2016 Wesleyan Discipline: 2275–2287

4. Organization of Mission Units

2275. Mission units under the Global Partners Division shall be organized on four levels:

(1) A developing district shall be a unit which does not meet the requirements for a provisional district.

(2) A provisional district shall be a unit with a minimum of five churches, two hundred members, and a sufficient number of ordained ministers for a district board of administration.

(3) An established district shall be a unit with a minimum of twenty churches and seven hundred fifty members.

(4) A national or regional conference shall be a unit with two or more provisional or established districts.

2278. Mission units under the Global Partners Division shall be entitled to send representatives to the North American General Conference on a plan of representation determined by the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:325).

2281. Membership Rights. In keeping with the Statement of Relationship (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6730) contained in the Essentials (see the Charter of The International Conference of The Wesleyan Church), members of units under the Global Partners Division have the right to transfer membership not only among local Wesleyan churches but also from one unit under the division to any other unit under the division, or to districts within the United States or Canada (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2550), subject to paragraph 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:567.

2284. Transfer of Ministers. The transfer of ministerial credentials from one unit under the Global Partners Division to any other unit under the division, or to any district of the United States or Canada may be effected with the understanding that consideration must be given to differences in requirements for licensing and ordination of ministers as provided for in the various books of discipline of units worldwide (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6730).

2287. Eligibility for Holding Office. As outlined in paragraph 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2500:5, units under the Global Partners Division are expected to adopt, subject to the approval of the General Board, a discipline or other similar document for the administration of the churches within their boundaries. While the right to be elected to office is worldwide, the right to hold office shall be exercised within the administrative jurisdiction of each book of discipline.