Delegates

The Baptist Union of Victoria regularly holds Gatherings (previously known as Assemblies) at which matters integral to the life of the Union of Churches are discussed and decided upon. 

This often includes voting either by a show of hands, or by ballot.

Whilst anyone is welcome to attend a Gathering, only certain people are entitled to vote - these people are called Delegates. 

There are three different types of Delegates:

Church Assembly Delegates

All Constituent Member Churches of the Baptist Union of Victoria are entitled to appoint and send a certain number of Delegates to BUV Gatherings to vote on behalf of their church. 

Church Assembly Delegates are those people who have been officially nominated by their church at a church members meeting to represent them and vote on behalf of their church at BUV Gatherings. 

The BUV office will seek confirmation of each church’s nominated Delegates each year.  Where no confirmation is received, the last appointed Delegates advised to the BUV will be assumed to continue.

The number of Delegates each church may nominate is two (2).  In addition, one (1) additonal Delegate may be appointed for each complete fifty (50) members above the first one hundred (100) based on the annual statistical return to the BUV.

For your guidance the Notification of Church Delegates Form has more information on this.

Church Alternate Delegates

A church may send an alternate person to any Gathering in lieu of any of their Church Assembly Delegates who cannot attend. This way the church does not lose its opportunity to cast its entitled vote. Church Alternate Delegates must be approved at a church meeting just like a Church Assembly Delegate.  

Ex Officio Delegates

There are a number of positions within the Baptist Union of Victoria and its Agencies which automatically hold Delegate status.  These people are called Ex Officio Delegates.  These people do not need to be nominated by your church, as they vote on behalf of themselves. 

If you have any of these people in your church memebership, particularly your Ordained MInisters (Reverends), we recommend that you do not appoint these people as your Church Assembly Delegates or Church Alternate Delegates as they will already be voting by way of their Ex Officio status.

The following people/positions are consideed Ex Officio Delegates: 

• The Officers of the Union (Director of Ministries, Secretary, Honorary Legal Advisor, Vice President, President and Past President)
• Past Presidents of the Union
• Ministers of or belonging to The Baptist Union of Victoria whose names are on the Official List referred to in the By-Laws (Ordained Reverends)
• Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer of each Committee, Department, Agency, Affiliated Organisation, or constituent body, other than a Church
• Members of the Advisory Board
• The Principal and Professors for the time being of Whitley College
• The Principal for the time being of Carey, Strathcona and Kilvington Grammar Schools

• Members of Union Council

To notify the BUV of any changes to the nominated Delegates for your Church, or for assistance in choosing the right people for the role, please see the following links:

Notification of Church Delegates Form - English

What Makes a Good Delegate - English

For more information please contact the BUV Office on 03 9880 6100 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .