Chapter 6: Local Church Officers and Committees: Difference between revisions

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== A. Function ==
LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
'''<span id="750">750.</span>''' The local board of administration carries out the will of the local church conference, serving as the chief governing and coordinating body of the local church in the interim of local church conference sessions.
A. List of Local Church Officers, Boards and Committees
800. The following summarizes for quick reference the various officers, boards, and committees of the local church:
(1) The church shall have the following officers and personnel, elected by the local church conference:
board of administration, local (750–782)
church secretary (830)
church treasurer or business manager (842)—appointment
may be delegated to the local board of administration delegates to district conference (965; 1086; 1100–1109) pastor (675–725)
trustees (850–859), unless delegated to the local board of
administration
(2) The church shall have the following officers and personnel,
elected by the local board of administration: auditor or auditing committee (863)
offering teller (845:3)
vice-chair of local board of administration (773)
(3) The church may have additional ministry leaders and personnel, as it deems necessary, elected by the local church conference, such as:
associate pastor (738)—elected by the local church conference lay leader (833)—elected by the local church conference spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent
(887–890)
nominating committee (820–823)—up to four additional
committee members who are not local board of administration members to serve with the pastor and two members elected by the local board of administration from among its membership
(4) The church may have additional ministry leaders and personnel, as it deems necessary, elected by the local board of administration, such as:
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800:4 LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT
  adult ministry director, staff and team (924) assistant treasurer (845:1)
assistant pastor (741)
building committee (856:6)
children’s ministry director, staff, and team (880:2, 7–8) communion committee (873)
custodial staff (782:17; 856:5)
day care and/or day school committee (655:19–20;
782:36–37; 1233:35)
educational director (926)
evangelism director and committee (935; 960)
fellowship committee (880:19)
finance and stewardship committee (865–868)
financial or tithing secretary (845:2)
judicial committee (970; 5110)
lay assistant to the pastor (744)
literature secretary (928)
missions director and committee (930; 955)
music committee (873)
music minister or director (870)
nominating committee (820–823)—two members elected by
the local board of administration from its membership office staff (725:29; 782:17)
pastor’s advisory committee (795)
spiritual formation leadership team (875–880)
Sunday school staff and committee (895–903)
ushering committee (873)
witness and membership committee (835–837)
women’s ministry officers and committees (945)
Wesleyan Youth adult leader, officers, and committees (922)
B. General Regulations 1. Minimum Organization
807. Developing church. A developing church may operate without any regularly constituted officers other than the pastor, but will ordinarily have a local advisory council of three to five members appointed by the district superintendent in cooperation with the pastor. The pastor and these members
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LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 815:4
== B. Membership ==
  will form the local advisory council. This council may then appoint such other officers and committees as are needed and for which qualified personnel are available (cf. 510:3).
'''<span id="752">752.</span> Local Board of Administration Organizational Options.''' The local church conference shall adopt one of the following structural models for the organization and election of the local board of administration (cf. 315:5). All board members shall be adult members, whose lives bear witness to the grace of holy living (297:1; 302:3–4; 552:2–3; 553:1–3); who are in harmony with our Articles of Religion, Membership Commitments, and the authority of The Wesleyan Church in matters of church government (297:3; 553:1–2); and who are faithful in worship attendance, involved in personal ministry, and supportive of the church financially at least to the level of personal tithing (265:3; 297:4).
810. Church. An established church, in addition to the local church conference and the local board of administration, shall have a minimum organization consisting of a local church secretary (830), a local church treasurer (842), an offering teller (845:3), an auditing committee (863), and a board of trustees consisting of at least three members (850–859). Normally it would have a Sunday school superintendent and staff (889–910). Additional offices, positions, and committees may be added as provided herewith by the local church conference and the local board of administration as need requires and as qualified personnel are available.
:'''<span id="752.1">(1)</span> Standard Model.''' The local board of administration shall be comprised minimally of the pastor as chair (675, 678, 725:16, 735), the associate pastor (if any and except when the pastor’s spouse; 678, 738), the vice-chair (773), the church secretary (830), the church treasurer or business manager (842). If the church has a separate board of trustees, at least one trustee shall be designated by the local church conference to serve as an ex officio member of the local board of administration (315:6, 850). Additional members-at-large may be elected by the local church conference in such numbers as it shall determine. It is recommended that the total number of all voting members of the local board of administration using the standard model should not exceed twelve persons.
2. Church Officers
:'''<span id="752.2">(2)</span> Alternate Models.''' Alternate models of local church governance may be considered by the local church conference in consultation with the district superintendent and with the prior approval of the district board of administration. When evaluating proposed alternate models, the district board of administration shall give due consideration to safeguard the following constitutional and practical principles:
815. The church officers shall include all members of the local board of administration, local church trustees, lay leader, delegates to district conference and assistant treasurer, who shall serve subject to the following regulations:
::'''<span id="752.2.a">(a)</span>''' All local church officers, local board of administration members, trustees, and district conference delegates must be members who meet the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558), of the local church electing them (302:3–4, 552:2–3, 815).
(1) They must be members of the local Wesleyan church electing them (302:4; 558) and members who meet the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558).
::'''<span id="752.2.b">(b)</span>''' All officers, board members, trustees, and district conference delegates must be elected by the eligible voting members of the local church conference (315:5–7). No pastor or other official has any right to appoint an officer or declare an office vacant (315:5). Since the right to elect officers and trustees vests solely in each pastoral charge (315:5–6), no board has the right to become self-perpetuating by electing its own members, other than temporarily filling unexpired terms when vacancies occur in the interim of local church conferences (782:27).
(2) They shall be elected by the local church conference at its annual session (315:5–7; cf. 820–823), except assistant treasurers (see 845) and persons filling offices designated by the local church conference as ex officio members of the local board of administration but chosen by the local board of administration (cf. 752). Vacancies occurring between annual sessions of the local church conference shall be filled for the unexpired term by the local board of administration. Vacancies may occur by death, by cessation of membership in The Wesleyan Church, by resignation from office or by removal (815:4).
::'''<span id="752.2.c">(c)</span>''' Due to obvious conflicts of interest, no compensated church staff member may vote on compensation issues on the governing board of the local church by which he or she is employed. The only exception is the pastor, who is the chair but not an employee of the local board of administration, rather being called by the local church conference and appointed by the district conference (323:1–2).
(3) They shall carry out their duties as given in The Discipline and as further defined by the local church conference and the local board of administration.
::'''<span id="752.2.d">(d)</span>''' No member may be excluded from local church leadership on the basis of ancestry, color or gender (360:3d).
(4) They shall be under the general supervision of the pastor, shall be amenable to the local church conference, and may be removed for cause or when the best interests of the church so require, upon recommendation of the local board of administration and by a majority vote of the local church conference, or as otherwise provided for (cf. 752:1; 815:2; 825:4).
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'''<span id="755">755.</span>''' It is recommended that no two persons of the same household be elected to serve on the same local board of administration, that no person shall be elected to more than one office carrying ex officio membership on the board, and it is recommended that a former pastor should not serve on the local board of administration (3097).
820 LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT
  3. Nominating Committee
820. Each established church may have a nominating committee consisting of the pastor as chair and two members who meet the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558) elected by the local board of administration from its membership (655:3; 782:22). The local church conference may, at its option, elect up to four additional members who meet the leadership qualifications who are not members of the local board of administration. If the local church conference does not exercise its option to elect at least one additional member who meets the leadership qualifications, then the local board of administration shall elect one additional member with the leadership qualifications who may or may not be a member of the local board of administration.
823. When a nominating committee has been established, it shall present to the local church conference, at its annual session, nominations for each of the following officers: lay leader (if any), local church secretary, local church treasurer (if any), the Sunday school superintendent (if any), and one or more trustees (850). One or more names shall be presented for each office (cf. 755). The nominating committee shall present, at the properly announced session of the local church conference (cf. 965; 1103), nominations for as many delegates to the district conference as the district board of administration shall determine (1100). The nominating committee may be used for other nominations as ordered by the local church conference, or as ordered by the local board of administration for positions elected by the board (cf. 825).
4. Other Positions
825. Persons holding positions of service within the local church, other than those specifically designated as church officers in 815, and including membership on committees, shall be governed by the following regulations:
(1) They shall be members of the local Wesleyan church electing them.
(2) They shall be elected annually by the local board of administration
(782:23, 25), or as otherwise provided (cf. 880:7).
(3) They shall carry out their duties as given in The Discipline and as further defined by the local church conference and local board of administration. (4) They shall be under the general supervision of the pastor, shall be amenable to the local board of administration, and may be removed for cause or when the best interests of the church so require, by a majority vote of the local
board of administration.
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'''<span id="758">758.</span>''' A local church conference may, by a two-thirds vote, adopt three-year terms for the local board of administration, with approximately one-third being elected each year.
LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 830:5
  (5) Vacancies may occur by death, by cessation of membership in The Wesleyan Church, by resignation from office or by removal (825:4) and shall be filled for the unexpired term by the local board of administration.
5. Installation Service
828. Those elected to church offices and to other positions of service within the local church may be installed in office at an annual installation service following the ritual given in 5915–5925.
C. Witness and Membership 1. Church Secretary
830. The local church conference, at its annual session, shall elect by ballot, from among its members who meet the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558), a church secretary (cf. 820–823), to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. The church secretary shall be an ex officio member of the local board of administration (775). General regulations covering this office are given in 815. The duties and powers of the local church secretary shall be:
(1) To record correctly and to preserve faithfully the minutes of all sessions of the local church conference and the local board of administration. (2) To maintain the local church’s record of membership, record of baptisms, marriages, and pastoral terms, and other information essential to a
permanent written record of the life and ministry of the church (610).
(3) To issue, in conjunction with the pastor, all letters of transfer, recommendation, and withdrawal (575; 590–592; 6000–6040); and to sign, in conjunction with the pastor (725:28), licenses for lay ministers granted by
the local church conference (655:7; 782:20).
(4) To send to the district secretary a certified list of lay delegates to the
