2016 Wesleyan Discipline: Chapter 4: General Administration

A. General Superintendent

1. Function

1900. The General Superintendent is the spiritual, executive, and administrative leader of the Church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:350:1). As such, the General Superintendent must communicate through preaching, writing, teaching, and various uses of technology the fourfold mission and vision of the Church: evangelizing the lost, discipling believers, equipping the Church, and ministering to society. The result will be that hope and holiness will spread throughout the globe producing transformed people, communities, and cultures.

2. General Regulations

1903. The General Superintendent is elected from among the ordained ministers of The Wesleyan Church by the General Conference as a general official of the Church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:325; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:350:1; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:16), and is an ex officio member of the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1503:1c), the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1605:1), the Executive Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1755), and the Executive Cabinet (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1990).

1909. The term of service, amenability, and other regulations for the General Superintendent are those set forth for a general official in paragraphs 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1800-1870.

3. Duties of the General Superintendent

1935. The General Superintendent shall devote full time to supervising, coordinating and promoting the various branches of The Wesleyan Church. The General Superintendent shall be responsible:

Spiritual Responsibilities

(1) To be a steward leader of this Church and its vision.

(2) To maintain personal integrity by establishing a spiritual accountability partner, spending daily time in God’s Word and prayer, and living a balanced and pure life.

(3) To possess compassion for the lost, the poor, and the disenfranchised.

(4) To ensure the implementation of the vision of the Church in collaboration with the Executive Cabinet.

(5) To travel throughout the Church, giving such spiritual leadership and inspirational ministry as the need demands and the opportunity affords. All travel and speaking engagements are coordinated through the office of the General Superintendent.

Executive Responsibilities

(6) To preside as chair over the General Conference, General Board, and Executive Board and to call for a special session of the Executive Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1760; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5279; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5365).

(7) To supervise the General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer as a direct report.

(8) To act as the President of the Corporation and fulfill the duties thereof.

(9) To network strategically with other denominations, fellowships, and organizations, or appoint representatives to do so.

(10) To mentor/coach and participate in established national/regional conferences (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2615).

(11) To recommend nominations for Executive Directors of Divisions to the General Board for election by the General Conference.

(12) To recommend nominations for the General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer to the Committee on Nominations for election by the General Board.

(13) To report to each session of the General Conference concerning official duties (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:7); and to report annually to the General Board concerning official duties, personal ministry and the goals, objectives, and plans for The Wesleyan Church (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1655:22, 25).

(14) To work in collaboration with the Executive Cabinet and the General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer to prepare the annual budget.

Administrative Responsibilities

(15) To maintain professional integrity by attending educational workshops, reviewing publications, and establishing professional networks.

(16) To counsel with the general officials and the executive officers under direct supervision, and to assure general officials administer their work in harmony with The Discipline, the respective Policy of the General Board, and any other directives from the General Conference, the General Board or its Executive Board.

(17) To hold the executive director of each division accountable for goals set in collaboration with the General Superintendent and the Executive Cabinet, and to submit annually to the Executive Board the evaluations of the officers of the Executive Cabinet.

(18) To serve as or to appoint the chair of the General Conference Planning Committee which is comprised of the Executive Cabinet and any others appointed by them (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1570, 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1576).

(19) To work in collaboration with the Executive Director of Global Partners to strategically determine the best use of the General Superintendent’s presence in overseas gatherings.

(20) To supervise subsidiary corporations as specified in The Discipline 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4300-4310.

(21) To recommend to the General Board any modifications to The Discipline made necessary when conflict over church administration arises at the local, district, or General Church level (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1797).

(22) To serve as an ex officio member of the International Conference and International Board of General Superintendents.

(23) To designate the Chief of Staff as the emergency contact person in the absence of the General Superintendent.

(24) To appoint fraternal delegates and representatives for The Wesleyan Church to other denominations or religious organizations unless otherwise provided for by the General Conference or the General Board.

