The 27th General Conference of the
Evangelical Methodist Church
Arlington, Texas
83. CALL TO ORDER. Dr. Williamson called the conference to order at 10:20 a.m.
84. COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES. Rev. Daryl Johnston spoke on behalf of the ministry of Vennard College. Dr. Paul Bullman spoke on behalf of Azusa Pacific University.
85. RECOGNITION OF DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT. Dr. Paul Bullman was recognized with a plaque for his service as District Superintendent of the Southwest District, retiring from the superintendency at the conclusion of the general conference.
86. RECEIVING OF MINUTES. The previous day’s Minutes were distributed. The General Secretary moved for the adoption of the Minutes. The motion was seconded.
87. RECOGNITION OF AGUSTIN AZUARA. Dr. Williamson
presented a plaque to Rev. Agustin Azuara who concluded eight years of service
as General Superintendent of the Mexican Evangelistic Mission. The plaque
was given to Rev. Constantine Cardenas to be presented to Rev. Azuara upon
his return to
88. SPECIAL RECOGNITION. Rev. Leroy Lindsey, Sr., was recognized and briefly addressed the conference. Rev. Lindsey related he has served over 64 years in the ministry.
89. VOTE TO ADOPT MINUTES. After a time of review, the Minutes of the previous day were approved.
90. BOARD OF YOUTH ACITIVITIES. The chair called for the report of the Board of Youth Activities, Rev. Jimmy Baldwin, chairman. Following the report, it as moved and seconded to approve the creation of the Youth Endowment Fund for scholarships for EMC students studying for the ministry. Approved.
91. NOMINATING COMMITTEE. Dr. Williamson announced that Rev. Colin Conner had declined to serve as chairman of the Board of Youth Activities. Rev. Paul Speagle was nominated to serve as chairman of the General Board of Youth Activities. Approved.
92. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLICATIONS. Rev. Larry Piatt gave the report of the Department of Publications. Following his report, he moved that the Department of Publications and General Council be allowed to make any editorial changes to EMC publications. Seconded and approved.
93. INSTALLATION OF BOARD, COMMITTEE AND DEPARTMENT CHAIRPERSONS. Dr. Williamson requested that all Board, Committee and Department chairpersons to stand in front of the auditorium. Dr. Williamson prayed a prayer of dedication for the newly elected chairpersons.
94. BOUNDARY COMMITTEE. In the absence of the chairman, Rev. Coulston read the report of the Boundary Committee. It was moved and seconded to authorize the General Council to change the district boundary lines upon a request from a district(s). Approved.
95. DISCIPLINE REVISION. Dr. Williamson called for the report of the Board of Discipline Revision, Rev. Leroy VanVerth, chairman.
Vote to reconsider. Rev. Harold Thompson moved to reconsider the approved action taken the previous day concerning ¶208 (page 13, item #72, Minutes). The motion was seconded and approved.
(a) Substitute Motion. Rev. Thompson made the following motion:
¶209 (renumber recommended ¶208 to become ¶209, keeping existing ¶208 intact) In the event a local church desires to vote on the question of withdrawal from the Evangelical Methodist Church, the local church must follow the procedure set out below:
(1) Four weeks prior to vote. If a withdrawal vote is to be taken, the District Superintendent must be notified in writing by the Pastor and/or the Chairman of the Board of Stewards at least four (4) weeks prior to the Annual Church Conference that the matter of withdrawal will be considered at the annual church conference. The District Superintendent must preside at the taking of any vote on the subject of (a) the local church's withdrawal from the denomination and/or (b) the local church's conveying, selling, exchanging, or encumbering of property in connection with, or in any way related to, a withdrawal.
(2) Two weeks prior to vote. At least two (2) weeks in advance of the withdrawal vote, the District Superintendent must certify in writing to the General Superintendent, with a copy to the local church, that the local church has paid its conference support to date and repaid to the district and/or the denomination all monies disbursed to that local church by the district and/or the denomination (the "Disbursed Funds"). The Disbursed Funds include, but are not limited to grants, loans, and monies disbursed to that local church by the district and/or denomination for any and all purposes, including amounts paid directly to the pastor as salary. No withdrawal vote may be taken unless the local church has received this written certification two (2) weeks prior to the vote.
(3) The initial vote. A withdrawal vote can be taken only at the time of the Annual Church Conference. The motion to withdraw requires a favorable vote of three-fourths of the eligible church membership present and voting for passage. If an initial withdrawal motion receives a three-fourths vote, the pastor and any lay persons in the local church who hold offices in the District Conference or General Conference shall be deemed to have resigned those positions.