district conference duly elected by the local church conference, immediately upon their election, and subsequently to certify an alternate delegate (cf. 965; 1100–1109).
(5) To have custody of all record books of all departments of the church, including auxiliary organizations, after such books are full or in disuse, and to take whatever steps are necessary to preserve them and other historical records and materials, as directed by the pastor and the local board of administration.
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833 LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT
== C. Sessions ==
  2. Lay Leader
'''<span id="760">760.</span> Regular Sessions.''' It is recommended that the local board of administration meet monthly.
833. The local church conference, at its annual session, may elect by ballot, from among its members who meet the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558) a lay leader (cf. 820–823), who shall serve for one year or until a successor is elected, and whose function shall be to assist the pastor in such manner as the pastor shall recommend and the local church conference shall approve. General regulations concerning this office are given in 815. The duties of the lay leader may include any or all of the following: member ex officio of the local board of administration (752), leader under the pastor’s direction of church prayer meetings or of small groups, classes or neighborhood prayer cells for the deepening of spiritual life and home evangelism.
3. Committee on Witness and Membership
835. The local board of administration may establish a committee on witness and membership, composed of the pastor, the vice-chair of the local board of administration, the local church secretary, the lay leader (if any), and such other members as the local board of administration shall elect. The local board of administration shall name a board member as chair of the committee, and the committee shall choose its own vice-chair and secretary. General regulations governing membership on this committee are given in 825.
837. The local board of administration shall assign such duties to the committee on witness and membership as it deems best, including any or all of the following:
(1) To conduct the examination of candidates for membership; to counsel with members concerning any failure to observe the Membership Commitments (265); to have initial responsibility in the annual revision of the membership roll; to assist the pastor in any attempts to restore members who have ceased to attend or support the church; and to make recommendations concerning all these matters to the local board of administration in accordance with the principles of Christian discipline (268; 782:8–13).
(2) To make recommendations to the local board of administration concerning revivals and other evangelistic efforts.
(3) To alert the local church to its responsibilities in the area of community social and political reform, recommending courses of action it deems necessary to the local board of administration (cf. 410).
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'''<span id="763">763.</span> Special Sessions.''' The local board of administration may authorize special sessions as it deems necessary, or it may be called into special session by the pastor, the vice-chair (for sessions dealing with a pastoral vote or with the pastor’s financial support and related matters), or in times of emergency by the district superintendent or a representative appointed by the district superintendent. A special session may be held at any time if all members of the local board of administration are present. Otherwise, each shall have been notified either personally or by a notice mailed to the residence of the board member at least forty-eight hours prior to the convening of the session. A special session may not be conducted in the absence of the pastor except as provided for in 773.
LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 842:4
  (4) To nominate, for election by the local board of administration, such standing or special subcommittees as the local board of administration shall approve, with a member of the committee as chair of each.
D. Finance and Stewardship 1. Church Treasurer
842. The local church shall have either a local church treasurer or a business manager. If there is a church treasurer, that officer shall be elected by the local church conference, at its annual election, by ballot, from among the members who meet the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558), to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. Or the local church conference may authorize the local board of administration to appoint a treasurer or to appoint or employ a business manager who will assume the duties of the treasurer. The financial concerns may be represented on the local board of administration by the church treasurer or the business manager or the chair of the finance and stewardship committee as provided in 865. The duties and powers of the person charged with the local church treasury are:
(1) To receive, hold and disburse, as ordered by the local church conference or the local board of administration, and in harmony with the financial plans of the General Church and of the district, all moneys of the local church, including such of the departments and auxiliary organizations as the local board of administration shall order. All funds raised by the local departments, other than the auxiliaries, for General Church or district work or for purposes other than local church work, and all money or pledges raised by representatives of the General Church or district in deputation work, shall be transferred to or placed in the local church treasury and shall be disbursed for their designated purpose by the local church treasurer.
(2) To keep complete and accurate records of all moneys raised and of the manner in which they are disbursed, and to provide the pastor with information concerning the same as the pastor shall require.
(3) To make monthly reports to the local board of administration, which shall be available upon request to any member of the local church, and to make reports to all regular sessions of the local church conference.
(4) To make monthly remittances of all USF and district funds to the district treasurer and remittances of all other General Church funds to the General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer or directly to the general department for which the funds are intended.
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'''<span id="767">767.</span> Evaluation Session.''' Periodically, either during regular sessions or in a session called specifically for self-evaluation, the local board of administration shall consider its priorities, review the distribution of its time, and evaluate the effectiveness of its efforts, using the duties and powers listed in The Discipline as a guide. The method and extent of each evaluation shall be determined by the board, but special attention should be focused on those responsibilities that are most likely to contribute to future outreach and growth to the glory of God.
842:5 LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT
  (5) To issue receipts annually to all regular contributors showing their total tithes and offerings and the various items of giving, and to issue other receipts as requested or by order of the local board of administration.
(6) To submit all books for audit by the auditing committee annually (863), or more frequently if so ordered by the local board of administration, and to submit to the local board of administration the complete treasurer’s records at such time as the person shall cease to hold the office of treasurer.
845. Assistants for the local church treasurer are provided for as follows:
(1) An assistant treasurer may be elected by the local board of administration, with authority to sign checks when the treasurer is unable to do so. (2) A financial secretary or tithing secretary may be elected by the local board of administration to assist the treasurer in keeping the record of
individual tithes and offerings (842:5).
(3) One or more tellers shall be elected by the local board of administration
to assist the treasurer in the counting of all tithes and offerings, all moneys being counted by two or more persons and recorded as to date of reception, purpose of the offering, and amount. These records shall be preserved and made available to the auditor or auditing committee.
2. Board of Trustees
850. Election. The local church conference, unless the duties and powers of the board of trustees have been delegated to the local board of administration, shall elect by ballot from among its members who meet the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558) a board of trustees (cf. 315:6; 820–823), three to seven in number, one or more being elected at a given annual session for a term of three years, so that the terms of all shall not expire at the same time, or they may be elected to serve until their successors are elected; provided that the manner and conditions of election may be altered to conform to the local laws. At least one of the trustees shall be designated annually by the local church conference as a member of the local board of administration (752). If the local church conference delegates the duties and powers of the trustees to the local board of administration, that board may from its membership elect from three to seven to serve as the board of trustees. General regulations covering this office are given in 815.
853. Organization and Procedure. The board of trustees shall meet following the annual session of the local church conference to elect a chair, vice-chair, and secretary, and shall meet at such other times as ordered by the local board of administration or as made necessary by their duties.
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LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 859:1
== D. Organization and Procedure ==
  856. Duties and Powers. The local board of trustees shall carry out their duties as required by The Discipline (cf. 4500–4780) and shall be responsible: (1) To carry out the instructions of the local church conference and the local board of administration in supervising, controlling, maintaining, and
===1. Officers===
improving all church property (315:6; 655:13; 782:28).
'''<span id="770">770.</span> Chair.'' The pastor shall be chair of the local board of administration, ex officio, presiding over all sessions except as noted in 773.
(2) To supervise such expenditures as have been approved by the local
church conference or the local board of administration for repairs, improvements, and alterations.
(3) To attend to all legal matters regarding the acquisition, purchase, sale, mortgage, transfer or other disposition of property as properly authorized (4700–4720); to see that titles are correct, contain the proper trust clause (4610), are approved by the district superintendent (1310:13; 4700:5), and are recorded (4540); and to see that property and legal records are properly stored (4760).
(4) To attend to all other legal matters pertaining to the local church, as authorized and directed by the local church conference or the local board of administration, including renting property, borrowing money, and receiving and administering bequests and trusts.
(5) To nominate to the local board of administration all custodians.
(6) To serve, unless the local church conference shall order a larger or
separate committee, as a building committee for the planning and erection of a new sanctuary, educational unit or parsonage or a major remodeling program, and to assist the pastor in preparing and submitting all building plans to the district building committee for their approval (1345).
(7) To carry out the directions of the local church conference or local board of administration concerning the purchase, sale, mortgage, transfer or other disposition of property, provided that such transactions have been approved by the district building committee and district board of administration as set forth in 4700–4780.
(8) To make recommendations to the local board of administration concerning sufficient property and liability insurance on the property and for any vehicles owned and operated by the local church, and to carry out the instructions of the local board of administration in securing such insurance (782:29).
(9) To make such reports as are requested by the local church conference or the local board of administration.
859. Restrictions. The local board of trustees shall be subject to the following restrictions:
(1) The local board of trustees must carry out the instructions of the local board of administration, the local church conference, and the district
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'''<span id="773">773.</span> Vice-Chair.''' The pastor may nominate and the local board of administration shall elect one of its members as vice-chair. The vice-chair may preside over meetings of the local board of administration when a pastoral vote or the pastor’s support is under discussion (for exceptions, cf. 712; 722:2). The vice- chair may also preside over sessions or portions of sessions of the local church conference dealing with a pastoral vote or the pastor’s support when neither the district superintendent nor a representative of the district superintendent are present (635; 692:2). The vice-chair may preside, at the request of the pastor, over other sessions of the local board of administration or of the local church conference. In emergencies, when the pastor is absent or incapacitated, the vice- chair may also preside over other sessions of the local board of administration and local church conference with the permission of the district superintendent. The district superintendent or a representative of the district superintendent shall preside over all sessions of the local board of administration considering the termination of a pastoral agreement (712; 722:2), and in times of emergency.
859:1 LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT
  board of administration. If a local trustee refuses to carry out such instructions when the instructions meet all the requirements of local laws and of The Discipline, the trustee may be removed from office as given in 815:4 (cf. 4530).
