The election of a new Vice-Chairman for the Congregational Christian Church Samoa (C.C.C.S.) is the first agenda at the church's main conference that begins on Monday. 

The appointment of the Vice-Chairman position is usually done on the last day of the fonotele every year. However, because the former Vice-Chairman, the late Reverend Elder Iosefa Atapana Uilelea passed away last year, the position has been vacant since then. 

The Executives members for the church's General Assembly (Laulau a le Fonotele), play a critical role in governing and leading the operations of the church because it is supreme council of the church. 

The late Rev. Elder Uilelea chaired the General Assembly last year in September and was voted again to the role at the end of last year's fonotele. 

According to the church's by-laws, the late Rev. Elder Uilelea would have been elevated to Chairman position for the year 2023-2024. 

The current Chairman of the C.C.C.S. General Assembly is from the Falealili District, Rev. Elder Tunumoso Soliola Iosia who was the Vice-Chairman for 2021-2022. 

Rev. Elder Iosia first became Chairman of the C.C.C.S. in 2019. Reverend Elder Tunumoso and the late Reverend Elder Iosefa Uilelea have been rotating the position of Chairman and Vice-Chairman since then. 

According to the constitution, the Vice-Chairman, General Secretary, and Treasurer are appointed by ballot during the General Assembly. 

"The Vice Chairman shall be elected from any of the following people present at General Assembly: elders, ministers, lay preachers, deacons, communicant members.

"When the one (1) year of office of the Chairman is completed, the Vice Chairman shall succeed the office of Chairman. Both the Chairman and Vice Chairman shall not leave Samoa at the same time. This applies also to the Secretary and the Treasurer. 

"If the Chairman dies before his one (1) year tenure is over, the Vice-Chairman immediately becomes the Chairman and a new Vice-Chairman is elected at the beginning of the next General Assembly. 

"At the close of this said Assembly, the sitting Vice Chairman shall succeed the office of Chairman, and General Assembly elects a new Vice-Chairman. 

"It is inadmissible for the Chairman to be in office for two consecutive years. The election of the Vice Chairman is done twice during the same General Assembly- one at the beginning and at the end."

Also on the agenda for this year's fonotele is the election of a new General Secretary for the General Assembly. The incumbent is Reverend Vavatau Taufao who was re-appointed for a second term in office in 2019. 

Although the appointment of a new Secretary for the church was on last year's agenda, it was deferred to this year's meeting as the constitution is not clear on how the appointments of secretary and treasurer for three-year terms should be counted. 

Reverend Melepone Isaia, who had completed the first year of his three-year term, continues his role as the church's treasurer.