Section: District Ministry Plan Template

810.210

Paid Staff

  1. When a district employs a youth pastor, the district superintendent, in consultation with the District Advisory Board and District NYI Council, assigns the responsibility for the district NYI to the district youth pastor. In that case, the district youth pastor carries out some of the duties otherwise designated to a district NYI president. However, the importance of the district NYI president remains, in providing additional leadership, support, and representation for district youth ministry. The District NYI Council and district superintendent work together to define the roles and responsibilities of the two positions and how they work together for the benefit of the district youth ministry.
  2. A district youth pastor may not serve as the district NYI president.
  3. The district youth pastor serves ex officio on the District NYI Council, the Executive Committee, and the District NYI Nominating Committee.
  4. The district youth pastor may serve as the district superintendent’s designee for NYI-related responsibilities.

810.211

Composition

  1. The District NYI Council is composed of the officers of the district NYI, other elected or appointed youth members-at-large and ministry leaders as deemed necessary by the council, and the district superintendent and/or district youth pastor.
  2. Only NYI members who are members of the Church of the Nazarene on the district may serve as District NYI Council members.

810.212

Elections

  1. The district NYI Nominating Committee nominates district NYI members to be elected to the District NYI Council.
  2. The District NYI Convention then elects the members of the District NYI Council from submitted nominations by majority vote.
  3. A vacancy occurs when a council member moves his/her membership off of the district, resigns, or is removed from office by the council by two-thirds vote due to neglect of duties or inappropriate conduct. Should a vacancy occur among council members, the District NYI Council fills the vacancy by two-thirds vote if there is one nominee or by majority vote if two or more nominees.
  4. The nominating committee may authorize the District NYI Council to appoint district ministry directors.

810.213

Responsibilities

  1. The District NYI Council is responsible for planning and organizing the total ministry for youth within the district and, through its officers and directors, initiates and directs ministries and activities to reach young people for Christ and to respond to their spiritual growth needs, in harmony with district leadership.
  2. The District NYI Council defines the ministry focus of district NYI in response to district youth ministry needs and develops and assigns titles and responsibilities for district NYI ministry directors.
  3. The District NYI Council encourages and equips local churches across the district for effective youth ministry.
  4. The District NYI Council gives leadership to the youth area of the district Sunday School/Bible studies/small groups by promoting growth and enrollment in attendance for youth and by providing training for youth Sunday School/Bible study/small group teachers and leaders in cooperation with the District Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International Board.
  5. The District NYI Council promotes regional and global NYI ministries and programs to local NYI groups.
  6. The District NYI Council makes recommendations to the District NYI Convention concerning the ministry of NYI. The convention may revise these recommendations prior to adoption.
  7. The District NYI Council establishes and communicates the process for amending the district ministry plan.

810.214

Committees

  1. The NYI Executive Committee consists of elected district NYI officers and the district superintendent and/or district youth pastor. Should the secretary and treasurer be appointed members of the council, the council may elect by majority vote two other District NYI Council members to serve on the Executive Committee. All actions of the Executive Committee are communicated to the remaining members of the council and are subject to the approval of the entire council at its next meeting.
  2. The District NYI Council may establish specific ministry or age division committees in response to district youth ministry needs.

810.215

Zone NYI

  1. In cooperation with district leadership, the District NYI Council may authorize various zones within the existing structure of the district to organize for leadership of NYI, in order to coordinate and maximize NYI ministry across the district.
  2. A zone NYI council may be created to have responsibility for specific ministries and activities on the zone.
  3. A president or representative from each zone may serve on the District NYI Council, if so specified by the District NYI Convention.

810.216

Paid Staff

  1. The district superintendent designates the responsibilities of a district youth pastor, in consultation with the District Advisory Board and District NYI Council.
  2. The District NYI Council and district youth pastor work in cooperation and harmony with each other.

810.217

District NYI Meetings

  1. A variety of district NYI gatherings help provide effective ministry to young people.
  2. The district NYI also encourages and enhances local NYI ministry by meeting with local NYI groups across the district to resource them for effective ministry.
  3. The district NYI participates in regional and global NYI gatherings that further enhance effective youth ministry across the district.

810.218

District NYI Council Meetings

  1. The District NYI Council meets regularly to fulfill the mission and vision of district NYI.
  2. Meetings of the council may be scheduled or called by the district NYI president or district superintendent.

810.219

District NYI Convention

  1. The annual District NYI Convention provides for inspirational sessions and programs to advance youth ministry across the district. Reports are received, leadership is elected, and any legislative business pertaining to the work of NYI is transacted at the Convention. Delegates to the Global NYI Convention are also elected consistent with the NYI Global Ministry Plan.
  2. The District NYI Council arranges for and oversees the District NYI Convention, in cooperation with the district superintendent. The Convention convenes at a time and place designated by the District NYI Council, with the approval of the district superintendent and within ninety days of the District Assembly.
  3. The District NYI Convention is composed of the members of the District NYI Council, the district superintendent, local pastors, other assigned ordained ministers of the district who participate in NYI ministry, and local NYI delegates.
  4. All local NYI delegates to the District NYI Convention must be members of the Church of the Nazarene that they represent.
  5. The number of local NYI delegates for each church is determined by the membership figures on the most recent local Pastor’s Report prior to the District Assembly. District NYI leadership encourages local churches to make suitable arrangements for the expenses of delegates attending the District NYI Convention.
  6. The local NYI delegation to the District NYI Convention for churches with 30 or fewer NYI members consists of:
    1. The pastor and youth pastor or any full‑time paid pastoral staff who participate in NYI ministry;
    2. The newly-elected local NYI president;
    3. Up to four elected delegates, with at least half being within the district-established NYI ministry focus.
    4. Local churches may add an additional delegate for each successive 30 local NYI members and/or final major part of those 30 members (i.e., 16–29 members). At least half of any additional delegates must be also within the district-established NYI ministry focus.
  7. The pastor of any local church or director of an approved Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Center not having an organized NYI may appoint one delegate.
Number of members Number delegates*
5–45 4
46–75 5
76–105 6
106–135 7
136–165 8
166–195 9
196–225 10
226–255 11

* Number of elected delegates from a local NYI does not include ex officio delegates (NYI president, pastor, youth pastor, District NYI Council members from a local church, etc.).