District: Powers

323. The constitutional rights of each district shall include the following. The right to:

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

(2) Alter the agreement entered into by any pastor and charge, or veto the action of the church and appoint another pastor on said charge when it deems this to be for the best interest of the charge or pastor involved or when the general interest of the work of the district would be better served by such change; and the said church or charge shall receive the pastor appointed by the district conference, provided that any such alteration of a previous arrangement between a pastor and church shall be separately reported and passed by vote of the district conference to be effective.

(3) Elect and ordain ministers, and to receive ordained ministers from other denominations subject to the restrictions of The Discipline.

(4) Receive or decline persons recommended to it for various ministries by the pastoral charges within its bounds.

(5) Organize and receive local churches within the boundaries of the territory assigned to it by the General Conference, and to fix the boundaries of its circuits and stations.

(6) Take such actions and adopt such rules as it shall judge necessary to promote the interest and prosperity of the Church and to amend or rescind the same, provided it shall not add to or take from any provision of the Constitution or of The Discipline, and provided further that if three members of a district shall take exception to its action on the ground that it violates this restriction, they may make an appeal therefrom through the channels prescribed by The Discipline.

(7) Elect its own officers as outlined in The Discipline and to dismiss them for cause.

(8) Elect in the manner prescribed by The Discipline its own board of trustees and through them to receive, hold, encumber, and dispose of all district property within the bounds of the district, including local property held by the district, according to the provisions of The Discipline and the laws of the state. All properties held by the district shall be held in trust for the use and benefit of the ministry and members of The Wesleyan Church and subject to its regulations and appointments as from time to time legislated and declared (4610).

(9) Be represented in the lay and ministerial voting membership of the General Conference, if not under discipline.

(10) Have recourse to a proper court of jurisdiction in any matters of controversy between itself and other district, local or general units or agencies of the denomination.

1180. The duties and powers of the district conference as set forth in the Constitution (1126) and as authorized by the General Conference are to:

Relating to the Constitution

(1) Propose an amendment to the Constitution, by a two-thirds vote, to be submitted to the General Conference as a memorial (385; 1560; 1590:1) or propose an amendment to the Constitution to be submitted first to the other district conferences (385; 1590:2).

(2) Vote on the ratification of an amendment to the Constitution adopted by the General Conference (385; 1590:1) and vote on a proposed amendment to the Constitution originating in another district conference (385; 1590:2).

Relating to the General Conference

(3) Adopt memorials to the General Conference for proposed changes in The Discipline or for other legislation (1153; 1557-1560; 1565).

(4) Elect delegates to the General Conference as set forth in 1503-1526 (1175:1).

(5) Review all standing rules of the district and bring them into harmony with the Constitution, with other provisions of The Discipline as currently revised and amended, and with other General Conference legislation (323:6).

(6) To request a special session of the General Conference in concurrence with two-thirds of the district conferences (330:2; 1532).

Relating to the District Conference

(7) Receive the appointed general representative to preside over the district conference whenever the General Superintendent is not present (350:3; 1935).

(8) Receive a report concerning the interests and progress of the denomination from the General Superintendent or if the General Superintendent is not present, from the general representative.

(9) Authorize a district conference nominating committee, designate its number of members, elect such members, and determine its duties as set forth in 1172-1175.

(10) Space reserved.

Relating to District Administration

(11) Take charge of all ordained, commissioned, or licensed ministers, ministerial students, commissioned and licensed special workers, missions, developing churches, pastoral charges, and other district work within its bounds, except when the district is under discipline (360:3c, e), and except for those members of the district who are elected as general officials (1800), missionaries appointed under the Global Partners Division (2272), and others who are amenable only to the General Board for their official duties (323:1; 360:2; Gen. Bd. Policy on Ch. Disc. 5150; 5203).

(12) Receive a report concerning their official duties from the following: the district superintendent (1310:27), the assistant district superintendent(s) (1323:5), the district treasurer (1337:8), and any others as desired by the district conference.

(13) Consider the numerical and financial progress of the district by receiving a complete statistical and financial report as compiled and submitted by the district secretary.

(14) Take such actions and adopt such rules as it shall judge necessary to promote the interests and well-being of The Wesleyan Church within the bounds of the district, and to amend or rescind the same, provided that it shall not add to or take from any provision of the Constitution or other provisions of The Discipline, and provided that any three members may appeal an action of the district conference as set forth in 323:6 (2061).

(15) Adopt financial plans which will provide for the support of the district work, and for the payment of the district obligation for the United Stewardship Fund (2015:1), assigning to each church its share of these obligations (2015:2; 1233:11).

(16) Space reserved.

(17) Determine the dates for the district fiscal year, which shall be binding on all churches, boards, committees, and organizations within the district for the keeping of records and reports.

(18) Authorize employment, if desired, of one or more assistant district superintendents (1320) as full-time district official(s).

(19) Authorize the incorporation of the district as provided for in 4100-4150. After such incorporation, the district board of administration shall carry out the will of the district conference concerning the holding of district and local church property (4680), and shall have power, on its own resolution, to acquire, purchase, manage, sell, exchange, mortgage, deed in trust, pledge, rent, lease, and convey any property, real, personal, or mixed, as may be necessary or convenient for the purpose of the corporation.

(20) Elect, in states or provinces where local laws prohibit such incorporation, or where the law requires the property to be held by trustees, a district board of trustees from among the members of the district board of administration, which shall carry out the will of the district conference concerning the holding of district and local church property (4680), and which shall carry out its duties as set forth in 1365 (4500-4630; 4800-4880).

(21) Delegate any of its duties not restricted to the district conference by the Constitution.

