General Conference Duties Regarding General Legislation

General Legislation

(4) Have full power in keeping with the Constitution (135; 145) and by majority vote to enact statutory law (155), and to adopt ritual (175) for The Discipline, and to adopt other rules and regulations for the Church, all of which shall be the chief authority for the North American General Conference of The Wesleyan Church and its subordinate units (2550); to ratify amendments to the Charter of The International Conference of The Wesleyan Church (see Appendix A) or to authorize the General Board to approve such amendments in the interim of General Conferences.

(5) Authorize a corporation to be formed and maintained for The Wesleyan Church to facilitate the management of its legal and corporate affairs (4200); and to approve its articles of incorporation and bylaws and any or all amendments thereto, by a two-thirds vote (4270).

(6) Authorize the incorporation of any agency, institution, board organization, or other similar body, as a subsidiary corporation of The Wesleyan Church (4300), and to approve the articles of incorporation and bylaws, and any amendments thereto, for such a subsidiary corporation (4300-4320). In the interim of General Conferences, this authority shall be vested in the General Board (1655:35; 4300; 2362).

(7) Receive reports of the spiritual, numerical, and financial condition of The Wesleyan Church, worldwide, including reports concerning their official duties from the general officials and others designated by the General Conference (1800; 1840).

(8) Adopt plans for the advancement of the Church in all phases of its ministry, including the financial plans for the General Church (1995-2050).

(9) Define in a general way the duties of the general officials, subject to the additional definition of their duties by the General Board in the interim of General Conference sessions (1845).

(10) Organize the work in the United States and Canada into districts and to determine their boundaries, for which a recommendation shall be received from the General Board (317; 1036; 1655:34; 2400-2403); to authorize the establishing of an established national conference as set forth in 2610:10; and to authorize the establishing of a General Conference as set forth in 2620.

(11) Authorize the establishing of a developing district (1006); or to reclassify an established district (1042; 1045).

(12) Group the districts into representative areas (2430-2445) to serve for the election of area representatives to the General Board and as the area divisions of Wesleyan Youth, for which a recommendation shall be received from the General Board (1655:14).

(13) Authorize the establishment, merger, or dissolution of any educational or benevolent institution for the General Church or an area of the same; to define the purpose and adopt any regulations deemed necessary for the government of such institutions (2362).

(14) Designate a criterion of parliamentary procedure for itself and other representative or official bodies of The Wesleyan Church as desired (360:1).

(15) Elect by ballot and by majority vote, from among the ordained ministers of The Wesleyan Church, one General Superintendent. When an incumbent General Superintendent’s term of office is expiring and the General Superintendent is available for continued service, the reelection vote shall be a “yes/no” ballot. In the event of a vacancy, the General Board shall determine a process for the identification of eligible candidates for the office of General Superintendent. The General Board shall evaluate candidates to determine their availability for election. The General Board shall provide one or more nominations to the General Conference for election.