(25) To visit annually and conduct an administrative survey of each educational and benevolent institution; to approve the bylaws (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4350:2); to review, as needed, the records and minutes of affiliate corporations (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4350:7, 9); and to exercise care lest any adjunct entity create the impression of being a part of any entity of The Wesleyan Church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4370:5).

(26) To meet with any governing board, district board of administration, committee or other official body, at the discretion of the General Superintendent, and make those recommendations deemed necessary to uphold The Discipline and carry out the directives of the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:350:4), the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1655) or its Executive Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1785).

Responsibilities Related to Districts

(27) To exercise general supervision over each district, provisional district and developing district, and the work of its superintendent; to schedule and conduct a minimum of one personal conference each year with each district superintendent, counseling the district superintendent regarding plans and objectives of the district for the year and receiving reports of activities and progress toward objectives during the past year (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1310:30); and to meet periodically with each district board of administration to evaluate the service of and financial provision for the district superintendent (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1218) and to evaluate the performance of the district board of administration.

(28) To arrange the dates for the district conferences, in consultation with district superintendents, so the General Superintendent may be present; to approve a reconvened session of a district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1115); and to appoint a general official as a General Church representative to a district conference whenever the General Superintendent is unable to attend (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:350:3).

(29) To work with district superintendents and district boards of administration to establish four-year missional goals, and to annually evaluate progress toward meeting those goals.

(30) To conduct a formal evaluation of district superintendents prior to any vote to reelect to office.

(31) To consult with a district board of administration prior to a search for a new district superintendent regarding its vision, the type of leadership necessary to accomplish the vision, and to recommend specific persons capable of accomplishing the vision as nominations for district superintendent to a district conference; to counsel a district board of administration in the appointment of an acting or interim district superintendent (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1303:7); to chair the special nominating committee named to select nominees for the office of district superintendent (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1303:8); and to have charge of the service of installation of a district superintendent (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5930).

(32) To conduct new district superintendent orientations and in-service training; and create on-going mentor/coach relationships, and other judicatory training events, in conjunction with peer-to-peer district superintendents’ meetings.

(33) To recommend to the General Board the reclassification of a provisional district to the status of established district.

(34) To preside over the ordination of ministers (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3070:6; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5750-5792), the commissioning of ministers (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3059:1f; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5800), and lay workers (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5850) or lay missionaries when present (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1310:26; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1405), and to deliver the address or, if absent, to appoint a representative to preside over the ordination service and deliver the address; and to sign all credentials, certificates, and other forms incidental to this office. If the General Superintendent is unable to be present to preside over a district’s service of ordination or commissioning of ministers, first to be considered to represent the General Superintendent will be a former General Superintendent in good standing (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1310:26, 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1405, 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3059, 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3091, 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5752).

(35) To receive recommendations from the Education and Clergy Development Division and respective districts, and give final approval regarding the transfer of any ordained, commissioned or licensed minister into a district (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1915), in concurrence with the district superintendent of that district (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:313:6; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1310:21; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3100:1), as well as the reception of a minister from another denomination (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:3104).

(36) To consult, when needed, with a district board of administration concerning the purchase, location, encumbrance, sale, transfer or other disposition of real property used for district purposes such as a district parsonage, headquarters or campground (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4150; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4840:1); to receive from each district superintendent property conveyance reports on approved forms (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1310:13); and to approve the purchase, conveyance or mortgage of any local or district property of a district placed under discipline (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4870; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5066).

(37) To work with appointed representatives and the Executive Cabinet to recommend to the General Board any merger, division, or realignment of districts (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1060).

Responsibilities toward Educational Institutions

(38)To relate directly to the presidents of Wesleyan educational institutions regarding the vision and goals of their institutions and how these impact The Wesleyan Church.

(39) To attend board of trustees meetings of each educational institution at the discretion of the General Superintendent.

