UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN THE

PHILIPPINES
1667 Dr. Antonio Vasquez Street, Malate, 1004 Manila,
Philippines
P.O. Box 718, Manila Central Post Of fice, 1099 Er mita, Manila
Phone: (0632) 536-8005 Fax: (0632) 536-8114 E-mail:

THE ELECTION CODE OF THE

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN THE
PHILIPPINES (UCCP)

Approved by the 8th General Assembly, Digos City, Davao del Sur
May 24-29, 2006
Presented For Ratification to the 2010 Annual Sessions of the Conferences of
the UCCP
Proclaim Ratified: _______________

THE ELECTION CODE OF THE

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN THE PHILIPPINES (UCCP)
Rule 1 – General Provisions

Section 1. Title. This shall be known and cited as the “Election Code of the
United Church of Christ in the Philippines.”

Section 2. Applicability. These rules shall govern all elections of the officers
in all levels or judicatories of the united church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) to
the extent appropriate including all referenda, plebiscites and recall.

Section 3. Election information dissemination period. The election

information dissemination period for National Officers shall commence 180 days (6
months), Conference Officers 60 days (2 months) and Local Church 30 days (1
month) before the first day of the session where an election is to be conducted and
end on the day immediately prior to the said election.

Section 4. Obligation to register and vote. It shall be the obligation of

every qualified member to register and vote.

Section 5. Election rules to be available in the polling place. It shall be

the duty of Election Committee, which hereinafter shall be referred to as the

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committee, to provide sufficient copies of these rules, printed in Pilipino, English or
in the local dialect, at the place where the elections are to be conducted, in order
that they may be readily consulted by any person in need thereof on the election
day.

Section 6. Postponement of election. The Election Committee, motu

proprio or on motion of any interested member, after due notice and hearing, may
postpone any scheduled election to another date for any serious cause, such as but
not limited to, loss or destruction of election paraphernalia or records, lack of
candidates for a particular position, other analogous causes of such nature that the
holding of a free, clean and honest election is impossible or force majeure.

The Election Committee shall reset the election at the earliest opportunity
upon disappearance of the cause of the postponement.

Section 7. Election expenses. The budget of the Election Committee shall

be included in the annual budget of the General Assembly or its National Council,
Conference or Local Church. In case of deficiency, the same shall be covered by
supplemental budget of the appropriate bodies concerned.

In consonance with Rule 4, Sections 6, 7 and 8 hereof, all contributions,

donations and other funds given by any person to support a candidate or for a
general conduct of elections, shall be forfeited and pooled into a common fund for
use by the Election Committee to defray election expenses.

Section 8. Failure to assume office. Failure or inability of the officer

elected to assume office within 30 days following his/her date of assumption of
office shall result in the forfeiture of his/her election in which event, the Election
Committee shall certify the candidate who garnered the next highest vote and shall
declare such candidate duly elected.

Rule 2 – The Elections Committee

Section 1. Composition and term of office. There shall be an Election

Committee which shall be an independent body respectively elected by the General
Assembly, the Conference in Session, and the Local Congregation.

a.) The National Elections Committee shall be composed of ten (10) members.
Six (6) of whom shall come from the six (6) Jurisdictional Areas, each
Jurisdictional Area being entitled to one representative elected by the
corresponding Jurisdictional Area Cabinet (JAC). The other four (4) members
shall be elected at large by the General Assembly or its National Council. No
member of the Committee shall be an incumbent National Officer or member
of the General Assembly or its National Council. The Chairperson of the
Committee shall vote only to break a tie. The members of the National
Elections Committee shall serve for a term of four (4) years. In no case shall a
member of the Committee serve for more than 2 consecutive terms. ( see
footnote)

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 b.) The Conference in Session shall elect the Conference Elections Committee
ensuring equal sectoral representation. The Conference Elections Committee
shall be composed of five (5) members who shall serve for a term of two (2)
years. In no case shall a member of the Committee serve for more than 2
consecutive terms.

c.) The Local Church Council shall elect the Local Church Elections Committee
ensuring equal sectoral representation. The Local Church Elections
Committee shall be composed of five (5) members who shall serve for a term
of one (1) year. In no case shall a member of the Committee serve for more
than 2 consecutive terms.

Section 2. Qualifications of Committee members. All members of the

Committee shall possess the following qualifications at the time of their election: a)
at least eighteen (18) years of age, b) UCCP member in good standing, not
otherwise a candidate, holding any position in the National Church, Conference or
Local Church concerned.

Section 3. Vacancies in the membership of the Committee. In the event

of vacancy caused by the death, permanent disability, resignation or removal from
office of any representative in the Committee, the National, Conference or Local
Church Council concerned shall immediately elect a replacement to serve the
unexpired term.

Section 4. Powers and functions of the Committee. The Committee shall

have the following powers and functions:

a. The exclusive and primary jurisdiction over all matters relating to elections,
referenda and plebiscites;

.______________________________
Note: It is further proposed that the number of representatives from the jurisdicdtional
areas and the members to be elected at large to be kept open to provide
representation for jurisdictions to be created in the future, and to maintain the
members of the National Election Committee to ten (10). The Annual Conference
Sessions may present this amendment.

b. Ensuring free, orderly hones, and peaceful elections in the National,

Conference or Local Church level consistent with our calling as a community of
faith.

c. Determining, passing upon and ruling the qualification for election of

nominees in accordance with the UCCP Constitution and By-Laws and other
church statutes;

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 d. Exercising direct and immediate supervision and control over its personnel
who are required to perform duties relative to the conduct of elections;

e. Hearing and investigating any election controversy brought before it and

after compliance with the requirements of due process, render a decision or
resolution at the soonest possible time. In this connection, actions arising
from any election controversy or contest shall prescribe after thirty (30) days
from the knowledge or discovery of the act complained of;

f. Enforcing and executing its decisions, directives, orders and instructions;

g. Prescribing the forms to be used in all elections;

h. Carrying out a continuing and systematic program to inform the electorate

about election rules, decisions and other matters relative to the work and
duties of the Committee and the necessity of clean, free, orderly, honest and
peaceful electoral processes; and

i. Performing such other functions as the UCCP Constitution and By-Laws and
the proper Church body/bodies concerned may provide or mandate relative
to the conduct of the elections.

Rule 3 – Nominations and Certificate of Candidacy

Section 1. a. Nomination and Certificate of candidacy. Any qualified

person may be nominated for any elective position in the General Assembly,
Conference or local Church, upon written nomination by any member of the church
or by written declaration of his/her availability for the office. The nomination,
written declaration or certificate of candidacy filed must be affirmed before any
member of the Elections Committee, the incumbent Conference Council Secretary
or Local Church Council Secretary.

The Elections Committee shall notify the person concerned of his/her

nomination and the latter shall signify his/her acceptance by filing the
corresponding certificate of candidacy with the Elections Committee.

Section 1. b. No person shall file certificate of candidacy for more than one
office in the same election.
Section 1. c. No incumbent elective officer whose term is not ending in the
same period of election can file a certificate of candidacy for another position.

Section 2. Contents of certificate of candidacy. The certificate of

candidacy shall state: a) the name of the candidate or nominee; b) the office for
which he/she is nominated; c) his/her age, civil status, date of birth, residence,
profession or occupation; d) his/her possessing all the qualifications and none of the
disqualification for the office prescribed by the UCCP Constitution and By-Laws and
other church statutes; and shall attach thereto a certificate as UCCP member of
good standing issued by his/her local church senior pastor or church council
churchperson.

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 Section 3. Filing of certificate of candidacy. The certificate of candidacy
shall be filed within sixty (60) days prior to the commencement of the election
information dissemination period. For this purpose, it shall be the duty of the
Election Committee to publish, throughout the entire Judicatory concerned, the
period for filing of the certificates of candidacy at least forty five (45) days prior to
the sixty (60) days for filing the certificates of candidacy by the Elections
Committee.

The Committee shall not accept any certificate of candidacy outside the
period stated above unless an extension of the period has been previously
approved.

Section 4. Ministerial duty of receiving and acknowledging receipt.

The Elections Committee shall have the ministerial duty to receive and acknowledge
receipt of the certificate of candidacy.

Section 5. Denial of due course to or cancellation of the certificate of

candidacy. The Elections Committee may motu propio or upon motion duly filed
before it by any member of the General Assembly, Conference or Local Church after
due notice and hearing, deny due course to, or cancel a certificate of candidacy
exclusively on the ground that any material statement or representation knowingly
made therein made by the candidate as required by Section 2 hereof is false.

Section 6. Ceremony of Candidacy. In case of National and Conference

elections, there shall be a ceremony of candidacy which shall be liturgical, to be
held on the day before the elections where all the candidates shall be formally
introduced to the General Assembly, or Conference, as the case may be. However,
in case of Local Church elections, the ceremony of candidacy shall be done
immediately one Sunday preceding the elections. The Election Committee, in
consultation with the proper body concerned, shall have exclusive authority to
decide the manner and form the ceremony would be conducted.

Rule 4 – Election Information Dissemination

Section 1. Definition. As used in these rules:

a.) The term “candidate” refers to any person nominated for or seeking an
elective position in the General Assembly, Conference, or Local Church.
b.) The term “election information dissemination” refers to an act of the
Elections Committee designed to educate and inform the members about
election rules, decisions and other matters relative to its work and duties as
well as the necessity of clean, free, orderly, and honest electoral processes
and promote awareness among the electorate as to the candidates running
for the various elective positions.
c.) The term “election campaign” refers to any act designed to promote the
election or defeat of a particular candidate or candidates to any elective
position.
d.) The term “contribution” includes a gift, donation, loan, or deposit of money or
anything of value or contract, promise or agreement to contribute, made for
election purposes.

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 Section 2. Election information dissemination. The Elections Committee
shall have the exclusive authority and duty to conduct election information
dissemination in accordance to Section 3, Rule 1 of these Rules, which may include:
a.) The distribution to all members of letters, pamphlets, leaflets, posters, or
other written or printed materials containing information about the
candidates for elective positions as well as the qualifications required for
each position;
b.) The posting of election materials on bulletin boards or other easily accessible
areas;
c.) The holding of information dissemination meetings where all the candidates
are given equal opportunity to provide proper information about their
qualifications and vision for the elective office they seek in accordance with
the rules and regulations which the Election Committee may make and
enforce to ensure the observance of fairplay and equal opportunity;
d.) Such other activities as the Election Committee may deem fit to conduct in
order to maximize the access to information regarding all the candidates as
well as the electoral process.

In the performance of its duty under this rule, the Elections Committee shall
ensure a balanced and unbiased presentation of all the candidates and shall
conduct itself with utmost integrity and shall avoid the display of any act of
prejudice or support for any particular candidate.

Section 3. Election campaign strictly prohibited. It shall be wrongful for

any candidate or person to engage in any campaign activity as defined in Section 1
(c) of this rule. Candidates are strictly prohibited from campaigning for their
election, except when introducing themselves during the information dissemination
meetings officially sanctioned by the Election Committee as provided under Section
2 (c) of this rule.

Section 4. Prohibited forms of election information dissemination.

Except for the election information dissemination activities which only the Election
Committee is exclusively authorized to perform, it shall be wrongful for any
candidate or person to:
a.) Print, publish, post or distribute any poster, pamphlet, circular, handbill or
printed or handwritten matter urging voters to vote for or against any
particular candidate;
b.) To construct, put up, make use of, attach, float or display any billboard,
streamer, tinplate poster, balloons and the like, of whatever size, shape,
form or kind, advertising for or against any candidate;
c.) To purchase, manufacture, request, distribute or accept electoral
propaganda gadgets such as pens, lighters, fans of whatever nature,
flashlights, athletic goods, or materials, wallets, shirts, hats, bandanas,
watches, matches, cigarettes and the like, advertizing for or against a
candidate; and
d.) Such other propaganda device, system, act or guise designed or will tend
to support or prevent the election of a candidate.
The Election Committee or its duly authorized representative shall stop,
confiscate, or tear down any prohibited election propaganda gadget or
advertisement.

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 Section 5. It shall be the duty of any member of the Church to report to the
Election Committee the commission of any prohibited form of election
dissemination.

Section 6. No candidate or person shall, either personally or though another

person, solicit any contribution for the purpose of supporting or preventing, whether
directly or indirectly, the election of a candidate.

Section 7. No candidate or person shall, during the election information

dissemination period, directly or indirectly, make any donation, contribution or gift
in cash or in kind; or undertake to make such donation, contribution or gift, to any
project or activity which would tend to influence the outcome of the election.

Section 8. No candidate shall spend any amount of money, whether directly

or indirectly, for his/her election.

Rule 5 – Manner and Conduct of Election

Section 1. Registration of voters. The registration procedure for voters

shall be as follows:
a.) In the case of the General Assembly or Conference, all voting delegates and
members shall register for the purpose of the election.
b.) The voting delegated and members shall then be issued with an authorized
color code identification Card.
c.) The Election Committee shall allow only those delegates and members who
have the required Identification Card to cast their votes during the election.
d.) In case of Local Church election, the Local Church should establish an
upgraded list of qualified voters three (3) months immediately prior to the
scheduled election.

Section 2. Rules for the casting of votes. The Election Committee shall
promulgate rules and procedure pertaining to the casting and canvassing of
votes.

Section 3. Election paraphernalia. The Election Committee shall prepare

the requisite ballots and other election materials.

Section 4. Canvassing of votes. After all the votes are cast, the Election
Committee shall canvass the votes and thereafter present the results of the
election for the confirmation of the General Assembly, Conference, or the Local
Church Council.

Rule 6 – Election Contest

Section 1. Election contest. The Election Committee shall have exclusive

and primary jurisdiction over all contests relating to the qualifications and
elections of all elective positions of the General Assembly, Conference and Local
Church.

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 Section 2. Procedure in election contests. The Election Committee shall
prescribe the rules to govern procedures and other matters in relation to the
election contests pertaining to elective positions of the General Assembly,
Conference or Local Church. Such rules shall provide procedures for the
expeditious disposition of election contests and shall be published prior to their
effectivity in the United Church Letter, or Conference or Local Church official
newsletter.

Section 3. Finality of decisions. All decisions of the Election Committee

shall be final and executory after the lapse of fifteen (15) days from receipt
thereof by the parties unless seasonably appealed in accordance with the
procedure adopted by the National Commission on Discipline and Conflict
Resolution.

Rule 7 – Election Offenses

Section1. Prohibited acts. The following shall be guilty of an election

offense:

a.) Any person who gives, offers or promises money or anything of value,
gives or promises any office or employment, or makes offers to make an
expenditure, either directly or indirectly, or cause any expenditure to be
made to any person, candidate, committee or instrumentality within the
UCCP, to induce any member either directly or indirectly, to vote for or
against any candidate or person in a scheduled election, except for the
Election Committee, any person or candidate, who solicits or receives,
directly or indirectly, any expenditure or promise of any office
employment, for any of the foregoing consideration;
b.) Any General Assembly or Conference officer, or any officer, elder, trustee,
or deacon of a local church who coerces, intimidates, compels, or
influences directly or indirectly any of his/her subordinates or any member
of the Election Committee to aid, campaign or vote for or against any
candidate;
c.) Any person or candidate who directly or indirectly, threatens, intimidates
or coerces any member of the Election Committee or personnel in the
performance of his/her functions or duties;
d.) Any person or candidate who solicits votes or undertakes any propaganda
on the day of election, for or against any candidate;
e.) Any person or candidate who knowingly makes any false or untruthful
statement relative to any data or information required in the certificate of
candidacy;
f.) Any person who knowingly makes any false or untruthful statement
relative to any data or information in the registration forms required
during any scheduled elections in the National Council, Conference and
Local Church;
g.) Any person who tampers with or changes without authority any data or
entry in the election registration forms where an election is scheduled;
h.) Any person who falsely certifies or indentifies another as a bona fide
member of the Church, where an election is scheduled;

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i.) Any person who uses or allows others to use an Identification Card for the
purpose of voting, whether or not he/she succeeds in voting;
j.) Any person who votes more than once in the same election, or who, not
being a registered member, votes in an election;
k.) Any voter who, in the course of voting uses a ballot other than the one
given by the Election Committee or has in his/her possession more than
one official ballot;
l.) Any member or personnel of the Election Committee charged with the
duty of reading the ballot during the canvassing of votes who deliberately
omits to read the vote duly written on the ballot or misreads the vote
actually written thereon or reads the name of the candidate where no
name is written on the ballot;
m.) Any member or personnel of the Election Committee charged with the
duty of tallying the votes in the tally board, sheet or other forms
prescribed by the committee who deliberately fails to record a vote
therein, or records erroneously the votes read, or records a vote where no
such vote has been read;
n.) Any person who has made possible the casting of more votes than there
are voters;
o.) Any person or candidate who removes, tears, defaces, or destroys any
letter, pamphlet, leaflet, poster or other election information propaganda
authorized by the Election Committee for posting;
p.) Any person or candidate who conducts an election campaign outside the
election information dissemination activities authorized by the Election
Committee;
q.) Any person who, being authorized to receive certificate of candidacy,
receives any certificate of candidacy outside the period for filing the same
and makes it appear that the said certificate of candidacy was filed on
time; or any person who, by means of fraud, threat, coercion or
intimidation, causes or compels the commission of the said act; and
r.) Any person or candidate who commits any act prohibited under the other
provisions of this Rules.

Section 2. Penalties. Any person found guilty of any election offense

under these Rules shall suffer disqualification to hold any elective office in
the Church for at least one (1) year for the first offence, three (3) years for
the second offence, and perpetual disqualification for the third offence.

In case the violator is a candidate for election, he/she shall additionally

suffer immediate disqualification from election to the position he/she is
seeking upon order of the Election Committee.

