2016 Wesleyan Discipline: Chapter 6: Local Church Officers and Committees

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List of Local Church Officers, Boards and Committees

800. The following summarizes for quick reference the various officers, boards, and committees of the local church:

(1) The church shall have the following officers and personnel, elected by the local church conference:
board of administration, local (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:750-782)
church secretary (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:830)
church treasurer or business manager (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:842)—appointment may be delegated to the local board of administration
delegates to district conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:965; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1086; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1100-1109)
pastor (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:675-725)
trustees (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:850-859), unless delegated to the local board of administration
(2) The church shall have the following officers and personnel, elected by the local board of administration:
auditor or auditing committee (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:863)
offering teller (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:845:3)
vice-chair of local board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:773)
(3) The church may have additional ministry leaders and personnel, as it deems necessary, elected by the local church conference, such as:
associate pastor (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:738)—elected by the local church conference
lay leader (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:833)—elected by the local church conference
spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:887-890)
nominating committee (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:820-823) —up to four additional committee members who are not local board of administration members to serve with the pastor and two members elected by the local board of administration from among its membership
(4) The church may have additional ministry leaders and personnel, as it deems necessary, elected by the local board of administration, such as:
adult ministry director, staff and team (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:924)
assistant treasurer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:845:1)
assistant pastor (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:741)
building committee (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:856:6)
children’s ministry director, staff, and team (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:880:2, 7-8)
communion committee (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:873)
custodial staff (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:17; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:856:5)
day care and/or day school committee (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:655:19-20; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:36-37; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:35)
educational director (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:926)
evangelism director and committee (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:935; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:960)
fellowship committee (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:880:19)
finance and stewardship committee (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:865-868)
financial or tithing secretary (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:845:2)
judicial committee (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:970; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5110)
lay assistant to the pastor (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:744)
literature secretary (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:928)
missions director and committee (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:930; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:955)
music committee (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:873)
music minister or director (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:870)
nominating committee (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:820-823)—two members elected by the local board of administration from its membership
office staff (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:725:29; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:17)
pastor’s advisory committee (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:795)
spiritual formation leadership team (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:875-880)
Sunday school staff and committee (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:895-903)
ushering committee (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:873)
witness and membership committee (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:835-837)
women’s ministry officers and committees (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:945)
Wesleyan Youth adult leader, officers, and committees (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:922)

B. General Regulations

Minimum Organization of Local Church Officers, Boards and Committees

807. Developing church. A developing church may operate without any regularly constituted officers other than the pastor, but will ordinarily have a local advisory council of three to five members appointed by the district superintendent in cooperation with the pastor. The pastor and these members will form the local advisory council. This council may then appoint such other officers and committees as are needed and for which qualified personnel are available (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:510:3).

810. Church. An established church, in addition to the local church conference and the local board of administration, shall have a minimum organization consisting of a local church secretary (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:830), a local church treasurer (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:842), an offering teller (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:845:3), an auditing committee (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:863), and a board of trustees consisting of at least three members (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:850-859). Normally it would have a Sunday school superintendent and staff (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:889-910). Additional offices, positions, and committees may be added as provided herewith by the local church conference and the local board of administration as need requires and as qualified personnel are available.

Church Officers

815. The church officers shall include all members of the local board of administration, local church trustees, lay leader, delegates to district conference and assistant treasurer, who shall serve subject to the following regulations:

(1) They must be members of the local Wesleyan church electing them (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:302:4; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:558) and members who meet the leadership qualifications (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:260-268; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:558).
(2) They shall be elected by the local church conference at its annual session (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:315:5-7; cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:820-823), except assistant treasurers (see 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:845) and persons filling offices designated by the local church conference as ex officio members of the local board of administration but chosen by the local board of administration (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:752). Vacancies occurring between annual sessions of the local church conference shall be filled for the unexpired term by the local board of administration. Vacancies may occur by death, by cessation of membership in The Wesleyan Church, by resignation from office or by removal (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:815:4).
(3) They shall carry out their duties as given in The Discipline and as further defined by the local church conference and the local board of administration.
(4) They shall be under the general supervision of the pastor, shall be amenable to the local church conference, and may be removed for cause or when the best interests of the church so require, upon recommendation of the local board of administration and by a majority vote of the local church conference, or as otherwise provided for (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:752:1; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:815:2; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825:4).