Judicial Supervision

(40) To carry out judicial responsibilities as set forth in the General Board Policy on Church Discipline 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5206; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5209; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5239; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5242; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5245; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5279; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5282; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5365; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5375.

(41) To receive recommendations from the Education and Clergy Development Division and respective districts and give final approval for recommendation to the General Board that the disciplinary requirements have been met for the restoration of a minister, and to forward such request and certification to the Executive Director of Communication and Administration.

(42) To consult with the Executive Board regarding the discipline of ministers, officers, churches, and districts (General Board Policy on Church Discipline 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5245:2).

(43) To consult with the Executive Board before issuing any official ruling on points of Church law and interpretations of The Discipline of The Wesleyan Church when properly requested to do so or whenever deemed necessary for the proper administration of the Church:

(a) A request for such a ruling shall be submitted, in writing, by the following for the work under their jurisdiction: the General Board, the Executive Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1785), a general official, the governing board of an institution or subsidiary corporation, a district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:40) or a district board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:27).

(b) A ruling may be appealed to the Board of Review by the party submitting the original request or by the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:370; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:40; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5445:2). All appeals must be filed with the Executive Director of Communication and Administration within sixty days after the date the official ruling is published by the General Superintendent. An official ruling that is not upheld by the Board of Review shall be null and void, unless the action of the Board of Review is overruled by the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:380).

(44) To rule on the legality of an official action by a district conference, any district board or committee, or a district official as follows: Any three or more members of The Wesleyan Church within a district or provisional district may request such a ruling and shall submit their petition in writing, signed by each petitioner (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:323:6). The General Superintendent shall decide if the official act in question, in whole or in part, is deemed properly taken according to the Constitution (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:200-385), or other provisions of The Discipline (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:155-185), stating reasons for the ruling in writing. If the action is ruled as contravening the Constitution, or other provisions of The Discipline, it shall be null and void. Appeals from the decision of the General Superintendent may be made by the petitioners or the district board of administration to the General Board of Review (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:2).

(45) To submit a report of all official rulings on points of law, interpretations of The Discipline or other formal judicial acts to the next session of the General Board or its Executive Board for their information, and to the next session of the General Conference for final review and approval (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:23). Upon approval by the General Conference, such rulings shall become the law of the Church and shall be incorporated into the appropriate section(s) of The Discipline. A record of such rulings shall be inserted in a special appendix of the next issue of The Discipline as follows:

The General Superintendent on (date) officially interpreted (identify item) and the General Conference on (date) sustained (GC- ), thereby authorizing this provision to mean: (insert the ruling).

(46) To request a ruling from the Board of Review on the constitutionality of an act of the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:1), the legality of an act of any General Church board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:3), and the legality of any issues arising between a district and the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:6). (Cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5445:1, 3, 4.)

(47) To canvas, with the Executive Cabinet, the vote taken by the several district conferences on an amendment to the Constitution and the Essentials originating in the General Conference and, when the amendment has received the required majority, to declare it effective as constitutional law (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:2).

Judicial Supervision

(40) To carry out judicial responsibilities as set forth in the General Board Policy on Church Discipline 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5206; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5209; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5239; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5242; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5245; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5279; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5282; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5365; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5375.

(41) To receive recommendations from the Education and Clergy Development Division and respective districts and give final approval for recommendation to the General Board that the disciplinary requirements have been met for the restoration of a minister, and to forward such request and certification to the Executive Director of Communication and Administration.

(42) To consult with the Executive Board regarding the discipline of ministers, officers, churches, and districts (General Board Policy on Church Discipline 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5245:2).

(43) To consult with the Executive Board before issuing any official ruling on points of Church law and interpretations of The Discipline of The Wesleyan Church when properly requested to do so or whenever deemed necessary for the proper administration of the Church:

(a) A request for such a ruling shall be submitted, in writing, by the following for the work under their jurisdiction: the General Board, the Executive Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1785), a general official, the governing board of an institution or subsidiary corporation, a district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:40) or a district board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:27).

