Trustees: District

323

(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).

1180

(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).

F. District Board of Trustees

1360. The district conference of each established district shall be incorporated or shall cause a corporation to be formed and maintained to facilitate the management of its legal and corporate affairs as set forth in 4100-4150. In places where local laws prohibit such incorporation, or where the local laws require property to be held by trustees, the district conference may elect from among the members of the district board of administration the members of the district board of trustees in such number as desired (1180:20; 4855). The district trustees shall hold office until their term expires as members of the district board of administration and until their successors are elected and qualified. The district board of trustees shall be amenable to the district board of administration (4840; 4855). A district trustee may be removed from office by a two-thirds majority vote of all the members of the district board of administration whenever it is deemed necessary for the best interests of The Wesleyan Church and the district or whenever a trustee shall refuse to carry out the directions of the district board of administration, except when such directions are contrary to local laws or to The Discipline (1206; 1233:24a; 1265; 4540). The office of a district trustee may also become vacant by death, cessation of membership in The Wesleyan Church, or cessation of membership on the district board of administration. A vacancy, on the district board of trustees shall be filled for the unexpired term by a majority vote of all the members of the district board of administration (1206; 1233:24a; 1272).

1365. The district board of trustees shall administer its duties in accord with The Discipline (4500-4630; 4830-4880) and as directed by the district board of administration. Its duties are to:

(1) Hold all district property, and such local property as may be held by the district (4660; 4680), in trust for The Wesleyan Church as set forth in 4830 (323:8).

(2) Attend to all legal matters pertaining to the district transactions for the purchase, sale, encumbrance, transfer, or other disposal of property, as ordered by the district board of administration (4840).

(3) Fulfill such other duties as pertain to their office as trustees and as may be assigned to them by the district board of administration.

4855. The district conference of each established district shall be incorporated or shall cause a corporation to be formed and maintained to facilitate the management of its legal and corporate affairs as set forth in 4100–4150. In places where local laws prohibit such incorporation, or where the local laws require property to be held by trustees, the district conference shall elect from among the members of the district board of administration the members of the district board of trustees in such number as desired (1180:19–20; 1360–1365). The district trustees shall hold office as trustees until their term of office expires as members of the district board of administration and until their successors are qualified and elected. The district board of trustees shall be amenable to the district board of administration and shall hold all district property, and such local property as may be held by the district (4660; 4680), in trust for The Wesleyan Church as set forth in 4590–4610; shall attend to all legal matters pertaining to the district property and other business as directed; and shall carry out such transactions for the purchase, acquisition, sale, encumbrance, transfer, or other disposal of district property as ordered by the district board of administration (4840). Whenever a trustee shall refuse to carry out the directions of the district board of administration, the trustee may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of all the members of the district board of administration, who shall also fill the vacancy for the unexpired term (1233:24a; 1360).