From the list of these candidates, the General Assembly delegates from each region shall nominate to the General Assembly as follows:
Each region of 100,000 or fewer full members shall nominate one assigned ordained minister and one layperson; each region exceeding 100,000 and up to 200,000 full members shall nominate two assigned ordained ministers, one district superintendent and one pastor or evangelist, and two laypersons; and one additional layperson and one additional assigned ordained minister for regions exceeding 200,000 full members, with the following provisions:
On those regions whose membership is in excess of 200,000 full members, one assigned ordained minister shall be a pastor or evangelist; another shall be a district superintendent; and the other assigned ordained minister may be in either category.
No district shall be entitled to more than two members on the General Board, and no region shall be entitled to more than six members (with the exception of institutional representatives and members of Nazarene Missions International {NMI} and Nazarene Youth International {NYI}). Whenever more than two candidates from a district receive a higher number of votes than candidates from other districts on the region, those on another district receiving the next highest number of votes shall be selected as nominees from the region. (305.6, 901.1)
In each region the layperson(s), the pastor or evangelist, and/or the district superintendent who receive the highest number of votes in their respective classifications shall be nominated by majority vote to the General Assembly. In the instance of the larger regions where six members are to be elected, the layperson and the assigned ordained minister who receive the next highest number of votes shall be the additional nominees.
If a Regional Advisory Council determines that it is likely that a majority of elected delegates will be prevented from attending the General Assembly, the regional caucus voting may be conducted via postal or electronic means within six months prior to the start of General Assembly. The specific process by which this postal or electronic nomination of General Board members to the General Assembly occurs shall be proposed by the Regional Advisory Council and submitted to the General Secretary’s office for approval prior to implementation.
Each nominee presented by the respective regions shall be elected by the General Assembly by a majority “yes” vote by ballot.
Origin and Purpose. In the growth of the church worldwide, there has developed a grouping of several organized districts into geographical areas identified as regions. A cluster of districts amenable to the general government of the Church of the Nazarene and having a sense of area and cultural identification may be formed into an administrative region by action of the General Board and approval of the Board of General Superintendents.
Regional Policy. In keeping with the non-symmetrical approach to organization, the Board of General Superintendents may, and in consultation with the Regional Advisory Council, structure administrative regions according to the particular needs, potential problems, existing realities and diverse cultural and educational backgrounds in their particular geographic areas of the world. In such situations, the Board of General Superintendents shall establish a policy that embraces non-negotiable commitments including the Articles of Faith, faithful adherence to holiness doctrine and lifestyle, and support of extensive missionary outreach efforts.
Duties. The principal duties of the regions are to:
Implement the mission of the Church of the Nazarene through the pioneer areas, districts, and institutions;
Develop regional awareness, fellowship, and strategies to fulfill the Great Commission, bringing district and institutional representatives together periodically for planning, prayer, and inspiration;
Nominate persons to the General Assembly and Global
Conventions for elections to the General Board;
In harmony with Manual provisions, to establish and maintain schools and colleges or other institutions;
Be authorized to recruit and screen missionary candidates from the region in accordance with policy (345.3);
Plan Regional Advisory Council meetings and conferences for the region;
Facilitate National Boards as stipulated in paragraphs 344 and 345.3.
Regional Advisory Council (RAC). A region may have a Regional Advisory Council whose responsibilities will be to assist the regional director in strategy development for the region, review and recommend approval or disapproval of national board minutes before forwarding to the office of the general secretary, interview missionary candidates for recommendation to the Global Mission office and/or for deployment as regional and Church of the Nazarene, Inc. contracted missionaries, and receive reports from the regional director, field strategy coordinators, and ministry coordinators.
Membership of the RAC shall be flexible in order to shape the RAC according to the needs, development and requirements of the individual regions. The regional director will recommend the number of members of the RAC to the Global Mission office director and general superintendent in jurisdiction for approval. Ex-officio members will be the general superintendent in jurisdiction of the region, Global Mission office director and regional director who will serve as chairperson. Global Mission office contracted personnel shall not be candidates for election to the RAC but may serve as resource persons. Members of the RAC will be elected by ballot by the regional caucus at the General Assembly. The RAC will fill any vacancy between General Assemblies.
The regional director, in consultation with the RAC, may convene a regional conference or area evangelism conference. (33.5)
The Regional Director. A region may have a director elected by the Board of General Superintendents in consultation with the Global Mission office director, and ratified by the General Board, to work in harmony with the policies and practices of the Church of the Nazarene giving leadership to districts, churches, and institutions of the region in fulfillment of the mission, strategies, and program of the church.
Prior to the reelection of a regional director, a review shall be conducted by the Global Mission office director and general superintendent in jurisdiction, in consultation with the Regional Advisory Council. A positive review will constitute an endorsement for recommendation for reelection.
Each regional director is to be administratively accountable to the Global Mission office, and General Board, and in jurisdictional matters, accountable to the Board of General Superintendents.
Regional Course of Study Advisory Committee. The Regional Course of Study Advisory Committee (RCOSAC) shall be composed of the regional education coordinator, who may be ex-officio chairperson of the committee, plus representatives selected in consultation with the regional director. Members of the RCOSAC should represent all parties interested in ministerial education (i.e., pastors, administrators, educators, and laity) for the region.
Duties of the Regional Course of Study Advisory Committee (RCOSAC). The principal duties of the RCOSAC are to:
- Develop a regional Sourcebook on Ordination outlining the minimum educational standards for ordination on the region. The regional Sourcebook on Ordination must reflect minimum standards established in the Manual and elaborated in the International Sourcebook on Developmental Standards for Ordination;
- Develop validation procedures for the ministerial educational programs of the region, verify that the programs meet the regional COSAC and ICOSAC minimum standards;
- Collaborate with regional educational providers to interpret standards in ministerial education programs;
- Review ministerial education program submissions for compliance with regional Sourcebook and International Sourcebook standards;
- Endorse regional ministerial education programs to the International Course of Study Advisory Committee for adoption and approval.