Relating to Churches, Ministers, and Lay Workers

(22) Authorize the establishing of a mission (537), a developing church (510), a church (518), the reclassification of a church as a developing church (518:7; 1233:26); to declare a church as discontinued or abandoned (4730); and to hear a report from the district superintendent of the organization of new churches (520:6; 1310:14). Any established church that is not under discipline may not be discontinued without a corroborating vote of the local church conference (655:12; 1233:26).

(23) Determine the boundaries of each pastoral charge within the district (323:5; 1233:10c; 4750).

(24) Receive and pass the recommendations of the district board of administration concerning the pastoral agreements, appointments, and district conference relations, as follows (1233:10):

(a) Approve the pastoral agreements entered into between the pastoral charges and the ministers, or to alter such an agreement, or to veto the action of the pastoral charge and appoint another pastor, provided that any such alteration or veto shall be for reasons as set forth in the Constitution, and shall be voted on as a separate action by the district conference (323:1-2; 697).

(b) Appoint a pastor to those pastoral charges not yet supplied at the time of the district conference or whenever requested to do so by a local church (708); or to delegate such appointment to the district board of administration, and to appoint an interim pastor (3261:2); or to employ a qualified person as a supply pastor when deemed necessary (3260).

(c) Appoint each minister to the proper category of service or other appointment (3250-3391), appointing each ordained minister not included on the appointed list (1240:1:A) to the proper district conference relation as retired, on reserve, on educational leave, without appointment (1240:1:B–E), or in process of transfer (3104); appointing each commissioned or licensed minister to the proper category of service (1240:2:A–B; 1240:3:A–B; 3255-3391) or in the process of transfer (3104); to license as ministerial students those persons so qualified (1240:4; 3015:1); and to appoint as commissioned or licensed special workers, designating their particular ministry (3450-3480), those who have been granted the proper commissions and licenses (1240:5:A–C) or to list them as in process of transfer (1240:5:B); and to appoint commissioned lay missionaries.

(25) Grant in concurrence with the General Board prior approval to a local church conference for post-secondary education in terms of an institute, junior college, or college-level programs (655:17; 1655:36).

(26) Elect to ordination or for commissioning as a minister a candidate the district conference deems qualified (3070), after receiving a report from the district board of ministerial development (1390:5) which shall be acted upon as a separate item of business.

(27) Grant a license, commission, recognition, or restoration, in keeping with the requirements of The Discipline, after receiving the report and recommendations from the district board of ministerial development (1390:5), as follows:

(a) A recognition as ordained minister in process of transfer to an ordained minister being received from another denomination (3104), and a recognition as an ordained minister of The Wesleyan Church in full standing when all requirements have been met (3104:4-5).

(b) A district ministerial license, the granting of which shall become effective when the person receives appointment as set forth in 3033:7 and 3040:3 (1180:24c; 1233:10).

(c) A recognition of a commissioned or licensed minister being received from another denomination as in process of transfer (3104) and a recognition of such commissioned or licensed ministers in full standing when all requirements are met (3104).

(d) A license as a ministerial student for those who are qualified (3015:1; 3350).

(e) A license or commission as special worker, designating the particular ministry (3450-3480), or a recognition of a commissioned special worker or the equivalent thereof in process of transfer from another denomination, and subsequent recognition as a commissioned special worker in full standing when all requirements have been met (3470).

(f) A commission as lay missionary (3490).

(g) Any other license or commission as shall be authorized by The Discipline.

(h) The restoration or reinstatement of ordination, commission, or license as set forth in 3120–3124; 3480; Gen. Bd. Policy on Ch. Disc. 5230-5248 (1390:4).

(28) Receive and pass on an annual service report, through the district board of ministerial development as set forth in 1390:7-9, from each ordained, commissioned, and licensed minister, ministerial student, and commissioned and licensed special worker; to receive an explanation from the district board of ministerial development relative to each person whose report has been found unsatisfactory, and to vote on the continuation of such person for appointment, which shall require a two-thirds vote of confidence for approval (1390:9).

Relating to the Election of Officials and Committees

(29) Elect, by ballot and by majority vote, an ordained minister to the office of district superintendent for a term of four years (1303:2, 4). Reelection thereafter shall also be for a term of four years or for an extended call (1303:2, 4).

(30) Elect, by ballot and by majority vote, a district secretary (1330; 1175:1) and members-at-large of the district board of administration (1203-1206).

(31) Space reserved.

(32) Space reserved.

(33) Space reserved.

(34) Elect a district board of review as set forth in paragraph 1370 (Gen. Bd. Policy on Ch. Disc. 5218).

Relating to Church Law and the Judiciary

(35) Request, by a two-thirds majority vote, a ruling on a point of Wesleyan Church law or an interpretation of The Discipline from the General Superintendent (2061:1); or appeal, by a two-thirds majority vote, such a ruling to the General Board of Review (2061:3; Gen. Bd. Policy on Ch. Disc. 5445:2).

(36) Appeal, by a two-thirds majority vote, a decision of the General Superintendent on the legality of an action by the district conference, a district board or committee, or a district official, to the General Board of Review (375:2; 2061; 323:6; Gen. Bd. Policy on Ch. Disc. 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.

(37) Adopt, by a two-thirds majority vote, a complaint against the General Conference or another district and order its presentation to the General Board of Review for settlement (375:4, 6; Gen. Bd. Policy on Ch. Disc. 5445:4); and to adopt such a complaint, by a majority vote, against the General Board to be presented to the General Board of Review for settlement (323:10).

(38) Appeal, by a two-thirds majority vote, a judgment of the General Board of Review to the General Conference for final settlement (323:10; 380; Gen. Bd. Policy on Ch. Disc. 5450). 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.

(39) Exercise judicial powers according to the provisions of the General Board Policy on Church Discipline (5200-5248; 5300-5325).