2016 Wesleyan Discipline: 4300-4310

A. Authorization of Subsidiary Corporations

4300. The General Conference may authorize the incorporation of any agency, institution (for matters relative to a general educational institution, cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2362), board, organization or similar body as a subsidiary corporation of The Wesleyan Church, and shall approve the articles of incorporation and bylaws and any amendments thereto (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:6). The General Board shall carry out the directions of the General Conference regarding such subsidiary corporations, assign each one to the supervision of the General Superintendent; and, in the interim of General Conference sessions, may authorize such an incorporation by a two-thirds majority vote of all its members, and may approve the articles of incorporation and bylaws and any amendments thereto for any subsidiary corporation except as otherwise restricted by the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1655:18).

B. Subsidiary Corporations

4310. Definition. Those corporate units of The Wesleyan Church which are intrinsic to the priority mission of the Church are known as subsidiary corporations. These include the following:

(1) Districts (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4100–4150). Local churches, whether incorporated or unincorporated (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4000–4070), are units of the related district and subject to the authority of said district as set forth in The Discipline of The Wesleyan Church (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:29–41; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1310:14–24; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4650–4780).

(2) General Educational Institutions (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2365).

(3) The Wesleyan Pension Fund, Inc. (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4400–4425).

(4) Hephzibah Ministries Inc. The Hephzibah Ministries Inc. in Macon, Georgia, is incorporated under the laws of the state of Georgia. It is administered by a board of directors elected by and amenable to the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1655:18). The board of directors shall administer all matters pertaining to Hephzibah Ministries Inc. in accord with The Discipline (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4570), the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the corporation.

(5) Wesleyan Investment Foundation, Inc. The Wesleyan Investment Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Indiana. It is governed by a board of directors of eleven members elected by the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1655:19). The board of directors shall administer all matters pertaining to the Wesleyan Investment Foundation, Inc. in accord with The Discipline (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4570), its articles of incorporation and bylaws, and is amenable to the General Board.

(6) Other corporate units may be designated as subsidiary corporations by the General Conference or a two-thirds vote of all members of the General Board.