(2) The local board of trustees cannot mortgage or otherwise encumber local church property without the express authorization of the local church conference and the approval of the district board of administration as set forth in 4700–4720.
(3) The local board of trustees cannot deny the use of the parsonage, church building or other local church buildings, to the pastor who has been duly appointed by the district conference or district board of administration, nor the use of the church building to the membership of the local church and duly elected officials of The Wesleyan Church (cf. 4770).
(4) The local board of trustees cannot divert church property from The Wesleyan Church (4550; 4780).
(5) When a church is reclassified as a developing church (cf. 518:7; 1233:30), the office and power of the local board of trustees shall cease, and all property shall pass directly under the control of the district board of administration (cf. 4670).
3. Auditing Committee
863. The local board of administration shall be responsible to provide for the annual internal or external auditing of the books of the local church treasurer and of all departmental and auxiliary treasurers, either through the election of an auditing committee or the employment of an auditor. If an auditing committee is used for some or all of the treasuries, it shall consist of one to three persons. A report to certify the results of the annual audit shall be presented to the local board of administration. General regulations concerning committee members are given in 825.
4. Committee on Finance and Stewardship
865. The local board of administration may establish a committee on finance and stewardship. The local board of administration shall name a board member as chair of the committee, and the committee shall choose its own vice-chair and secretary. General regulations governing membership on this committee are given in 825.
868. The local board of administration shall assign such duties to the committee on finance and stewardship as it deems best.
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'''<span id="775">775.</span> Secretary.''' The local church secretary shall be secretary of the local board of administration ex officio (830). If the secretary is absent, the local board of administration may elect a secretary pro tem.
LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 878
  E. Worship
870. Musicians, including song leaders, choir directors, organists, and pianists shall be appointed by the pastor (cf. 725:5). The local board of administration may appoint or, if authorized by the local church conference, may employ a minister or director of music nominated by the pastor (738– 744). The duties of the minister or director of music shall be defined by the pastor and the local board of administration. General regulations covering these offices are given in 825.
873. The local board of administration may establish committees on music, ushering, and communion services, electing their members and defining their duties. General regulations governing membership on such committees are given in 825.
F. Spiritual Formation
1. Local Church Spiritual Formation Leadership Team
875. Membership. The local board of administration shall serve as or shall establish a local spiritual formation leadership team (782:25). The pastor shall serve as chair unless the pastor shall recommend and the local board of administration shall assign this duty to another member of the local board of administration, such as the associate or assistant pastor or other qualified person. If a separate board is established, the local board of administration shall determine its membership, electing qualified members in keeping with the provisions of 825 and/or designating ex officio members from among the heads of the various spiritual formation agencies and auxiliaries (870; 889; 915–928), assigning such duties to it as the local board of administration deems fit (cf. 880). The local spiritual formation leadership team shall elect its own secretary.
878. Age-level Divisions. Whenever the local spiritual formation leadership team shall so recommend, and the local board of administration shall so authorize, the local spiritual formation leadership team may organize its members and such other spiritual formation leaders and workers as it shall choose into three age-level divisions: the children’s division, the youth division, and the adult division. Each division shall serve to coordinate all spiritual formation and fellowship activities conducted by the local church or any of its branches for the age level assigned.
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===2. Procedure===
880 LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT
  880. Duties and Powers. The duties and powers of the local spiritual formation leadership team shall be:
(1) To study, organize, promote, and conduct, under the leadership of the pastor, and subject to the direction of the local board of administration, the total program of spiritual formation for the local church, in keeping with the denominational objectives for spiritual formation (2306), and the standards established by the General Board and promoted through the Church Multiplication and Discipleship and the Education and Clergy Development Divisions.
(2) To establish, structure, and supervise, in keeping with The Discipline, and the standards adopted by the General Board, such spiritual formation agencies as are authorized by the local board of administration, including the Sunday school, Wesleyan Youth, Wesleyan Kids for Missions, children’s church, weekday church school, released time classes, and vacation Bible school.
(3) To coordinate all spiritual formation agencies (cf. 880:2), activities and functions of the local church, setting goals, evaluating procedures, exploring new areas of need, and assigning responsibilities to the various departments and auxiliaries.
(4) To determine, in keeping with The Discipline and the standards adopted by the General Board, the curricula of the various agencies, always using curriculum materials approved by the General Board and secured from the Wesleyan Publishing House.
(5) To recommend to the local board of administration for the consideration of the local church conference the appointment and/or the employment of a minister or director of spiritual formation, and to advise the pastor and the local board of administration in defining all duties. Such a person must be a member who meets the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558) of the local church appointing and/or employing the person (cf. 738–744).
(6) To enlist and train administrators and teachers for all phases of the local church’s spiritual formation task, in keeping with the leadership training program adopted by the General Board.
(7) To submit nominations, or to appoint a committee of its membership to submit nominations, to the local board of administration for all members of the spiritual formation leadership team other than the Sunday school superintendent, all teachers, and to elect all other officers and teachers except the officers of Wesleyan Youth and WKFM unless the local board of administration instructs the church nominating committee to fulfill these duties (820–823).
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'''<span id="778">778.</span> Quorum.''' A majority of the members of the local board of administration shall constitute a quorum.
LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 880:20
  (8) To appoint administrative committees for each educational agency other than WY or WKFM, including in each such committee the executive officer involved and other workers or advisors as shall be deemed best (cf. 903; 913).
(9) To remove from office by majority vote any worker elected by the local church spiritual formation leadership team when such is in the best interest of the work, and to recommend to the local board of administration the removal of any officer or teacher in local spiritual formation (875–928) elected by the local board of administration.
(10) To organize a training hour, providing for all age levels, selecting the necessary leaders and instructors, and assigning responsibilities to the appropriate agencies (cf. 880:2–3).
(11) To assist the pastor and the local board of administration in conducting classes in membership preparation (cf. 566–570; 725:11; 782:8; 2310:3).
(12) Toconductorassignresponsibilityforconductingworkers’conferences.
(13) To recommend to the local board of administration modifications or enlargement of educational facilities, and the purchase of educational equipment including audiovisuals; to allocate space for various schools and agencies, both for assemblies and classes; and to supervise the storage and use of all equipment.
(14) To promote the interests of The Wesleyan Church educational institutions in cooperation with the General Director of Education and the Ministry, the officials of the general educational institutions within the area, and the district educational director.
(15) To conduct extension classes, small group Bible studies, and branch Sunday schools when such are properly authorized (cf. 655:16; 782:6).
(16) To minister to persons on nearby college campuses and military bases in keeping with the programs promoted by the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division.
(17) To observe such special days as shall be designated by the General Board and promoted by the Church Multiplication and Discipleship and Education and Clergy Development Divisions, and as shall be designated by district agencies.
(18) To be responsible for special programs, such as Christmas and vacation Bible school, assigning responsibilities as it deems best, with all plans subject to the approval of the pastor and the local board of administration.
(19) To serve as a committee on fellowship, or to nominate a subcommittee on fellowship for election by the local board of administration. (20) To encourage and direct ministries of Christian family life in order to
enrich the quality of homes and families within the local church constituency.
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'''<span id="780">780.</span> Voting.''' A majority vote of those present and voting shall be sufficient in all items of business except when voting on the reception of a member against whom an objection has been made, which shall require a two- thirds majority vote of those present and voting (567; 782:9); and when petitioning the district board of administration to remove a pastor during the initial call, which shall require a two-thirds majority vote of those present and voting (712; 782:14).
880:21 LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT
  (21) To nominate, for election by the local board of administration, such standing or special subcommittees as the local board of administration shall approve, with a member of the local spiritual formation leadership team as chair of each.
(22) To exercise full authority in such of the duties covered under 880:1–21 as shall be delegated by the local board of administration.
2. Sunday School a. Function
885. Each local church shall provide for systematic Bible study. The Sunday school normally serves as the basic agency for such study. Small group Bible studies and other programs or events that promote making more and better disciples of Jesus Christ are to be considered by the local church as well.
b. Administration
887. General. The Sunday school shall be governed by the local church conference and the local board of administration through the local spiritual formation leadership team, under the general supervision of the pastor. Immediate administration shall be the responsibility of either a spiritual formation minister or director or Sunday school superintendent and a spiritual formation leadership team. If administration is through a superintendent and a leadership team, the structure outlined in paragraphs 889–910 shall be followed. If administration is through a minister or director of spiritual formation, the local board of administration may determine the structure and assign responsibilities as it sees fit. In all cases, administrators shall carry out their assignment in keeping with The Discipline, the General Board Policy for the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division, the standard adopted by the General Board and promoted through the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division, and the programs of the division and of the district spiritual formation leadership team.
889. Spiritual Formation Director or Sunday School Superintendent.
The local church conference, at its annual session, may elect by ballot, from among its members who meet the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558), a spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent (cf. 820–823), to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. The director or superintendent shall be an ex officio member of the local board of administration (752), unless
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===3. Local Church Governance Philosophy===
LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 895
  the local church conference by prior action has voted to eliminate the spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent as an ex officio member of the local board of administration. General regulations concerning this office are given in 815. The duties and powers of the spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent shall be:
(1) To have executive supervision of the spiritual formation of the local church, administering its affairs in keeping with the provisions of 887.
(2) To consult with the pastor and the spiritual formation leadership team, if there is such (903), on all major decisions.
(3) To promote interest in and attendance in all spiritual formation endeavors.
(4) To have immediate supervision of each spiritual formation session seeing that each age division and class has the necessary leaders and that order is maintained.
(5) To counsel with the spiritual formation leaders and teachers about their work.
(6) To make a full report of statistics and general information to the local board of administration quarterly, to the local church conference at each regular session, and to the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division and the district spiritual formation director as required (cf. 895).
