2016 Wesleyan Discipline:General Board: Duties and powers

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(1) The right to take charge of all the ministers and churches within its bounds, as modified by 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:360:3e and 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:365 (except those serving the General Church as the General Conference shall define who shall be amenable to the General Board of Administration, and except the district superintendent who shall be amenable to the General Board of Administration), and subject to the right of the ministers and churches to enter into pastoral engagements.

330. General Conference Sessions.

(1) The General Conference shall meet quadrennially, except that in cases of emergency or other unusual circumstances the General Board of Administration shall have the power to shorten or lengthen the interval. Each session shall be held at a time of the year specified in The Discipline at a place determined by the General Board of Administration; in case of emergency the General Board of Administration shall have power to change the time.

(2) The president or other elected officer of the General Conference whenever two-thirds of the districts shall request it, or the General Board of Administration, by such vote as the General Conference shall determine, shall call an extra session of the General Conference, fixing the place thereof and the time of assembling later than the next session of each district conference.

340. General Board of Administration.

(1) There shall be a General Board of Administration to carry out the will of the General Conference during the quadrennium. Such Board shall be composed of the General Superintendent(s) and such other general officers as shall be designated by the General Conference together with an equal number of ordained ministers and lay members chosen by the General Conference to represent equitably the several administrative areas of the Church. The number of such representative members shall be determined by the action of the General Conference.

(2) The General Board of Administration is the chief governing body of the Church in the interim of the General Conferences, and as such is empowered to perfect all plans necessary to the performance of its duties; it shall constitute or create the basic board of control of each and all of the Wesleyan societies and institutions now incorporated or hereafter incorporated under the laws of any state of the United States or of any province of Canada or under any other jurisdiction where such is permitted by the laws of said jurisdiction. The General Board of Administration shall have jurisdiction over mission units under the North American General Conference. It shall have the authority to approve a discipline for each unit achieving recognition as a fully established general conference and for each mission unit. In so doing, it shall have the power to adapt the name of the Church within the restrictions of paragraph 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:205, and to adapt the provisions of The Discipline of the North American General Conference, including both constitutional and statutory law, provided that it does not contravene the Essentials of The Wesleyan Church. In authorizing the adaptation of the name for a unit achieving recognition as an established general conference, it shall first consult with the highest interim administrative bodies of the other established general conferences which are members of The International Conference of The Wesleyan Church.

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(2) To elect such officers as it shall choose and to define their duties and responsibilities.

1655. The General Board shall serve as the chief governing body of The Wesleyan Church in the interim of General Conference sessions, caring for and promoting the general interests of the Church, with these specific duties and powers:

Related to Leadership

(1) To join the General Superintendent and general officers in strategic planning, helping to define mission, vision, core values, and strategies, and to measure the denomination’s progress in fulfilling its mission and vision.

(2) To engage in an ongoing review of the denominational structures, maintaining openness to needed changes, and making appropriate recommendations to the General Conference.

(3) To establish policies, goals, and objectives for more effectively fulfilling the mission of The Wesleyan Church within the established policies and periodically receiving performance reports from the General Superintendent, Executive Directors, and district superintendents.

Related to General Conference

(4) To select the place and determine the day and the hour at which regular sessions of the General Conference shall convene, provided that the day and the hour are within the spring season (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:330:1; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1528).

(5) To declare that an emergency exists requiring a change in the time of General Conference, and subsequently to alter the same (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:330:1; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1530).

(6) To authorize by a two-thirds vote a special session of the General Conference, and to set by majority vote the time and place of such special session (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:330:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1532).

(7) To serve as the General Conference Committee on Memorials (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1565) and the Committee on Special Nominations (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1580).

(8) To originate recommendations and memorials to the General Conference, including proposed amendments to the Constitution (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1557-1560).

(9) To instruct the General Conference Editing Committee concerning the dedication, if any, of the General Conference Journal (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1585).

(10) To care for any business delegated to the General Board by the General Conference.

Related to the General Board

(11) To fill, for the unexpired term, vacancies occurring among the general officials elected by the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1800; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1850) or the area representatives of the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1605:2), by a two-thirds majority of the members of the General Board present and voting or by a majority of all the members of the General Board, whichever is greater (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1850); and to fill vacancies occurring among the general officials elected by the General Board by majority vote; all in such a manner as to fulfill all the requirements for such offices and positions (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1605:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1800-1810; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1903).

