Does civil law procedure take precedence over church directives in local church elections?
Yes.
(See paragraphs 113.4, 123, 124, 142)
May the annual church meeting occur in the same service in which it was announced?
Yes, the meeting could be held following the morning service, and/or in the evening service of the second Sunday on which it is announced.
However, it must be announced at least two Sundays before the annual church meeting.
(See paragraph 113.7)
May nominations be made from the floor at local church meetings?
Yes.
When the ballot is presented for approval at an annual or special meeting, names may be taken from the floor for nomination, but they should be referred to the Nominating Committee for screening, before the elections occur.
The business meeting will be delayed while this screening occurs. (The committee will be checking the nominees with Manual paragraph 34 to see if qualifications are sufficient for nomination.)
The body may then accept an adjusted ballot, if the Nominating Committee recommends additional names be placed on the ballot.
(See paragraphs 34, 113.10)
May a person serve on a board of tellers if he or she is not a member of the voting body?
May a pastor of a church vote in local church elections?
Yes, unless it is an interim or supply pastoral assignment and his or her membership is not held in that local church.
(See paragraphs 113.1, 521, 523, 524)
Does the voting body of a local church need to vote on the erection of buildings?
Yes.
A ruling by the Board of General Superintendents (dated 19 September 2002) states that
…congregational vote is required as final approval for the erection of buildings, whether or not requiring borrowed funds.
What is the maximum membership for the church board?
The maximum is 25.
(paragraphs 127, 137, 141)
What is the minimum membership for the church board?
The minimum is six unless an alternative board and committee structure has been approved.
If an alternative board and committee structure has been approved, then there is no minimum number.
(paragraphs 113.12, 137, 141)
NOTE: A ruling from the Board of General Superintendents (dated 5 December 1986) states that
In a church with a small number of members there is no Manual stipulation which precludes an individual filling dual roles, such as trustee and SDMI superintendent, thus reducing the number of church board members. However, while there are no such prohibitions, where there are more people spiritually qualified to carry the responsibilities of church board membership this practice should be discouraged.
May a person other than the pastor be named as chairperson of the local church board?
No.
The church board may designate an individual as a “presider” of the board meetings to conduct the business, but the Manual states that the pastor is the “chairperson of the local church board.”
(See paragraphs 128, 515.15)
May an unassigned minister serve on the local church board?
No.
An unassigned minister is not eligible to serve on the local church board.
(See paragraph 127)
May an unpaid associate pastor serve on a local church board?
Yes, an unpaid associate pastor/credentialed minister is eligible to serve on the local church board if the district considers him or her an assigned minister.
(See paragraph 127)
May a minister who has filed his or her credential with the General Secretary serve on a local church board?
No.
A minister who has filed his or her credential with the General Secretary because he or she is in secular work is not eligible to serve on the local church board, because this person is still a minister but is unassigned.
(See paragraphs 127, 536)
Note: This is also applicable to ministers with a credential status of dropped, removed, or surrendered. However, if the minister chooses to change his or her credential status from filed to resigned (which would change the individual’s status from clergy to lay), then it would be possible to be nominated for election to local church board membership.
May a retired minister serve on the local church board?
A retired assigned minister is eligible to serve on the local church board, provided he or she is not a paid employee.
A retired unassigned minister is not eligible to serve on the local church board unless the retired unassigned minister takes an active assigned position that is recognized by the district (i.e., pastoral service, evangelism service retired, etc.) and this individual is not a paid employee of the local church.
(See paragraph 127)
May the pastor be elected as the Nazarene Youth International (NYI) president?
No, but the pastor may assume the role with the approval of the church board.
May an unassigned minister be elected as a local NMI president, NYI president, or SDMI superintendent?
No.
Those officers are ex-officio members of the local church board, and unassigned ministers are not eligible to serve on the local church board.
(See paragraph 127)
May the NYI president, the Nazarene Missions International (NMI) president, or the Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International (SDMI) superintendent be elected as a trustee or steward of the church board?
Yes.
(See paragraphs 137, 141, 146, 151, 153.2)
Must the church board secretary and the church board treasurer be members of the local Church of the Nazarene which elects them to either position?
Yes.
