2016 Wesleyan Discipline:Reorganization: Of districts

5375. Whenever a district under discipline refuses to offer a written apology and assurance of loyalty as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5365, or whenever the district officials refuse to answer a citation to appear (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5360), the General Board or its Executive Board may authorize the General Superintendent to reorganize the district (Disc. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1655:44). The General Superintendent shall ask for an affirmation of loyalty. Those members and ministers of the district who affirm their loyalty to The Wesleyan Church shall be and constitute the district. Those covenant members and ministers of the district who refuse to affirm such loyalty to The Wesleyan Church shall be declared by the General Superintendent as having withdrawn from The Wesleyan Church, and all offices held by such persons shall thereupon be vacated. Those who are thus declared to be the covenant members and ministers of the district shall be entitled to hold and to use all the district property in the manner as set forth in The Discipline and shall be organized to carry on the work of the district. Should the number of loyal ministers and covenant members be fewer than that required for an established district, the district shall be reclassified by the General Board as a provisional district or developing district as the case may be (cf. Disc. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1034; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1042-1045).