Nominating Committee

820. Each established church may have a nominating committee consisting of the pastor as chair and two members who meet the leadership qualifications (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:260-268; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:558) elected by the local board of administration from its membership (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:655:3; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:22). The local church conference may, at its option, elect up to four additional members who meet the leadership qualifications who are not members of the local board of administration. If the local church conference does not exercise its option to elect at least one additional member who meets the leadership qualifications, then the local board of administration shall elect one additional member with the leadership qualifications who may or may not be a member of the local board of administration.

823. When a nominating committee has been established, it shall present to the local church conference, at its annual session, nominations for each of the following officers: lay leader (if any), local church secretary, local church treasurer (if any), the Sunday school superintendent (if any), and one or more trustees (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:850). One or more names shall be presented for each office (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:755). The nominating committee shall present, at the properly announced session of the local church conference (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:965; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1103), nominations for as many delegates to the district conference as the district board of administration shall determine (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1100). The nominating committee may be used for other nominations as ordered by the local church conference, or as ordered by the local board of administration for positions elected by the board (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825).

Other Positions

825. Persons holding positions of service within the local church, other than those specifically designated as church officers in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:815, and including membership on committees, shall be governed by the following regulations:

(1) They shall be members of the local Wesleyan church electing them.
(2) They shall be elected annually by the local board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:23, 25), or as otherwise provided (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:880:7).
(3) They shall carry out their duties as given in The Discipline and as further defined by the local church conference and local board of administration.
(4) They shall be under the general supervision of the pastor, shall be amenable to the local board of administration, and may be removed for cause or when the best interests of the church so require, by a majority vote of the local board of administration.
(5) Vacancies may occur by death, by cessation of membership in The Wesleyan Church, by resignation from office or by removal (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825:4) and shall be filled for the unexpired term by the local board of administration.

General Regulations for Installation Service

828. Those elected to church offices and to other positions of service within the local church may be installed in office at an annual installation service following the ritual given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5915-5925.

C. Witness and Membership

1. Church Secretary

830. The local church conference, at its annual session, shall elect by ballot, from among its members who meet the leadership qualifications (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:260-268; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:558), a church secretary (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:820-823), to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. The church secretary shall be an ex officio member of the local board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:775). General regulations covering this office are given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:815. The duties and powers of the local church secretary shall be:

(1) To record correctly and to preserve faithfully the minutes of all sessions of the local church conference and the local board of administration.
(2) To maintain the local church’s record of membership, record of baptisms, marriages, and pastoral terms, and other information essential to a permanent written record of the life and ministry of the church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:610).
(3) To issue, in conjunction with the pastor, all letters of transfer, recommendation, and withdrawal (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:575; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:590-592; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:6000-6040); and to sign, in conjunction with the pastor (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:725:28), licenses for lay ministers granted by the local church conference (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:655:7; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:20).
(4) To send to the district secretary a certified list of lay delegates to the district conference duly elected by the local church conference, immediately upon their election, and subsequently to certify an alternate delegate (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:965; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1100-1109).
(5) To have custody of all record books of all departments of the church, including auxiliary organizations, after such books are full or in disuse, and to take whatever steps are necessary to preserve them and other historical records and materials, as directed by the pastor and the local board of administration.

2. Lay Leader

833. The local church conference, at its annual session, may elect by ballot, from among its members who meet the leadership qualifications (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:260-268; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:558) a lay leader (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:820–823), who shall serve for one year or until a successor is elected, and whose function shall be to assist the pastor in such manner as the pastor shall recommend and the local church conference shall approve. General regulations concerning this office are given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:815. The duties of the lay leader may include any or all of the following: member ex officio of the local board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:752), leader under the pastor’s direction of church prayer meetings or of small groups, classes or neighborhood prayer cells for the deepening of spiritual life and home evangelism.

