Section: Renewing the Local Church/Pastor Relationship

123

The Regular Church/Pastoral Review. The church/pastoral relationship shall be reviewed by the church board, meeting with the district superintendent, or an ordained minister or layperson appointed by the district superintendent, within 60 days of the second anniversary of pastoral service and every four years thereafter. At this review meeting, the question of continuing the church/pastoral relationship shall be discussed. The objective is to discover consensus without the need of a formal church board vote.

The district superintendent, or an ordained minister or layperson appointed by the district superintendent, shall be responsible for scheduling and conducting the review meeting(s) with the church board. The review meeting(s) shall be scheduled in consultation with the pastor. The review meeting(s) shall be conducted in executive session (church board, including pastor). At the discretion of the district superintendent, a portion of the review may be conducted in the absence of the pastor. In case the pastor’s spouse is an elected member of the board, he or she shall not participate in the review. In addition, other immediate relatives of the pastor may be recused from the review, per the request of the district superintendent or appointed representative.

A public and/or printed announcement explaining the purpose of this church board meeting shall be conveyed to the congregation the Sunday before the church board and district superintendent meet for the regular church/pastoral review.

If the church board does not vote to present the question of continuing the church/pastoral relationship to the church membership, the church/pastoral relationship will continue.

The church board may vote to present to the church membership the question of continuing the pastoral call. The vote by the board will be by ballot and require a majority of all church board members present to carry.

If the church board votes to present the question of continuing the church/pastoral relationship to the church membership, the matter shall be presented at a church meeting duly called for this purpose and held within 30 days following such action. The question shall be presented, “Shall the present church/pastoral relationship continue?” The vote shall be by ballot and require a majority to carry, except where civil law of a given country requires otherwise.

If the church membership votes to continue the church/pastoral relationship, the church/pastoral relationship shall continue as though such a vote had not been taken; otherwise, the church/pastoral relationship shall end on a date set by the district superintendent not less than 30 nor more than 180 days following the vote. If the pastor chooses not to proceed with the vote of the congregation or chooses not to accept the vote, he or she shall submit a resignation. In such case, the church/pastoral relationship shall end on a date set by the district superintendent not less than 30 nor more than 180 days following the pastor’s decision not to proceed with or accept the congregational vote. (120)

As a part of the regular review, a report will be made to the district superintendent by the pastor and church board regarding progress toward fulfilling the mission, vision and core values of the church.

123.1

The chairperson of the Board of Tellers shall personally inform the pastor of the results of a pastoral vote before any public announcement is made.

124

Special Church/Pastoral Review. In the interim of regular reviews, a local church board meeting shall become officially a special review only by a majority vote of the entire elected church board with the district superintendent or an elder appointed by the district superintendent present and serving as chairperson.

This special church/pastoral review meeting shall be conducted in executive session (church board, including pastor). At the discretion of the district superintendent, a portion of the review may be conducted in the absence of the pastor. In case the pastor’s spouse is an elected member of the board, he or she shall not participate in the review. (113.8)

If the district superintendent and the local church board shall be of the opinion that the question of the continuance of the church/pastoral relationship should be submitted to the church, the district superintendent and the local church board by a majority vote by ballot of all its members present, except where civil law of a given country requires otherwise, may order the question submitted for vote at a special church meeting. The question shall be submitted in the following form: “Shall the present church/pastoral relationship be continued?”

If by a majority vote by ballot of the church members of voting age present and voting, except where civil law of a given country requires otherwise, the church decides to continue its present church/pastoral relationship, the term of office of the pastor shall continue as though such vote had not been taken.

If, however, the church fails to decide by such vote to continue the present church/pastoral relationship, the term of office of the pastor shall terminate on a date, set by the district superintendent, not more than 180 days following the vote.

If the pastor chooses not to proceed with the vote of the congregation or chooses not to accept the vote, he or she shall submit a resignation. In such case, the church/pastoral relationship shall end on a date set by the district superintendent, not less than 30 nor more than 180 days following the pastor’s decision not to proceed with or accept the congregational vote. (123–123.1)

125

Local Church in Crisis. Upon learning that a local church is approaching crisis, the district superintendent with the approval of the District Advisory Board shall have the authority to impanel a committee to review the situation and implement procedures to avert a crisis. The committee shall consist of two assigned ordained ministers and two lay members of the District Advisory Board, and the district superintendent who shall serve as chairperson. (208.3)

125.1

When in the opinion of the district superintendent and the District Advisory Board, a local church is declared in crisis—financial, morale, or otherwise—and this crisis seriously affects the stability and future of the church, (a) the question of continued church/pastoral relationship may be submitted to the local congregation by the district superintendent or a member of the District Advisory Board appointed by the district superintendent as if the church board had requested the vote under paragraph 123, or (b) the tenure of a pastor and/or church board may be terminated with the approval of the general superintendent in jurisdiction, and by the majority vote of the District Advisory Board. The district superintendent, with approval of the District Advisory Board, may appoint members of the church board for any church that has been declared in crisis. Notification of the District Advisory Board action shall be sent to the general superintendent in jurisdiction within 30 days. (208.3)

125.2

When in the opinion of the district superintendent, a local church declared in crisis in accordance with 125.1 has fulfilled the interventions set in place and is ready to resume its ministry under normal circumstances, the local church may be declared out of crisis by the majority vote of the District Advisory Board. The general superintendent in jurisdiction shall be notified of the District Advisory Board action within 30 days. (208.4)