(4) The one-year waiting period. If the motion to withdraw receives the necessary three-fourths vote, there shall be a waiting period of one year (the "waiting period").
(5) The second vote. At the end of the waiting period, a second vote on the motion to withdraw must be taken. If the motion to withdraw again receives the necessary three-fourths vote, the withdrawal shall be effective immediately. The pastor shall surrender his/her credentials or resign as pastor of the church, effective the day of the final vote.
(6) Sixty day notice of transactions. No property belonging to a local church may be conveyed, sold, exchanged, or encumbered unless the local church provides written notice at least sixty (60) days in advance of the proposed transaction to the District Superintendent. The written notice must (a) explain the purpose of the planned transaction; (b) state the nature and address of the person or entity to whom or to which the local church proposes to convey, sell, exchange, or encumber property; (c) list the entity's trustees and officers; and (d) state the impact of the proposed transaction upon any current member's ability to attend church (and if there is any such impact, what provision the local church will make to meet that need).
(7) No property transactions until after certification of second vote. The local church may not transfer, sell, exchange or encumber property in connection with, or in any way related to, a withdrawal from the Evangelical Methodist Church unless the District Superintendent has certified in writing to the General Superintendent, with a copy to the local church, that the local church has paid its conference support to date and has completed each step of the procedure outlined in ¶209, including but not limited to a vote of three-quarters of the members present and eligible to vote in favor of withdrawal during two consecutive annual church conferences that were presided over by the District Superintendent. In addition, any document that transfers, sells, exchanges or encumbers property in connection with or, in any way related to, a withdrawal must be countersigned by the District Superintendent in order to be valid.
The Motion was seconded and approved
(b) Paragraph 63. ¶63 - Add See ¶208 and ¶209(7).
¶63. It is congregational in two ways:
First--as to property rights. This can be done in one of three ways:
(1) Property rights are vested, with respect to ownership and maintenance, in the local church and held in trust to the local church by the trustees of the local church. See ¶208 and ¶209(7)
The remainder of the paragraph remains unchanged.
(c) Paragraph 223. ¶223 - Insert after ("may be received into") full membership or associate membership.
¶223. Members in good standing in any evangelical church who desire to unite with us may be received into full membership or associate membership by taking the vows and after having given satisfactory evidence of their willingness to support and be loyal to the Evangelical Methodist Church.
Motion to Amend. It was moved and seconded to add the term “non-resident” after the word, “associate.”
Substitute Motion. A substitute motion was offered, adding the word “full” before the word “membership” in the current ¶223 of the Discipline of the EMC.
¶223. Members in good standing in any evangelical church who desire to unite with us may be received into [full] membership by taking the vows and after having given satisfactory evidence of their willingness to support and be loyal to the Evangelical Methodist Church.
The Substitute Motion was seconded and approved.
(d) Paragraph 224. It was moved and seconded to make a new ¶224 and renumber accordingly.
¶224. Associate membership is available to those who desire membership in a local Evangelical Methodist Church but must hold membership elsewhere. Privileges of associate membership shall exclude voting on the pastoral question (¶251), voting on the pastoral call (¶252), voting on the sale of property (¶208), and voting on the question of withdrawal from the denomination (¶209). Associate membership is non-expiring as long as membership expectations are met.
The motion was approved.
(e) Paragraph 233. It was moved and seconded to add the following to the second sentence:
“…The District Superintendent must preside at the Annual Church Conference if a vote is taken on the question of whether the local church should withdraw from the Evangelical Methodist Church…”
The motion was approved.
(f) Paragraph 204. It was moved and seconded to take from the Table consideration of ¶204. Approved. It was moved and seconded to approve ¶204:
¶204 - Line 23, delete "where money has been loaned by the conference" and add "as provided otherwise in ¶63; in all cases, property rights shall be exercised as provided in the Discipline, including without limitation ¶208 and ¶209(7).” ¶204. (Lines 1-21 will remain unchanged.) Beginning with line 22: “…The local church is congregational in government with property rights vested in the local church, except as provided otherwise in ¶63; in all cases, property rights shall be exercised as provided in the Discipline, including without limitation ¶208 and ¶209(7). The church is also connectional….
The motion was approved.
