Property, Local Church: Developing church

510

(3) As soon as qualified members are available, the district superintendent, in cooperation with the pastor, may appoint a local advisory council of three to five members, and may designate one of them as the vice-chair. The pastor shall serve as chair of this council (cf. 807; 1310:15). The council shall exercise the duties and powers of a local board of administration (782), making all recommendations to the district superintendent or the district board of administration instead of the local church conference (1310:15). The vice-chair shall provide oversight for the pastor’s compensation and benefits when neither the district superintendent nor a representative of the district superintendent is present. All investments in land, buildings, and equipment (1233:30; 4650–4670), matters involving employed staff, and other major decisions must be authorized by the district board of administration; and all actions of the local advisory council shall be subject to the review and approval of the district superintendent. The local advisory council shall be responsible to assist the district superintendent in qualifying the church as quickly as possible for organization as an established church.

(4) All property of a developing church shall be held by the district, with titles secured as given in 4660.

4650. Developing District. Developing churches within the bounds of a developing district shall be under the jurisdiction of the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division as set forth in 4800. 4660. District. The regulations concerning property for a developing church within the bounds of an established district are as follows:

(1) The district board of administration shall be vested with power and authority to purchase, manage, sell, encumber, transfer, and dispose of any and all property of a developing church, whether real, personal, or mixed (510:3–4; 1233:13–14), and shall direct the pastor and the local advisory council concerning the same in keeping with The Discipline (1233:1, 30).

(2) The pastor and local advisory council of a developing church shall be responsible to supervise, control, and maintain the property under their care as directed by the district superintendent and the district board of administration (510:3–4; 1233:1, 30).

(3) All property of a developing church shall be held by the district in trust for the use and benefit of the members and ministers of The Wesleyan Church as required in 323:8 and shall contain the trust clause as given in 4610 (4140; 4590–4630; 4830).

(4) Whenever a developing church has been organized as an established church (518–520), the district board of trustees may transfer the property to the local board of trustees as set forth in 4680, provided that the property is free of debt.

4670. Reclassification. Whenever an established church is reclassified as a developing church as set forth in 518; 1180:22; and 1233:26, the office of the members of the local board of administration shall thereupon cease (859:5) and the district board of administration shall be responsible for the property as set forth in 4660:1–4 (510:4). Whenever the property of such a church has been held by the local trustees, it shall be conveyed or transferred to the district to be held as set forth in 4120:6–7; 4830 (859:5).