These individuals must be members of the local Church of the Nazarene where they are asked to serve as officers.
(paragraphs 113.11, 129.19-129.20)
May the local church board fill a vacancy on the church board?
No.
Vacancies may be filled by the described processes in the Manual for annual or special elections.
If the church board chooses, vacancies may be left unfilled.
(See paragraphs 139, 144, 146, 810.108, 811 Article V)
Are church board meetings closed or may non-church board members attend these meetings? Or, what is the difference between a public session and an executive session?
The meetings are generally open; however, a non-board member should not plan to attend any meeting without discussing it in advance with the chairperson (pastor).
Non-members would not have any voting privileges on the board, and would only have voice privileges when granted such by the full board.
Some rules could limit the attendance to members only.
Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (11th edition) (11th edition), states the following about a public session:
In meetings of many public bodies, such as school boards, the public may attend. Similarly, in some private organizations such as church councils, parishioners may be permitted to attend. These attendees are not members of the meeting body and ordinarily have no right to participate. Some bodies, especially public ones, may invite nonmembers to express their views, but this is done under the control of the presiding officer subject to any relevant rules adopted by the body and subject to appeal by a member. Often, by rule or practice, time limits are placed on speakers and relevance is closely monitored.
Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (11th edition) states the following about an executive session:
In most organizations…membership meetings are open to the public, but board or committee meetings are customarily held in executive session. In the latter case, members of the organization who are not members of the board or committee, and sometimes nonmembers, may be invited to attend, perhaps to give a report, but they are not entitled to attend
(See paragraphs 35, 128)
Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (latest edition) is the parliamentary procedure reference book for the denomination.
What is the process for addressing a possible removal of a church board member before the individual’s term has expired?
A church board member cannot be arbitrarily removed from that position unless there is a disciplinary process involved, since he or she was elected by the voting members of the congregation.
Here are options that could be followed:
a. The pastor should implement the “seek to resolve differences” steps that are found in Manual paragraph 122.1 (which also references portions of Matthew 18 and Galatians 6)
b. A district superintendent may declare the church in crisis (paragraphs 125-125.2), and then follow the steps to remove the entire board membership; then with approvals, appoint new membership
c. The district superintendent may initiate the processes for either the lay (paragraph 604) or ministerial (paragraph 605) disciplinary actions, whichever is applicable[^†]
[^†]: This option is not highly recommended, since it often tends to literally divide a congregation.
Is there a limit to the number of church members who may be removed by a local church board in a single year?
No.
A previous general assembly approved the deletion of the paragraph which stated a maximum percentage for this process.
(See paragraphs 112.3, 120.1)
NOTE: It is recommended that the district superintendent and the general superintendent in jurisdiction be notified when a significant percentage of members are being removed from a church’s membership roll in one or more consecutive years.
May a pastor dismiss an assistant in the local church?
Yes.
Since employment is only for increments of one year, a pastor may choose not to re-nominate, thus ending employment.
However, if the termination of employment is prior to the end of the employment term (end of fiscal church year), then the church board would have to approve the action by a majority vote, and approval by the district superintendent would also be necessary.
(See paragraph 160.2)
Which church staff must resign when a senior or lead pastor resigns?
All pastoral staff must resign.
Any dayschool or preschool principal/administrator must also resign, effective at the end of the school year in which the new pastor assumes the duties of the office.
However, the local church board and district superintendent may approve interim assignments.
The district superintendent should determine whether or not an office manager or administrative assistant should resign as the situation arises.
(See paragraph 160.5)
Must a church office secretary or custodian resign when a senior or lead pastor resigns?
No.
Only ministerial staff must resign.
Any secretarial or custodial staff would not be required to resign, unless the district superintendent determines it would be necessary, based on a specific position.
(See paragraphs 127, 160.4, 160.5)
May the district superintendent appoint a supply or interim pastor?
Yes, with the consent of the local church board.
If the appointment is for an interim pastor, then he or she may be appointed with approval of the church board and the District Advisory Board.
(See paragraphs 209, 209.1, 523, 524)
Does the hiring of secretarial or custodial staff in the local church need to be approved by the district superintendent?
No.
(See paragraph 208.13)
Does the hiring of an unpaid staff member (associate pastor) need to be approved by the district superintendent?
