2024 PCC Elections
2024 PCC Elections
Dear Presbyterians,
We bring you greetings from the Holy Hills of the Synod Office
Buea in the name of the Holy Triune God. We continue to
prayerfully wish you hope and peace in the midst of very trying
circumstances in this New Year and in an exacting electoral year
of our Church.
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My dear brothers and sisters, we are on our knees begging you
for the sake of the faith and for the love of Christ, not to allow
the devil to use you to scatter God’s Church in the name of
elections. It is Jesus Christ who says the greatest is the least and
servant of all. Leadership is not for fame or for fallouts, it is a
call to service and sacrifice. We are all leaders in our own rights
and relevant before God for which ever area of service we
engage in the Church. We all cannot be President, Elder,
Chairman, Moderator all at the same time.
It is our prayer and hope that God will stand by every devoted
Christian of the PCC who has a role to play to give his/her best
to our Church at these elections. The Synod of Rejuvenation
therefore sanctioned this manual for elections in the PCC for use
in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Christ-Head of
his Church.
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Introduction
1. The Constitution of the PCC therefore, provides the criteria for eligibility to
post of Elders, Executive Officers of our Movements, Choir Associations and
Religious Orders as spelt out in Article 45-47 as follows:
2. Article 45.
Following the model of the New Testament, Church Elders, shall be elected from
suitable members of the congregation, and set apart and dedicated to seeing that
the Body of Christ is built on a solid foundation, and that its members follow and
abide by God’s law in reverence and holiness.
Part Two
Table 1
6. Article 47.
An Elder, Executive officer of a Movement or Choir Associations may be:
a. Male or Female,
b. Married or unmarried,
c. Spiritually mature, and
d. Of Reasonable age
e. Should be a member in good standing in the congregation, Movements and
Choir Associations and Religious Orders for not less than three years
immediately preceding election. Each congregation, Movement, Choir
Associations, and Religious Orders shall ensure that at least one of the elders
is a youth. Eldership, Executive Office in Movements, Choir Associations and
Religious Orders are not transferable. In case an elder, Executive officer of a
Movement, Choir Associations and Religious Order, dies, leaves the
congregation, Movement and Choir Association or is disciplined, the Elder,
Leader of the Movement, Choir Association, and Religious Order shall be
replaced through a by-election.
7. Those who are not permitted to participate in any of the elections shall include
the following:
a. Backsliders
b. Those vying for positions using vulgar-language especially hate speech.
c. Those who have not made one year in the congregation, Movements and
Choir Associations.
d. Those who disrespect the Constitution used to organize these elections.
e. Those who have not updated their PCC Church membership card, group’s
membership Card from 2021-2023.
8. Those who cannot stand for any office as elders, group Executive officers shall
include the following:
a) Those who had been elders and resigned without finishing their (5) five
years term.
b) Those who were elders and were disciplined.
c) Those owing money to group members, the congregation, Presbytery and
outsiders.
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d) Those who have dual or triple church membership i.e. in the PCC; and in
other denominations where they pay allegiance as Christians.
e) Those who have once organized demonstrations in the congregation with
placards and used the social media to scandalize the PCC.
f) Those who have not been formally registered or attended the Movements
(CYF, CWF and CMF), Choirs Associations for up to (3) three years.
g) Those with a criminal record.
Part Three
Procedures
9. Procedures: The Book of Orders provides the procedures for elections
in the PCC. (See Book of Orders, PCC, Chapter X, page 93-100)
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3) Ebong 80 6th
4) Bessem 96 5th
5) Tem 97 4th
6) David 99 2nd 2nd
7) Patricia 98 3rd 3rd
Results Sheet
Table 4
SN Names Votes Position
1. Samuel 100 1st
2. David 99 2nd
3. Patricia 98 3rd
Note: These Results should be produced in three copies, one copy kept by the
Parish Pastor, a copy sent to the Presbyterial Secretary, and one copy in the file.
