A Private Bill to Incorporate Peoples Temple (1974)

Bill No. [blank] 0f 1974

PEOPLES TEMPLE OF THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST CHURCH (INCORPORATION) BILL 1974
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Section

1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
3. Incorporation of the Board of Directors.
4. Limitations on the powers of the Board.
5. Death or absence from Guyana of Members of the Board.
6. Vesting of property bequeathed.
7. Tenure of property for use of the Church.
8. Exercise of powers by Board in matters not specifically provided for by Act.
9. Evidence of membership of Board.
10. Service of process.

A bill
Intituled

AN ACT to incorporate the Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ Church in Guyana and for purposes connected therewith .

Enacted by the Parliament of Guyana:

1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ Church (incorporation) Act 1974.

2. Interpretation

In this act–

    “the Board” means the Board of Directors of the Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ in Guyana appointed or elected in conformity with the Articles and By-laws for the time being in force of the parent Church;
    “the Church” means the Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ Church in Guyana;
    “the parent Church” means the Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ of the State of California in the United States of America.

3. Incorporation of the Board of Directors.

James Jones, holding the offices of Pastor and President of the parent Church, [Archie Ijames deleted, Marceline Jones handwritten], Vice President, [Linda Amos deleted, Timothy Stoen handwritten], Secretary, [Eva Pugh deleted, Joyce Touchette handwritten], Treasurer, of the said parent Church, and any persons appointed in addition to them by the parent Church to be members of the Board, and their successors in office, shall be a body corporate and shall have the name of the Board of Directors of the Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ Church in Guyana.

4. Limitations on the powers of the Board.

No property of the Church may be distributed by the Board to or for the benefit of any person and upon the dissolution of the Church all property of the Church that is subject to transfer shall be distributed to the parent Church.

5. Death or absence from Guyana of Members of the Board.

In the event of the death or absence from Guyana of any member of the Board, all or any of the powers conferred on the said Board by this Act may be exercised by the surviving are remaining members, provided, however, that such powers may not be exercised by less than three members of the Board.

6. Vesting of property bequeathed.

All property movable or immovable whatever nature or kind hereafter bequeathed by will or otherwise given to the Church shall be deemed to be the property of the Board.

7. Tenure of property for use of the Church.

All property vested in or hereafter acquired by the Board shall be held by the Board for the use and benefit of the Church.

8. Exercise of powers by Board in matters not specifically provided for by Act.

In all matters not specifically provided for by this Act, the Board shall, so far as may be practicable, possess and exercise the like power and authority as are now or may hereafter be possessed and exercised by the parent Church, and its proceedings shall be governed by the laws, regulations, processes and practice of that body in so far as they are not repugnant to, or in conflict with, any law in force in Guyana.
[illegible marginal note]

9. Evidence of membership of Board.

A statement that any person named therein is a member of the Board, purporting to be signed by the President and the Secretary of the parent Church shall be prima facie evidence of the said fact.

10. Service of process.

All process which is required to be served on the Board shall be deemed to be sufficiently served if served at the residence in Guyana of the Pastor or if a copy thereof is published in the Gazette.
[illegible marginal note]

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

This Bill seeks to provide the incorporation of the Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ Church in Guyana.