ephesians 4:11) within and beyond the body in accordance with Document 8 of the Series. Recognition of Five-Fold Ministry is by the Eldership and the body, not by appointment of the Committee."
A.6 — Part 6: Financial Matters
What the Model Rules cover
Financial records, bank account, audit, payments, source of funds, financial year.
Amendment A.6.1 — Transparency and base operations
The framework calls for the financial pattern set out in Document 5 §5.8 — Budget Suggestions for Established Churches: a disclosed base of core operating costs, plus faith-funded additional ministry, with regular transparent disclosure to the body. Add provisions giving this practical effect.
Suggested addition to the financial matters clause:
"(a) The Committee, with the spiritual oversight of the Eldership, shall annually prepare and disclose to the body a Base Operations figure — the amount the body has discerned in prayer and review is the minimum required to sustain the staff, facilities, and core ministry of the Association for the year ahead. This figure shall be presented as part of the Annual Prospectus. (b) The Committee shall disclose to the body, no less frequently than every six weeks, the year-to-date giving status of the Association against the Base Operations target and any additional faith-funded ministry asks. This disclosure shall be in summary form, showing only aggregate figures and not the individual giving of any Member. (c) Members shall be invited to give to the Association in support of its purposes as the Lord leads them. Giving is voluntary and shall not be required as a condition of membership or participation in the body. Giving shall be received through the body’s ordinary channels and shall not be tracked at the individual Member level except as required by law for receipting purposes and where the giver has expressly requested receipts. (d) The financial records of the Association shall be audited or reviewed in accordance with the Act, the ACNC requirements, and the body’s own discernment as to the level of independent scrutiny appropriate for its size and circumstances."
A.7 — Part 7: General Matters
What the Model Rules cover
Common seal, custody of records, alteration of Rules, dissolution of the Association.
Amendment A.7.1 — Alteration of Rules (Eldership confirmation)
The framework calls for alterations to the Constitution to be confirmed by the Spiritual Eldership in addition to the Member vote required by the Act.
Suggested addition:
"A proposed alteration to these Rules shall not be put to a vote of Members at a General Meeting unless the Spiritual Eldership has first reviewed the proposed alteration and confirmed in writing that the alteration is consistent with the Statement of Faith and the spiritual purposes of the Association. The Member vote then required by the Act remains the legally operative confirmation of any alteration."
Amendment A.7.2 — Dissolution (critical)
The Model Rules require that on dissolution, any surplus property is given to an institution with similar purposes. This must be made specific to the religious-charity context.
Suggested replacement of the dissolution clause:
"Upon the winding up or dissolution of the Association, and after satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, any property remaining shall not be paid to or distributed among Members, but shall be given or transferred to another association, charity, or charitable trust which: (a) has objects similar to those of this Association as set out in Part 1; (b) is registered as a charity under the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 (Cth); (c) is endorsed for the charitable purpose of the advancement of religion; and (d) has rules prohibiting the distribution of its income and property among its members to the same extent as this Association. The body to receive the surplus shall be determined by the Spiritual Eldership in consultation with the Committee at the time of dissolution, and confirmed by a Special Resolution of Members."
Amendment A.7.3 — Statement of Faith (new Schedule A)
Add a Schedule A to the Rules setting out the Statement of Faith that members affirm on application for membership. The Statement of Faith should be theologically robust, consistent with historic Christian orthodoxy, and chosen by the founding Eldership.
A suggested statement is set out in Schedule A of Approach B below. It may be adopted in whole or in part for use in Approach A.