2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2500–2680

2500. The Wesleyan Church, in the fulfillment of its mission to spread scriptural holiness throughout the world (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:100–105), recognizes the following as basic principles for its worldwide organization:

(1) The missionary objectives of The Wesleyan Church, as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2258–2262, call for dynamic worldwide evangelism, resulting in the planting of local churches, which in turn develop into national church structures in the host countries or regions, each of which should become a partner in world evangelism as a unit of The Wesleyan Church worldwide.

(2) Such national churches shall be organized as developing districts, provisional districts, established districts, and national or regional conferences as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2275. As they increase in spiritual, numerical, financial, and organizational strength and maturity, they may become established national/ regional conferences and/or general conferences as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2610–2625.

(3) The Essentials is a statement of faith, practice, and relationship which serves as a unifying bond for all units of The Wesleyan Church around the world. This statement is incorporated in the Charter of The International Conference of The Wesleyan Church (see Appendix A; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:125) and no unit of The Wesleyan Church may contravene any of the provisions of the Essentials in the development of its own book of discipline or in establishing church structures and practice.

(4) The church in each field or area under the Global Partners Division shall endeavor to establish its own pattern of government, since it is recognized that variations in local conditions, cultural patterns, governmental regulations, and other factors require local adaptations in the organizational structure of the church.

(5) The organization and government of the various units under the Global Partners Division shall be set forth in the Policy of the General Board for the Global Partners Division and a book of discipline or a supplement to The Discipline shall be approved by the General Board for each unit (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:205; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:340:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1655:27).

(6) It shall not be the purpose of The Wesleyan Church to keep units under the Global Partners Division dependent on the parent body, but to develop strong churches that are aggressive in assuming responsibility for progress and growth in their own countries or regions, as well as having the vision of participating in the missionary objectives of The Wesleyan Church worldwide.

2550. The North American General Conference shall be composed of the established, provisional, and developing districts in the United States and Canada, all of which are governed by the North American Discipline. The regional/national conferences, established districts and developing areas under the North American Global Partners Division (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2275), and the established national/regional conferences (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2610) are all governed by their own disciplines as approved by the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2500:5), and shall be represented in the North American General Conference according to a plan approved by the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:325; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1655:32).

2560. The General Conference of The Wesleyan Church of the Philippines shall be composed of all developing districts, provisional districts, and established districts in the Philippines and Indonesia and such other units as it shall receive.

2565. The General Conference of The Wesleyan Holiness Church of the Caribbean shall be composed of all developing districts, provisional districts, and established districts in the Caribbean and such other units as it shall receive.

A. Established National/Regional Conferences

2610. A mission unit may be advanced to the status of an established national/regional conference by the authority of the North American General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6515:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6745:11) when it meets the following requirements:

(1) An effective church organization on the local, district, and/or national/regional levels.

(2) Effective programs for the nurture and training of members, new converts, children, young people, and lay workers.

(3) An effective program for ministerial training.

(4) Evidence of responsible stewardship of life and possessions, including the proper management of funds and the provision for the support of its own pastors, workers and officers.

(5) A defined and operational program of evangelism, church planting, and cross-cultural mission outreach.

(6) The existence of a property-holding body, or more than one such body, if required by local laws.

(7) Agreement to adhere to the Essentials of The Wesleyan Church.

(8) A discipline as approved by the General Board.

(9) A recommendation for such status from the Executive Director of Global Partners.

(10) Authorization for such status from the North American General Conference (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6515:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6745:11).

(11) Approval of such status by The International Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6745:11).

2615. An established national/regional conference has “defined autonomy,” the right to manage its own internal governance which includes revising its discipline as long as it does not violate the Essentials. An established national/regional conference remains in relationship with the North American General Conference and the General Superintendent has a continuing role as mentor/coach and participation in the established national/regional conference.

B. General Conferences

2620. An established national/regional conference may be advanced to the status of a general conference by The International Conference of The Wesleyan Church, upon authorization by the North American General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:10; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6745:10; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6515:2i).

2625. A General Conference is a body which has full authority over the Church in its assigned territory, in keeping with the provisions of The International Conference of The Wesleyan Church. A General Conference has the right to manage its own internal governance, including revising its discipline, as long as it does not violate the Essentials.

C. General Conference Interrelations

2630. The relationships between general conferences shall be supervised by the International Board of Appeals. (See Appendix A.)

2640. The unity of The Wesleyan Church worldwide is to be recognized and maintained through the relationships provided in the Charter of The International Conference of The Wesleyan Church (see Appendix A). The North American General Conference shall relate to all other general conferences as outlined in the Charter, including the recognition of the right of members and ministers to transfer membership and/or credentials between general conferences, subject to the same approval as that provided for transfers between its own local churches and districts (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:325; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1655:31; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6730). 2650. There shall be an International Conference of The Wesleyan Church for the purpose of promoting worldwide holiness evangelism in keeping with the mission of The Wesleyan Church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:100-105), the coordinating of the activities of The Wesleyan Church worldwide, the promoting of a closer fellowship and mutual understanding, and the providing of a means for joint planning and cooperative action among all units and general conferences of The Wesleyan Church. (Cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6505.)

2660. The International Conference of The Wesleyan Church shall consist of those bodies which have originated in or which have affiliated with The Wesleyan Church which adhere to the Essentials of The Wesleyan Church and other provisions of its Charter.

2670. The International Conference of The Wesleyan Church shall function through its quadrennial sessions composed of representatives from each general conference, each established national/regional conference, and each mission unit functioning under a missions department. The number of representatives from each unit shall be determined according to the number of members, with due regard to the principle of lay representation. In the interim of International Conference sessions, it shall function through the International Board and the International Board of General Superintendents.

2680. The International Conference of The Wesleyan Church shall be organized and governed in accord with its Charter. (See Appendix A.)