3. Committee on Witness and Membership

835. The local board of administration may establish a committee on witness and membership, composed of the pastor, the vice-chair of the local board of administration, the local church secretary, the lay leader (if any), and such other members as the local board of administration shall elect. The local board of administration shall name a board member as chair of the committee, and the committee shall choose its own vice-chair and secretary. General regulations governing membership on this committee are given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825.

837. The local board of administration shall assign such duties to the committee on witness and membership as it deems best, including any or all of the following:

(1) To conduct the examination of candidates for membership; to counsel with members concerning any failure to observe the Membership Commitments (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:265); to have initial responsibility in the annual revision of the membership roll; to assist the pastor in any attempts to restore members who have ceased to attend or support the church; and to make recommendations concerning all these matters to the local board of administration in accordance with the principles of Christian discipline (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:268; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:8-13).
(2) To make recommendations to the local board of administration concerning revivals and other evangelistic efforts.
(3) To alert the local church to its responsibilities in the area of community social and political reform, recommending courses of action it deems necessary to the local board of administration (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:410).
(4) To nominate, for election by the local board of administration, such standing or special subcommittees as the local board of administration shall approve, with a member of the committee as chair of each.

D. Finance and Stewardship

1. Church Treasurer

842. The local church shall have either a local church treasurer or a business manager. If there is a church treasurer, that officer shall be elected by the local church conference, at its annual election, by ballot, from among the members who meet the leadership qualifications (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:260–268; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:558), to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. Or the local church conference may authorize the local board of administration to appoint a treasurer or to appoint or employ a business manager who will assume the duties of the treasurer. The financial concerns may be represented on the local board of administration by the church treasurer or the business manager or the chair of the finance and stewardship committee as provided in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:865. The duties and powers of the person charged with the local church treasury are:

(1) To receive, hold and disburse, as ordered by the local church conference or the local board of administration, and in harmony with the financial plans of the General Church and of the district, all moneys of the local church, including such of the departments and auxiliary organizations as the local board of administration shall order. All funds raised by the local departments, other than the auxiliaries, for General Church or district work or for purposes other than local church work, and all money or pledges raised by representatives of the General Church or district in deputation work, shall be transferred to or placed in the local church treasury and shall be disbursed for their designated purpose by the local church treasurer.
(2) To keep complete and accurate records of all moneys raised and of the manner in which they are disbursed, and to provide the pastor with information concerning the same as the pastor shall require.
(3) To make monthly reports to the local board of administration, which shall be available upon request to any member of the local church, and to make reports to all regular sessions of the local church conference.
(4) To make monthly remittances of all USF and district funds to the district treasurer and remittances of all other General Church funds to the General Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer or directly to the general department for which the funds are intended.
(5) To issue receipts annually to all regular contributors showing their total tithes and offerings and the various items of giving, and to issue other receipts as requested or by order of the local board of administration.
(6) To submit all books for audit by the auditing committee annually (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:863), or more frequently if so ordered by the local board of administration, and to submit to the local board of administration the complete treasurer’s records at such time as the person shall cease to hold the office of treasurer.

845. Assistants for the local church treasurer are provided for as follows:

(1) An assistant treasurer may be elected by the local board of administration, with authority to sign checks when the treasurer is unable to do so.
(2) A financial secretary or tithing secretary may be elected by the local board of administration to assist the treasurer in keeping the record of individual tithes and offerings (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:842:5).
(3) One or more tellers shall be elected by the local board of administration to assist the treasurer in the counting of all tithes and offerings, all moneys being counted by two or more persons and recorded as to date of reception, purpose of the offering, and amount. These records shall be preserved and made available to the auditor or auditing committee.

