Our leaders and pastors are expected to give strong emphasis in our periodicals and from our pulpits to such fundamental biblical truths as will develop the faculty of discrimination between the evil and the good.
Index: district
200.1
The Creation of New Districts. New districts in the Church of the Nazarene may be created by:
- The division of one district into two or more districts (requires a two-thirds vote of the district assembly);
- The combination of two or more districts out of which a differing configuration of districts may be created;
- The formation of a new district in an area not encompassed by any existing district;
- The merger of two or more districts; or
- A recommendation to establish a new district shall be submitted to the general superintendent(s) in jurisdiction. The district superintendent(s) and District Advisory Board(s) or national board(s) may approve and refer the matter to the district assembly/assemblies for vote with the approval of the general superintendent(s) in jurisdiction and the Board of General Superintendents. (24, 200, 200.4)
200.2
Work in the Church of the Nazarene may begin as a pioneer area and lead to the establishment of new districts and district assembly boundaries. Phase 3 districts may emerge as quickly as possible according to the following pattern:
Phase 1. A Phase 1 district shall be designated when opportunity for entry into a new area is presented, within guidelines for strategic development and evangelism. Requests may be made by a regional director, a district through the Regional Advisory Council, or the sponsoring district superintendent and/or District Advisory Board for final approvals by the general superintendent(s) in jurisdiction and the Board of General Superintendents. (200.1, #5)
A Phase 1 district superintendent in regions related to the Global Mission office shall be recommended by the regional director, in consultation with the Global Mission office director, to the general superintendent having jurisdiction who shall appoint. The region shall give guidance to the Phase 1 district regarding resources available for development. In other regions, the district superintendent shall be appointed by the general superintendent in jurisdiction after consultation with the district superintendent(s) and Advisory Board(s) of the sponsoring district(s). (204.2, 207.1)
When, in the opinion of the field strategy coordinator and regional director, a Phase 1 district in regions related to the Global Mission office is in crisis—financial, morale, or otherwise—and this crisis seriously affects the stability and future of the district, a district may be declared in crisis with the approval of the general superintendent in jurisdiction and in consultation with the Global Mission office director. The regional director, with the approval of the general superintendent in jurisdiction, may appoint an interim board for the management of the district and in lieu of all existing boards, until the next regularly scheduled district assembly. On those districts not served by a regional director and Regional Advisory Council, the general superintendent in jurisdiction, in consultation with the Board of General Superintendents, may make such a determination.
Phase 2. A Phase 2 district may be designated when a sufficient number of organized churches and ordained ministers and a district infrastructure of adequate maturity exists to recommend such designation.
Such designation will be by the Board of General Superintendents upon recommendation of the general superintendent in jurisdiction after consultation with the Global Mission office director, regional director, and other individuals and boards involved in the appointment of the district superintendent. A district superintendent will be elected or appointed.
Quantifiable guidelines would include a minimum of 10 organized churches, 500 full members, and 5 ordained ministers, and a minimum of 50% of district administration expense shall be generated by district ministries fund income at the time of designation. A District Advisory Board or national board may request the general superintendent in jurisdiction for an exception to these criteria. (204.2, 207.1)
When, in the opinion of the field strategy coordinator and regional director, a Phase 2 district in regions related to the Global Mission office is in crisis—financial, morale, or otherwise—and this crisis seriously affects the stability and future of the district, a district may be declared in crisis with the approval of the general superintendent in jurisdiction and in consultation with the Global Mission office director. The regional director, with the approval of the general superintendent in jurisdiction, may appoint an interim board for the management of the district and in lieu of all existing boards, until the next regularly scheduled district assembly. On those districts not served by a regional director and Regional Advisory Council, the general superintendent in jurisdiction, in consultation with the Board of General Superintendents, may make such determination.
Phase 3. A Phase 3 district may be declared when a sufficient number of organized churches, ordained ministers, and members exist to warrant such designation. Leadership, infrastructure, budgetary responsibility, and doctrinal integrity must be demonstrated. A Phase 3 district must be able to shoulder these burdens and share the challenges of the Great Commission within the global scope of an international church.
Such designation will be by the Board of General Superintendents upon recommendation of the general superintendent in jurisdiction after consultation with the Global Mission office director, regional director, and other individuals and boards involved in the appointment of the district superintendent. (203.12, 207.1) A district superintendent will be selected in accordance with Manual provisions.