(12) To elect by majority vote, from among the area representatives of its own membership, three ordained ministers and three lay members to be members of the Executive Board and an ordained minister as vice-chair of the General Board (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1755), who will also serve as vice-chair of the Executive Board.

(13) To refer such matters to the Executive Board as shall be deemed wise (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1785); to review such actions of the Executive Board as are not final (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1785:2, 6); and to receive and act upon its recommendations.

Related to the Church in General

(14) To recommend to the General Conference the number of representative areas and the boundaries of such areas for the election of representatives to the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:12); to recommend to the General Conference the assignment of the districts to educational areas for the support of the educational institutions (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:14) and in the interim of General Conference sessions to assign new districts to the proper area (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2450).

Related to Corporations

(15) To serve as the board of directors of The Wesleyan Church Corporation and its precedent corporations (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4230); to appoint committees from among its own members and to delegate to such committees the exercise of such powers in the interim of its sessions as it shall deem wise.

(16) To buy, own, hold, manage, mortgage, sell, convey, donate or otherwise acquire, encumber, and dispose of any General Church property, whether real, personal or mixed, in keeping with the trust provisions given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4920 and to buy, sell or lease any denominational headquarters site (by whatever name it shall be called) by a two-thirds majority of the members of the General Board present and voting, except that property for which other provision is made in the articles and bylaws of subsidiary corporations, and to provide for the proper care and maintenance of such property.

(17) Space reserved.

(18) To carry out the instructions of the General Conference relative to the incorporation of any agency, institution, board organization or other similar body (1590:6); or, in the interim of General Conference sessions, to authorize the establishment of such a corporation by a two-thirds majority vote and to care for such corporation matters as the approval and amendment of articles and bylaws, all in keeping with the provisions of The Discipline (cf.2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2358-2362; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4300-4320; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4425).

(19) To elect by majority vote all except the ex officio members of all other General Church boards; to be or to elect all boards of trustees, directors or managers of subsidiary corporations, including all approved benevolent institutions, and to exercise such control and direction of said subsidiary corporations and related agencies as is provided for in The Discipline (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2358-2362; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4300-4320), and in their several articles of incorporation and bylaws; and to remove a member of any such board, for cause or when the best interests of the Church so require, by a majority vote of all the members of the General Board (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5270:4; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5282; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5288), and to fill all vacancies.

(20) To direct an annual audit, and at other times as deemed necessary, of all corporations, general offices, divisions, agencies, auxiliaries, and institutions of the Church, and to take any action required by the findings of such audit (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4320:7).

(21) To have the authority to negotiate and arbitrate legal and temporal matters in cases of dispute involving the General Church without resort to the courts when the General Board, by a two-thirds vote, deems such procedure necessary; provided, however, that the emergency authority hereby granted shall not be construed to modify or rescind any of the provisions of The Discipline of The Wesleyan Church with reference to the prescribed conveyance of church property; and further provided, that this authority to negotiate and arbitrate shall not be a limit on the power or authority to resort to litigation in the courts when such procedure is deemed advisable.

Related to General Offices and Divisions

(22) To direct the general officials and those elected by the General Board in their work, in keeping with the provisions of The Discipline (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1830), and assigning to them such special duties as shall be deemed necessary (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:9); to receive reports annually and as needed from the general officials and such others as The Discipline or the General Board shall require (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1840; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4320:8), and to set the salaries and allowances of all general officials (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1800) and of those elected by the General Board.

(23) To adopt a comprehensive budget for each of the general offices, divisions, agencies, and auxiliaries (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1880) and apportion the USF- Educational Institutions Fund among the general educational interests; to determine the obligation to the United Stewardship Fund of churches within developing districts; and, in the interim of General Conference sessions, to designate those interests which will share in the benefits of the USF-General Fund, and to alter the percentage of the USF-General Fund, in case of emergency, by a two-thirds majority vote of all the members of the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2005:2).

