- The General Assembly shall have power to legislate for the Church of the Nazarene, and to make rules and regulations for all the departments related to or associated with it in any respect, but not in conflict with this Constitution. (300, 305–305.9)
- No local church shall be deprived of the right to call its pastor, subject to such approval as the General Assembly shall find wise to institute. (115)
- All local churches, officers, ministers, and laypersons shall always have the right to a fair and orderly trial and the right to make an appeal.
Index: appeal
103.1
In case agreement cannot be reached between the church board and the district superintendent and the District Church Properties Board, the issue may be submitted to the general superintendent having jurisdiction, for a decision. Either the church or the district superintendent may appeal such decision to the Board of General Superintendents for a final decision. All such appeals, rebuttals of appeals, or arguments pertaining thereto, whether to the general superintendent in jurisdiction or the Board of General Superintendents, shall be in writing. A copy of the appeal, rebuttals of appeals, or arguments pertaining thereto by either the church board or the district superintendent shall be sent to the other party involved. The minute record of a church board appeal shall include the appeal resolution, arguments sustaining it, and the record of the vote taken.
118
In case of disagreement between the church board and the district superintendent regarding pastoral arrangements, the church board or the district superintendent may submit the matter to the general superintendent having jurisdiction for his or her decision. From such decision either the church board or the district superintendent may appeal to the Board of General Superintendents. All such appeals, rebuttals of appeals, or arguments pertaining thereto, whether to the general superintendent in jurisdiction or the Board of General Superintendents, shall be in writing. A copy of the appeal, rebuttals of appeals, or arguments pertaining thereto by either the church board or the district superintendent shall be sent to the other party involved. The minute record of a church board appeal shall include the appeal resolution, arguments sustaining it, and the record of the vote taken. If a minister under consideration withdraws his or her name, or if a pastoral candidate is found to be unavailable for consideration, the appeal process should terminate immediately, and the district superintendent and church board shall continue with pastoral arrangements.
156
It shall not be lawful for a local church, its officers, or members, to send appeals to other local churches, their officers, and members, to solicit money or financial assistance for their local church needs or for the interests that they may support. It is provided, however, that such solicitation may be made to local churches and church members located within the bounds of the assembly district in which the solicitor is located, but only on condition that the solicitation be approved in writing by the district superintendent and the District Advisory Board.
157
Members of the Church of the Nazarene who are not authorized by the General Board or one of its committees shall not solicit funds for missionary or kindred activities apart from the World Evangelism Fund, from congregations of local churches, or from members of such churches.
604.1
An appeal from the decision of a Local Board of Discipline may be taken to the District Court of Appeals within 30 days by either the accused or the church board.
606
Following a decision by a Board of Discipline, the accused, the District Advisory Board, or those who sign the charges shall be entitled to appeal the decision to the General Court of Appeals for those in the United States and Canada, or to the Regional Court of Appeals in other global regions. The appeal shall be begun within 30 days after such decision, and the court shall review the entire record of the case and all steps that have been taken therein. If the court discovers any substantial error prejudicial to the right of any person, it shall correct such error by ordering a new hearing to be conducted in a manner capable of giving relief to that person affected adversely by previous proceedings or decision.
608
The General Court of Appeals shall adopt uniform Rules of Procedure governing all proceedings before boards of discipline and courts of appeal. After such rules are adopted and published, they shall be the final authority in all judicial proceedings. Printed Rules of Procedure shall be supplied by the general secretary. Changes or amendments to such rules may be adopted by the General Court of Appeals at any time, and when these are adopted and published, they shall be effective and authoritative in all cases. Any steps that are thereafter taken in any proceeding shall be in accordance with such change or amendment. (605.1)
Index
For translating the index locators.