13. The number of nominees selected for election should be above the number
of required Elders for the congregation. For example:
I. Number of Elders needed 10
II. Nominations: 12 Nominees
a) The list of nominees shall be posted on a board for a period of at least one
weeks prior to the date of election.
b) During this time a nominee can decline if he/she so desires. Also, during
this time a Christian who has any objection to the nomination of a
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candidate could do so in writing to the Electoral Commission, which will
examine the case and either reject or accept the candidate.
c) The Electoral Commission shall prepare material for election before the
Congregation Meeting. For example:
1. A Transparent plastic Bucket for collection of the envelopes.
2. Voting papers; or
3. Grains of different species according to the number of Candidates. (for
Rural areas)
4. A secluded space in church, around the altar section where these
papers are kept. This will enable each Christian to go in and select
Ballot papers according to the candidate of their choice. Put in the
envelop, come out put into the Transparent plastic Bucket in the view
of every Christian.
5. Envelopes
6. A Current Congregational Register with the names of all Christians
from 2021- 2023.
d) Elections shall be conducted in a Congregational Meeting by secret ballot
and the results shall be proclaimed in the same Congregational Meeting by
the Electoral Commission.
e) The same Congregational Meeting shall proceed to the election of officers of
the Session. This shall still be conducted by the Electoral Commission by
secret ballot.
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g) The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Congregation shall not be of
the same sex and must have served as Elders for at least five years
immediately preceding the election (see article 54 (iii) of the Constitution).
h) The Chairperson is a delegate to the Presbytery Meeting. The other
delegate(s) to the Presbytery Meeting shall be elected in this same
Congregational Meeting from among the elected elders.
i) Delegates to the Presbytery Meeting shall not be of the same sex and must
be Elders (see Constitution, Article 78 (i c).
j) After the proclamation of the results of the various elections, the Electoral
Commission shall hand the results to the Parish Pastor and the Electoral
Commission shall be dissolved instantly.
k) After the election of the elders, the session will now re-organize the election
of Executive members of the Choirs Associations and Movements.
16.2 The election of the Presbytery Chairperson and Vice shall be conducted by
an Electoral Commission of five members elected among Presbytery Meeting
delegates.
Example:
a) The Chairman of Electoral Commission
b) The Secretary of the Electoral Commission
c) Member
d) Member
e) Member
f) Presbyterial Secretary Ex-officio.
16.3 The members must be delegates to the Presbytery Meeting and shall not be
of the same sex. Should be able to read and write in the case of town groups and
congregations.
a) The Presbyterial Secretary is ex-officio member of the Electoral
Commission.
16.4 The Composition of the Presbytery Executive:
a) The Presbytery Chairperson.
b) The Vice Presbytery Chairperson.
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c) The Elders’ Representatives male
d) The Elders’ Representative female
e) The Synod Delegates male or female
f) The Pastors’ Representative
g) The CWF Presbytery President
h) The CMF Presbytery President
i) The CYF Presbytery President
j) Ex-officio: The Presbyterial Secretary,
k) The Presbyterial Treasurer
Part Four
A. ELECTION OF MODERATOR AND SYNOD CLERK
B. Composition
The PCC Synod Electoral Commission shall be composed of nine (09)
reputable and committed communicants of the PCC. Four (04) of the nine
members shall be ordained ministers and five (05) un-ordained. The
chairperson, who shall be appointed by the Synod Committee Executive,
shall be a retired ordained minister. The Commission shall elect its secretary
preferably an un-ordained member with legal experience.
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i. Un-ordained
2. Character
The Electoral Commission shall function as an independent body devoid of
any external influence or particular interest in the election. Members of the
Commission shall not be members of the Synod Committee or candidates for
nomination for the election.
3. Function
A) The Commission shall meet the first time in the Synod Office to be
inducted and to familiarize itself with its functions.
B) It shall, with the cooperation of the Synod Clerk, establish the list of
eligible candidates for the offices of Moderator and Synod Clerk following
the conditions under Articles 112 and 114 of the Constitution.