(b) A ruling may be appealed to the Board of Review by the party submitting the original request or by the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:370; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:40; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5445:2). All appeals must be filed with the Executive Director of Communication and Administration within sixty days after the date the official ruling is published by the General Superintendent. An official ruling that is not upheld by the Board of Review shall be null and void, unless the action of the Board of Review is overruled by the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:380).

(44) To rule on the legality of an official action by a district conference, any district board or committee, or a district official as follows: Any three or more members of The Wesleyan Church within a district or provisional district may request such a ruling and shall submit their petition in writing, signed by each petitioner (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:323:6). The General Superintendent shall decide if the official act in question, in whole or in part, is deemed properly taken according to the Constitution (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:200-385), or other provisions of The Discipline (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:155-185), stating reasons for the ruling in writing. If the action is ruled as contravening the Constitution, or other provisions of The Discipline, it shall be null and void. Appeals from the decision of the General Superintendent may be made by the petitioners or the district board of administration to the General Board of Review (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:2).

(45) To submit a report of all official rulings on points of law, interpretations of The Discipline or other formal judicial acts to the next session of the General Board or its Executive Board for their information, and to the next session of the General Conference for final review and approval (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:23). Upon approval by the General Conference, such rulings shall become the law of the Church and shall be incorporated into the appropriate section(s) of The Discipline. A record of such rulings shall be inserted in a special appendix of the next issue of The Discipline as follows:

The General Superintendent on (date) officially interpreted (identify item) and the General Conference on (date) sustained (GC- ), thereby authorizing this provision to mean: (insert the ruling).

(46) To request a ruling from the Board of Review on the constitutionality of an act of the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:1), the legality of an act of any General Church board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:3), and the legality of any issues arising between a district and the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:6). (Cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5445:1, 3, 4.)

(47) To canvas, with the Executive Cabinet, the vote taken by the several district conferences on an amendment to the Constitution and the Essentials originating in the General Conference and, when the amendment has received the required majority, to declare it effective as constitutional law (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:2).

4. General Superintendent Emeritus

1945. The General Conference, upon recommendation of the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1655:26), may confer the title of General Superintendent Emeritus upon a former General Superintendent, provided the former General Superintendent shall have served as a General Superintendent for two or more quadrennia and shall have reached the sixty-fifth birthday, or shall have become disabled (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:20). It is understood that the tenure of the emeritus relation is for life. A General Superintendent Emeritus is a voting member of the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1503:1c).

B. The General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer

1970. Function. The General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer has custody of the General Church funds and accounting records and is responsible for assigned fiscal management.

1976. Duties. The General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer is elected by the General Board as a general official (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1800:2), and is an ex officio member of the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1503:1c) and the Executive Cabinet, and serves as the chief financial officer for The Wesleyan Church Corporation (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1800:2, 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4220). The General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer is amenable to the General Board, serves as a nonvoting resource person to the board, and is under the supervision of the General Superintendent (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1935:7, 17). The General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer shall exercise leadership in this office in keeping with The Discipline, the Policy of the General Board for the General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer, and other directives as may be given by the General Conference, the General Board or its Executive Board. The term of service and other regulations for this office are provided for in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1810-1870.

C. Executive Cabinet

1990. The general officials (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1800) shall be ex officio members of the Executive Cabinet with responsibility for internal cooperation and to provide leadership in keeping with the General Board Policy for the Executive Cabinet (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1655:30). All members of the Executive Cabinet shall be available to attend the meetings of the General Board except for executive sessions, and shall be invited to speak to any issue.

D. General Church Financial Plan

1. Summary

1995. The financial plan for the General Church shall consist of the United Stewardship Fund, special offerings, and planned gifts:

(1) United Stewardship Fund shall be established and administered as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2000-2045.