(g) Paragraph 240. It was moved and seconded to approve ¶240 by adding the following after the last sentence: “…Any additional business must be approved by the pastor in consultation with the Board of Stewards.”
The motion was approved.
(h) Paragraph 242. It was moved and seconded to approve the following changes to ¶242: ¶242 - Delete "and" in the middle of the first sentence and make two separate sentences.
¶242. The Annual Church Conference, or a Special Church Conference, shall issue lay exhorter's license* to proper persons. The Annual Church Conference may recommend proper persons to the District Conference, or the District Board of Ministerial Relations, for license to preach, for admission into the District Conference, and for deaconess orders.
The motion was approved.
(i) Paragraph 253. It was moved and seconded to adopt recommended ¶253:
¶253 - Delete present sentence two and insert a new sentence two and three: In the event a ministerial member of the denomination cannot be secured, the District Superintendent may appoint a pastor from another denomination as a temporary pulpit supply. He/she shall not receive new members into the local church nor shall he/she sign any legal documents on behalf of the local church.
¶253. The local church shall first attempt to secure its pastor from among the ministerial members of the denomination. In the event a ministerial member of the denomination cannot be secured, the District Superintendent may appoint a pastor from another denomination as a temporary pulpit supply. He/she shall not receive new members into the local church nor shall he/she sign any legal documents on behalf of the local church. Such pastors are under the direct supervision of the District Superintendent in whose district they are serving and can be removed by him at any time.
The motion was approved.
(j) Paragraph 258. It was moved and seconded to adopt ¶258:
¶258 - In the first line, add "associate" and the following at the end of the paragraph: When an Evangelical Methodist Church is considering calling an assistant or associate pastor who will fulfill pastoral functions and who does not have ministerial credentials in the Evangelical Methodist Church, that individual is required to complete the examination on the Discipline successfully and be approved by the District Board of Ministerial Relations of the district wherein the church is located prior to accepting the call to the position of assistant or associate pastor.
¶258. Persons to be employed in such capacities as assistant or associate pastors, ministers or directors of Christian Education…(etc. to the end of the present paragraph.)
When an Evangelical Methodist Church is considering calling an assistant or associate pastor who will fulfill pastoral functions and who does not have ministerial credentials in the Evangelical Methodist Church, that individual is required to complete the examination on the Discipline successfully and be approved by the District Board of Ministerial Relations of the district wherein the church is located, prior to accepting the call to the position of assistant or associate pastor.
The Motion Failed
(k) Paragraph 303. It was moved and seconded to adopt recommended ¶303:
¶303 - Revise (2) to read: Transact a sale of property only when (a) authorized by the congregation with the proceeds deposited according to the wishes of the congregation and (b) consistent with the requirements of the Discipline, including without limitation ¶208 and ¶209(7).
¶303. (2) Transact a sale of property only when (a) authorized by the congregation with the proceeds deposited according to the wishes of the congregation and (b) consistent with the requirements of the Discipline, including without limitation ¶208 and ¶209(7).
The motion was approved.
(l) Paragraph 404. It was moved and seconded to add the following sentence to ¶404: “…The General Superintendent shall participate as an ex officio member in all District Conferences…”
The motion was approved.
(m) Paragraph 407. It was moved and seconded to adopt recommended ¶407:
¶407. Add to the second sentence: "except that of the District Superintendent. In the event a District Superintendent does not fulfill his term of office through the end of the quadrennium, the respective District Council and the General Superintendent shall appoint a qualified elder (see ¶425) to serve the office of District Superintendent until the next District Conference."
¶407. The District Council is an executive body charged with implementing and coordinating the district program as adopted by the District Conference. It shall fill vacancies in the district offices which may occur during the year, except that of the District Superintendent. In the event a District Superintendent does not fulfill his term of office through the end of the quadrennium, the respective District Council and the General Superintendent shall appoint a qualified elder (see ¶425) to serve the office of District Superintendent until the next District Conference. It shall not reverse the action of the District Conference nor begin new programs without District Conference approval.
The motion was approved.
(n) Paragraph 438. It was moved and seconded to revise the paragraph and delete the last line.
¶438. The ordination of elders in full connection customarily will take place at a District Conference under the direction of the General Superintendent in cooperation with the District Superintendent, assisted by other elders. Ordination at a later date outside of the District Conference cannot take place until the candidate has first been approved by the District Conference in accordance with ¶675 and ¶676. The commissioning of missionaries and consecration of deacons and deaconesses will customarily take place at the District Conference under the direction of the District Superintendent in cooperation with the General Superintendent.
