Chapter 2: General Conferences and Established National/Regional Conferences

2550. The North American General Conference shall be composed of the established and developing districts in the United States and Canada, all of which are governed by the North American Discipline. The regional/ national conferences, established districts and developing areas under the North American Global Partners Division (2275), and the Established National/ Regional Conferences (2610) are all governed by their own disciplines as approved by the General Board (2500:5), and shall be represented in the North American General Conference according to a plan approved by the General Board (325; 1655:33).

2560. The General Conference of The Wesleyan Church of the Philippines shall be composed of all developing and established districts in the Philippines and Indonesia and such other units as it shall receive.

2565. The General Conference of The Wesleyan Holiness Church of the Caribbean shall be composed of all developing and established districts in the Caribbean and such other units as it shall receive.

A. Established National/Regional Conferences

2610. A mission unit may be advanced to the status of an Established National/Regional Conference by the authority of the North American General Conference (6515:2; 6745:11) when it meets the following requirements:

(1) An effective church organization on the local, district, and/or national/ regional levels.

(2) Effective programs for the nurture and training of members, new converts, children, young people, and lay workers.

(3) An effective program for ministerial training.

(4) Evidence of responsible stewardship of life and possessions, including the proper management of funds and the provision for the support of its own pastors, workers, and officers.

(5) A defined and operational program of evangelism, church planting, and cross-cultural mission outreach.

(6) The existence of a property-holding body, or more than one such body, if required by local laws.

(7) Agreement to adhere to the Essentials of The Wesleyan Church.

(8) A discipline as approved by the General Board.

(9) A recommendation for such status from the Executive Director of Global Partners.

(10) Authorization for such status from the North American General Conference (6515:2; 6745:11).

(11) Approval of such status by The International Conference (6745:11).

2615. An Established National/Regional Conference has “defined autonomy”: the right to manage its own internal governance which includes revising its discipline as long as it does not violate the Essentials. An Established National/Regional Conference remains in relationship with the North American General Conference and the General Superintendent has a continuing role as mentor/coach and participation in the Established National/Regional Conference.

B. General Conferences

2620. An Established National/Regional Conference may be advanced to the status of a general conference by The International Conference of The Wesleyan Church, upon authorization by the North American General Conference (1590:10; 6745:10; 6515:2i).

2625. A General Conference is a body which has full authority over the Church in its assigned territory, in keeping with the provisions of The International Conference of The Wesleyan Church. A General Conference has the right to manage its own internal governance, including revising its discipline, as long as it does not violate the Essentials.

C. General Conference Interrelations

2630. The relationships between general conferences shall be supervised by the International Board of Appeals (See Appendix A).

2640. The unity of The Wesleyan Church worldwide is to be recognized and maintained through the relationships provided in the Charter of The International Conference of The Wesleyan Church (see Appendix A). The North American General Conference shall relate to all other general conferences as outlined in the Charter, including the recognition of the right of members and ministers to transfer membership and/or credentials between general conferences, subject to the same approval as that provided for transfers between its own local churches and districts (325; 6730).