2. Board of Trustees

850. Election. The local church conference, unless the duties and powers of the board of trustees have been delegated to the local board of administration, shall elect by ballot from among its members who meet the leadership qualifications (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:260–268; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:558) a board of trustees (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:315:6; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:820–823), three to seven in number, one or more being elected at a given annual session for a term of three years, so that the terms of all shall not expire at the same time, or they may be elected to serve until their successors are elected; provided that the manner and conditions of election may be altered to conform to the local laws. At least one of the trustees shall be designated annually by the local church conference as a member of the local board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:752). If the local church conference delegates the duties and powers of the trustees to the local board of administration, that board may from its membership elect from three to seven to serve as the board of trustees. General regulations covering this office are given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:815.

853. Organization and Procedure. The board of trustees shall meet following the annual session of the local church conference to elect a chair, vice-chair, and secretary, and shall meet at such other times as ordered by the local board of administration or as made necessary by their duties.

856. Duties and Powers. The local board of trustees shall carry out their duties as required by The Discipline (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4500–4780) and shall be responsible:

(1) To carry out the instructions of the local church conference and the local board of administration in supervising, controlling, maintaining, and improving all church property (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:315:6; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:655:13; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:28).
(2) To supervise such expenditures as have been approved by the local church conference or the local board of administration for repairs, improvements, and alterations.
(3) To attend to all legal matters regarding the acquisition, purchase, sale, mortgage, transfer or other disposition of property as properly authorized (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4700–4720); to see that titles are correct, contain the proper trust clause (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4610), are approved by the district superintendent (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1310:13; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4700:5), and are recorded (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4540); and to see that property and legal records are properly stored (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4760).
(4) To attend to all other legal matters pertaining to the local church, as authorized and directed by the local church conference or the local board of administration, including renting property, borrowing money, and receiving and administering bequests and trusts.
(5) To nominate to the local board of administration all custodians.
(6) To serve, unless the local church conference shall order a larger or separate committee, as a building committee for the planning and erection of a new sanctuary, educational unit or parsonage or a major remodeling program, and to assist the pastor in preparing and submitting all building plans to the district building committee for their approval (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1345).
(7) To carry out the directions of the local church conference or local board of administration concerning the purchase, sale, mortgage, transfer or other disposition of property, provided that such transactions have been approved by the district building committee and district board of administration as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4700–4780.
(8) To make recommendations to the local board of administration concerning sufficient property and liability insurance on the property and for any vehicles owned and operated by the local church, and to carry out the instructions of the local board of administration in securing such insurance (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:29).
(9) To make such reports as are requested by the local church conference or the local board of administration.

859. Restrictions. The local board of trustees shall be subject to the following restrictions:

(1) The local board of trustees must carry out the instructions of the local board of administration, the local church conference, and the district board of administration. If a local trustee refuses to carry out such instructions when the instructions meet all the requirements of local laws and of The Discipline, the trustee may be removed from office as given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:815:4 (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4530).
(2) The local board of trustees cannot mortgage or otherwise encumber local church property without the express authorization of the local church conference and the approval of the district board of administration as set forth in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4700–4720.
(3) The local board of trustees cannot deny the use of the parsonage, church building or other local church buildings, to the pastor who has been duly appointed by the district conference or district board of administration, nor the use of the church building to the membership of the local church and duly elected officials of The Wesleyan Church (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4770).
(4) The local board of trustees cannot divert church property from The Wesleyan Church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4550; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4780).
(5) When a church is reclassified as a developing church (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:518:7; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1233:30), the office and power of the local board of trustees shall cease, and all property shall pass directly under the control of the district board of administration (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:4670).

3. Auditing Committee

863. The local board of administration shall be responsible to provide for the annual internal or external auditing of the books of the local church treasurer and of all departmental and auxiliary treasurers, either through the election of an auditing committee or the employment of an auditor. If an auditing committee is used for some or all of the treasuries, it shall consist of one to three persons. A report to certify the results of the annual audit shall be presented to the local board of administration. General regulations concerning committee members are given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825.

4. Committee on Finance and Stewardship

865. The local board of administration may establish a committee on finance and stewardship. The local board of administration shall name a board member as chair of the committee, and the committee shall choose its own vice-chair and secretary. General regulations governing membership on this committee are given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825.

