LEGION MARIA OF AFRICAN CHURCH MISSION
CONSTITUTION
(a) The name of the church constituted by these Rules shall be LEGION MARIA OF AFRICAN CHURCH MISSION (here in after referred to as LEGION MARIA).
(b)The Offices and the Headquarters shall be at Got Kwer South Nyanza at the site of St. Mary’s Basilica or in any other place selected by Legion Maria in any of the East Africa Territories.
2. MEMBERSHIP
(a) Any baptized person who accepts the principles of the order of Legion Maria through the spiritual leader of faith shall be a member.
(b)Members shall include the Diocese under the leadership of the appointed members of Legion Maria who are followers of the spiritual based at Got Kwer South Nyanza as a foresaid.
3. OBJECTS
The objects of Legion Maria shall be:
(a) To foster Christianity through the spiritual guidance of Legion Maria and to invoke the Christian World faith of Legion Maria in the heart of the African people through the Holy Ghost and OLD and NEW Testaments.
(b)To establish and uphold the rights of Christian faith in the Catholic form of worship in order to maintain a sound and correct worship of God through Jesus Christ.
(c) To invoke and maintain the apostolic worship of God through the Communion of Churches in Africa and to maintain the faith of World Legion Maria.
(d)To provide a better relationship between the established indigenous Churches of Africa for the building of Pan Africa Worship of God through Jesus Christ provided that Legion Maria shall remain independent of all or any of them.
(e) To acquire lands for the building of churches, schools, hospitals and other charitable institutions for members, their, and/or dependents.
(f) To establish and maintain funds by donations and voluntary subscriptions for the realization of the above objects.
4. OFFICE-BEARERS
(a) There is an extraordinary spiritual leader known as BABA SIMEO MELKIO MESSIAH. Founder of Legion Maria of African Church Mission. He is the Eternal Father of the Church of Legion Maria of African Church Mission.
(b)There is a Pope appointed by Baba Simeon Melkio Messiah who in his absence, succeeds him as Baba Mtakatifu. The leadership of the entire Legion Maria of African Church Mission then shall fall on him as Baba Mtakatifu for the rest of his life.
(c) Subsequent ascension to the leadership of Baba Mtakatifu—Pope—will be determined by the help of God through the Holy Spirit.
(d)There shall be nine categories of Ecclesiastical orderlies namely:
(i) The Pope—Baba Mtakatifu
(ii) The Cardinals (Cardinal Dean, Cardinal Vicar, Cardinal Chamalengo etc.)
(iii) The Revered Arch-Bishops Most Rev…
(iv) The Revered Bishops Right Rev…
(v) The Revered Prefect Bishops and Most Rev. Arch Bishops.
(vi) The Revered Vicar Bishops and the Rt. Rev. Bishops.
(vii) The Revered Auxilary Bishops.
(viii) The Revered Priests & the Very Rev. Priests, Vicars…etc.
(ix) The Reverend Deacons.
(e) (i) The ecclesiastical orderlies shall represent in their Bishoprics dioceses and churches under the spiritual grace of Baba Mtakatifu.
(ii) Persons eligible to the rank of ecclesiastical orderlies are required to be either unmarried or married to one woman with full matrimonial rites.
(f) Persons coming into the membership of Legion Maria of African Church Mission with previous Polygamous marriages are encouraged to pray but are barred from holding ecclesiastical office.
(g)There shall be an Apostolic Council of Legion Maria under the chairmanship of His Most Peaceful Baba Mtakatifu composed of his peaceful Baba Mtakatifu and his auxiliaries: General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, Administrative Secretary and all the Ecclesiastical Orderlies of Legion Maria.
(h)The appointment of any new spiritual leaders shall be a subject to the regulation and approval of the Apostolic Council of Legion Maria.
i. The ecclesiastical orderlies shall aid the spiritual leaders and shall work into their offices and churches as the princes of the Church and as teachers of the testament and will be the disciples of the leader of the faith.
ii. The approval of the Apostolic Council of Legion Maria of African Church Mission will be certified by ordination certificates, issued by the same council to the Revered Deacons, the Reverend Priests, the Reverend Auxilary Bishops, the Reverend Vicar Bishops, the Reverend Arch Bishops and the Cardinals. These certificates should be duly signed by the Pope as Baba Mtakatifu.
iii. Should any of the ecclesiastical orderlies be found guilty of apostasy, heresy or ungodly practices against the faith and canonical orders of Legion Maria of African Church Mission, his ordination certificate will be confiscated by the Apostolic Council and further appropriate measures taken to discipline him.
(i) The ecclesiastical orderlies shall aid the spiritual leaders and shall work into their offices and churches as the princes of the church and as teachers of the testament and will be the disciples of the leader of the faith.