Quantifiable criteria include a minimum of 20 organized churches, 1,000 full members, and 10 ordained ministers. A District Advisory Board or national board may request to the general superintendent in jurisdiction for an exception to these criteria.
A Phase 3 district must be 100% self-supporting in regard to district administration.
Phase 3 districts are an integral part of their respective regions. In regions having a regional director, the general superintendent in jurisdiction may enlist the assistance of the regional director to facilitate communication with and supervision of the district.
When in the opinion of a general superintendent in jurisdiction, a district is in crisis—financial, morale, or otherwise—and this crisis seriously affects the stability and future of the district, a district may be declared in crisis with the approval of the Board of General Superintendents and the General Board Executive Committee. The general superintendent in jurisdiction, with approval of the Board of General Superintendents and the Executive Committee of the General Board may take one or more of the following actions:
- Remove the district superintendent;
- Appoint an interim board for the management of the district in lieu of all existing boards, until the next regularly scheduled district assembly; and
- Initiate such special interventions as may be necessary to restore the district’s health and mission effectiveness. (307.9, 322)
200.4
Mergers. Two or more Phase 3 districts may be merged upon two-thirds favorable vote by each of the district assemblies involved, provided: The merger shall have been recommended by the respective District Advisory Boards, (and national board{s} where applicable), and approved in writing by the general superintendents in jurisdiction of the districts involved.
The merger and all pertinent related matters shall be finalized at a time and place determined by the district assemblies involved, and the respective general superintendents in jurisdiction.
The organization thus created will combine the assets and liabilities of the respective districts. (200.1)
Phase 1 and Phase 2 districts may be merged in accordance with provisions for new district formation outlined in paragraph 200.2.
201
Membership. The district assembly shall be composed of all assigned elders (532–532.3, 533–533.1, 536.9); all assigned deacons (531–531.4, 536.9); all assigned licensed ministers (530.8); all retired assigned ministers (534–534.1); the district secretary (216.2); the district treasurer (219.2); chairpersons of standing district committees reporting to the district assembly; any lay presidents of Nazarene institutions of higher education, whose local church membership is on the district; the District Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International (SDMI) chairperson (239.2); the district age-group ministries international directors (children and adult); the District SDMI Board; the president of the District Nazarene Youth International (NYI) (240.4); the president of the District Nazarene Missions International (NMI) (241.2); the newly elected superintendent or vice superintendent of each local SDMI Board (146); the newly elected president or vice president of each local NYI (151); the newly elected president or vice president of each local NMI (153.2); or an appropriately elected alternate may represent the NMI, NYI, and SDMI organizations in the district assembly; those serving in assigned roles of ministry according to 503–526.1; the lay members of the District Advisory Board (221.4); lay career missionaries whose local church membership is on the district; all retired assigned lay career missionaries whose local church membership is on the district; and the lay delegates from each local church and church-type mission in the assembly district. (24, 113.14–113.15, 201.1–201.2)
202
202.1
Nominating Committee. Prior to the convening of the district assembly, the district superintendent in consultation with the District Advisory Board shall appoint a nominating committee to serve the district assembly. This committee may prepare nominations for the usual committees and offices in advance of the convening of the district assembly. (212.2)
203.2
To hear and receive an annual report of the district superintendent which summarizes the ministry of the district including newly organized churches.
203.12
After a district superintendent of a Phase 2 or Phase 3 district (200.2) has served a district for at least two assembly years, the district assembly may reelect said superintendent for a period of four years subject to the approval of the general superintendent in jurisdiction. The procedure for election to an extended term of office shall be by a two-thirds favorable “yes” or “no” ballot.
203.13
In case the general superintendent and the District Advisory Committee (DAC), shall be of the opinion that the services of the district superintendent should not continue beyond the current year, the general superintendent having jurisdiction and the DAC may order the question submitted for a vote of the district assembly. The question shall be submitted in the following form: “Shall the present district superintendent be continued in office beyond this district assembly?”
If the district assembly, by a two-thirds vote by ballot, decides to continue the district superintendent in office, he or she shall continue to serve as though such vote had not been taken.
If, however, the district assembly fails to decide by such vote to continue the district superintendent in office, his or her term of office shall terminate 30–180 days following the close of that district assembly, with the date to be determined by the general superintendent in jurisdiction in consultation with the DAC. (204.2, 206, 236)