The motion was approved.
(o) Paragraph 477. It was moved and seconded for new ¶477 - Insert the following as ¶477 and renumber the subsequent paragraphs.
¶477. In the event a minister in the Evangelical Methodist Church experiences a marital separation or divorce, the District Superintendent shall have the authority to suspend the minister immediately from his pastoral duties. The District Superintendent and the District Board of Ministerial Relations shall make a thorough investigation, interviewing the parties involved. After completing the investigation, and in accordance with the recommendation of the Board of Ministerial Relations, the District Superintendent shall direct the minister to surrender his credentials, take a one-year sabbatical from the ministry, or continue in ministry uninterrupted.
Move for the Question. It was moved and seconded to call for the Question and end debate. Approved.
Question. The paragraph was approved.
(p) Paragraph 480. It was moved and seconded to add ¶480. There presently is no ¶480. Insert the following:
¶480. Ministers entering their first pastorate in the Evangelical Methodist Church shall be assigned a counseling elder for a period of one year by the District Superintendent in consultation with the district Board of Ministerial Relations.
The motion was approved.
(q) Paragraph 505. It was moved and seconded to add the following to the end of ¶505:
“…In this capacity the Cabinet shall facilitate the development and endorsement of denomination-wide programs of the General Boards and Districts that unite the districts in areas of evangelism, missions, Christian education, and leadership training. The Cabinet shall recommend and promote priorities and goals annually that incorporate individual district goals with the General Church goals for General Council endorsement. The District Superintendents shall promote approved priorities and goals in their individual districts. The Cabinet has the option of electing one of the district superintendents as the Dean of the Cabinet in a servant role at the beginning of the quadrennium. The Dean will promote unity and clear communication among Cabinet members.”
The motion was approved.
(r) Paragraph 526. It was moved and seconded to add “Conflict Resolution Committee” to ¶526.
¶526. The General Conference shall also have these COMMITTEES WITHOUT DISTRICT COUNTERPARTS:
Boundary Committee
Historical Committee
Conflict Resolution Committee
The Nominating Committee shall nominate and the General Conference shall elect the above Committees. These Committees shall elect their chairpersons.
The motion was approved.
(s) Paragraph 529. It was moved and seconded to add to ¶529, “…No one shall serve on more than two General Conference Boards at the same time.”
The motion was approved.
(t) Paragraph 530. It was moved and seconded to delete the last sentence of ¶530.
¶530. District Superintendents and General Conference officers shall not serve as chairpersons of the General Conference Boards.
The motion was approved.
(u) Paragraph 531. It was moved and seconded to make the following changes to ¶531:
After the District Board of Ministerial Relations in the first sentence, insert a period. Continue: It shall be the responsibility of the General Board of Ministerial Relations to determine uniform standards concerning character, competency and ministry for all applicants for local preacher's license, admission on trial, elder, deaconess, transfer between conferences and transfer from other denominations
¶531. The Board of Ministerial Relations shall be composed of the chairperson of each District Board of Ministerial Relations. It shall be the responsibility of the General Board of Ministerial Relations to determine uniform standards concerning character, competency and ministry for all applicants for local preacher's license, admission on trial, elder, deaconess, transfer between conferences and transfer from other denominations.
The motion was approved.
(v) Paragraph 553. It was moved and seconded to approve adding a new paragraph, ¶553, regarding ratification and reentry of a disaffiliated church. The board approved the deletion of the last sentence.
¶553. The General Council shall ratify the final disaffiliation vote of a local church. A written request for re-affiliation with the denomination requires a favorable vote of a majority of the General Council in order for the local church to reenter the Evangelical Methodist Church.
The motion was approved.
(w) Paragraph 653(3). It was moved and seconded to add ¶404.
¶653(3). District Conference. See ¶¶ 403, 404, 438, 475, 476.
The motion was approved.
(x) Paragraph 653(8). It was moved and seconded to delete the present (8) and add new (8) - To recommend to and consult with the Cabinet in the facilitation of denominational goals and priorities.
¶653(8) To recommend to and consult with the Cabinet in the facilitation of denominational goals and priorities.
The motion was approved.
(y) Paragraph 676. It was moved and seconded to change the last line to read: “He will then receive ordination by the laying on of hands at a time set cooperatively by the General Superintendent and the District Superintendent.”
