2016 Wesleyan Discipline:Missionary objectives

2258. Vision. The ultimate objective of The Wesleyan Church is to fulfill the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ by sharing with all people the good news and glorious experience of full salvation. 2259. Purpose. The Global Partners Division is responsible for carrying out the missionary objectives of The Wesleyan Church in those fields and areas beyond the national borders of the United States and Canada, and in such other places as shall be assigned to it as approved by the General Conference or the General Board. 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.