Pastors Administrative Duties and Powers

Administrative

(16) Serve as a voting member of boards and committees established by the local board of administration, and to meet with boards and committees as time will permit.

(17) Give leadership to the missionary, evangelistic, educational, and devotional programs of the local church in harmony with objectives and programs of the district and the General Church.

(18) Promote all the interests of the General Church and the district in the local church, in the manner and to the extent authorized by the General Conference, the General Board, and the district conference.

(19) See, together with the local board of administration, that the United Stewardship Fund and all other obligations are met in full; and to protect the church from solicitations not authorized by the General Church or the district.

(20) Promote stewardship, emphasizing tithing and the storehouse plan as a part of the Christian’s total stewardship (460–475), and to see that tithes and freewill offerings are collected regularly.

(21) See that all church property is properly secured according to The Discipline and the local laws, with all legal papers submitted to the district superintendent for approval.

(22) See that no steps are taken involving the church in financial liability without proper authorization from the local board of administration and local church conference, or without the approval of the district board of administration when such financial liability involves the mortgaging or other encumbering of the church property (655:11; 782:28–32; 1233:30).

(23) See that all property and building transactions are carried out as set forth in 4700–4728.

(24) Circulate holiness literature.

(25) Have general supervision of the spiritual formation of the local church, organizing classes for the instruction of adults, youth, and children in the Word of God and for Christian living, and providing for the instruction and inspiration of the leaders in spiritual formation.

(26) Enlist laborers for the gospel ministry, and for missionary and other special work, encouraging and helping them to prepare for their God-appointed task at educational institutions provided by The Wesleyan Church; to sign, in conjunction with the local church secretary (830:3), licenses for lay ministers granted by the local church conference (655:7; 782:19); and to have the oversight over all lay ministers.

(27) Nominate to the local board of administration an assistant pastor (741) or a lay assistant to the pastor; to nominate to the local board of administration all members of the employed staff, and to supervise, with the assistance of the local board of administration, the services of all employed staff members.

(28) See that up-to-date files are kept on church constituency and membership, and to be ready to turn over such lists to the successor in office (610; 830:2, 5).

(29) See that adequate historical records and financial records are maintained for the church (610; 842:2, 6).

(30) See that all necessary data are collected for the various statistical and financial reports, and to present reports to the local board of administration monthly, to the local church conference at its regular sessions, to the district superintendent as requested, to the district conference annually on forms approved by the General Superintendent, and to various General Church or district departmental officers as required.

(31) Attend district conference sessions, and to participate in the life and work of the district and the General Church as opportunity affords.