To elect, by ballot, up to three assigned ordained ministers and up to three laypersons to the District Advisory Board, to serve for a term not to exceed four years, as determined by the district assembly, and until their successors are elected and qualified.
However, when the district exceeds a total membership of 5,000, it may elect one additional assigned ordained minister and one additional layperson for each successive 2,500 members and the final major part of 2,500 members. (221)
To elect a District Ministerial Credentials Board of not less than five assigned ordained ministers, one of whom shall be the district superintendent, to serve for four years and until their successors are elected and qualified. This board shall meet prior to the district assembly to consider all matters subject to its authority and, insofar as is possible, to complete its work prior to the district assembly. (226–228.10)
To elect a District Ministerial Studies Board of five or more assigned ordained ministers, to serve for four years and until their successors are elected and qualified. (229)
To elect a District Court of Appeals, consisting of three assigned ordained ministers, including the district superintendent and two laypersons, to serve for a term not to exceed four years and until their successors are elected and qualified. (609)
To elect, by ballot, at a session within 16 months of the meeting of the General Assembly, or within 24 months in areas where travel visas or other unusual preparations are necessary, all of the lay delegates and all but one of the ministerial delegates, since one shall be the district superintendent. Every Phase 3 district assembly shall be entitled to representation at the General Assembly by an equal number of ministerial and lay delegates. The district superintendent at the time of the General Assembly shall be one of the ministerial delegates, and the remaining ministerial delegates shall be ordained ministers. In case the district superintendent is unable to attend, or in case there has been a vacancy and the new district superintendent has not been appointed, the properly elected alternate shall be seated in the district superintendent’s place. The Nominating Committee shall submit a nominating ballot containing at least six times the number of delegates eligible from that district in each category, ministerial and lay. From these nominees, the number of names for the electing ballot will be reduced to no more than three times the number to be elected. Then, the allowed delegates and alternates shall be elected by plurality vote, according to paragraphs 301.1–301.3. Each district assembly may elect alternates not to exceed twice the number of delegates. In situations where travel visas are problematic, a district assembly may authorize the District Advisory Board to select additional alternates. Delegates elected are expected to attend faithfully all meetings of the General Assembly from opening to closing unless providentially prevented. (25.1–25.3, 301.1–301.3, 303, 332.1)
The initial term of office for a district superintendent who is elected at a district assembly begins 30 days after the adjournment of the district assembly. It runs for two full assembly years ending thirty days after the adjournment of the assembly that marks the second anniversary of the election. At the time of said assembly, the superintendent may be reelected (203.11–203.12) or a successor elected or appointed and qualified. The initial term of office for a district superintendent who is appointed by the general superintendent in jurisdiction begins at the time of the appointment, includes the remainder of the church year in which the superintendent was appointed, and extends through the two following church years. The term of office ends 30 days after the adjournment of the assembly that marks the end of the second full assembly year of service. At said assembly the superintendent may be elected (203.11–203.12) for another term, or a successor will be elected or appointed and qualified. No elder employed by the district office shall be eligible to be elected or appointed to the office of district superintendent on the district where they are serving without the approval of the District Advisory Board and the general superintendent in jurisdiction (in harmony with paragraph 115). (203.11–203.13)
If for any cause a vacancy shall occur in the interim of sessions of the district assembly, the general superintendents, jointly and severally, may fill the vacancy upon consultation with the District Advisory Committee (DAC). Consultation shall include an invitation for the committee, as a whole, to submit names for consideration in addition to those names brought forward by the general superintendent in jurisdiction. (236, 307.8)
The office of a Phase 1 or Phase 2 district superintendent may be declared vacant with cause upon the recommendation of the general superintendent having jurisdiction. The office of district superintendent in a Phase 3 district may be declared vacant upon a two-thirds vote of the District Advisory Committee. (236, 321)
In the event of temporary incapacitation of an incumbent district superintendent, the general superintendent having jurisdiction, in consultation with the District Advisory Board, may appoint a qualified elder to serve as interim district superintendent. The question of incapacitation shall be determined by the general superintendent in jurisdiction and the District Advisory Board. (307.8)