(2) Special offerings shall be authorized and administered as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2050 and shall provide support for world missions, supplementary support for general evangelism and church growth and the general educational institutions and support for such other purposes as may be authorized by the General Conference or the General Board.

(3) Planned gifts shall be promoted through the General Superintendent’s office as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1920:13, and the funds shall be administered by the General Treasurer.

2. United Stewardship Fund

a. Definition

2000. The United Stewardship Fund is a unified budget for the financial support of designated General Church interests and the general educational institutions. It shall consist of two parts:

(1) The USF-General Fund shall provide support for General Church administration, general benevolent institutions, ministerial training, and other General Church ministries.

(2) The USF-Educational Institutions Fund shall provide support for the approved general educational institutions as listed in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2365 and in a manner as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2040 (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2377).

b. Basis

2005. The USF-General Fund and the USF-Educational Institutions Fund shall be determined annually by a percentage (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2005:2) of the base income of all churches for the previous fiscal year which shall be computed in the following manner (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2005:3):

(1) Base Income. The base income shall be the total income of a local church and all of its departments for the previous fiscal year less money received:

(a) From loans (borrowed money).

(b) From the sale, rental or lease of property.

(c) From grants from other entities including the general church, districts, governments, corporations, and other non-profits.

(d) From a bequest through a will, trusts, and estates.

(e) From day care centers, day schools, retirement homes, nursing homes, and such enterprises (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:35).

(f) From investment earnings.

(g) From designated funds for major building projects that have been approved by the district board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2005:3b).

(h) From money raised for district or denominationally approved church plants and sent through the district or the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division.

(i) From money raised for urban missional churches

(j) Additionally, funds that were received from assessable contributions that were dispersed to the following will be exempt from the base income:

For offerings and approved projects of or event registrations operated by:

The Communications and Administration Division

The Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division

The Education and Clergy Development Division

The Office of the General Superintendent

The Office of the General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer

The Global Partners Division

For contributions to Hephzibah Ministries.

For contributions to Wesleyan Native Ministries

For contributions to World Hope International

For contributions to World Hope Canada

(2) Percentage. The percentage for determining the USF-General Fund and a separate percentage for determining the USF-Educational Institutions Fund, shall be fixed by the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:8). The percentage in each case shall be applied to the assessable income as defined in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2005:1 except as provided for in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2005:3. In the event of an emergency during the interim of General Conference sessions, the General Board may alter the percentage of the USF-General Fund by a two-thirds majority vote of all its members (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1655:22).

(3) Exceptions and Adjustments

(a) Assessment Limits and Maximum. All churches shall be subject to full assessment on all assessable income up to $500,000. Above that level, there shall be a graduated reduction in the percentage applied. For that portion of a church’s assessable income between $500,000 and $1,000,000, there shall be a reduction of one in the total percentage divided proportionately between the USF-General Fund and the USF-Educational Institutions Fund. For that portion between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000, there shall be a reduction of two in the total percentage divided proportionately between the two funds. For that portion that exceeds $2,000,000, there shall be no assessments. The percentage in each case shall be applied to the same base income as defined in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2005:1 subject to the exceptions and adjustments set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2005:3b-f.

(b) Building Project Adjustment. Whenever a local church engages in a major building project (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1345:2) and fund drive which has been granted district board of administration approval, the involved local church’s base income figure shall be reduced by the amount of designated funds received for the approved project.

(c) Mother Church Exception. For the first year following the planting of a daughter church, the mother church shall pay the USF assessments based upon the base income (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2005:1) received in the mother church during that first year.

(d) New Church Plant Adjustment. Whenever a district plants a new church, the USF obligation for that church shall be phased in over the first five years of its operation in the following manner: For the first year of operation, there will be no obligation; for the second year the assessment will be set at 25 percent of the regular assessment; for the third year at 50 percent; for the fourth year at 75 percent; and for the fifth year at 100 percent.

