2016 Wesleyan Discipline: 630–650

B. Sessions

630. Regular Sessions.

(1) Annual Sessions. The local church conference shall meet annually, near the close of the fiscal year, as established by the district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:18), at a time approved by the district superintendent in consultation with the pastor and announced from the pulpit, and in the weekly bulletin when such is available, at least two weeks in advance (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:625). Reports shall be made; the officers, local board of administration and trustees shall be elected (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:815; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:823; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:965; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1103); and such other business shall be transacted as necessary (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:650).

(2) Quarterly Sessions. The local church conference may choose to meet quarterly at such times as the district superintendent and pastor shall arrange, unless the district superintendent shall in writing delegate to the pastor full authority for setting such dates. Such quarterly sessions shall be announced from the pulpit, and in the weekly bulletin when such is available, at least two weeks in advance of the appointed time. At each session, reports shall be given and other business transacted as necessary (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:650).

633. Special Session.

(1) General Business. The local church conference may be called into special session by the pastor, or in times of emergency by the district superintendent, for the transaction of any business other than the election of officers, with announcement from the pulpit in two regular services, the first of which shall be given not less than one week before the appointed time. Notice shall also be given one week in advance in the church bulletin, when such is available. The requirements for special sessions dealing with legal or property matters are set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4040 and 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4700.

(2) Reception of Members. In those churches in which the local church conference must vote on the reception of members (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:567), the pastor may call a special session for such a vote, with announcement from the pulpit in one regular service in advance of the appointed time.

(3) Pastoral Vote. The vice-chair of the local board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:635; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:773), when authorized to do so by the local board of administration, and having notified the district superintendent, may call a special session of the local church conference to conduct a pastoral vote, with announcement from the pulpit, and in the weekly bulletin when such is available, at least two weeks in advance of the appointed time, except that during negotiations for calling a new pastor the announcement need be made only from the pulpit and in only one regular service in advance of the appointed time.

C. Organization and Procedure

1. Officers

635. Chair. The district superintendent, or a representative appointed by the district superintendent, shall preside over the local church conference whenever present. In their absence, the pastor shall preside, except over sessions dealing with the securing or retaining of a pastor. The vice-chair of the local board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:773) shall preside over sessions dealing with the securing or retaining of a pastor, if the district superintendent, or a representative appointed by the district superintendent, is not present. The vice-chair may also preside, at the request of the pastor, over other sessions of the local church conference. In emergencies, when the pastor is absent or incapacitated, the vice-chair may preside over other sessions with the permission of the district superintendent.

638. Secretary. The local church secretary, elected annually by the local church conference, shall serve as secretary of the local church conference by virtue of this office (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:830:1).

2. Procedure

640. Quorum. Those members who assemble for a meeting of the local church conference when such has been duly called shall constitute a quorum.

643. Voting. A majority vote of those present and voting in the local church conference shall be sufficient in all items of business unless otherwise required by The Discipline or by local laws when dealing with legal matters.

645. Rules of Order. The business of the local church conference shall be conducted according to the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, except when formally suspended or otherwise ordered by The Discipline.

650. Order of Business. The local church conference, in all regular sessions, whether annually or quarterly, shall give special attention to the spiritual, numerical, and financial progress of the church, including the following items:

(1) Reading of minutes of last session, unless authority to approve the minutes has been delegated by the local church conference to the local board of administration.

(2) Receiving the reports of the pastor(s), spiritual formation director, Sunday school superintendent, director of women’s ministry, coordinator of Wesleyan Kids for Missions, director of adult ministries, director of Wesleyan Youth, director of children’s ministries, and any others the local church conference shall order.

(3) Receiving the reports of the various treasurers (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:863).

(4) Receiving and acting upon the reports of boards and committees.

(5) Receiving the reports of the lay ministers.

(6) Granting or renewing of local licenses for lay ministers.

(7) Recommending suitable members to the district conference for district licenses as ministerial students and special workers (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:315:3-4).

(8) Electing of officers, trustees and delegates.

(9) Miscellaneous business.