D. Local Church Conference Duties and Powers

D. Duties and Powers

655. The local church conference has duties and powers to:

(1) Approve by vote the reception of members and to expel or discontinue members unless it delegates full authority concerning membership to the local board of administration (567; 315:1). Such authority may be withdrawn from the local board of administration at any annual session of the local church conference.

(2) Call a pastor or renew the call (315:2; 692; 705; 720; 735), or to vote on the termination of a renewed call as set forth in 722:2.

(3) Elect the church officers (315:5), which shall consist of the local church secretary (830), the local church treasurer (if any, 842), members-at-large of the local board of administration (752), and lay delegates to the district conference (315:5, 7).

(4) Receive reports from the pastor(s), church officers, lay ministers and other persons, boards, and committees as desired, and as listed in 650:2–5.

(5) Remove, when such is in the best interests of the church, by a majority vote of those present and voting, any church officer, trustee, or delegate mentioned in 655:4 (782:23).

(6) License lay ministers (315:3), and to renew or revoke such license (782:18; 3410; 3420; 3440:2). This power may be delegated to the local board of administration.

(7) Recommend suitable members to the district conference for district licenses as ministerial students, licensed ministers, or special workers (315:3). This power may be delegated to the local board of administration.

(8) Adopt petitions or resolutions to the district conference, including memorials proposed for recommendation to the General Conference (1150–1156).

(9) Adopt financial policies, which policies shall be administered by the local board of administration (782:27).

(10) Delegate to the local board of administration (782:28) full authority over the annual budget.

(11) Authorize the purchase or sale of property, the erection or major remodeling of buildings, and all mortgages or other indebtedness which encumbers the property, subject to the prior approval of the district board of administration, according to the procedure set forth in 4700–4720.

(12) Corroborate by majority vote, if not under discipline, the action of the district board of administration to discontinue the local church (1233:26).

(13) Petition the district board of administration for the incorporation of the local church when it is deemed necessary as set forth in 4000, and to authorize the local board of administration to incorporate the church when such incorporation has been approved by the district board of administration (1233:30).

(14) Authorize, subject to the approval of the district board of administration, the establishment and operation of a mission (537; 782:6; 1233:26).

(15) Delegate such responsibilities as it shall choose to the local board of administration.

(16) Have recourse to a proper court of jurisdiction in any matters of controversy between itself and other local, or district, or general units or agencies of the denomination (315:8; General Board Policy on Church Discipline).

(17) Authorize the establishment of a day care and/or a day school of preschool, elementary, and secondary levels only, when such is desired, subject to approval by the district board of administration; and to delegate governance of the day care and/or day school to the local board of administration (782:33; 1233:32). District conference and General Board approval is required before a local church conference can formalize postsecondary education in terms of an institute or of junior college or college-level programs (1180:25; 1655:36).

(18) Authorize significant changes in mission, facilities, or finances of an established day care and/or day school, subject to approval by the district board of administration (1233:32).