C) The list so established shall be submitted to the Synod Committee
Executive for review. Thereafter, the list shall be sent to reach the
Presbyterial Secretaries at least one month before the date of the
Presbytery meeting in which nominations are to be done on the floor of
the Presbytery Meeting.
D) The Electoral Commission shall draft ballot papers for use in the
nomination exercise and submit same to the Synod Committee Executive
for review. Thereafter, the ballot papers shall be produced and
dispatched to reach the Presbyterial Secretaries prior to the date of the
Presbytery meeting in which nominations shall take place.
E) The Electoral Commission shall designate two (02) competent
communicant members of the PCC to serve as independent observers of
the nomination exercise in each Presbytery. A report of their
observations shall be signed by both of them, sealed and forwarded to the
Chairperson of the Electoral Commission. Three copies of the report shall
be sent to the Synod Committee Executive, one through the Moderator
one through the Synod Clerk, and one to the Electoral Commission.
F) Each Presbytery shall select the names of three (03) candidates for the
office of Moderator and three (03) for the office of Synod Clerk and
tabulate them for each office in order of merit according to the number of
points scored. The results of the nominations must be brought to the
Synod Office within five days at most to be received by the Electoral
Commission.
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Right To Nominate
G) The nominations for the offices of Moderator and Synod Clerk shall be
done by ordained pastors of the PCC.
1. Shall be Ordained Pastors of the PCC who have not defaulted the
Constitution of the PCC in any way possible.
2. Shall be Pastors who have not been disciplined.
3. Shall be Pastors who are not owing their congregations, Presbytery
and the Central Church or people outside the church.
4. They should not be above (60) sixty years or less than (45) forty-five
years old in the year of election.
H) In the year of elections, the Presbytery Meeting shall hold at least one
month before the month of the Synod meeting.
Example
The names so selected together with the used and unused ballot papers shall
be signed by the Presbytery Executive, sealed in envelopes signed by the
Presbytery officers and forwarded to the chairperson of the Electoral
Commission who acknowledges receipt of the envelopes. Meanwhile, three
sealed envelopes of the results signed by the Presbytery Officers are
forwarded to the Moderator, Synod Clerk, and the Chairperson of the
Electoral Commission. The seals of the envelope of the Chairperson of the
Electoral Commission shall be broken in a meeting of the Electoral
Commission in full view of all the members.
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I) The Commission shall examine and screen the list of candidates
submitted by the different Presbyteries with a view of selecting three
(03) for the office of Moderator, and three (03) for the office of Synod
Clerk in order of merit according to the number of points scored by each.
It shall thereafter present its findings to the Synod Committee Executive.
J) The Electoral Commission shall receive and deliberate on all petitions and
shortcomings concerning the election at all levels and submit its findings
to the Synod Committee Executive. Each petition shall be decided upon
by the Synod Exco. All its deliberations shall be confidential and shall take
place only in the Synod Office.
K) Members of the Electoral Commission shall be responsible for the
counting of votes during the election exercise at both Synod Committee
and Synod levels. The proclamation of results in each case shall be made
by the chairperson of the Electoral Commission.
L) Where there is a conflict between Presbyteries and observer’s reports,
investigations should be carried out in the field within one week to
establish the truth by the Electoral Commission.
M)After the proclamation of the results at the level of the Synod, the
Electoral Commission shall be dissolved instant
Part Five
1. Elections
I. At all levels elections shall be by Secret Ballot.
II. Members seeking elections into any Executive office in a Movement, Choir
Association, shall be active communicant members of the PCC for the past three
(3) years, and in good standing in their congregations and groups.
III. Following the model of the early Christian Church, lay persons were elected
to assist in the management of God’s children to see that the Body of Christ is
built on a solid foundation (Acts 6: 16). The Christian shall carry out elections
in accordance with the Constitution of the PCC, the Book of Orders and Synod
guidelines from the office of the Synod Clerk of the PCC.
