Chapter 1: Basic Principles

2500. The Wesleyan Church, in the fulfillment of its mission to spread scriptural holiness throughout the world (100-105), recognizes the following as basic principles for its worldwide organization:

(1) The missionary objectives of The Wesleyan Church, as set forth in 2258-2262, call for dynamic worldwide evangelism, resulting in the planting of local churches, which in turn develop into national church structures in the host countries or regions, each of which should become a partner in world evangelism as a unit of The Wesleyan Church worldwide.

(2) Such national churches shall be organized as developing or established districts, and national or regional conferences as set forth in 2275. As they increase in spiritual, numerical, financial, and organizational strength and maturity, they may become Established National/Regional Conferences and/ or General Conferences as set forth in 2610–2625.

(3) The Essentials is a statement of faith, practice, and relationship which serves as a unifying bond for all units of The Wesleyan Church around the world. This statement is incorporated in the Charter of The International Conference of The Wesleyan Church (see Appendix A; 125) and no unit of The Wesleyan Church may contravene any of the provisions of the Essentials in the development of its own book of discipline or in establishing church structures and practice.

(4) The church in each field or area under the Global Partners Division shall endeavor to establish its own pattern of government, since it is recognized that variations in local conditions, cultural patterns, governmental regulations, and other factors require local adaptations in the organizational structure of the church.

(5) The organization and government of the various units under the Global Partners Division shall be set forth in the General Board Policy for the Global Partners Division and a book of discipline or a supplement to The Discipline shall be approved by the General Board for each unit (205; 340:2; 1655:27).

(6) It shall not be the purpose of The Wesleyan Church to keep units under the Global Partners Division dependent on the parent body, but to develop strong churches that are aggressive in assuming responsibility for progress and growth in their own countries or regions, as well as having the vision of participating in the missionary objectives of The Wesleyan Church worldwide.