890. Director of Spiritual Formation. If a church seeks to provide a comprehensive approach to discipleship, including both Sunday school and small groups, upon vote of the local church conference it may elect a director of spiritual formation in place of a Sunday school superintendent. The director of spiritual formation will assume the Sunday school superintendent’s responsibilities as outlined in 889, plus assume full responsibility to administer and coordinate weekday small groups under the direction of the pastor and local board of administration, seeking to provide a fully coordinated approach in local church spiritual formation.
895. Sunday School Secretary. The local board of administration shall, at the time of its annual election (782:23; 825), elect from nominations submitted by the local spiritual formation leadership team (875; 880:7) a Sunday school secretary, to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. The Sunday school secretary shall maintain complete records of enrollment, attendance, absentees, visitors, and such other items as shall be required, and assist the pastor and the spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent in the preparation of reports involving Sunday school statistics. The local board of Christian education shall appoint such assistants as the Sunday school secretary shall require.
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'''<span id="781">781.</span>''' The health and growth of the local church is a shared responsibility, with the board focused on governing, the pastor on leading, the staff (employed or volunteer) on managing, and the congregation on ministering to the community and to one another.  
898 LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT
  898. Sunday School Treasurer. The local board of administration may, at the time of its annual election (782:23; 825), elect from nominations submitted by the local spiritual formation leadership team (875; 880:7) a Sunday school treasurer, to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. Or the local board of administration may recommend, and the local church conference order, that the Sunday school funds be received by the local church treasurer as part of a common treasury. If there is a separate Sunday school treasurer elected, that person shall receive, hold, and disburse the Sunday school funds as ordered by the local board of administration, reporting concerning all receipts and expenditures to the local board of administration monthly, and to each regular session of the local church conference. All General Church and district funds raised by the Sunday school shall be transferred to the local church treasurer for forwarding to the proper destination (842:1).
900. Sunday School Departmental Supervisors. The local board of administration may, at the time of its annual election (782:23; 825), elect from nominations submitted by the spiritual formation leadership team (875; 880:7) a supervisor for each department (cf. 913). The departmental supervisor shall assist the spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent, being responsible for the general operation of the department including the assembly period of the department, and the immediate supervision of each session of age division (cf. 889:4). The local spiritual formation leadership team shall appoint such other departmental officers as may be needed.
903. Sunday School Committee. The immediate administration of the Sunday school may be vested in a Sunday school committee, subject to the approval of and correlated with the plans of the local spiritual formation leadership team. It shall be composed of the spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent as chair, the pastor (or if the pastor prefers, the associate or assistant pastor), and the other age division directors of the spiritual formation leadership team.
906. Spiritual Formation Leaders or Teachers. The local board of administration shall, at the time of its annual election (782:23; 825), elect from nominations submitted by the local spiritual formation leadership team (875; 880:7) such spiritual formation leaders, teachers, and assistants as are needed, to serve for one year or until their successors are elected.
910. Amenability. General regulations covering the amenability, removal, and filling of vacancies for spiritual formation officers, departmental supervisors and teachers elected by the local board of administration are found in 825. All others appointed by the local spiritual formation leadership team are amenable to the local spiritual formation leadership team and can be replaced as it sees fit.
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====The local board of administration governs the local church primarily by====
LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 926
:'''<span id="781.lba.a">(a)</span>''' clarifying its mission and stating the primary outcomes it exists to achieve;
  c. Organization
:'''<span id="781.lba.b">(b)</span>''' setting guiding principles within which the pastor and staff have great discretion and freedom to work in order to achieve the mission, including the adoption of operating policies, the budget, and measurable, annual goals proposed by the pastor for accomplishing the mission;
913. Guidelines for organization of spiritual formation ministries and Sunday school shall be provided through the General Board Policy for the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division and the standard adopted by the General Board and promoted through the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division.
:'''<span id="781.lba.c">(c) </span>'''periodically evaluating the established goals in consultation with the district superintendent, giving special attention to rewarding achievement or requiring specific plans for improvement in areas of underperformance; and  
3. Children’s Ministries
:'''<span id="781.lba.d">(d)</span>''' protecting the pastor, staff, and church by dealing with problem issues and persons that threaten fulfillment of the mission.
915. Each local church may maintain a local ministry to children according to the General Board Policy for the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division.
4. Youth Ministries
922. Each local church may maintain a Wesleyan Youth ministry according to the General Board Policy for the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division.
5. Adult Ministries
924. Each local church may maintain a local adults ministry according to The General Board Policy for spiritual formation and the standard adopted by the General Board and as promoted through the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division.
6. Local Educational Director
926. The local board of administration may, at the time of its annual election (782:23; 825), elect a local educational director, to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. General regulations concerning this office are given in 825. The local education director shall promote the interests of the general educational institutions within the area, in keeping with the programs of the Education and Clergy Development Division, the officials of the schools and the district educational director, and shall recruit students from the local church constituency for the schools.
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====As leader of the local church, the pastor is responsible for====
928 LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT
:'''<span id="781.pastor.a">(a)</span>''' inspiring and teaching the congregation through word and example;
  7. Literature Secretary
:'''<span id="781.pastor.b">(b)</span>''' chairing, motivating, and informing the board;
928. The local board of administration may, at the time of its annual election (782:23; 825), elect a literature secretary, to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. General regulations concerning this office are given in 825. The literature secretary shall be assigned such duties as the local board of administration shall determine, such as the handling and distribution of Sunday school literature, the management of a church and/or Sunday school library, and the promoting of the interests of the Wesleyan Publishing House.
:'''<span id="781.pastor.c">(c)</span>''' operating within the boundaries of established guiding principles;
G. Missions and Evangelism 1. Local Director of Missions
:'''<span id="781.pastor.d">(d)</span>''' proposing measurable goals for adoption by the board;
930. The local board of administration may, at the time of its annual election (782:23; 825), elect a local director of missions, to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. General regulations concerning this office are given in 825. The local director of missions shall assist the pastor in promoting the work of world missions, in keeping with the policies and programs of the Global Partners Division, the district conference and district board of administration and the district director of world missions.
:'''<span id="781.pastor.e">(e)</span>''' selecting, directing, and supervising the staff (employed or volunteer) for the daily operations and ministries of the church in order to accomplish mission-centered goals; and
2. Local Director of Evangelism
:'''<span id="781.pastor.f">(f)</span>''' being accountable to the board for achieving mutually agreed upon goals. In summary, the board focuses on mission clarity, policy, goals, evaluation, and accountability; the pastor and staff focus on leadership and management.
935. The local board of administration may at the time of its annual election (782:23; 825) elect a local director of evangelism to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. General regulations concerning this office are given in 825. The local director of evangelism shall assist the pastor in promoting the work of evangelism in the local church in accordance with the mission of The Wesleyan Church (100) and in cooperation with the district director of evangelism and church growth (1426). The local director of evangelism shall also assist the pastor in the follow-up and discipling of new Christians, in the recruiting and training of workers for visitation evangelism, and in the administration of evangelism and follow-up programs.
3. Women’s Ministry
945. Each local church may maintain a women’s ministry according to the General Board Policy for the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division.
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LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 960
  4. Wesleyan Kids for Missions
950. Each local church may maintain a local chapter of Wesleyan Kids for
Missions.
5. Committee on Missions
955. The local board of administration may establish a committee on missions, composed of the pastor, the local director of missions, the president of men’s ministry or a representative of the men’s group, the director of women’s ministry, the coordinator of Wesleyan Kids for Missions, and such other members as the local board of administration shall elect. General regulations governing the elected membership on this committee are given in 825. The local board of administration shall name the chair of the committee, and the committee shall choose its own vice-chair and director.
958. The local board of administration shall assign such duties to the committee on missions as it deems best, including any or all of the following: (1) To promote the interests of Wesleyan world missions, in keeping with the programs of the Global Partners Division and the district director of world
missions.
(2) To coordinate all missionary promotion and fund raising of the local
church and its various departments and auxiliaries.
(3) To carry out all programs of missionary education authorized and
assigned by the local board of Christian education.
(4) To make recommendations to the local board of administration
concerning missionary conventions and services.
(5) To nominate, for election by the local board of administration,
such standing or special subcommittees as the local board of administration shall approve, with a member of the committee as chair of each.
6. Committee on Evangelism
960. The local board of administration may establish a committee on evangelism, composed of the pastor, the local director of evangelism, and such other members as the local board of administration shall elect. General regulations concerning membership on the committee are given in 825. The local board of administration shall assign such duties to the committee on evangelism as it deems best, including any or all of the following:
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== E. Duties and Powers ==
960:1 LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT
'''<span id="782">782.</span>''' The local board of administration shall administer the affairs of the church in keeping with The Discipline, other general and district regulations, and the directions of the local church conference, and shall be responsible:
===General===
(1) To promote the work of evangelism through the local church in accordance with the mission of The Wesleyan Church (100).
:'''<span id="782.1">(1)</span>''' To direct all activities of the church toward the spiritual, moral, and social maturity of its people.
(2) To organize, in cooperation with the pastor, the calling and visitation programs of the church.
:'''<span id="782.2">(2)</span>''' To provide a place of worship.
(3) To organize, in cooperation with the pastor, follow-up and discipleship programs for new converts.
:'''<span id="782.3">(3)</span>''' To counsel with the pastor, as the pastor may request, concerning all phases of the pastor’s work, and to coordinate the work of all the officers, boards, committees, and auxiliaries of the church.
(4) To provide for and oversee, in cooperation with the local spiritual formation leadership team, the training of workers for outreach evangelism and discipleship ministries.
:'''<span id="782.4">(4)</span>''' To cooperate with the pastor in evaluating the health of the local church; establishing policies, goals, and objectives for more effectively fulfilling the mission of the church; empowering the pastor to pursue the goals and objectives, within the established policies and through the staff and members; and periodically receiving performance reports from the pastor regarding progress.
