129.15

To recommend, at its discretion, to the district assembly, upon nomination by the pastor, renewal of deaconess’ license in harmony with 507.

200

The General Assembly shall organize the membership of the church into districts.

A district is an entity made up of interdependent local churches organized to facilitate the mission of each local church through mutual support, the sharing of resources, and collaboration.

The bounds and name of a district shall be such as shall be declared by the General Boundaries Committee and approved by a majority vote by the assembly district(s) involved, with the final approval of the general superintendent or superintendents having jurisdiction. (24)

Where districts from more than one educational region would consider merger into one district, the General Boundaries Committee would determine the region the new district would be a part of, in consultation with the general superintendents in jurisdiction.

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)

201.1

Local churches and church-type missions in districts of fewer than 5,000 full church members shall be entitled to representation in the district assembly as follows: two lay delegates from each local church or church-type mission of 50 or fewer full church members, and one additional lay delegate for each successive 50 full church members and the final major part of 50 full church members. (24, 113.14–113.15, 201)

201.2

Local churches and church-type missions in districts of 5,000 or more full church members shall be entitled to representation in the district assembly as follows: one lay delegate from each local church or church-type mission of 50 or fewer full church members, and one additional lay delegate for each successive 50 full church members and the final major part of 50 full church members. (24, 113.14–113.15, 201)

202

Time. The district assembly shall be held annually, at the time appointed by the general superintendent having jurisdiction, and in the place designated by the District Advisory Board or arranged for by the district superintendent.

203.2

To hear and receive an annual report of the district superintendent which summarizes the ministry of the district including newly organized churches.

203.3

To hear or receive reports from all ordained and licensed ministers serving as pastors or commissioned evangelists; and to consider the character of all elders, deacons, and deaconesses. By vote of the district assembly the record of written reports received by the secretary may be accepted in place of oral reports of all other elders, deacons, deaconesses, and licensed ministers not engaged in active service, and those ministers having district certificates for all roles of ministry in 503–526.1. (520, 530.8, 536.9)

203.4

To license as licensed ministers, after careful examination, persons who have been recommended by church boards or the District Advisory Board and who may be judged to be called to the ministry and to renew such license upon favorable recommendation of the Ministerial Credentials Board. (129.14, 529.5, 530.1, 530.3)

203.5

To renew as licensed deaconesses, after careful examination, persons who have been recommended by church boards and who may be judged to be called to the office of deaconess upon favorable recommendation of the Ministerial Credentials Board. (129.15)