This AGREEMENT, made the thirtieth day of April, one thousand nine hundred and one, between THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND, of the one part, and THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NEW ZEALAND, of the other part, WITNESSETH that the said two Churches hereby agree to become and be united as one Church upon the terms expressed in the following articles – that is to say:
‘That the United Church shall include and consist of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand as existing previously to the Union, and of the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland, as existing previously to the Union, and that the name of the United Church shall be The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand.’
‘That the doctrinal basis of the said Presbyterian Church of New Zealand shall be the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as the Supreme Standard, and the only rule of faith and practice, and the Westminster Confession of Faith and Larger and Shorter Catechisms, as interpreted by the Declaratory Act, as Subordinate Standards, with liberty of opinion in regard to marriage with a deceased wife’s sister.’
‘The United Church shall be governed by Sessions, Presbyteries, and a general assembly, designated the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, in which all the ministers of the Church and an elder from each Session shall have the right to be present and take full part in the business, but the right to vote shall be limited to the representative ministers and elders, who shall be appointed by the Presbyteries in the proportion of one-half of the number on their rolls. But inasmuch as the Synod of Otago and Southland owns and administers trust property and funds, these shall remain its own exclusive property, and it shall continue in full possession of all the rights pertaining to it in this respect – retaining its separate name and existence as a Church court, and having supreme authority in all matters connected with its trust funds; and having also authority to exercise the ecclesiastical functions of a provincial Synod, such as belong to the Synods of the Free Church of Scotland, subordinate to the General Assembly.’
‘That the first meeting of the Assembly shall be held in Dunedin, and the Assembly shall itself determine and fix the next place of meeting from year to year, but ordinarily the Assembly shall meet alternately at Wellington and Dunedin.’
‘That in order to secure a satisfactory attendance at the General Assembly, the representative ministers and elders appointed in accordance with the provisions of Article III shall have their travelling expenses to and from the General Assembly paid out of the Assembly’s Expenses Fund.’
‘That until the methods of ministerial support at present existing in the two Churches respectively can be unified, the Sustentation Fund shall be maintained, where and to the extent to which it at present exists.’
‘That, considering the difficulties attendant on an immediate unification of the financial methods hitherto in use, the General Assembly shall at first recognise:
1) The Sustentation Fund Scheme and Church Extension Fund as at present in operation in the Church of Otago and Southland;
2) The Church Extension Scheme (which is for the double purpose of Sustentation and Extension) of the Northern Church as now administered; it being understood that the General Assembly shall address itself without delay to gradually effect a uniform scheme for the support of the ministry and Church extension; and
3) meanwhile these funds shall be administered separately by Committees of the General Assembly of the United Church, in terms of their respective regulations, and, until the funds of the two Churches are amalgamated, the Committee shall have power to amend the regulations if necessary, subject to the approval of the General Assembly.’
‘That the missionary funds of the two Churches shall be amalgamated, and devoted to the support of the Missions which are now being carried on by the respective Churches.’
1) ‘That while aiming at an amalgamation of the Widows and Orphans’ Funds, and of the Aged and Infirm Ministers’ Funds, at as early a date as possible, yet having respect to the duty of administering these Funds on sound financial principles, it is agreed: That the respective Funds in each Church shall be kept distinct; widows, orphans, and ministers having claims only on the Fund wherewith they were connected at the date of the Union.
2) That after the Union, and until further arrangements are made, ministers shall connect themselves with the Fund to which they belong territorially, and the Funds shall be administered separately by a Committee of the United Church, in terms of present regulations, and until the Funds of the two Churches are amalgamated, the Committee shall have power to amend the Regulations, if necessary, subject to the approval of the General Assembly.’
‘That Dunedin shall be the seat of the Theological Hall.’
‘That while the appointment and removal of Theological Professors must remain with the Synod of Otago and Southland, in terms of the Act, 1866, yet, inasmuch as such appointments and removals are of the highest importance to the whole Church, it is necessary that the Synod and Assembly should act harmoniously in this matter, and that, therefore, prior to any appointment or removal being made by the Synod, the mind of the General Assembly shall be ascertained.’
‘That the Barrier Act shall apply to all proposals for fresh legislation.’
IN WITNESS whereof these presents have been executed by, or on behalf of, the parties hereto the day and year first before written:
| Witness to the Signature of | JACOB URWIN SPENCE, |
| Jacob Urwin Spence – | Moderator of the Synod of the |
| T. K. SIDEY, | Presbyterian Church of |
| Solicitor, | Otago and Southland, for |
| Dunedin. | and on behalf of such Church. |
| Witness to the Signature of | JAMES KENNEDY ELLIOTT, |
| James Kennedy Elliott – | Moderator of the General |
| JAMES PATERSON, | Assembly of the Presbyterian |
| Minister of the Gospel, | Church of New Zealand, for |
| Wellington. | and on behalf of such Church. |