(j) The Vicar Bishops shall supervise the work of the Auxilary Bishop or Bishops.
(i) ORDINATION OF WOMEN
Women ordained as Mother-Sisters cannot under any circumstances function as communal priests.
5. ADMINISTRATION
(a) There shall be:
(i) THE GENERAL SECRETARY
He shall keep all papers belonging to his office, convene all meetings of Apostolic Council as the Apostolic Council may direct from time to time. He shall be directly responsible to the Apostolic Council and shall be the Chief Administrator of the Legion Maria on behalf of the leaders and the Apostolic Council. He shall also deal with correspondence.
(ii) THE ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY
He shall assist the General Secretary and act for Him in his absence. He shall also do such other duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Apostolic Council.
(iii) THE TREASURER
a. He shall be responsible for all funds of the Legion Maria and shall keep proper books of income and expenditure of the Legion Maria.
b. He shall deposit for safe keeping such funds with such bank or banks as may be selected by the Apostolic Council. He shall be directly responsible to the Apostolic Council.
(iv) THE CHIEF PROTOCOL
He shall be the assistant treasurer. He shall also be responsible for the welfare of all guests of Legion Maria.
(v) THE ASSISTANT CHIEF PROTOCOL
He shall act in the former’s absence.
(vi) THE ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY
He shall be the day to day organizer of Legion Maria. He shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Apostolic Council.
N(b): The office bearers established under this clause (i.e. clause-5) shall be persons who qualify for membership of Legion Maria of African Church Mission as provided in Rule 2 (a) and shall be appointed by the Apostolic Council under the guidance of Pope, Baba Mtakatifu and should any one of them or both (collectively) be found guilty of apostasy, heresy or ungodly practices against the faith and canonical orders of Legion Maria of African Church Mission, one or both (collectively) so found, may be disciplined by the Apostolic Council.
6. THE APOSTOLIC COUNCIL OF LEGION MARIA
(a) The Apostolic Council shall direct all church affairs. It shall be the supreme authority of the Legion Maria.
(b)The voting of the Council shall be by secret ballot.
(c) The spiritual leader shall have a casting vote.
(d)Baba Simeon Melkio Messiah or in his absence, Baba Mtakatifu shall be the last authority of the church.
(e) It shall be the body responsible for the realization of the objects of Legion Maria of African Church Mission as specified in Rule 3 above.
(f) It shall be its duty to consider the excommunication of a leader or a member for such misconduct as may occur and may recommend the replacement.
(g)For the purpose of carrying out its duties it shall have the power to utilize the funds and property of the church to enter into any transaction and to execute in the name of the church any deed or document that may be necessary. It shall meet not less than once in every three months.
(h)Three quarters of the total number of the council shall form a quorum.
7. GENERAL MEETINGS
(a) There shall be two classes of General meetings: Annual General Meeting and Special General Meetings.
(i) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the 1st day of January in each year. Notice in writing of such Annual General Meeting, accompanied by an Annual Statement of Account and Agenda for the meeting shall be sent to all members not less than 21 days before the day of the meeting.
(ii) The agenda for any Annual General Meeting shall consist of the following:
a. Confirmation of minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting.
b. Consideration of the accounts.
c. Appointment of Auditor in accordance with rule 10 (a).
d. Such other matters as the Apostolic Council may decide or as to which notice shall have been given in writing by a member or members to the Secretary at least four weeks before the date of the meeting.
e. Any other business with the approval of the Chairman.
f. A Special General Meeting may be called for any purpose by the Apostolic Council. Notice in writing of such meeting shall be sent to all members not less than 7 days before the date therefore and, where practicable, by press advertisement not less than 7 days before the date of such meeting.
g. The quorum for any general meeting shall not be less than three quarters of the registered Dioceses of the Church.
8. PROCEDURE AT MEETINGS
(a) At all meetings of the church the spiritual leader, or in his absence, his nominance, or in his absence a Cardinal or a Bishop shall take the chair.
(b)The chairman may at his discretion limit the number of persons permitted to speak in favour of and against any motion.
(c) Resolutions shall be decided by simple voting by show of hands. In the case of equality of votes, the chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
9. TRUSTEES
(a) All land, building and other immovable property and all investments and securities which shall be acquired in the name of Legion Maria shall be vested on the names of not less than three trustees who (i) shall be members of the church and (ii) shall be appointed by His Peaceful Baba Mtakatifu for a period of three years. On retirement of such trustees and all vacancies occurring by removal, resignation or death shall be filled at the next meeting of the Apostolic Council.