868. The local board of administration shall assign such duties to the committee on finance and stewardship as it deems best.

E. Worship

870. Musicians, including song leaders, choir directors, organists, and pianists shall be appointed by the pastor (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:725:5). The local board of administration may appoint or, if authorized by the local church conference, may employ a minister or director of music nominated by the pastor (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:738-744). The duties of the minister or director of music shall be defined by the pastor and the local board of administration. General regulations covering these offices are given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825.

873. The local board of administration may establish committees on music, ushering, and communion services, electing their members and defining their duties. General regulations governing membership on such committees are given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825.

F. Spiritual Formation

1. Local Church Spiritual Formation Leadership Team

875. Membership. The local board of administration shall serve as or shall establish a local spiritual formation leadership team (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:25). The pastor shall serve as chair unless the pastor shall recommend and the local board of administration shall assign this duty to another member of the local board of administration, such as the associate or assistant pastor or other qualified person. If a separate board is established, the local board of administration shall determine its membership, electing qualified members in keeping with the provisions of 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825 and/or designating ex officio members from among the heads of the various spiritual formation agencies and auxiliaries (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:870; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:889; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:915-928), assigning such duties to it as the local board of administration deems fit (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:880). The local spiritual formation leadership team shall elect its own secretary.

878. Age-level Divisions. Whenever the local spiritual formation leadership team shall so recommend, and the local board of administration shall so authorize, the local spiritual formation leadership team may organize its members and such other spiritual formation leaders and workers as it shall choose into three age-level divisions: the children’s division, the youth division, and the adult division. Each division shall serve to coordinate all spiritual formation and fellowship activities conducted by the local church or any of its branches for the age level assigned.

880. Duties and Powers. The duties and powers of the local spiritual formation leadership team shall be:

(1) To study, organize, promote, and conduct, under the leadership of the pastor, and subject to the direction of the local board of administration, the total program of spiritual formation for the local church, in keeping with the denominational objectives for spiritual formation (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2306), and the standards established by the General Board and promoted through the Church Multiplication and Discipleship and the Education and Clergy Development Divisions.
(2) To establish, structure, and supervise, in keeping with The Discipline, and the standards adopted by the General Board, such spiritual formation agencies as are authorized by the local board of administration, including the Sunday school, Wesleyan Youth, Wesleyan Kids for Missions, children’s church, weekday church school, released time classes, and vacation Bible school.
(3) To coordinate all spiritual formation agencies (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:880:2), activities and functions of the local church, setting goals, evaluating procedures, exploring new areas of need, and assigning responsibilities to the various departments and auxiliaries.
(4) To determine, in keeping with The Discipline and the standards adopted by the General Board, the curricula of the various agencies, always using curriculum materials approved by the General Board and secured from the Wesleyan Publishing House.
(5) To recommend to the local board of administration for the consideration of the local church conference the appointment and/or the employment of a minister or director of spiritual formation, and to advise the pastor and the local board of administration in defining all duties. Such a person must be a member who meets the leadership qualifications (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:260–268; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:558) of the local church appointing and/or employing the person (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:738–744).
(6) To enlist and train administrators and teachers for all phases of the local church’s spiritual formation task, in keeping with the leadership training program adopted by the General Board.
(7) To submit nominations, or to appoint a committee of its membership to submit nominations, to the local board of administration for all members of the spiritual formation leadership team other than the Sunday school superintendent, all teachers, and to elect all other officers and teachers except the officers of Wesleyan Youth and WKFM unless the local board of administration instructs the church nominating committee to fulfill these duties (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:820–823).
(8) To appoint administrative committees for each educational agency other than WY or WKFM, including in each such committee the executive officer involved and other workers or advisors as shall be deemed best (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:903; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:913).
(9) To remove from office by majority vote any worker elected by the local church spiritual formation leadership team when such is in the best interest of the work, and to recommend to the local board of administration the removal of any officer or teacher in local spiritual formation (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:875–928) elected by the local board of administration.
(10) To organize a training hour, providing for all age levels, selecting the necessary leaders and instructors, and assigning responsibilities to the appropriate agencies (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:880:2-3).
(11) To assist the pastor and the local board of administration in conducting classes in membership preparation (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:566–570; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:725:11; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:8; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:2310:3).
(12) To conduct or assign responsibility for conducting workers’ conferences.
(13) To recommend to the local board of administration modifications or enlargement of educational facilities, and the purchase of educational equipment including audiovisuals; to allocate space for various schools and agencies, both for assemblies and classes; and to supervise the storage and use of all equipment.
(14) To promote the interests of The Wesleyan Church educational institutions in cooperation with the General Director of Education and the Ministry, the officials of the general educational institutions within the area, and the district educational director.
(15) To conduct extension classes, small group Bible studies, and branch Sunday schools when such are properly authorized (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:655:16; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:6).
(16) To minister to persons on nearby college campuses and military bases in keeping with the programs promoted by the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division.
(17) To observe such special days as shall be designated by the General Board and promoted by the Church Multiplication and Discipleship and Education and Clergy Development Divisions, and as shall be designated by district agencies.
(18) To be responsible for special programs, such as Christmas and vacation Bible school, assigning responsibilities as it deems best, with all plans subject to the approval of the pastor and the local board of administration.
(19) To serve as a committee on fellowship, or to nominate a subcommittee on fellowship for election by the local board of administration.
(20) To encourage and direct ministries of Christian family life in order to enrich the quality of homes and families within the local church constituency.
(21) To nominate, for election by the local board of administration, such standing or special subcommittees as the local board of administration shall approve, with a member of the local spiritual formation leadership team as chair of each.
(22) To exercise full authority in such of the duties covered under 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:880:1–21 as shall be delegated by the local board of administration.

