The General Board shall meet before or immediately following the final adjournment of the General Assembly and shall organize by electing officers and committees, and members to committees as required by its Articles of Incorporation and bylaws, to serve for the quadrennium and until their successors are elected and qualified. The general superintendents shall preside over the meetings of the General Board.
Index: organization
536.12
805
District Superintendent: Loved ones in Christ, we are gathered on this Lord’s Day for the special purpose of officially organizing the (name) Church of the Nazarene. Indeed you are already a church but today the life of this congregation moves to a new level as you embrace the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of an organized congregation in accordance with the Constitution and polity of the Church of the Nazarene.
On behalf of the global family of Nazarenes, I commend you for your vision, your faith, and your diligent labor as you have worked together hand in hand and heart to heart to be a community of faith that lives as an authentic expression of the kingdom of God in the world. By this act of organization, you declare your intention to share with the global family of Nazarenes in fulfilling our common mission: “To make Christlike disciples in the nations.”
Three core values guide us in this mission:
We are a Christian people. We stand with Christians everywhere in affirming the historic Trinitarian creeds, and we deeply value our particular heritage in the Wesleyan-holiness tradition. We look to the Bible as our primary source of truth as it proclaims Christ to us, and “all things necessary to our salvation.”
We are a Holiness people. We believe that the grace of God provides not only forgiveness for sins but also the cleansing of our hearts by faith. By this gracious act of the Holy Spirit, we are sanctified and empowered to live Christlike lives in the world.
We are a Missional people. We believe God calls us to participation in the kingdom mission of reconciliation. We do this by preaching the gospel, by acts of compassion and justice, and by making disciples after the pattern of Jesus.
District Superintendent to the pastor: Pastor, would you please now present those who will be the charter members of (name) Church of the Nazarene?
Pastor: (name of district superintendent), it is my honor to present to you the charter members of this congregation. I commend them to you as brothers and sisters in Christ who are committed to our common mission as members of the Church of the Nazarene.
(Pastor reads the names or introduces each member or family.)
District Superintendent: Brothers and Sisters, I ask you now to reaffirm your membership vows.
Do you acknowledge Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, and do you realize that He saves you now?
Response: I do.
Do you affirm the Agreed Statement of Belief of the Church of the Nazarene?
Response: I do.
Do you covenant to give yourself to the fellowship and work of God in connection with the Church of the Nazarene as set forth in the Covenant of Christian Character and the Covenant of Christian Conduct? Will you endeavor in every way to glorify God, by a humble walk, godly conversation, and holy service; by devotedly giving of your means; by faithful attendance upon the means of grace; and, abstaining from all evil, will you seek earnestly to perfect holiness of heart and life in the fear of the Lord?
Response: I will.
District Superintendent: Therefore, by the authority entrusted to me as superintendent of the (name) District Church of the Nazarene, I hereby declare the official organization of the (name) Church of the Nazarene. Welcome to the global family of Nazarene congregations. May the Lord in His great mercy equip you daily with everything good for doing His will. And may the peace of Christ be with you.
810
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.”1 Timothy 4:12
810.105
- Local NYI membership consists of those who affiliate themselves with an NYI group by participating in its ministries and joining the local group.
- The local NYI maintains an accurate roster of all active members.
- The local NYI is accountable to its membership, the local church board, and the pastor.
- The local NYI reports monthly to the church board and to the annual church meeting.
810.106
- The traditional ministry focus of the local NYI is to youth ages 12 and older, college/university students, and young adults. A with the approval of the pastor and local church board.
- For the purposes of representation and programming, the local NYI council establishes age divisions in response to local youth ministry needs.
810.205
- All local NYI groups and members of NYI within the boundaries of a district form the district Nazarene Youth International.
- The district NYI is accountable to its membership, the district superintendent, and the District Advisory Board.
- The district NYI reports annually to the District NYI Convention and the District Assembly through the district NYI president.
810.206
- The traditional ministry focus of the district NYI is to youth ages 12 and older, college/university students, and young adults. A District NYI Council may modify the ministry focus as seen fit, with the approval of the district superintendent and District Advisory Board.
- For the purposes of representation and programming, the District NYI Council establishes age divisions according to youth ministry needs on the district.
810.305
- All local NYI groups, district NYI ministries, and members of NYI within the boundaries of a region form the regional Nazarene Youth International.
- The regional NYI is accountable to its membership, regional director, global NYI director, regional NYI council, and to the Global NYI Council.
- The regional NYI reports to the Global NYI Council on an annual basis.
810.306
- The traditional ministry focus of the regional NYI is to youth ages 12 and older, college/university students, and young adults. A Regional NYI Council may modify the ministry focus as seen fit, with the approval of the districts on the region and the regional director.
- For the purposes of representation and programming, the Regional NYI Council may establish age divisions according to youth ministry needs on the region.