(24) To request the General Superintendent to rule on points of Church law and interpretations of The Discipline as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2061, to receive reports from the General Superintendent on all such rulings as a matter of information, and to appeal any such ruling to the Board of Review (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1920:24c; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5445:2). All appeals must be filed with the Executive Director of Communication and Administration within sixty days after the date of the official decision on the matter.

(25) To receive and act upon the recommendations of the General Superintendent.

(26) To recommend at the discretion of the General Board that the General Conference confer the title, General Superintendent Emeritus, upon a former General Superintendent (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:20; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1945).

(27) To adopt official policies for the general offices, divisions, agencies, auxiliaries, and institutions of the Church, in keeping with the provisions of The Discipline, defining the duties of the various executive officers.

(28) To elect the General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1970); to receive, hold, borrow for, loan, and appropriate all General Church funds, in accordance with the financial plans adopted by the General Conference, through the General Treasurer, in the execution of its lawful purpose, subject to the limitations imposed by The Discipline, the articles and bylaws of the several corporations, and the specific provisions of trust agreements; to have the General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer bonded and to set the amount of such bond (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1976).

(29) To receive a report from the Executive Board regarding its annual review of all General Officers based on mutually agreed goals and objectives (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1935:17).

(30) To define the duties of the Executive Cabinet (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1990).

(31) Space reserved.

(32) To authorize adaptation of the church name for units of The Wesleyan Church when necessary (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:80; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:205; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:340:2); to approve a Discipline for each unit under the Global Partners Division in keeping with 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:340:2; and to recommend to the International Board the advancement to established national/regional conference status of qualified mission units under the Global Partners Division (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6516).

(33) Space reserved

Related to Districts

(34) To make recommendation to the General Conference for the establishment or alteration of district boundaries (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:10); and to approve the merger, division or other realignment of districts when each district conference involved has approved the plan (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1065).

(35) To authorize the incorporation of a provisional district (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4105); to approve the articles of incorporation and bylaws for the incorporation of a district, and all amendments to the same (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4110); and to exercise such control and direction of said district corporations as is set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4120:3, 6, 9; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4250; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4870.

(36) To grant in concurrence with the respective district conference prior approval to a local church conference for post-secondary education in terms of an institute or of junior college or college-level programs (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:655:18; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:24).

Related to Judiciary

(37) To exercise administrative and judicial discipline in accordance with the Constitution and as set forth in the General Board Policy on Church Discipline over officers elected by the General Conference including the general officials of the Church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:360:2) and the area representatives of the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:340:1), over those elected or employed by the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:323:1), over districts (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:360:3c) and over district superintendents (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:323:1; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:360:2; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5270-5288; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5350-5385).

(38) To hear and determine charges against the moral character of a minister or a lay member under its jurisdiction in keeping with the provisions of the Judiciary (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5125:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5227:1; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5270; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5279; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5282).

(39) To hear and determine any charges alleging an administrative offense in relation to official duties filed against a person under its jurisdiction and to administer discipline as it deems necessary and proper (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5270; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5279; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5282).

(40) To remove from office any person under its jurisdiction whenever the best interests and preservation of the Church or the disabling physical or mental health of the person require it, subject to the following conditions:

(a) To remove from office a general official elected by the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1800:1a, b), or to remove from General Board membership an area representative, or to remove from office a district superintendent shall require a two-thirds majority vote of all the members of the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5279).

(b) To remove from office a person elected or employed by the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1800:2) shall require a majority vote of all the members of the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5282).

(41) To hear and determine charges against a district for an offense as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5006 (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:6; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5350-5370).

(42) To administer discipline to a district which has been found guilty by the proper judicatory as set forth in the Judiciary (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5350-5385).

(43) To take whatever steps are necessary to preserve the interests of the Church within the bounds of a district under discipline.

(44) To end the state of discipline for a district, by a majority vote of all the members of the General Board, when the offense has been removed to the satisfaction of said majority (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5265), or to authorize the reorganization of a district (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5375-5380).

Related to Public Morals and Social Concerns

(45) To determine the manner in which the Church shall cultivate the Church’s awareness of its responsibility to raise a standard for social righteousness, issue guidance through the denominational periodical and other such means; establish a voice for the Church in matters for public morals and social concerns.

(46) To approve official position statements for publication on behalf of The Wesleyan Church.