(b)The Trustees shall pay all income received from the property vested in the trustees to the Treasurer. Any expenditure in the respect of such property which in the opinion of the trustees is necessary or desirable shall be reported by the trustees to the Apostolic Council which shall authorize expenditure of such money as it thinks fit.
10. AUDITOR
(a) An auditor shall be appointed for the following year by the Annual Meeting. All the church accounts, records and documents shall be open to the inspection of the auditor at any time. The treasurer shall produce an account of this receipts and payments and a statement of assets and liabilities made up to date, which shall be ready in not less than six weeks and not more than three months before the date of the Annual General Meeting. The Auditor shall examine such Annual Accounts and statements and in accordance with the law or report to the church on what respect they have found to be incorrect, unvouched or not in accordance with the law.
(b)A copy of the auditor’s report on the accounts and statements together with such accounts and statements shall be furnished to all members at the same time as the notice convening.
(c) No auditor shall be an office-bearer of the Apostolic Council of the Church.
11. DIOCESES OR ARCH-DIOCESES
(a) A diocese shall be formed of not less than twelve duly appointed priests and baptized followers provided than any such Diocese shall not be formed without due approval of the Apostolic Council.
(b)Each Diocese shall be governed by Diocesan Council which shall be headed by the Reverend Bishop. Other members of the Diocesan Council shall include the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Assistant Treasurer.
(c) All the members of the Diocese Committee shall be persons who qualify as members under Rule 2 (a) of the constitution and shall be appointed for life by His Peaceful Baba Mtakatifu provided that they or any of them may be removed by the Apostolic Council of Legion Maria by excommunication, for apostasy, heresy or ungodly practices against the faith and canonical order of Legion Maria.
(d)The Diocesan Council shall meet as often as shall be decided upon, and three quarters of members thereof shall form a quorum. The Reverend Bishop or in his absence any member of the Council appointed by him shall chair all meetings. The chairman shall have a casting vote.
(e) The ordinary Diocesan expenditure shall be met by the Headquarters.
(f) The main duty of the Diocesan Council shall be to conduct the area in which it is appointed.
12. FUNDS
(a) The funds of the Legion Maria may only be used for the following:
a. Payment of such nominal allowances to the spiritual leader His Peaceful Baba Mtakatifu, His Auxilary Spiritual and other officials of the church in full time duties as the Apostolic Council may deem reasonable.
b. Donations to such charitable institutions as may be selected by the Apostolic Council.
c. Purchasing land and building hospitals and schools.
d. Expenditures incidental in the administration of the Legion Maria.
e. Such other purposes as the Apostolic Council may from time to time decide.
(b)All money and funds shall be received by the treasurer and shall be deposited by him in the name of Legion Maria in any Bank or Banks approved by the Apostolic Council.
(c) No payment shall be made out of the Bank account without resolution of the Apostolic Council authorizing such payment and all cheques on such Bank account shall be signed by the treasurer or the administrative secretary and two other members of the Apostolic Council who shall be appointed by his peaceful Baba Mtakatifu.
(d)A sum not exceeding 100/= shillings may be kept by the treasurer for petty disbursements of which proper accounts shall be kept.
13. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
All rules or orders of this church herein contained shall be the rules and orders under which the church shall be governed by and worked and shall take effect on the day they are recognized by the government. No rule shall be altered or added to or rescinded and no new rule shall be except the Apostolic Council in unanimous agreement with the spiritual leader.
14. EX-COMMUNICATION
The Apostolic Council may by secret ballot resolve to excommunicate a leader or member of the Legion Maria.
15. DISSOLUTION
(a) The Legion Maria shall not be dissolved except by a resolution passed at a meeting of the Apostolic Council by a vote of three quarters of the members present. The quorum at the meeting shall be as shown in rule 6 (h) proposal; if no quorum is obtained the proposal to dissolve the society shall be held after a month, submitted to a further meeting of the Apostolic Council which shall be held a month later. Notice of this meeting shall be given to all members of the Apostolic Council at least 14 days before the date of the meeting.
(b)Provided, however, that no dissolution shall be effect without prior permission in writing of the Registrar obtained upon application to him in writing and signed by the spiritual leader.
(c) When the dissolution of the Legion Maria has been approved by the Registrar no further actions shall be taken by the Apostolic Council, the Administrative Officers or any of them in connections with the aim of the Legion Maria other than to get in and liquidate for cash all assets of the Legion Maria subject to the payment of all the debts of the Society the balance thereof shall be distributed in such other manner as may be resolved by the meeting at which the resolution for dissolution is passed.
Signed & Stamped:
Rev. Nahashon J.O. Nyakondo
Secretary General, LMAC MISSION