(5) To make recommendations to the local board of administration concerning evangelistic services and to assist in promotion and conducting of such efforts.
:'''<span id="782.5">(5)</span>''' To receive monthly reports from the pastor (725:32), associate and assistant pastor(s), church treasurer (842:3), Sunday school treasurer (898); quarterly reports from the spiritual formation director; quarterly reports from the Sunday school superintendent (889:6); and reports as the local board of administration shall require from all officers, boards, committees, auxiliaries, and auxiliary officers.
(6) To alert the church to its wider responsibilities in meeting social and material needs of its community as such needs are discovered through its calling and discipling ministries.
:'''<span id="782.6">(6)</span>''' To direct the church in its evangelistic outreach, seeking to win its community to Christ; to establish an extension department of spiritual formation (880:15; 913); to recommend to the local church conference the establishment and operation of a mission, a branch Sunday school, a branch small group Bible study, or a developing church, as it deems necessary and proper (cf. 537; 655:16).
(7) To promote extension projects carried on by the local church.
:'''<span id="782.7">(7)</span>''' To adopt an annual calendar of events.
H. Lay Delegates to District Conference
===Membership===
965. The local church conference, at one of its officially announced sessions, shall elect by ballot (cf. 820–823), from among its members who meet the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558), the number of lay delegates to the district conference assigned by the district board of administration and a sufficient number of alternate delegates who shall serve for the regular annual session and for any reconvened session. General regulations covering this office are given in 815 and in 1100–1109.
:'''<span id="782.8">(8)</span>''' To provide for the examination of all candidates for church membership, which may be done by delegating the actual examination to a committee on witness and membership (835–837); and to assist the pastor in providing church membership classes (566–570; 725:11; 880:11).
I. Judicial Committees
:'''<span id="782.9">(9)</span>''' To make recommendations concerning the reception of members to the local church conference, unless full authority concerning such reception has been delegated by the local church conference to the local board of administration (567; 655:1); and when such authority has been delegated, to authorize the reception of members by a majority vote, except that when an objection is raised against the reception of a member it shall require a two-thirds majority of those present and voting to receive (553:2; 567; 780).
970. The local board of administration shall elect, when it deems it necessary and in accord with the regulations of the General Board Policy on Church Discipline, a committee of investigation or a local judicial committee. Complete regulations concerning the qualifications, procedures, and duties of such committees are given in the General Board Policy on Church Discipline (5012; 5110).
:'''<span id="782.10">(10)</span>''' To approve the reception of student members (564); or to drop student members from the roll (564–565).
:'''<span id="782.11">(11)</span>''' To examine the church membership roll annually, and to provide for its revision according to the provisions of The Discipline (553–610; cf. 655:1).
:'''<span id="782.12">(12)</span>''' To consider all accusations and charges against members of the local church, and to appoint a committee of investigation and a local judicial committee as provided for in the General Board Policy on Church Discipline (5012; 5105:1, 4; 5110; cf. 5221).
:'''<span id="782.13">(13)</span>''' To instruct the local church secretary concerning the removal of the name of a member who has joined another religious body or secret society (595); to recommend to the local church conference that it remove from the roll by majority vote the name of a member who has moved away and neither transferred membership to the nearest Wesleyan church nor maintained contact with and support of the former church (600), and that it remove by a majority vote the name of a member who has failed to attend or support the church where membership is held for one year without proper reason (605), unless the local church conference shall have delegated full responsibilities in such matters to the local board of administration (655:1).
===Pastors, Staff and Licensed Workers===
:'''<span id="782.14">(14)</span>''' To nominate pastor and associate pastor to the local church conference (705:3–4; 738:2); to assume full responsibility for securing a pastor when such is delegated by the local church conference (708); and to recommend to the district board of administration by a two-thirds majority vote the termination of a pastoral agreement if such becomes necessary during the initial call (712).
:'''<span id="782.15">(15)</span>''' To recommend to the local church conference after a favorable vote has been received for a four-year renewal of the call, the renewal of the pastor’s call for an extended period (718:1a); or to recommend prior to the vote on the renewal of call, and after consultation with the pastor, a specific call for four years or, an extended call (718:1b); to review at least quadrennially with the district superintendent an extended call and by majority vote to reaffirm the call or recommend for the local church conference to vote on renewing the call (720:2); to meet, at the request of one-third of its members and under the district superintendent or a representative appointed by the district superintendent as chair, to consider the possibility of ordering a pastoral vote before the expiration of a renewed call, and to call for such a vote by majority vote (722:2).
:'''<span id="782.16">(16)</span>''' To review annually the pastor’s support and related matters (723; 724).
:'''<span id="782.17">(17)</span>''' To recommend to the local church conference the number of employed staff positions, including office secretary, custodian, and assistant pastor(s) (655:11); to employ persons for all such staff positions as have been authorized by the local church conference, subject to the pastor’s nominations for office employees and assistant pastors and the board of trustees’ nominations for custodians; to define the duties and working conditions of all such employees; and to assist the pastor in the supervision of all employed staff members.
:'''<span id="782.18">(18)</span>''' To employ evangelists, evangelistic singers, and other special workers as needed (cf. 1310:24).
:'''<span id="782.19">(19)</span>''' To provide, in cooperation with the pastor, for the supply of the pulpit during the pastor’s absence; and to provide, in cooperation with the district superintendent, for the supply of the pulpit during temporary vacancies.
:'''<span id="782.20">(20)</span>''' To recommend to the local church conference the licensing and the renewing or revoking of licenses of lay ministers (cf. 315:3; 655:7).
:'''<span id="782.21">(21</span>''') To recommend ministerial students and special workers to the local church conference for their approval and recommendation to the district conference for district licenses (cf. 315:4; 655:8).
===Officers, Boards, Committees and Auxiliaries===
:'''<span id="782.22">(22)</span>''' To elect, when so authorized by the local church conference (655:3), two members of a nominating committee from among the members of the local board of administration to serve as set forth in 820–823.
:'''<span id="782.23">(23)</span>''' To elect annually at such time as it shall determine, an auditing committee (863); all spiritual formation and Sunday school leaders except the director or superintendent, and all departmental supervisors and teachers (880:7; 895–900; 906); one or more offering tellers (845:3); and such of the following as are needed and can be supplied: financial or tithing secretary (845:2), children’s ministry director, local educational director (926), literature secretary (928), local missions director (930), local evangelism director (935), adult youth leader, and other special assignments.
:'''<span id="782.24">(24)</span>''' To approve two or more nominees submitted by the nominating committees, or to present other nominations as desired, for the director of women’s ministry, and to ratify the election of officers by this auxiliary; to ratify the election of Wesleyan Youth officers, and to review and approve the actions of all the auxiliaries.
:'''<span id="782.25">(25)</span>''' To organize and elect such boards and committees as it deems necessary to the proper organization of the church, such as the committee on witness and membership (835–837), committee on finance and stewardship (865–868), music committee (870–873), ushering committee (873), communion committee (873), committee on missions (955), and committee on evangelism (960); and to receive and evaluate their recommendations, including their appointment of subcommittees; to serve as or to establish a spiritual formation leadership team, to determine its membership and to elect such members and to delegate full authority of the duties listed in 880:1–21 as it deems wise (cf. 875; 880:1–22).
:'''<span id="782.26">(26)</span>''' To recommend to the local church conference the removal from office of any church officer, trustee or delegate (315:5; 655:4, 6), and to remove by majority vote of the local board of administration all who fill other positions (825:4) and officers of auxiliaries.
:'''<span id="782.27">(27)</span>''' To fill all vacancies occurring in those offices elected by the local church conference, in the interim of its annual sessions, and all vacancies occurring in offices elected by the local board of administration; and to provide for the filling of vacancies in the auxiliaries in keeping with their respective constitutions.
===Property and Finance===
:'''<span id="782.28">(28)</span>''' To direct the local board of trustees in the maintenance of church property, the signing of notes and mortgages and the attending to all legal matters connected with the church, in keeping with the requirements of local laws (4510), and The Discipline (850–859; 4500–4720; 4760); or if trustee responsibility is delegated to the local board of administration by the local church conference, to care for such matters.
:'''<span id="782.29">(29)</span>''' To direct the local board of trustees to secure sufficient property and liability insurance to cover all buildings and vehicles owned and operated by the local church (856:8); or if trustee responsibility is delegated to the local board of administration by the local church conference, to care for such matters.
:'''<span id="782.30">(30)</span>''' To recommend to the local church conference financial policies, and to administer such as are adopted (cf. 655:10). The local board of administration shall review all plans of support annually, adjusting salaries as advisable, recommending changes in the financial policies as necessary (cf. 746).
:'''<span id="782.31">(31)</span>''' To recommend an annual budget to the local church conference, to assist the pastor in securing the money necessary to fund the adopted budget, and to authorize expenditures within the limits of the adopted budget (655:12; cf. 865–868); or to assume, if such authority is delegated by the local church conference (655:12), authority to adopt the annual budget and authorize all expenditures within the limits of the budget and any expenditures not provided for in the annual budget; to provide for annual audits of all funds (cf. 863).
:'''<span id="782.32">(32)</span>''' To recommend to the local church conference: all major expenditures or investments; the purchase or sale of property, the erection or remodeling of buildings, all mortgages or other indebtedness which encumbers the property and major items of equipment (655:13; 4700–4720); and other expenditures not provided for in the annual budget (cf. 655:12).
:'''<span id="782.33">(33)</span>''' To implement all General Church and district plans which apply to the local church, and to see that the local church raises its assigned portion of the United Stewardship Fund, supports all other General Church financial campaigns and offerings, and raises the amount assigned to it by the district conference for the support of the district work.
:'''<span id="782.34">(34)</span>''' To open the doors of the local church to properly authorized representatives of the General Church, the general educational institutions of the area and the district for the presentation of their interests, and for the receiving of offerings in keeping with the approved financial plan.
:'''<span id="782.35">(35)</span>''' To seek advice from the district board of administration or from an investment committee authorized by the district board of administration when making investment or distribution of funds received as an undesignated estate gift, property for sale or other out-of-pattern contribution with value equal to or exceeding the total contributions for all purposes of the preceding year (cf. 1233:33).
===Day Care and/or Day School===
:'''<span id="782.36">(36)</span>''' To present to the district board of administration for approval a plan for a day care and/or day school following authorization by the local church conference (655:19–20) or any plans for a significant change in mission, facilities, or finances of an established day care and/or day school (1233:35); to govern and direct a day care and/or day school when such has been properly approved (1233:35), or to govern while delegating the operation to a separate school committee; to elect the separate school committee and name its chair when thus delegating said operation; to submit an annual report to the district board of administration including organization, administration, and fiscal operations (655:18), for its approval.
:'''<span id="782.37">(37)</span>''' To establish treasuries, distinct and separate from that of a local church, to provide for the financial administration of day care centers, day schools, retirement homes, nursing homes, and such enterprises (cf. 655:19–20; 1233:35) and to adopt financial policies to assure adequate supervision and accountability.
 