(e) Developing Church Adjustment. Whenever a developing church is deemed to be under financial duress by the district board of administration, that board may subtract up to $40,000 from the USF base income used to calculate the USF obligation.

(f) Restart Project. When a district declares a church to be a restart project (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:510:6d), the USF obligation shall be phased in over the first five years of its operation in the following manner: For the first year of operation, there will be no obligation; for the second year the assessment will be set at 25 percent of the regular assessment; for the third year at 50 percent; for the fourth year at 75 percent; and for the fifth year at 100 percent.

(g) Urban Missional Church Exception. Whenever a local church is designated as an urban missional church, the USF obligation for that church shall be set at 50 percent of the regular assessment (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:523).

c. District and Local Regulations

2015. District Responsibility. Each district and provisional district, with the exception of the work under the Global Partners Division, shall be responsible to raise its share of the United Stewardship Fund, including the USF-General Fund and the USF-Educational Institutions Fund, in accord with the following regulations:

(1) District Obligation. The obligation of a district or provisional district shall be an amount equal to the designated percentage of the total base income, as defined in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2005:1–2, of all developing churches and churches of the district, subject to such exceptions and adjustments as are indicated in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2005:3. When this amount has been paid in full to the General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer, for both the USF-General Fund and the USF-Educational Institutions Fund, a district has met its obligation to the United Stewardship Fund. The computations for the district obligation shall be based on the financial reports of the local churches as compiled by the district statistical committee (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1352:1), prior to the annual district conference.

(2) District Apportionment. The district conference shall apportion its total obligation among the local churches under its jurisdiction by assigning an amount to each as its share of the USF-General Fund and the USF-Educational Institutions Fund respectively, under whatever plan the district conference shall adopt after receiving a recommendation from the district board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:11; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1337:6). Each local church shall be promptly notified of the amount assigned by the district by the person appointed by the district superintendent. The district treasurer shall promptly notify the General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer of the district USF obligation on forms provided by the General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1337:6).

(3) District Administration. The district board of administration shall be responsible to administer the district plan for raising the United Stewardship Fund and shall be responsible to see that the district obligation is paid in full for both the USF-General Fund and USF-Educational Institutions Fund (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:10). All USF money received by the district treasurer shall be remitted monthly to the General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer on the approved forms.

2025. Local Church Responsibility. The pastor and the local board of administration shall be responsible for the faithful collection of the amount assigned by the district to their church, and shall raise it on the undivided plan. The local church treasurer shall forward all money received for the USF- General Fund and the USF-Educational Institutions Fund monthly to the district treasurer (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:842:4). A local church has met its obligation to the United Stewardship Fund when it has paid in full to the district treasurer the amounts assigned to it by the district for both the USF-General Fund and the USF-Educational Institutions Fund. In a developing church, the pastor and the local advisory council shall have the responsibility for raising the United Stewardship Fund.

2030. Developing District Responsibility. The obligation of a developing district, or of the churches within a developing district, to the United Stewardship Fund shall be determined by the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1655:22). The assigned obligation shall be raised by the superintendent of the developing district, under the direction of the Executive Director of Church Multiplication and Discipleship and in accord with the Policy of the General Board for the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division.

d. General Church Regulations

2035. USF-General Fund, Beneficiaries and Apportionment. The USF-General Fund shall provide support for General Church divisions and ministries and be apportioned among them as follows:

(1) Beneficiaries. The designated beneficiaries to receive support from the USF-General Fund are: the administrative offices of the General Superintendent, and the General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer; the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division; the Communication and Administration Division; the Education and Clergy Development Division; the Global Partners Division and such other benevolent institutions, offices or agencies of the General Church as the General Conference or the General Board shall designate from time to time.

(2) Apportionment. The apportioning of the USF-General Fund among the designated beneficiaries (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2035:1) shall be determined annually by the General Board.

