127

Membership. Every local church shall have a church board, composed of the pastor, the Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International (SDMI) superintendent, the president of the Nazarene Youth International (NYI), the president of the Nazarene Missions International (NMI), the stewards, and the trustees of the church, and the members of the SDMI Board when elected as the Education Committee of the church board by the annual church meeting. If the NMI president is the pastor’s spouse, and chooses not to serve on the board, the vice president may serve; however, if the president is the pastor’s spouse and chooses to serve on the board, he or she shall not be a part of the church/pastoral relationship review process of the pastor.

There shall be no more than 25 regular members of the church board. Ordained and district licensed ministers with the exception of individuals approved by the pastor and the district superintendent and paid employees of the local church are not eligible to serve on the local church board. The district superintendent, with the recommendation of the pastor and church board, may grant an exception for unassigned district licensed ministers who are students in the Course of Study or in a Nazarene institution of higher education. Such ministers are recused from church board action regarding recommending the minister to the district assembly for renewal of district minister’s license.

We direct our local churches to elect as church officers active members of the local church who profess the experience of entire sanctification and whose lives bear public witness to the grace of God that calls us to a holy life; who are in harmony with the doctrines, polity, and practices of the Church of the Nazarene; and who support the local church faithfully in attendance, active service, and with tithes and offerings. Church officers should be fully engaged in “making Christlike disciples in the nations.” (33, 113.11, 137, 141, 145147, 152.2, 159.4)

127.1

When the annual meeting of a local church comes during a time of pastoral transition, the local nominating committee, chaired by the district superintendent, may, with the approval of the district superintendent, present the congregation with a resolution, no later than 30 days prior to the annual meeting, to retain the current church board for the upcoming church year. This resolution may be adopted by majority favorable vote by ballot of the church members of voting age present and voting at a properly called special meeting of the church. Should the resolution fail to pass, the church board shall be elected by the annual meeting as usual.

128

Meetings. The church board takes office at the beginning of the church year and shall have at least a bimonthly meeting and shall meet specially when called by the pastor or district superintendent. The church board secretary shall call a special meeting of the board only with the approval of the pastor, or the district superintendent when there is no pastor. Meetings of the church board, including voting, may be conducted electronically. Such meetings and votes shall have the same force and effect as votes at a meeting of members gathered in one room or area. Between the annual church meeting and the beginning of the church year, the newly elected church board may meet for organization purposes, at which time it shall elect a church board secretary and a church treasurer as provided hereafter and any other officer that it shall be their duty to elect. (129.19–130)

129

Business. The business of the church board shall be:

129.1

To care for the interests of the church and its work, not otherwise provided for, in harmony with the pastor. (155, 518)

129.3

To cooperate with an incoming pastor in the development of a written statement of goals and expectations. (115.2)

129.4

To conduct at least once a year, along with the pastor, a planning session for the purpose of updating a clear written understanding of expectations, goals, plans and objectives. (122)