Secretary. The secretary of the church board shall be the secretary of all church meetings; in his or her absence a secretary pro tempore shall be elected. (135.4)
Index: local church board
113.8
Special Meetings. Special church meetings may be called at any time by the pastor, or by the church board after having obtained the consent of the pastor or of the district superintendent or of the general superintendent having jurisdiction. Public notice of special church meetings shall always be given from the pulpit in at least two preceding regular services, or in such manner as meets the requirements of civil law. (104, 113.1, 115–115.1, 123, 137, 139, 142.1, 144)
113.9
Reports. Reports shall be given at the annual church meeting by the pastor (515.7), the Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International (SDMI) superintendent (146.6), the president of the Nazarene Youth International (151.4), the president of the Nazarene Missions International (153.2), the deaconesses (507), the local ministers (529.1), the secretary (135.2), and the treasurer (136.5) of the church board.
113.12
Where laws permit, and in churches where such procedure and the number to be elected are approved by a majority vote of the church members present, the church board may be elected, and then appropriate proportions designated as stewards and trustees, in harmony with 137 and 141. When a church board is elected in this manner, the board shall organize itself into committees to carry out assigned responsibilities. If a church has elected an education committee as part of its board in harmony with 145, that committee will constitute the Education Committee of the church board. (145–145.10) Alternative board and committee structure may be used by a local church in organizing itself for ministry and missional action, provided such alternatives are approved in writing by the district superintendent and the District Advisory Board, and such structure complies with civil requirements.
113.13
Where laws permit, and in churches where such procedure is approved by a majority vote of the church members present at a duly called annual meeting, after receiving the written approval of the district superintendent, a church may elect one-half its church board members for two-year terms, or one-third of its church board members for threeyear terms, in either case designating an equal number to be elected annually. When the church board is elected in this manner, the number of stewards and trustees chosen must comply with 137 and 141.
115
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)
115.2
The church board and the pastor should clearly communicate their goals and expectations to each other in writing. (122, 129.3–129.4)
115.4
Upon issuing a call, the local church will specify the proposed remuneration. The amount of this remuneration shall be determined by the church board. When agreement has been entered into between the church or the church board and the pastor, the payment of the pastor’s salary in full shall be considered a moral obligation by the church. If, however, the church becomes unable to continue the payment of the salary agreed upon, such inability and failure shall not be considered a sufficient cause for civil action against the church by the pastor; and in no case shall the church or District Advisory Board be legally responsible in excess of funds raised during the term of the pastor’s actual service, and not otherwise designated. If civil action is taken against the church or District Advisory Board by a current or former pastor, a district may take steps to obtain the minister’s credential and subsequently drop the minister’s name from the ministerial roll.
The local church should also make provision for the pastor’s traveling and moving expenses. (33–33.3, 129.8–129.9)
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.
120
The pastor desiring to resign from a pastoral assignment shall:
- First consult with the district superintendent;
- Provide a written resignation to the church board at least 30 days prior to termination of the pastorate; and
- Send a copy to the district superintendent.
When the resignation is received by the church board and approved in writing by the district superintendent, the termination date shall be finalized within 30 days.