2040. USF-Educational Institutions Fund, Beneficiaries and Apportionment. The USF-Educational Institutions Fund shall provide support for general educational institutions and general ministerial education, and shall be apportioned among them as follows:

(1) Beneficiaries. The beneficiaries receiving support from the USF- Educational Institutions Fund shall include the general educational institutions (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2365); approved programs for subsidizing ministerial training; the Wesleyan Seminary Foundation (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2382); and the Ministerial Study Course Agency (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2385-2388).

(2) Apportionment. The General Board shall determine the apportionment of the USF-Educational Institutions Fund among the beneficiaries listed in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2040:1.

2045. General Promotion and Administration. The General Superintendent’s office shall promote the raising of the United Stewardship Fund. The General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer shall cooperate with the General Superintendent’s in such promotion and shall administer the USF funds as provided for in The Discipline and as directed by the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1976).

3. Special Offerings

2050. Special offerings, in addition to the United Stewardship Fund for the support of General Church ministries and world outreach of The Wesleyan Church, shall include the following offerings and other such offerings as shall be authorized by the General Board. No agency, division, institution, organization or similar body of The Wesleyan Church may solicit offerings or present financial appeals without the approval of the General Board.

(1) Global Partners Support. The Global Partners Division shall be supported by various approved offerings of the General Church, funds raised through missionary home ministries work, other solicitations, and money raised by auxiliary organizations.

(2) Thanksgiving and Easter Offerings. Two special offerings, apart from and in addition to the United Stewardship Fund, shall be received annually throughout the Church: a November self-denial offering for the Global Partners Division and an Easter offering for the church multiplication movement.

(3) Solicited Offerings. The Global Partners Division, the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division, and the general educational institutions shall raise financial support for the work under their care by sending representatives to visit the districts, local churches, members, and constituency of the Church. District and local officials shall receive them and cooperate in their work. Offerings received shall be used as designated and shall be in addition to and apart from United Stewardship Fund, and shall be remitted promptly through the regular channels. The Global Partners Division shall not engage in home ministries work within the week prior to Easter, and the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division shall not do fund-raising work within the week prior to Thanksgiving or on the Sunday following Thanksgiving. Exception to the above may be made with the approval of the Executive Directors of Church Multiplication and Discipleship and Global Partners. An educational institution shall do its school representation work in the manner decided upon in the plans for such institutions approved by the General Board.

(4) Auxiliary Organizations. Any auxiliary shall raise financial support for approved projects in accord with their respective constitutions and subject to the general oversight of the General Board.

(5) Other Contributions. Other offerings, contributions, bequests, and donations shall be used as specified by the donor and may be forwarded through the regular channels to the General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer. Those individuals who prefer to contact the General Superintendent’s office or a division or institution concerning annuities, bequests, and other special contributions may do so.

E. Interpretations of Church Law

2060. Informal Opinions and Inquiries about Church Law. The Executive Director of Communication and Administration shall respond to routine inquiries from ministers or members seeking informal opinions about points of Church law or practical applications of The Discipline of The Wesleyan Church. Such opinions are not “official rulings,” but are offered rather as general advice and recommendations to assist church leaders and members in the proper, day-to-day administration of the Church. The Executive Director of Communication and Administration shall keep a log of such inquiries processed by that office for periodic reporting to the General Superintendent.

2061. Official Rulings. Official rulings are formal clarifications of Church law and authoritative interpretations of The Discipline of The Wesleyan Church that become the temporary law of the Church, subject to being overruled or sustained by the next session of the General Conference. The General Superintendent shall prepare or may instruct the Executive Director of Communication and Administration to research and write initial drafts of official rulings when such are properly requested or whenever the General Superintendent deems necessary for the proper administration of the Church:

(1) A request for an official ruling shall be submitted to the General Superintendent, in writing, by the following: the General Board, the Executive Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1785), a general official, the governing board of an institution or subsidiary corporation, a district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:40) or a district board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:27).