2. Sunday School

A. Function

885. Each local church shall provide for systematic Bible study. The Sunday school normally serves as the basic agency for such study. Small group Bible studies and other programs or events that promote making more and better disciples of Jesus Christ are to be considered by the local church as well.

B. Administration

887. General. The Sunday school shall be governed by the local church conference and the local board of administration through the local spiritual formation leadership team, under the general supervision of the pastor. Immediate administration shall be the responsibility of either a spiritual formation minister or director or Sunday school superintendent and a spiritual formation leadership team. If administration is through a superintendent and a leadership team, the structure outlined in paragraphs 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:889–910 shall be followed. If administration is through a minister or director of spiritual formation, the local board of administration may determine the structure and assign responsibilities as it sees fit. In all cases, administrators shall carry out their assignment in keeping with The Discipline, the General Board Policy for the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division, the standard adopted by the General Board and promoted through the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division, and the programs of the division and of the district spiritual formation leadership team.

889. Spiritual Formation Director or Sunday School Superintendent. The local church conference, at its annual session, may elect by ballot, from among its members who meet the leadership qualifications (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:260–268; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:558), a spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:820–823), to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. The director or superintendent shall be an ex officio member of the local board of administration (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:752), unless the local church conference by prior action has voted to eliminate the spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent as an ex officio member of the local board of administration. General regulations concerning this office are given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:815. The duties and powers of the spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent shall be:

(1) To have executive supervision of the spiritual formation of the local church, administering its affairs in keeping with the provisions of 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:887.
(2) To consult with the pastor and the spiritual formation leadership team, if there is such (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:903), on all major decisions.
(3) To promote interest in and attendance in all spiritual formation endeavors.
(4) To have immediate supervision of each spiritual formation session seeing that each age division and class has the necessary leaders and that order is maintained.
(5) To counsel with the spiritual formation leaders and teachers about their work.
(6) To make a full report of statistics and general information to the local board of administration quarterly, to the local church conference at each regular session, and to the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division and the district spiritual formation director as required (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:895).

890. Director of Spiritual Formation. If a church seeks to provide a comprehensive approach to discipleship, including both Sunday school and small groups, upon vote of the local church conference it may elect a director of spiritual formation in place of a Sunday school superintendent. The director of spiritual formation will assume the Sunday school superintendent’s responsibilities as outlined in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:889, plus assume full responsibility to administer and coordinate weekday small groups under the direction of the pastor and local board of administration, seeking to provide a fully coordinated approach in local church spiritual formation.