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2. Term of Office
1) Officers at Group, Zonal and Presbytery, Regional and National levels
shall hold office for a term of 5 years renewable once. Thereafter, they
can only stand elections for a different Office.
2) One person shall not hold two leadership positions at a time.
3) In the Women’ Work Department (WWD), the Women’ Work Helper
(WWH) shall be elected to hold office for 5 (five) years renewable
once.
4) The National Presidents in the Movements, Choirs Associations and
Vice shall serve for five (5) years renewable once.
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5) National Delegates shall be active Communicant members of the PCC, in
the Region, Presbytery, Zone and the congregation for the past three (3)
years.
6) If someone holds a post at Presbytery or Zonal level he/she shall not also
be a group officer. A by-election shall be conducted to replace him/her.
7) Elders can take up post of responsibility as Executive members in the
Movements, Choirs Associations but not in two Movements or Choirs
Associations.
Eligibility
Those eligible for election shall show proof of their membership in the congregation,
Movements and Choir Associations by presenting the following:
a). Their PCC Church membership cards as an active Communicant member for the
past three (3) years,
b) .The Movement membership Cards as an active dedicated member for the past
three (3) years and
c). The Choir Association membership card as an active dedicated member for the
past three (3) years.
d). Exceptions to (a-c) the above can occur only in newly inaugurated groups;
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e). They should not be debtors, owing in the congregation, the Movement, and
the Choir Associations.
f). They should not be members who have taken part in any demonstrations
with/without placards, posting on the Social Media against the congregation, the
Presbytery, the Movements and the Choir Associations and the PCC,
g). They should be communicant members of the PCC who have not gone in for a
second Baptism in any other Church.
h). They should be active Communicant members of the PCC who respect their
Pastors, Elders and Groups Executives.
i) i) They must not have affiliation with any church / denomination or portray
tendencies which are opposed to the doctrine of the PCC.
7. Election of Officers: -
a. Group elections shall be supervised by the Parish Pastor and the
Presbytery Officers.
b. Zonal elections shall be supervised by the Presbytery Spiritual Adviser
and the Presbytery Officers.
c. Presbytery elections shall be supervised by the Presbyterial Secretary
in collaboration with the Regional Secretary and Regional President.
d. Regional elections shall be supervised by the National Secretary and
National President in collaboration with the Regional Secretary.
e. NATCOM elections shall be supervised by the Synod Clerk, Secretary
Committee of the Ministry and the National Secretary.
f. The first term of office shall be five years and the members shall be
eligible for re-election in the same office once.
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g. The position of the National President shall be rotatory from among the
CMF Regions.
h. The loss of an office shall result from one of the following reasons
Gross misconduct of the Officer concerned, as per the provisions of the
Book of Orders of the PCC;
Permanent incapacitation;
Incompetence;
Loss of membership in the PCC;
Evidence of belonging to a cult, secret society or any fraternity;
Resignation of the concerned;
Absence for at least six (06) months from his/her functions, except for
unforeseen circumstances.
i. In an election year, the various organs of the Movement shall carry out
an audit prior to elections, in accordance with the Finance Order of the
PCC.
1. Group Level;
2. Zonal Level, and
3. Presbytery Level.
4. Regional Level ?
5. National Level ?
b. Only youth between 18-30 years old shall stand for elections. Pastors
are however invited to apply wisdom and tact on this matter by doing
a situational analysis of their area / congregation.
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d. No member under discipline in his/ her local congregation shall
qualify for election
g. The member should have zeal for the movement and be willing to
devote time for youth work and if possible, should have a justly
earned regular income.
i. The members are expected to have paid at least six months of group
monthly dues before the date of the election. He / she must also
possess a current church membership card bearing a registration
number for the current year. The member is also expected to have
paid the required church contribution rate in the year preceding the
elections. The CYF and church membership cards should be
checked at least two weeks before the elections by the supervising
authorities.
l. Persons elected shall hold office for five years. Their mandate is
renewable once.
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