(2) The General Superintendent shall consult with the Executive Board of the General Board prior to giving final approval to and signing all official rulings or interpretations.

(3) A ruling may be appealed to the Board of Review by the party submitting the original request or by the General Board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:370; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1180:40; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5445:2). All appeals must be filed with the Executive Director of Communication and Administration within sixty days after the date the official ruling is published by the General Superintendent. An official ruling that is not upheld by the Board of Review shall be null and void, unless the action of the Board of Review is overruled by the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:380).

2062. Reporting Official Rulings. The General Superintendent shall submit a report of all official rulings on points of law, interpretations of The Discipline or other formal judicial acts, to the next session of the General Board or its Executive Board for their information, and to the next session of the General Conference for final review and approval (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:23). Upon approval by the General Conference, such rulings become the law of the Church and shall be incorporated into the appropriate section(s) of The Discipline. A record of such rulings shall be inserted in a special appendix of the next issue of The Discipline as follows:

The General Superintendent on (date) officially interpreted (identify item) and the General Conference on (date) sustained (GC- ), thereby authorizing this provision to mean: (insert the ruling).

2064. Rulings on District Actions. The General Superintendent shall rule on the legality of an official action by a district conference, any district board or committee, or a district official as follows: Any three or more members of The Wesleyan Church within a district or provisional district may request such a ruling and shall submit their petition in writing, signed by each petitioner (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:323:6). The General Superintendent shall decide if the official act in question, in whole or in part, is deemed properly taken according to the Constitution (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:200-385), or other provisions of The Discipline (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:155–185), stating reasons for the ruling in writing. If the action is ruled as contravening the Constitution, or other provisions of The Discipline, it shall be null and void. Appeals from the decision of the General Superintendent may be made by the petitioners or the district board of administration to the General Board of Review (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:2).

2066. Requests for Rulings by the Board of Review. The General Superintendent shall request a ruling from the Board of Review on the constitutionality of an act of the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:1), the legality of an act of any General Church board (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:3), and the legality of any issues arising between a district and the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:375:6). (Cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5445:1, 3, 4.)

2068. Canvassing Votes on Constitutional Amendments. The General Superintendent, with the Executive Cabinet, shall canvas the vote taken by the several district conferences on an amendment to the Constitution originating in the General Conference and, when the amendment has received the required two-thirds vote, shall declare it effective as constitutional law (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:2).

F. General Board of Review

2070. Members. The General Board of Review is the appellate body for those who appeal the decisions of a general judicial committee and the judicatory for those who are subject to General Church jurisdiction (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:365; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1655:37). The General Board of Review shall consist of nine members, five of whom shall be ordained ministers and four of whom shall be lay members who meet the leadership qualifications (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:260–268; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:558) of The Wesleyan Church.

(1) Their term of office shall be for four years. They shall serve from the close of the session of the General Conference at which they are elected until the close of the next session of the General Conference or until their successors are elected and qualified.

(2) A member of the General Board of Review may not at the same time be a member of the General Board.

(3) The General Conference shall elect by majority vote the members of the General Board of Review, from nominations presented by the Committee on Special Nominations. Additional nominations may be made from the floor of the General Conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1580:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:19).

Members of the General Board of Review shall recuse themselves in the case of conflict of interest. Whenever a member is disqualified, the chair shall appoint an alternate for the hearing of that particular case (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5405), provided that such appointment shall maintain the membership of the Board as five ordained ministers and four lay members who meet the leadership qualifications.

2075. Alternates. The General Conference shall elect, in the same manner described in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2070:3, four ordained ministers and three lay members who meet the leadership qualifications (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:260–268; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:558) to serve as alternate members of the General Board of Review, with the same qualifications (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2070:2) and term of office (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2070:1) as the members (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1590:19). (Duties, powers, and procedures of the General Board of Review are located in The General Board Policy for Church Discipline and Ministerial Restoration.)