¶676. Upon election by majority vote of the District Conference, the candidate for admission into full connection as an elder immediately becomes a full member of the District Conference. He will then receive ordination by the laying on of hands at the time set cooperatively by the General Superintendent and the District Superintendent.
The motion was approved.
(z) Paragraph 680. It was moved and seconded to revise the first sentence of ¶680 to read, “A supernumerary preacher is one who is partially or totally disabled so as to be unable to fulfill all the normal ministerial responsibilities.”
The motion was approved.
(aa) Paragraph 682. It was moved and seconded to remove, “the District Conference Music Committee,” from ¶682.
¶682. APPROVED SONG EVANGELISTS. A suitable person may be elected to the position of approved song evangelist by a majority vote of the District Board of Ministerial Relations and upon the recommendation of the District Superintendent. An approved song evangelist is not a member of the District Conference unless he has united with the District Conference in the usual way.
The motion was approved.
(bb) Paragraph 1021. It was moved and seconded that in order to accommodate the proposed change in ¶676, add, “When the day appointed cooperatively by the General Superintendent and the District Superintendent is come….”
¶1021. When the day appointed cooperatively by the General Superintendent and the District Superintendent is come, there shall be a sermon…
The motion was approved.
(cc) Paragraph 1041. It was moved and seconded to change General Superintendent to District Superintendent throughout the paragraph.
The motion was approved.
Editorial Changes: Where appropriate, insert “he/she” throughout the Discipline.
96. MEMORIALS HAVING LAIN OVERNIGHT. The Board of Discipline Revision presented the memorials that had been presented from the floor and laid overnight for consideration.
(a) Memorial #1. Due to the passage of the Peacemakers – Conflict Resolution proposal, the Board of Discipline Revision moved that the memorial, “District and General Conferences shall not initiate civil lawsuits against any local church,” be Tabled. The Motion was seconded and approved.
(b) Memorial #2. It was moved and seconded to add at the end of ¶677 the following: “Upon recommendation of the District Board of Ministerial Relations, an Elder who transfers from the Evangelical Methodist Church in good standing and seeks to reunite with the Evangelical Methodist Church in full ministerial connection is exempt from the ‘Elder in Transit’ (status).” The motion was approved.
(c) Memorial #3. It was moved and seconded to insert between the second and third paragraphs of ¶235 the following new paragraph: “Smaller congregations, upon recommendation and consultation with the superintendent and the pastor may adopt a simplified local church organizational structure.”
Substitute motion. The following substitute motion was moved and seconded: “Notwithstanding the local church organization outlined in this section, a simplified local church structure may be adopted by the congregation upon recommendation of the superintendents and pastor.”
Motion to Table. It was moved to Table the substitute and main motion on the floor. Seconded and approved.
(d) Memorial #4. It was moved and seconded to add, in ¶475, after “five ordained elders, two of whom may hold credentials in another district.” Also, delete “whose duty it,” and insert, “The duty of the Board of Ministerial Relations…”
The paragraph 475 will begin, “The District Conference shall elect a Board of Ministerial Relations of five ordained elders, two of whom may hold credentials in another district. The duty of the Board of Ministerial Relations shall be to examine all applicants for local preacher’s license, admission on trial, elder’s orders, from other churches on credentials, change of conference relationship, deaconess’s orders, requests for sabbatical leave, and report such examinations to the District Conference…” The motion was approved.
(e) Memorial #5. It was moved and seconded to add a new ¶509 which shall state: “The General Council, at regularly scheduled meetings, may by a two-thirds vote, disaffiliate a congregation, at the request of the appropriate district, meeting in regular or special session.” The motion was approved.
(f) Memorial #6. It was moved and seconded to delete ¶513. With the creation of a Mission Conference section, this paragraph was no longer necessary. The motion was approved.
97. BOARD OF EVANGELISM. Rev. Coulston moved that the General Board of Evangelism recommend approval of those ministerial members, approved by their respective districts for evangelist credentials, for General Conference Evangelist credentials. The motion was approved.
98. UNFINISHED BUSINESS. It was moved and seconded to commit to the General Council all unfinished business of the 27th General Conference. The motion was approved.
99. RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE. Rev. Larry Piatt gave the report of the Resolutions Committee. It was moved and seconded to adopt the report. The motion was approved.
100. ADJOURNMENT. The chair entertained a motion for adjournment. It was moved and seconded for adjournment. The motion was approved and the 27th General Conference of the Evangelical Methodist Church was adjourned with prayer.