In case of disagreement between the church board and the district superintendent regarding pastoral arrangements, the church board or the district superintendent may submit the matter to the general superintendent having jurisdiction for his or her decision. From such decision either the church board or the district superintendent may appeal to the Board of General Superintendents. All such appeals, rebuttals of appeals, or arguments pertaining thereto, whether to the general superintendent in jurisdiction or the Board of General Superintendents, shall be in writing. A copy of the appeal, rebuttals of appeals, or arguments pertaining thereto by either the church board or the district superintendent shall be sent to the other party involved. The minute record of a church board appeal shall include the appeal resolution, arguments sustaining it, and the record of the vote taken. If a minister under consideration withdraws his or her name, or if a pastoral candidate is found to be unavailable for consideration, the appeal process should terminate immediately, and the district superintendent and church board shall continue with pastoral arrangements.
Index: pastoral relations
119
The call of a pastor who is a licensed minister (elder track) will terminate at the end of the district assembly if the minister’s license is not renewed.
120
The pastor desiring to resign from a pastoral assignment shall:
- First consult with the district superintendent;
- Provide a written resignation to the church board at least 30 days prior to termination of the pastorate; and
- Send a copy to the district superintendent.
When the resignation is received by the church board and approved in writing by the district superintendent, the termination date shall be finalized within 30 days.
120.1
The pastor who resigns shall, in cooperation with the secretary of the church board, prepare a correct list of the church membership roll with current addresses. This roll must correspond numerically with the last published district minutes showing deletions and additions for the current year.
121
Upon the recommendation of the church board an approval of the district superintendent, a congregation may elect co-pastors to serve. In this case, the following stipulations will apply:
- The co-pastors shall work with the church board, under the direction of the district superintendent, to develop a plan for shared responsibility and authority.
- Co-pastors are equals in the pastoral office. If required by law, one person shall be officially designated by the church board as the presiding officer, serving as president of the corporation and chairperson of the church board.
- The pastoral review process shall be conducted as provided for in paragraph 123.
121.1
Upon the resignation or termination of a co-pastor a remaining co-pastor may be appointed by the district superintendent to serve as pastor of the church; provided, however, that within 60 days, the question of the pastoral relationship shall be presented to the church board, at which time the church shall follow the process outlined in paragraph 115.
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)
129.2
To nominate to the church, after having consulted with the district superintendent, any elder or licensed minister (elder track) whom it may deem the proper person to become pastor, provided the nomination be approved by the district superintendent and the District Advisory Board. (115, 160.8, 208.10, 222.14)