An ordained elder or licensed minister (elder track) may be called to pastor a church by two-thirds favorable vote by ballot of the church members of voting age present and voting at a duly called annual or special meeting of the church, provided that:
- Such ordained elder or licensed minister (elder track) shall have been nominated to the church by the church board, which, after having consulted with the district superintendent, made such nomination by two-thirds vote by ballot of all its members; and
- The nomination shall have been approved by the district superintendent.
Any ordained elder or licensed minister (elder track) with membership in a local church may not be considered for pastor of that church without the approval of the district superintendent and the District Advisory Board. This call shall be subject to review and continuance as hereinafter provided. (119, 122–124, 129.2, 160.8, 208.10, 222.14, 513, 530, 531.4, 532.3)
The pastor of a church that has been organized for less than five years, or had less than 35 members voting in the previous annual church meeting, or is receiving regular financial assistance from the district, may be appointed or reappointed by the district superintendent, with the consent of the District Advisory Board. (208.17)
When a church exceeds 35 voting members or has been organized for at least five years, and its pastor has served as its appointed pastor for at least two years, a process to be moved from “appointed status” may be initiated. Such process must include a church/pastoral review, majority vote of church board members present, approval of the district superintendent, and approval of the District Advisory Board. The anniversary date for future four-year regular church/ pastoral reviews shall be the date of final approval.
The initial term of office for a district superintendent who is elected at a district assembly begins 30 days after the adjournment of the district assembly. It runs for two full assembly years ending thirty days after the adjournment of the assembly that marks the second anniversary of the election. At the time of said assembly, the superintendent may be reelected (203.11–203.12) or a successor elected or appointed and qualified. The initial term of office for a district superintendent who is appointed by the general superintendent in jurisdiction begins at the time of the appointment, includes the remainder of the church year in which the superintendent was appointed, and extends through the two following church years. The term of office ends 30 days after the adjournment of the assembly that marks the end of the second full assembly year of service. At said assembly the superintendent may be elected (203.11–203.12) for another term, or a successor will be elected or appointed and qualified. No elder employed by the district office shall be eligible to be elected or appointed to the office of district superintendent on the district where they are serving without the approval of the District Advisory Board and the general superintendent in jurisdiction (in harmony with paragraph 115). (203.11–203.13)
If for any cause a vacancy shall occur in the interim of sessions of the district assembly, the general superintendents, jointly and severally, may fill the vacancy upon consultation with the District Advisory Committee (DAC). Consultation shall include an invitation for the committee, as a whole, to submit names for consideration in addition to those names brought forward by the general superintendent in jurisdiction. (236, 307.8)
The general superintendents may appoint district superintendents over assembly districts where vacancies occur in the interim of district assembly sessions, upon consultation with the District Advisory Committee. Pursuant to paragraph 206, all qualified elders are eligible for consideration, including those of that district. (207, 236)
Have primary authority with regard to ecclesiastical policies and plans (that is, issues of theology, ordination, and mission strategy), and to advise the General Board, its committees, and all boards of the Church of the Nazarene on other matters. The Board of General Superintendents shall make to the General Board and to the committees recommendations they deem advisable. The Board of General Superintendents shall approve or disapprove all nominations made by the Global Mission Committee to the General Board for appointment as missionaries.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.”1 Timothy 4:12
For translating the index locators.
