630–650

B. Sessions

630. Regular Sessions. The local church conference shall meet annually within thirty days of the end of the district year (1180:17). It shall be announced from the pulpit at least two weeks in advance (625). Reports shall be made; the officers and local board of administration shall be elected (815; 823; 965; 1103); and such other business shall be transacted as necessary (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, 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. The requirements for special sessions dealing with legal or property matters are set forth in 4040 and 4700.

(2) Pastoral Vote. The vice-chair of the local board of administration (635; 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 at least two weeks in advance of the appointed time. 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 pastor shall preside over the local church conference except over sessions dealing with the securing or retaining of a pastor. The vice-chair of the local board of administration (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 (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, 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) and any others the local church conference shall order.

(3) Receiving the reports of the various treasurers (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 (315:3-4).

(8) Electing of officers and delegates.

(9) Miscellaneous business.