Coptic Orthodox Church (NSW)
Property Trust Amendment Bill 2003

Explanatory note
This explanatory note relates to this Bill as introduced into Parliament.

Overview of Bill
The object of this Bill is to amend the Coptic Orthodox Church (NSW) Property
Trust Act 1990 to reflect the new Constitution of the Coptic Orthodox Churches
in the Diocese of Sydney and Affiliated Regions.
At present, the Coptic Orthodox Church (NSW) Property Trust Act 1990
constitutes a Trust to deal with certain property. The trustees of the Trust are the
members of the New South Wales State Board of the Coptic Orthodox Church,
New South Wales.
On 8 October 2002 a new Constitution of the Diocese of Sydney and Affiliated
Regions was approved by His Holiness Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and
Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. Under the new Constitution, it is the Bishop of
the Diocese of Sydney and Affiliated Regions who is the sole and exclusive
authority in relation to financial matters in churches and in the Diocese.
This Bill amends the Coptic Orthodox Church (NSW) Property Trust Act 1990
to reflect that change.
Outline of provisions
Clause 1 sets out the name (also called the short title) of the proposed Act.
Clause 2 provides for the commencement of the proposed Act on the date of
assent to the proposed Act.
Clause 3 is a formal provision that gives effect to the amendments to the Coptic
Orthodox Church (NSW) Property Trust Act 1990 set out in Schedule 1.
Schedule 1 Amendments
Schedule 1 [5] amends the definition of constitution to reflect the changes made
in 2002.
Schedule 1 [6] provides that the Bishop is the sole trustee of the Coptic
Orthodox Church (NSW) Property Trust.
Schedule 1 [8] provides for the Bishop to delegate the Bishop’s functions under
the Act.
The remainder of the amendments made by Schedule 1 are consequential on
those changes.

Note: If this Bill is not modified, these Explanatory Notes would reflect the Bill as passed in the House. If the Bill has been amended by Committee, these Explanatory Notes may not necessarily reflect the Bill as passed.