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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)