2016 Wesleyan Discipline: 1180:24–30

(24) To authorize the establishing of a mission (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:537), a developing church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:510), a church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:518), a circuit (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:525), the reclassification of a church as a developing church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:518:7; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:30), to declare a church as discontinued or abandoned (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4730), and to hear a report from the district superintendent of the organization of new churches (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:520:6; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1310:16). Any established church that is not under discipline may not be discontinued without a corroborating vote of the local church conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:655:14; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:30).

(25) To determine the boundaries of each pastoral charge within the district (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:323:5; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:10c; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4750).

(26) To receive and pass upon the recommendations of the district board of administration concerning the pastoral agreements, appointments, and district conference relations, as follows (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:10):

(a) To 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 (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:323:1-2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:697).

(b) To 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 (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:708) or to delegate such appointment to the district board of administration, and to appoint an interim pastor (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3261:2) or to employ a qualified person as a supply pastor when deemed necessary (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3260).

(c) To appoint each minister to the proper category of service or other appointment (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3250-3391), appointing each ordained minister not included on the appointed list (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:I:A) to the proper district conference relation as retired, on reserve, on educational leave, without appointment (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:I:B-E) or in process of transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3104); appointing each commissioned or licensed minister to the proper category of service (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:II:A-B; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:III:A-B; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3255-3391) or in the process of transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3104); to license as ministerial students those persons so qualified (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:IV; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3015:1); and to appoint as commissioned or licensed special workers, designating their particular ministry (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3450-3480), those who have been granted the proper commissions and licenses (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:V:A-C) or to list them as in process of transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1240:V:B); and to appoint commissioned lay missionaries.

(27) To 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 (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:655:19; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1655:36).

(28) To elect to ordination or for commissioning as a minister, a candidate the district conference deems qualified (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3070), after receiving a report from the district board of ministerial development (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1390:5) which shall be acted upon as a separate item of business.

(29) To 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 (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3104), and a recognition as an ordained minister of The Wesleyan Church in full standing when all requirements have been met (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3104:4-5).

(b) A district ministerial license, the granting of which shall become effective when the person receives appointment as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3033:7 and 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3040:3 (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:26c; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:10).

(c) A recognition of a commissioned or licensed minister being received from another denomination as in process of transfer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3104) and a recognition of such commissioned or licensed ministers in full standing when all requirements are met (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3104).

(d) A license as a ministerial student for those who are qualified (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3015:1; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3350).

(e) A license or commission as special worker, designating the particular ministry (2016 Wesleyan Discipline: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 (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3470).

(f) A commission as lay missionary (2016 Wesleyan Discipline: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 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3120-3124; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3480; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5230-5248 (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1390:4).

(30) To receive and pass on an annual service report, through the district board of ministerial development as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline: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 (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1390:9).