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== F. Pastor's Advisory Committee ==
'''<span id="795">795.</span>''' The local board of administration may establish a pastor’s advisory committee when recommended by the pastor. This committee shall have no authority for final action in any matter except that for which the local board of administration grants such authority.
 
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Revision as of 03:57, 14 March 2021

LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES A. List of Local Church Officers, Boards and Committees 800. The following summarizes for quick reference the various officers, boards, and committees of the local church: (1) The church shall have the following officers and personnel, elected by the local church conference: board of administration, local (750–782) church secretary (830) church treasurer or business manager (842)—appointment may be delegated to the local board of administration delegates to district conference (965; 1086; 1100–1109) pastor (675–725) trustees (850–859), unless delegated to the local board of administration (2) The church shall have the following officers and personnel, elected by the local board of administration: auditor or auditing committee (863) offering teller (845:3) vice-chair of local board of administration (773) (3) The church may have additional ministry leaders and personnel, as it deems necessary, elected by the local church conference, such as: associate pastor (738)—elected by the local church conference lay leader (833)—elected by the local church conference spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent (887–890) nominating committee (820–823)—up to four additional committee members who are not local board of administration members to serve with the pastor and two members elected by the local board of administration from among its membership (4) The church may have additional ministry leaders and personnel, as it deems necessary, elected by the local board of administration, such as: 91 800:4 LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT

 adult ministry director, staff and team (924) assistant treasurer (845:1)

assistant pastor (741) building committee (856:6) children’s ministry director, staff, and team (880:2, 7–8) communion committee (873) custodial staff (782:17; 856:5) day care and/or day school committee (655:19–20; 782:36–37; 1233:35) educational director (926) evangelism director and committee (935; 960) fellowship committee (880:19) finance and stewardship committee (865–868) financial or tithing secretary (845:2) judicial committee (970; 5110) lay assistant to the pastor (744) literature secretary (928) missions director and committee (930; 955) music committee (873) music minister or director (870) nominating committee (820–823)—two members elected by the local board of administration from its membership office staff (725:29; 782:17) pastor’s advisory committee (795) spiritual formation leadership team (875–880) Sunday school staff and committee (895–903) ushering committee (873) witness and membership committee (835–837) women’s ministry officers and committees (945) Wesleyan Youth adult leader, officers, and committees (922) B. General Regulations 1. Minimum Organization 807. Developing church. A developing church may operate without any regularly constituted officers other than the pastor, but will ordinarily have a local advisory council of three to five members appointed by the district superintendent in cooperation with the pastor. The pastor and these members 92

LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 815:4

 will form the local advisory council. This council may then appoint such other officers and committees as are needed and for which qualified personnel are available (cf. 510:3).

810. Church. An established church, in addition to the local church conference and the local board of administration, shall have a minimum organization consisting of a local church secretary (830), a local church treasurer (842), an offering teller (845:3), an auditing committee (863), and a board of trustees consisting of at least three members (850–859). Normally it would have a Sunday school superintendent and staff (889–910). Additional offices, positions, and committees may be added as provided herewith by the local church conference and the local board of administration as need requires and as qualified personnel are available. 2. Church Officers 815. The church officers shall include all members of the local board of administration, local church trustees, lay leader, delegates to district conference and assistant treasurer, who shall serve subject to the following regulations: (1) They must be members of the local Wesleyan church electing them (302:4; 558) and members who meet the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558). (2) They shall be elected by the local church conference at its annual session (315:5–7; cf. 820–823), except assistant treasurers (see 845) and persons filling offices designated by the local church conference as ex officio members of the local board of administration but chosen by the local board of administration (cf. 752). Vacancies occurring between annual sessions of the local church conference shall be filled for the unexpired term by the local board of administration. Vacancies may occur by death, by cessation of membership in The Wesleyan Church, by resignation from office or by removal (815:4). (3) They shall carry out their duties as given in The Discipline and as further defined by the local church conference and the local board of administration. (4) They shall be under the general supervision of the pastor, shall be amenable to the local church conference, and may be removed for cause or when the best interests of the church so require, upon recommendation of the local board of administration and by a majority vote of the local church conference, or as otherwise provided for (cf. 752:1; 815:2; 825:4). 93

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 3. Nominating Committee

820. Each established church may have a nominating committee consisting of the pastor as chair and two members who meet the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558) elected by the local board of administration from its membership (655:3; 782:22). The local church conference may, at its option, elect up to four additional members who meet the leadership qualifications who are not members of the local board of administration. If the local church conference does not exercise its option to elect at least one additional member who meets the leadership qualifications, then the local board of administration shall elect one additional member with the leadership qualifications who may or may not be a member of the local board of administration. 823. When a nominating committee has been established, it shall present to the local church conference, at its annual session, nominations for each of the following officers: lay leader (if any), local church secretary, local church treasurer (if any), the Sunday school superintendent (if any), and one or more trustees (850). One or more names shall be presented for each office (cf. 755). The nominating committee shall present, at the properly announced session of the local church conference (cf. 965; 1103), nominations for as many delegates to the district conference as the district board of administration shall determine (1100). The nominating committee may be used for other nominations as ordered by the local church conference, or as ordered by the local board of administration for positions elected by the board (cf. 825). 4. Other Positions 825. Persons holding positions of service within the local church, other than those specifically designated as church officers in 815, and including membership on committees, shall be governed by the following regulations: (1) They shall be members of the local Wesleyan church electing them. (2) They shall be elected annually by the local board of administration (782:23, 25), or as otherwise provided (cf. 880:7). (3) They shall carry out their duties as given in The Discipline and as further defined by the local church conference and local board of administration. (4) They shall be under the general supervision of the pastor, shall be amenable to the local board of administration, and may be removed for cause or when the best interests of the church so require, by a majority vote of the local board of administration. 94

LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 830:5

 (5) Vacancies may occur by death, by cessation of membership in The Wesleyan Church, by resignation from office or by removal (825:4) and shall be filled for the unexpired term by the local board of administration.

5. Installation Service 828. Those elected to church offices and to other positions of service within the local church may be installed in office at an annual installation service following the ritual given in 5915–5925. C. Witness and Membership 1. Church Secretary 830. The local church conference, at its annual session, shall elect by ballot, from among its members who meet the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558), a church secretary (cf. 820–823), to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. The church secretary shall be an ex officio member of the local board of administration (775). General regulations covering this office are given in 815. The duties and powers of the local church secretary shall be: (1) To record correctly and to preserve faithfully the minutes of all sessions of the local church conference and the local board of administration. (2) To maintain the local church’s record of membership, record of baptisms, marriages, and pastoral terms, and other information essential to a permanent written record of the life and ministry of the church (610). (3) To issue, in conjunction with the pastor, all letters of transfer, recommendation, and withdrawal (575; 590–592; 6000–6040); and to sign, in conjunction with the pastor (725:28), licenses for lay ministers granted by the local church conference (655:7; 782:20). (4) To send to the district secretary a certified list of lay delegates to the district conference duly elected by the local church conference, immediately upon their election, and subsequently to certify an alternate delegate (cf. 965; 1100–1109). (5) To have custody of all record books of all departments of the church, including auxiliary organizations, after such books are full or in disuse, and to take whatever steps are necessary to preserve them and other historical records and materials, as directed by the pastor and the local board of administration. 95

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 2. Lay Leader

833. The local church conference, at its annual session, may elect by ballot, from among its members who meet the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558) a lay leader (cf. 820–823), who shall serve for one year or until a successor is elected, and whose function shall be to assist the pastor in such manner as the pastor shall recommend and the local church conference shall approve. General regulations concerning this office are given in 815. The duties of the lay leader may include any or all of the following: member ex officio of the local board of administration (752), leader under the pastor’s direction of church prayer meetings or of small groups, classes or neighborhood prayer cells for the deepening of spiritual life and home evangelism. 3. Committee on Witness and Membership 835. The local board of administration may establish a committee on witness and membership, composed of the pastor, the vice-chair of the local board of administration, the local church secretary, the lay leader (if any), and such other members as the local board of administration shall elect. The local board of administration shall name a board member as chair of the committee, and the committee shall choose its own vice-chair and secretary. General regulations governing membership on this committee are given in 825. 837. The local board of administration shall assign such duties to the committee on witness and membership as it deems best, including any or all of the following: (1) To conduct the examination of candidates for membership; to counsel with members concerning any failure to observe the Membership Commitments (265); to have initial responsibility in the annual revision of the membership roll; to assist the pastor in any attempts to restore members who have ceased to attend or support the church; and to make recommendations concerning all these matters to the local board of administration in accordance with the principles of Christian discipline (268; 782:8–13). (2) To make recommendations to the local board of administration concerning revivals and other evangelistic efforts. (3) To alert the local church to its responsibilities in the area of community social and political reform, recommending courses of action it deems necessary to the local board of administration (cf. 410). 96

LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 842:4

 (4) To nominate, for election by the local board of administration, such standing or special subcommittees as the local board of administration shall approve, with a member of the committee as chair of each.

D. Finance and Stewardship 1. Church Treasurer 842. The local church shall have either a local church treasurer or a business manager. If there is a church treasurer, that officer shall be elected by the local church conference, at its annual election, by ballot, from among the members who meet the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558), to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. Or the local church conference may authorize the local board of administration to appoint a treasurer or to appoint or employ a business manager who will assume the duties of the treasurer. The financial concerns may be represented on the local board of administration by the church treasurer or the business manager or the chair of the finance and stewardship committee as provided in 865. The duties and powers of the person charged with the local church treasury are: (1) To receive, hold and disburse, as ordered by the local church conference or the local board of administration, and in harmony with the financial plans of the General Church and of the district, all moneys of the local church, including such of the departments and auxiliary organizations as the local board of administration shall order. All funds raised by the local departments, other than the auxiliaries, for General Church or district work or for purposes other than local church work, and all money or pledges raised by representatives of the General Church or district in deputation work, shall be transferred to or placed in the local church treasury and shall be disbursed for their designated purpose by the local church treasurer. (2) To keep complete and accurate records of all moneys raised and of the manner in which they are disbursed, and to provide the pastor with information concerning the same as the pastor shall require. (3) To make monthly reports to the local board of administration, which shall be available upon request to any member of the local church, and to make reports to all regular sessions of the local church conference. (4) To make monthly remittances of all USF and district funds to the district treasurer and remittances of all other General Church funds to the General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer or directly to the general department for which the funds are intended. 97

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 (5) To issue receipts annually to all regular contributors showing their total tithes and offerings and the various items of giving, and to issue other receipts as requested or by order of the local board of administration.