895. Sunday School Secretary. The local board of administration shall, at the time of its annual election (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:23; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825), elect from nominations submitted by the local spiritual formation leadership team (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:875; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:880:7) a Sunday school secretary, to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. The Sunday school secretary shall maintain complete records of enrollment, attendance, absentees, visitors, and such other items as shall be required, and assist the pastor and the spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent in the preparation of reports involving Sunday school statistics. The local board of Christian education shall appoint such assistants as the Sunday school secretary shall require.

898. Sunday School Treasurer. The local board of administration may, at the time of its annual election (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:23; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825), elect from nominations submitted by the local spiritual formation leadership team (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:875; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:880:7) a Sunday school treasurer, to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. Or the local board of administration may recommend, and the local church conference order, that the Sunday school funds be received by the local church treasurer as part of a common treasury. If there is a separate Sunday school treasurer elected, that person shall receive, hold, and disburse the Sunday school funds as ordered by the local board of administration, reporting concerning all receipts and expenditures to the local board of administration monthly, and to each regular session of the local church conference. All General Church and district funds raised by the Sunday school shall be transferred to the local church treasurer for forwarding to the proper destination (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:842:1).

900. Sunday School Departmental Supervisors. The local board of administration may, at the time of its annual election (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:23; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825), elect from nominations submitted by the spiritual formation leadership team (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:875; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:880:7) a supervisor for each department (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:913). The departmental supervisor shall assist the spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent, being responsible for the general operation of the department including the assembly period of the department, and the immediate supervision of each session of age division (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:889:4). The local spiritual formation leadership team shall appoint such other departmental officers as may be needed.

903. Sunday School Committee. The immediate administration of the Sunday school may be vested in a Sunday school committee, subject to the approval of and correlated with the plans of the local spiritual formation leadership team. It shall be composed of the spiritual formation director or Sunday school superintendent as chair, the pastor (or if the pastor prefers, the associate or assistant pastor), and the other age division directors of the spiritual formation leadership team.

906. Spiritual Formation Leaders or Teachers. The local board of administration shall, at the time of its annual election (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:23; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825), elect from nominations submitted by the local spiritual formation leadership team (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:875; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:880:7) such spiritual formation leaders, teachers, and assistants as are needed, to serve for one year or until their successors are elected.

910. Amenability. General regulations covering the amenability, removal, and filling of vacancies for spiritual formation officers, departmental supervisors and teachers elected by the local board of administration are found in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825. All others appointed by the local spiritual formation leadership team are amenable to the local spiritual formation leadership team and can be replaced as it sees fit.

C. Organization

913. Guidelines for organization of spiritual formation ministries and Sunday school shall be provided through the General Board Policy for the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division and the standard adopted by the General Board and promoted through the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division.

3. Children’s Ministries

915. Each local church may maintain a local ministry to children according to the General Board Policy for the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division.

4. Youth Ministries

922. Each local church may maintain a Wesleyan Youth ministry according to the General Board Policy for the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division.

5. Adult Ministries

924. Each local church may maintain a local adults ministry according to The General Board Policy for spiritual formation and the standard adopted by the General Board and as promoted through the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division.

6. Local Educational Director

926. The local board of administration may, at the time of its annual election (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:23; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825), elect a local educational director, to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. General regulations concerning this office are given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825. The local education director shall promote the interests of the general educational institutions within the area, in keeping with the programs of the Education and Clergy Development Division, the officials of the schools and the district educational director, and shall recruit students from the local church constituency for the schools.

7. Literature Secretary

928. The local board of administration may, at the time of its annual election (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:23; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825), elect a literature secretary, to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. General regulations concerning this office are given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825. The literature secretary shall be assigned such duties as the local board of administration shall determine, such as the handling and distribution of Sunday school literature, the management of a church and/or Sunday school library, and the promoting of the interests of the Wesleyan Publishing House.