In case the violator is an incumbent officer of the Church or a member

of any of its committees, he/she shall additionally suffer immediate removal
from office upon recommendation of the Elections Committee and approval
by the proper body of the church.

Nothing in these Rules shall preclude or prevent the Church from

imposing additional disciplinary sanctions provided by the UCCP Constitution

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 and By-Laws upon its officers or members who have violated the provisions of
these Rules.

Section 3. Prescription. Election offenses shall prescribe after sixty

(60) days from the date of their commission if the violator is caught in the act
of committing the offense. Otherwise, election offenses shall prescribe after
sixty (60) days from the date of discovery.

Rule 8 – Recall

Section 1. By Whom Exercised. The power of recall for loss of trust and
confidence shall be exercised by the members of the Conference or Local Church to
which the elective church officer subject of such recall belongs.

Section 2. Who May Be Recalled. Any elective conference or local church

officer may be recalled for loss of confidence in the manner prescribed under this
Rule. Such elective officer may be the subject of a recall election only once during
his or her term of office. No recall shall take place within six (6) months from the
date of the officer’s assumption of office or six (6) months immediately preceding a
regular election.

Section 3. Initiation of the Recall Process.

a.) Recall may be initiated by a preparatory recall committee or by the

members of the Conference or the Local Church to which the church
officer subject of such recall belongs.
b.) There shall be a preparatory recall committee in the Conference and Local
Church. Which shall be composed of five (5) members elected by the
Conference Council or the Local Church Council from among its members
provided one member is a pastor, one each from the youth and the
women.
c.) Upon proper petition by a Local Church in the case of the Conference or a
member in the case of the local Church for the recall of any elective
conference or local church officer, the preparatory recall committee may
convene in session to determine the sufficiency and propriety of the
petition. Should it fin the petition sufficient in form and substance, the
preparatory recall committee shall initiate the recall by a resolution
passed by majority of its all members during the session called for the
purpose. Such resolution shall be forwarded to the Election Committee of
the Conference and Local Church.
d.) Recall of any elective Conference or Local Church officer may also be
validly initiated upon written petition of at least twenty percent (20%) of
the total number of member churches in the case of the Conference or
twenty percent (20%) of the total number of voting members in the case
of the Local Church in which the said officer to be recalled was elected.
The petition shall be duly signed under oath and shall be filed with the
Election Committee of the Conference or the Local Church.
Section 4. Election on Recall
a.) Within ten (10) days after receiving the resolution or written petition
calling for the recall of an elective Conference or Local Church officer

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 the Elections Committee shall conduct a hearing for the purpose of
verifying the authenticity and genuineness of the resolution or written
petition and the requisite percentage of members to make the petition.
b.) In the case of the Conference, the Elections Committee shall resolution
request the Conference Council to call a special conference session for
the purpose of election on recall, and the Conference Council shall call
such a special conference session not later than sixty (60) days from
receipt of the resolution; provided that the petitioning Local Churches
shall defray the cost of holding the special conference session for the
election on recall.
c.) In the case of the Local Church, the Elections Committee shall set the
date of the election on recall, which shall not be later than thirty (30)
days after making the verification specified in the immediately
preceding paragraph.
d.) The officer sought to be recalled shall automatically be considered as a
nominee to the same position and like the other nominees shall be
entitled to be voted upon.

Section 5. Effectivity of the Election on Recall. The recall of an

elective Conference or Local Church officer shall be effective only upon
the election and proclamation of a successor in the person of the nominee
receiving the highest number of votes cast during the election on recall.
Should the officer sought to be recalled receive the highest number of
votes, confidence in him/her is thereby affirmed, and he/she shall
continue in office.

Section 6. Prohibition from Resignation. The elective Conference or

Local Church officer sought to be recalled shall not be allowed to resign
while the recall process is in progress.

Rule 9 – Removal

Elected officers of the General Assembly may be removed by two-

thirds (2/3) votes of the General Assembly in a special session called for the
purpose, or by three-fourths (3/4) vote of the National Council for loss of
confidence, comformably with Article V, Section 7 of the UCCP Amended
Constitution.

Rule 10 – Effectivity

These Rules shall take effect upon its approval. All other policies,
actions and procedures of the Church inconsistent with this Election Code are
hereby superseded, rescinded and repealed.

Approved by the 8th General Assembly, Digos City, Davao del Sur May 24-29, 2006

ATTEST:

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PASTOR REBECCA S. TISTON
Chairperson, General Assembly

BISHOP ELEMER M. BOLOCON

General Secretary

._____________________________
To ber presented For Ratification by the Annual Sessions of the Conferences of
the UCCP

Proclaim Ratified _______________

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