(6) To submit all books for audit by the auditing committee annually (863), or more frequently if so ordered by the local board of administration, and to submit to the local board of administration the complete treasurer’s records at such time as the person shall cease to hold the office of treasurer. 845. Assistants for the local church treasurer are provided for as follows: (1) An assistant treasurer may be elected by the local board of administration, with authority to sign checks when the treasurer is unable to do so. (2) A financial secretary or tithing secretary may be elected by the local board of administration to assist the treasurer in keeping the record of individual tithes and offerings (842:5). (3) One or more tellers shall be elected by the local board of administration to assist the treasurer in the counting of all tithes and offerings, all moneys being counted by two or more persons and recorded as to date of reception, purpose of the offering, and amount. These records shall be preserved and made available to the auditor or auditing committee. 2. Board of Trustees 850. Election. The local church conference, unless the duties and powers of the board of trustees have been delegated to the local board of administration, shall elect by ballot from among its members who meet the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558) a board of trustees (cf. 315:6; 820–823), three to seven in number, one or more being elected at a given annual session for a term of three years, so that the terms of all shall not expire at the same time, or they may be elected to serve until their successors are elected; provided that the manner and conditions of election may be altered to conform to the local laws. At least one of the trustees shall be designated annually by the local church conference as a member of the local board of administration (752). If the local church conference delegates the duties and powers of the trustees to the local board of administration, that board may from its membership elect from three to seven to serve as the board of trustees. General regulations covering this office are given in 815. 853. Organization and Procedure. The board of trustees shall meet following the annual session of the local church conference to elect a chair, vice-chair, and secretary, and shall meet at such other times as ordered by the local board of administration or as made necessary by their duties. 98

LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 859:1

 856. Duties and Powers. The local board of trustees shall carry out their duties as required by The Discipline (cf. 4500–4780) and shall be responsible: (1) To carry out the instructions of the local church conference and the local board of administration in supervising, controlling, maintaining, and

improving all church property (315:6; 655:13; 782:28). (2) To supervise such expenditures as have been approved by the local church conference or the local board of administration for repairs, improvements, and alterations. (3) To attend to all legal matters regarding the acquisition, purchase, sale, mortgage, transfer or other disposition of property as properly authorized (4700–4720); to see that titles are correct, contain the proper trust clause (4610), are approved by the district superintendent (1310:13; 4700:5), and are recorded (4540); and to see that property and legal records are properly stored (4760). (4) To attend to all other legal matters pertaining to the local church, as authorized and directed by the local church conference or the local board of administration, including renting property, borrowing money, and receiving and administering bequests and trusts. (5) To nominate to the local board of administration all custodians. (6) To serve, unless the local church conference shall order a larger or separate committee, as a building committee for the planning and erection of a new sanctuary, educational unit or parsonage or a major remodeling program, and to assist the pastor in preparing and submitting all building plans to the district building committee for their approval (1345). (7) To carry out the directions of the local church conference or local board of administration concerning the purchase, sale, mortgage, transfer or other disposition of property, provided that such transactions have been approved by the district building committee and district board of administration as set forth in 4700–4780. (8) To make recommendations to the local board of administration concerning sufficient property and liability insurance on the property and for any vehicles owned and operated by the local church, and to carry out the instructions of the local board of administration in securing such insurance (782:29). (9) To make such reports as are requested by the local church conference or the local board of administration. 859. Restrictions. The local board of trustees shall be subject to the following restrictions: (1) The local board of trustees must carry out the instructions of the local board of administration, the local church conference, and the district 99

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 board of administration. If a local trustee refuses to carry out such instructions when the instructions meet all the requirements of local laws and of The Discipline, the trustee may be removed from office as given in 815:4 (cf. 4530).

(2) The local board of trustees cannot mortgage or otherwise encumber local church property without the express authorization of the local church conference and the approval of the district board of administration as set forth in 4700–4720. (3) The local board of trustees cannot deny the use of the parsonage, church building or other local church buildings, to the pastor who has been duly appointed by the district conference or district board of administration, nor the use of the church building to the membership of the local church and duly elected officials of The Wesleyan Church (cf. 4770). (4) The local board of trustees cannot divert church property from The Wesleyan Church (4550; 4780). (5) When a church is reclassified as a developing church (cf. 518:7; 1233:30), the office and power of the local board of trustees shall cease, and all property shall pass directly under the control of the district board of administration (cf. 4670). 3. Auditing Committee 863. The local board of administration shall be responsible to provide for the annual internal or external auditing of the books of the local church treasurer and of all departmental and auxiliary treasurers, either through the election of an auditing committee or the employment of an auditor. If an auditing committee is used for some or all of the treasuries, it shall consist of one to three persons. A report to certify the results of the annual audit shall be presented to the local board of administration. General regulations concerning committee members are given in 825. 4. Committee on Finance and Stewardship 865. The local board of administration may establish a committee on finance and stewardship. The local board of administration shall name a board member as chair of the committee, and the committee shall choose its own vice-chair and secretary. General regulations governing membership on this committee are given in 825. 868. The local board of administration shall assign such duties to the committee on finance and stewardship as it deems best. 100

LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 878

 E. Worship

870. Musicians, including song leaders, choir directors, organists, and pianists shall be appointed by the pastor (cf. 725:5). The local board of administration may appoint or, if authorized by the local church conference, may employ a minister or director of music nominated by the pastor (738– 744). The duties of the minister or director of music shall be defined by the pastor and the local board of administration. General regulations covering these offices are given in 825. 873. The local board of administration may establish committees on music, ushering, and communion services, electing their members and defining their duties. General regulations governing membership on such committees are given in 825. F. Spiritual Formation 1. Local Church Spiritual Formation Leadership Team 875. Membership. The local board of administration shall serve as or shall establish a local spiritual formation leadership team (782:25). The pastor shall serve as chair unless the pastor shall recommend and the local board of administration shall assign this duty to another member of the local board of administration, such as the associate or assistant pastor or other qualified person. If a separate board is established, the local board of administration shall determine its membership, electing qualified members in keeping with the provisions of 825 and/or designating ex officio members from among the heads of the various spiritual formation agencies and auxiliaries (870; 889; 915–928), assigning such duties to it as the local board of administration deems fit (cf. 880). The local spiritual formation leadership team shall elect its own secretary. 878. Age-level Divisions. Whenever the local spiritual formation leadership team shall so recommend, and the local board of administration shall so authorize, the local spiritual formation leadership team may organize its members and such other spiritual formation leaders and workers as it shall choose into three age-level divisions: the children’s division, the youth division, and the adult division. Each division shall serve to coordinate all spiritual formation and fellowship activities conducted by the local church or any of its branches for the age level assigned. 101

880 LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT

 880. Duties and Powers. The duties and powers of the local spiritual formation leadership team shall be:

(1) To study, organize, promote, and conduct, under the leadership of the pastor, and subject to the direction of the local board of administration, the total program of spiritual formation for the local church, in keeping with the denominational objectives for spiritual formation (2306), and the standards established by the General Board and promoted through the Church Multiplication and Discipleship and the Education and Clergy Development Divisions. (2) To establish, structure, and supervise, in keeping with The Discipline, and the standards adopted by the General Board, such spiritual formation agencies as are authorized by the local board of administration, including the Sunday school, Wesleyan Youth, Wesleyan Kids for Missions, children’s church, weekday church school, released time classes, and vacation Bible school. (3) To coordinate all spiritual formation agencies (cf. 880:2), activities and functions of the local church, setting goals, evaluating procedures, exploring new areas of need, and assigning responsibilities to the various departments and auxiliaries. (4) To determine, in keeping with The Discipline and the standards adopted by the General Board, the curricula of the various agencies, always using curriculum materials approved by the General Board and secured from the Wesleyan Publishing House. (5) To recommend to the local board of administration for the consideration of the local church conference the appointment and/or the employment of a minister or director of spiritual formation, and to advise the pastor and the local board of administration in defining all duties. Such a person must be a member who meets the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558) of the local church appointing and/or employing the person (cf. 738–744). (6) To enlist and train administrators and teachers for all phases of the local church’s spiritual formation task, in keeping with the leadership training program adopted by the General Board. (7) To submit nominations, or to appoint a committee of its membership to submit nominations, to the local board of administration for all members of the spiritual formation leadership team other than the Sunday school superintendent, all teachers, and to elect all other officers and teachers except the officers of Wesleyan Youth and WKFM unless the local board of administration instructs the church nominating committee to fulfill these duties (820–823). 102

LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 880:20

 (8) To appoint administrative committees for each educational agency other than WY or WKFM, including in each such committee the executive officer involved and other workers or advisors as shall be deemed best (cf. 903; 913).

(9) To remove from office by majority vote any worker elected by the local church spiritual formation leadership team when such is in the best interest of the work, and to recommend to the local board of administration the removal of any officer or teacher in local spiritual formation (875–928) elected by the local board of administration. (10) To organize a training hour, providing for all age levels, selecting the necessary leaders and instructors, and assigning responsibilities to the appropriate agencies (cf. 880:2–3). (11) To assist the pastor and the local board of administration in conducting classes in membership preparation (cf. 566–570; 725:11; 782:8; 2310:3). (12) Toconductorassignresponsibilityforconductingworkers’conferences. (13) To recommend to the local board of administration modifications or enlargement of educational facilities, and the purchase of educational equipment including audiovisuals; to allocate space for various schools and agencies, both for assemblies and classes; and to supervise the storage and use of all equipment. (14) To promote the interests of The Wesleyan Church educational institutions in cooperation with the General Director of Education and the Ministry, the officials of the general educational institutions within the area, and the district educational director. (15) To conduct extension classes, small group Bible studies, and branch Sunday schools when such are properly authorized (cf. 655:16; 782:6). (16) To minister to persons on nearby college campuses and military bases in keeping with the programs promoted by the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division. (17) To observe such special days as shall be designated by the General Board and promoted by the Church Multiplication and Discipleship and Education and Clergy Development Divisions, and as shall be designated by district agencies. (18) To be responsible for special programs, such as Christmas and vacation Bible school, assigning responsibilities as it deems best, with all plans subject to the approval of the pastor and the local board of administration. (19) To serve as a committee on fellowship, or to nominate a subcommittee on fellowship for election by the local board of administration. (20) To encourage and direct ministries of Christian family life in order to enrich the quality of homes and families within the local church constituency. 103

880:21 LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT

 (21) To nominate, for election by the local board of administration, such standing or special subcommittees as the local board of administration shall approve, with a member of the local spiritual formation leadership team as chair of each.

