COCIN Choir Membership Guidelines
COCIN Choir Membership Guidelines
The COCIN Choir is governed through several structured committees. The highest body is the COCIN General Choir Congress, which includes GCC Choir Committee members and representatives from various levels and is responsible for policy-making and organizing functions. The GCC Choir Committee, consisting of elected officers, executes policies and addresses issues affecting the choirs. At the RCC/LCC/CC levels, committees perform specific functions relevant to their scope and ensure the implementation of directives from higher levels .
Financial responsibilities in the COCIN Choir are divided among several roles. The Treasurer is the chief custodian of the choir's funds and handles all financial transactions, including maintaining records and depositing funds into the bank. The Financial Secretary keeps records of income and expenditure, collects and remits money to the Treasurer, and prepares financial reports. The Choirmaster approves financial vouchers, and both the Treasurer and Financial Secretary are signatories of the choir's bank account .
The COCIN Choir aims to foster unity among its members and the church through several initiatives. These include organizing Sing Song Services or Choir Days at various levels, reaching out to non-choristers, and donating to support the propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through these activities, the choir seeks to build a cohesive community that works towards common spiritual goals .
The COCIN Choir manages disciplinary issues through designated officers. The Discipline Officer ensures order during practices, has the authority to dismiss disruptive members, and keeps records of misconduct. Monitored behaviors include late arrivals and noise-making, and related fines are remitted to the Financial Secretary within 24 hours. The Discipline Officer serves as the choir's timekeeper, and the Assistant Discipline Officer supports these efforts and advises on discipline-related matters .
The COCIN Choir tenure policy ensures leadership rotation and continuity by limiting elected officers to four-year terms, with a maximum of nine consecutive years in the same post. After serving three terms, officers must take a mandatory three-year break before being eligible for re-election. This policy promotes new leadership opportunities while allowing experienced members to return after a period, ensuring continuity and fresh perspectives in choir management .
The Public Relation Officer in the COCIN Choir is responsible for managing publicity and disseminating vital information to relevant parties. They ensure meetings are announced promptly, which supports the choir's objectives by keeping members informed and engaged. Effective communication by the Public Relation Officer helps in organizing events and fostering participation, thus aligning with the choir's aim to spread the gospel and unify members .
The COCIN Choir's election process maintains transparency and integrity through secret balloting supervised by designated leaders at each level: the Director of EC at the GCC level, sub-group coordinators at RCC levels, and pastors or Choir Patrons at LCC and CC levels. Only spirit-filled, baptized members are eligible to vote or be voted for, ensuring participants uphold the choir's spiritual standards .
To be elected as a Choirmaster in the COCIN Choir, a person must be spirit-filled as described in Galatians 5:19-22 and have a fair knowledge of music. Additionally, they must possess the ability to teach songs and have no current church disciplinary actions against them. Only baptized members, both in water and Spirit, are eligible to be voted for as Choirmaster or Assistant Choirmaster .
The main responsibilities of the Bible Secretary in the COCIN Choir include providing Bible Study outlines and preparing programs for Bible studies, prayer, and fasting. The Bible Secretary assigns choir members to lead these programs and gives or delegates short exhortations before meetings. They also ensure a ten-minute exhortation is given at the start of every practice session .
To become a member of the COCIN Choir, an individual must be a believer in the gospel of Christ, have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, and either be baptized or in a baptism class. Additionally, they should be convinced of their talent in singing and willing to abide by the choir's guidelines. New members are also required to undergo a probationary period of three months before being enrolled as full-time members .