Yes.
(See paragraph 208.13)
When must a District Advisory Board approve a pastoral nominee for a local church?
A ruling by the Board of General Superintendents (dated 17 September 2013) states that
…only when a church has been organized less than five years, or has less than 35 members, or is receiving regular financial assistance from the district, or when an elder or licensed minister has membership or is serving as paid staff in the specific local church which wishes to consider the minister as a pastoral nominee. All other pastoral nominee instances would simply require approvals of the district superintendent and the local church board.
(See paragraphs 115, 117, 129.2, 160.8, 208.10, 222.12)
What is the process if a local church elects a pastor but the individual declines the initial call and then later wishes to reconsider the call?
A ruling by the Board of General Superintendents (dated 3 December 2013) states that
When an elder or licensed minister has received a two-thirds favorable vote of the eligible voting members but declines the call, the church board or the candidate may reconsider their decision upon a majority vote of the local church board without the necessity of another all-church vote. If the candidate’s decision has been made public to the congregation, a reconsideration of the calling of the candidate shall be submitted to the church board and upon favorable vote recommended to another all-church vote.
(See paragraphs 115-115.1)
May a special church/pastoral review be called for in the first two years of pastoral service?
Yes.
(See paragraphs 113.8, 124)
NOTE: A notice to call a special church meeting must be announced in at least two preceding regular services.
What is the definition of the phrase “within 60 days of the second anniversary of pastoral service?”
It means 60 days before the anniversary or 60 days after the anniversary.
(See paragraph 123)
May nominations be made from the floor at a district assembly?
Yes.
A ruling by the Board of General Superintendents (dated 17 September 2013) states that
The requirement of Manual paragraph 202.1 to ‘use’ a District Nominating Committee does not prohibit nominations from the floor. In a meeting of the district assembly if nominations are made from the floor, they may be sent to the Nominating Committee for screening to be certain that such nominees are in compliance with paragraph 34. In harmony with paragraph 34 our local churches are directed ‘to elect as church officers active members of the local church who profess the experience of entire sanctification and whose lives bear public witness to the grace of God that calls us to a holy life; who are in harmony with the doctrines, polity, and practices of the Church of the Nazarene; and who support the local church faithfully in attendance, active service, and with tithes and offerings. Church officers should be fully engaged in making Christlike disciples in the nations.’ Our district officers should be expected to meet the same minimum requirements.
(See paragraphs 34, 202.1)
May an unassigned minister be elected as a local church delegate to the district assembly?
No.
The district assembly delegates elected by the local church are “lay” delegates.
When a minister is unassigned or retired unassigned, he or she is not eligible to be a delegate to the district assembly.
(See paragraph 201)
NOTE: The exception for a retired unassigned minister is if that individual takes an active assigned position which is recognized by the district and if the minister is serving in that assignment at the time of a district assembly.
May a minister whose credential is in a filed, removed, or surrendered status be elected as a local church delegate to the district assembly?
No.
Only assigned ministers may be delegates by virtue of their assignment.
If a minister’s credential status is “filed, removed, or surrendered,” he or she is not an “assigned” minister.
A minister who has a “resigned” credential status is eligible to elected as a lay delegate by the local church, because the resignation of the credential has indicated that he or she has chosen to become a layperson on a permanent basis.
(See paragraphs 201, 536)
May a church-type mission which has taken in church members have delegate representation at a district assembly?
Yes.
(See paragraph 113.15)
Must a retired minister report annually to the district assembly?
Yes.
A ruling from the Board of General Superintendents (dated 26 May 2010) states that
…all licensed ministers, elders, and deacons must submit an annual report to the district assembly. This is applicable even though retirement status may have been officially granted by a district…in the event of incapacitation for a retired minister (licensed or ordained), the District Advisory Board may approve an exception to the requirement for an annual report.
When a local or district leadership position is vacated, how long does the person who is appointed or elected to fill the position serve in the assignment?
The person who is appointed or elected to fill the vacancy would serve through the unexpired term of the person he or she has replaced.
May a district sell property of an inactive church before it is disorganized?
Yes.
(See paragraphs 104.3, 106.2, 106.3, 106.5)