Our Governing Documents
The Association is incorporated as a society under the Nova Scotia Societies Act. It is also a registered charity under the federal Income Tax Act. Both the provincial and federal legislation have requirements that we must meet in our governing documents. Our Association has three governing documents:
1. Memorandum of Association: The Halifax Region United Baptist Association (HRUBA) is a registered society under the Nova Scotia Societies Act. At the Fall Rally held on October 29, 2011, the membership approved in principle a new Memorandum of Association. At a Special Meeting held on September 29, 2012, the Association membership voted to accept its Memorandum of Association, which was subsequently accepted by the Nova Scotia Registrar of Joint Stock Companies on October 26, 2012.
2. By-Law #2: At a Special Meeting held on September 29, 2012, the Association membership voted to accept By-Law #1, which was subsequently accepted by the Nova Scotia Registrar of Joint Stock Companies on October 26, 2012.
At the HRUBA Annual Meeting held on April 20, 2021, the membership approved a Special Resolution which repealed By-Law #1 in its entirety and established a new By-Law #2, which was accepted by the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies on September 27, 2021.
The adoption of By-Law #2 resulted in a number of changes to our structure, streamlining the organization and allowing for participation of delegates via teleconference. You can access a copy of By-Law #2 here.
3. Policy and Procedures Manual: By-Law #2 gives the Association Council the authority to set up a Policies and Procedures Manual (P&P Manual), establishing Terms of Reference, Rules of Procedure and Roles and Responsibilities for Association Council, Officers, Committees, Working Groups and Association Ministries. This Manual also includes a number of Policies on subjects such as Home Missions, New Churches and Licenses to Minister.
From time to time, Association Council approves additions, amendments or deletions to the P&P Manual. These changes are subsequently ratified at the next Meeting of Member Churches. The previous version was approved by Council on February 7, 2023, and was ratified at the HRUBA Annual General Meeting held on March 14, 2023.
At the June 22, 2023 meeting of the HRUBA Council, changes to several sections of the HRUBA Policy and Procedures Manual were made. These changes are now in effect. They will be ratified at the next HRUBA Meeting of Assoication Body of Delegates from Member Churches.
The most significant change was substantial updating of the section dealing with License to Minister or License for Lay Ministry (pages 28-35). The changes will implement the CBAC Licensing process within the HRUBA. The new process is more streamlined and integrated and affects the process that will be used by HRUBA, Member Churches and persons wishing to be recognized with the License to Minister (progress toward ordination) or the Lay License to Minister (progress toward designation as a Recognized Lay Leader). Licenses will now be valid for two years.
Changes were also made to the section on the Dalhousie University Chaplaincy (pages 38-39), the section on Refugees (page 41) and page 25 of the Background Information for Local Baptist Churches or Faith Groups Wishing to Consider Joining the Halifax Region United Baptist Association (pages 22 to 26).
A copy of the updated document is available here.
1. Memorandum of Association: The Halifax Region United Baptist Association (HRUBA) is a registered society under the Nova Scotia Societies Act. At the Fall Rally held on October 29, 2011, the membership approved in principle a new Memorandum of Association. At a Special Meeting held on September 29, 2012, the Association membership voted to accept its Memorandum of Association, which was subsequently accepted by the Nova Scotia Registrar of Joint Stock Companies on October 26, 2012.
As the HRUBA is also a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency, in 2013, in order to comply with changed requirements from the Canada Revenue Agency, it was necessary to update the Objectives of the Association, which are contained in the Memorandum of Association. The amended Objectives were adopted at the HRUBA Spring Rally of April 26, 2014 and were accepted by the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies on June 17, 2014.
This document includes our Association’s Objectives. You can access a copy of the Memorandum of Association here.2. By-Law #2: At a Special Meeting held on September 29, 2012, the Association membership voted to accept By-Law #1, which was subsequently accepted by the Nova Scotia Registrar of Joint Stock Companies on October 26, 2012.
At the HRUBA Annual Meeting held on April 20, 2021, the membership approved a Special Resolution which repealed By-Law #1 in its entirety and established a new By-Law #2, which was accepted by the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies on September 27, 2021.
The adoption of By-Law #2 resulted in a number of changes to our structure, streamlining the organization and allowing for participation of delegates via teleconference. You can access a copy of By-Law #2 here.
3. Policy and Procedures Manual: By-Law #2 gives the Association Council the authority to set up a Policies and Procedures Manual (P&P Manual), establishing Terms of Reference, Rules of Procedure and Roles and Responsibilities for Association Council, Officers, Committees, Working Groups and Association Ministries. This Manual also includes a number of Policies on subjects such as Home Missions, New Churches and Licenses to Minister.
From time to time, Association Council approves additions, amendments or deletions to the P&P Manual. These changes are subsequently ratified at the next Meeting of Member Churches. The previous version was approved by Council on February 7, 2023, and was ratified at the HRUBA Annual General Meeting held on March 14, 2023.
At the June 22, 2023 meeting of the HRUBA Council, changes to several sections of the HRUBA Policy and Procedures Manual were made. These changes are now in effect. They will be ratified at the next HRUBA Meeting of Assoication Body of Delegates from Member Churches.
The most significant change was substantial updating of the section dealing with License to Minister or License for Lay Ministry (pages 28-35). The changes will implement the CBAC Licensing process within the HRUBA. The new process is more streamlined and integrated and affects the process that will be used by HRUBA, Member Churches and persons wishing to be recognized with the License to Minister (progress toward ordination) or the Lay License to Minister (progress toward designation as a Recognized Lay Leader). Licenses will now be valid for two years.
Changes were also made to the section on the Dalhousie University Chaplaincy (pages 38-39), the section on Refugees (page 41) and page 25 of the Background Information for Local Baptist Churches or Faith Groups Wishing to Consider Joining the Halifax Region United Baptist Association (pages 22 to 26).
A copy of the updated document is available here.