(22) To exercise full authority in such of the duties covered under 880:1–21 as shall be delegated by the local board of administration. 2. Sunday School a. Function 885. Each local church shall provide for systematic Bible study. The Sunday school normally serves as the basic agency for such study. Small group Bible studies and other programs or events that promote making more and better disciples of Jesus Christ are to be considered by the local church as well. b. Administration 887. General. The Sunday school shall be governed by the local church conference and the local board of administration through the local spiritual formation leadership team, under the general supervision of the pastor. Immediate administration shall be the responsibility of either a spiritual formation minister or director or Sunday school superintendent and a spiritual formation leadership team. If administration is through a superintendent and a leadership team, the structure outlined in paragraphs 889–910 shall be followed. If administration is through a minister or director of spiritual formation, the local board of administration may determine the structure and assign responsibilities as it sees fit. In all cases, administrators shall carry out their assignment in keeping with The Discipline, the General Board Policy for the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division, the standard adopted by the General Board and promoted through the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division, and the programs of the division and of the district spiritual formation leadership team. 889. Spiritual Formation Director or Sunday School Superintendent. The local church conference, at its annual session, may elect by ballot, from among its members who meet the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558), a spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent (cf. 820–823), to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. The director or superintendent shall be an ex officio member of the local board of administration (752), unless 104

LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 895

 the local church conference by prior action has voted to eliminate the spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent as an ex officio member of the local board of administration. General regulations concerning this office are given in 815. The duties and powers of the spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent shall be:

(1) To have executive supervision of the spiritual formation of the local church, administering its affairs in keeping with the provisions of 887. (2) To consult with the pastor and the spiritual formation leadership team, if there is such (903), on all major decisions. (3) To promote interest in and attendance in all spiritual formation endeavors. (4) To have immediate supervision of each spiritual formation session seeing that each age division and class has the necessary leaders and that order is maintained. (5) To counsel with the spiritual formation leaders and teachers about their work. (6) To make a full report of statistics and general information to the local board of administration quarterly, to the local church conference at each regular session, and to the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division and the district spiritual formation director as required (cf. 895). 890. Director of Spiritual Formation. If a church seeks to provide a comprehensive approach to discipleship, including both Sunday school and small groups, upon vote of the local church conference it may elect a director of spiritual formation in place of a Sunday school superintendent. The director of spiritual formation will assume the Sunday school superintendent’s responsibilities as outlined in 889, plus assume full responsibility to administer and coordinate weekday small groups under the direction of the pastor and local board of administration, seeking to provide a fully coordinated approach in local church spiritual formation. 895. Sunday School Secretary. The local board of administration shall, at the time of its annual election (782:23; 825), elect from nominations submitted by the local spiritual formation leadership team (875; 880:7) a Sunday school secretary, to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. The Sunday school secretary shall maintain complete records of enrollment, attendance, absentees, visitors, and such other items as shall be required, and assist the pastor and the spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent in the preparation of reports involving Sunday school statistics. The local board of Christian education shall appoint such assistants as the Sunday school secretary shall require. 105

898 LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT

 898. Sunday School Treasurer. The local board of administration may, at the time of its annual election (782:23; 825), elect from nominations submitted by the local spiritual formation leadership team (875; 880:7) a Sunday school treasurer, to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. Or the local board of administration may recommend, and the local church conference order, that the Sunday school funds be received by the local church treasurer as part of a common treasury. If there is a separate Sunday school treasurer elected, that person shall receive, hold, and disburse the Sunday school funds as ordered by the local board of administration, reporting concerning all receipts and expenditures to the local board of administration monthly, and to each regular session of the local church conference. All General Church and district funds raised by the Sunday school shall be transferred to the local church treasurer for forwarding to the proper destination (842:1).

900. Sunday School Departmental Supervisors. The local board of administration may, at the time of its annual election (782:23; 825), elect from nominations submitted by the spiritual formation leadership team (875; 880:7) a supervisor for each department (cf. 913). The departmental supervisor shall assist the spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent, being responsible for the general operation of the department including the assembly period of the department, and the immediate supervision of each session of age division (cf. 889:4). The local spiritual formation leadership team shall appoint such other departmental officers as may be needed. 903. Sunday School Committee. The immediate administration of the Sunday school may be vested in a Sunday school committee, subject to the approval of and correlated with the plans of the local spiritual formation leadership team. It shall be composed of the spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent as chair, the pastor (or if the pastor prefers, the associate or assistant pastor), and the other age division directors of the spiritual formation leadership team. 906. Spiritual Formation Leaders or Teachers. The local board of administration shall, at the time of its annual election (782:23; 825), elect from nominations submitted by the local spiritual formation leadership team (875; 880:7) such spiritual formation leaders, teachers, and assistants as are needed, to serve for one year or until their successors are elected. 910. Amenability. General regulations covering the amenability, removal, and filling of vacancies for spiritual formation officers, departmental supervisors and teachers elected by the local board of administration are found in 825. All others appointed by the local spiritual formation leadership team are amenable to the local spiritual formation leadership team and can be replaced as it sees fit. 106

LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 926

 c. Organization

913. Guidelines for organization of spiritual formation ministries and Sunday school shall be provided through the General Board Policy for the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division and the standard adopted by the General Board and promoted through the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division. 3. Children’s Ministries 915. Each local church may maintain a local ministry to children according to the General Board Policy for the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division. 4. Youth Ministries 922. Each local church may maintain a Wesleyan Youth ministry according to the General Board Policy for the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division. 5. Adult Ministries 924. Each local church may maintain a local adults ministry according to The General Board Policy for spiritual formation and the standard adopted by the General Board and as promoted through the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division. 6. Local Educational Director 926. The local board of administration may, at the time of its annual election (782:23; 825), elect a local educational director, to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. General regulations concerning this office are given in 825. The local education director shall promote the interests of the general educational institutions within the area, in keeping with the programs of the Education and Clergy Development Division, the officials of the schools and the district educational director, and shall recruit students from the local church constituency for the schools. 107

928 LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT

 7. Literature Secretary

928. The local board of administration may, at the time of its annual election (782:23; 825), elect a literature secretary, to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. General regulations concerning this office are given in 825. The literature secretary shall be assigned such duties as the local board of administration shall determine, such as the handling and distribution of Sunday school literature, the management of a church and/or Sunday school library, and the promoting of the interests of the Wesleyan Publishing House. G. Missions and Evangelism 1. Local Director of Missions 930. The local board of administration may, at the time of its annual election (782:23; 825), elect a local director of missions, to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. General regulations concerning this office are given in 825. The local director of missions shall assist the pastor in promoting the work of world missions, in keeping with the policies and programs of the Global Partners Division, the district conference and district board of administration and the district director of world missions. 2. Local Director of Evangelism 935. The local board of administration may at the time of its annual election (782:23; 825) elect a local director of evangelism to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. General regulations concerning this office are given in 825. The local director of evangelism shall assist the pastor in promoting the work of evangelism in the local church in accordance with the mission of The Wesleyan Church (100) and in cooperation with the district director of evangelism and church growth (1426). The local director of evangelism shall also assist the pastor in the follow-up and discipling of new Christians, in the recruiting and training of workers for visitation evangelism, and in the administration of evangelism and follow-up programs. 3. Women’s Ministry 945. Each local church may maintain a women’s ministry according to the General Board Policy for the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division. 108

LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 960

 4. Wesleyan Kids for Missions

950. Each local church may maintain a local chapter of Wesleyan Kids for Missions. 5. Committee on Missions 955. The local board of administration may establish a committee on missions, composed of the pastor, the local director of missions, the president of men’s ministry or a representative of the men’s group, the director of women’s ministry, the coordinator of Wesleyan Kids for Missions, and such other members as the local board of administration shall elect. General regulations governing the elected membership on this committee are given in 825. The local board of administration shall name the chair of the committee, and the committee shall choose its own vice-chair and director. 958. The local board of administration shall assign such duties to the committee on missions as it deems best, including any or all of the following: (1) To promote the interests of Wesleyan world missions, in keeping with the programs of the Global Partners Division and the district director of world missions. (2) To coordinate all missionary promotion and fund raising of the local church and its various departments and auxiliaries. (3) To carry out all programs of missionary education authorized and assigned by the local board of Christian education. (4) To make recommendations to the local board of administration concerning missionary conventions and services. (5) To nominate, for election by the local board of administration, such standing or special subcommittees as the local board of administration shall approve, with a member of the committee as chair of each. 6. Committee on Evangelism 960. The local board of administration may establish a committee on evangelism, composed of the pastor, the local director of evangelism, and such other members as the local board of administration shall elect. General regulations concerning membership on the committee are given in 825. The local board of administration shall assign such duties to the committee on evangelism as it deems best, including any or all of the following: 109

960:1 LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT

(1) To promote the work of evangelism through the local church in accordance with the mission of The Wesleyan Church (100). (2) To organize, in cooperation with the pastor, the calling and visitation programs of the church. (3) To organize, in cooperation with the pastor, follow-up and discipleship programs for new converts. (4) To provide for and oversee, in cooperation with the local spiritual formation leadership team, the training of workers for outreach evangelism and discipleship ministries. (5) To make recommendations to the local board of administration concerning evangelistic services and to assist in promotion and conducting of such efforts. (6) To alert the church to its wider responsibilities in meeting social and material needs of its community as such needs are discovered through its calling and discipling ministries. (7) To promote extension projects carried on by the local church. H. Lay Delegates to District Conference 965. The local church conference, at one of its officially announced sessions, shall elect by ballot (cf. 820–823), from among its members who meet the leadership qualifications (260–268; 558), the number of lay delegates to the district conference assigned by the district board of administration and a sufficient number of alternate delegates who shall serve for the regular annual session and for any reconvened session. General regulations covering this office are given in 815 and in 1100–1109. I. Judicial Committees 970. The local board of administration shall elect, when it deems it necessary and in accord with the regulations of the General Board Policy on Church Discipline, a committee of investigation or a local judicial committee. Complete regulations concerning the qualifications, procedures, and duties of such committees are given in the General Board Policy on Church Discipline (5012; 5110).