G. Missions and Evangelism

1. Local Director of Missions

930. The local board of administration may, at the time of its annual election (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:23; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825), elect a local director of missions, to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. General regulations concerning this office are given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825. The local director of missions shall assist the pastor in promoting the work of world missions, in keeping with the policies and programs of the Global Partners Division, the district conference and district board of administration and the district director of world missions.

2. Local Director of Evangelism

935. The local board of administration may at the time of its annual election (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:782:23; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825) elect a local director of evangelism to serve for one year or until a successor is elected. General regulations concerning this office are given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825. The local director of evangelism shall assist the pastor in promoting the work of evangelism in the local church in accordance with the mission of The Wesleyan Church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:100) and in cooperation with the district director of evangelism and church growth (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1426). The local director of evangelism shall also assist the pastor in the follow-up and discipling of new Christians, in the recruiting and training of workers for visitation evangelism, and in the administration of evangelism and follow-up programs.

3. Local Church Women’s Ministry

945. Each local church may maintain a women’s ministry according to the General Board Policy for the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division.

4. Wesleyan Kids for Missions

950. Each local church may maintain a local chapter of Wesleyan Kids for Missions.

5. Committee on Missions

955. The local board of administration may establish a committee on missions, composed of the pastor, the local director of missions, the president of men’s ministry or a representative of the men’s group, the director of women’s ministry, the coordinator of Wesleyan Kids for Missions, and such other members as the local board of administration shall elect. General regulations governing the elected membership on this committee are given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825. The local board of administration shall name the chair of the committee, and the committee shall choose its own vice-chair and director.

958. The local board of administration shall assign such duties to the committee on missions as it deems best, including any or all of the following:

(1) To promote the interests of Wesleyan world missions, in keeping with the programs of the Global Partners Division and the district director of world missions.
(2) To coordinate all missionary promotion and fund raising of the local church and its various departments and auxiliaries.
(3) To carry out all programs of missionary education authorized and assigned by the local board of Christian education.
(4) To make recommendations to the local board of administration concerning missionary conventions and services.
(5) To nominate, for election by the local board of administration, such standing or special subcommittees as the local board of administration shall approve, with a member of the committee as chair of each.

6. Committee on Evangelism

960. The local board of administration may establish a committee on evangelism, composed of the pastor, the local director of evangelism, and such other members as the local board of administration shall elect. General regulations concerning membership on the committee are given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:825. The local board of administration shall assign such duties to the committee on evangelism as it deems best, including any or all of the following:

(1) To promote the work of evangelism through the local church in accordance with the mission of The Wesleyan Church (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:100).
(2) To organize, in cooperation with the pastor, the calling and visitation programs of the church.
(3) To organize, in cooperation with the pastor, follow-up and discipleship programs for new converts.
(4) To provide for and oversee, in cooperation with the local spiritual formation leadership team, the training of workers for outreach evangelism and discipleship ministries.
(5) To make recommendations to the local board of administration concerning evangelistic services and to assist in promotion and conducting of such efforts.
(6) To alert the church to its wider responsibilities in meeting social and material needs of its community as such needs are discovered through its calling and discipling ministries.
(7) To promote extension projects carried on by the local church.

H. Lay Delegates to District Conference

965. The local church conference, at one of its officially announced sessions, shall elect by ballot (cf. 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:820–823), from among its members who meet the leadership qualifications (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:260-268; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:558), the number of lay delegates to the district conference assigned by the district board of administration and a sufficient number of alternate delegates who shall serve for the regular annual session and for any reconvened session. General regulations covering this office are given in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:815 and in 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1100–1109.

I. Judicial Committees

970. The local board of administration shall elect, when it deems it necessary and in accord with the regulations of the General Board Policy on Church Discipline, a committee of investigation or a local judicial committee. Complete regulations concerning the qualifications, procedures, and duties of such committees are given in the General Board Policy on Church Discipline (2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5012; 2016 Wesleyan Discipline:5110).

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