Chapter 3. The Preacher In Charge

¶621. The pastoral duties include:

( 1) To preach the unsearchable riches of Christ through the Gospel.

( 2) To administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper, to perform the marriage ceremony, and to bury the dead. Unordained pastors or local preachers serving pastoral charges may administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper, and perform the marriage ceremony where the laws of the state permit, within the bounds of their pastoral charge, as long as they are in good standing and their local preacher's license is up-to-date. Only preachers who renew their license annually have this privilege.

( 3) To preach on the doctrinal distinctives of the Evangelical Methodist Church as contained in the Articles of Religion, and to present the General Rules at least once each year in each local church.

( 4) To preach upon stewardship, explaining to the people the meaning of Christian stewardship and tithing, by tithing campaigns and tithers leagues.

( 5) To preach on the subject of evangelical Christian education, and to urge upon parents the importance of training their children in public and private worship, daily Bible reading and study, and setting an example through the family altar and the stewardship of all of life.

( 6) To preach total abstinence from the use of beverage alcohol, tobacco, and drugs in a winsome manner in view of Christian stewardship of the human body. They are to lay the claim of the ministry on young men, and the claims of Christ upon our lives, time, talents, and tithe, including the Lord's Day, Sunday.

( 7) To hold or appoint prayer meetings, love feasts, watch-night services, regular services, and evangelistic campaigns whenever advisable. The preacher in charge of a church as pastor is not required to secure the consent of the trustees of the church property before holding services in any church on his charge.

( 8) To present the missionary program of the church and urge its support by all the people in the church.

( 9) To instruct candidates for membership in the church in the doctrines, rules, and regulations of the church, to receive persons into membership, and to grant letters of transfer on request.

(10) To visit from house to house in order to give pastoral guidance and help to members of the church and others in need of spiritual help through Christ.

(11) Upon consultation with the board of stewards to obtain evangelists, missionaries, and Bible lecturers for a series of meetings such as he thinks best for the spiritual welfare of the church at large in keeping with the Discipline.

(12) To have oversight of the local preachers in his pastoral charge, and to arrange opportunities where their talents can glorify God.

¶622. The administrative duties of the pastor include:

( 1) To administer all the provisions of the Discipline in his church and see that the ordinances and regulations of the church are duly observed.

( 2) To make a written report to the Annual Church Conference and the District Conference of all items required for the statistics of each conference, using the proper forms and observing designated due dates.

( 3) To be amenable to the District Conference for the exercise of his office. He shall give due regard to the advice of his District Superintendent and General Superintendent.

( 4) To attend the meetings of the board of stewards and work with them, providing inspiration and leadership, in carrying out the program and business of the local church. The pastor may call the stewards into special session whenever it is deemed necessary for the welfare of the church.

( 5) To explain the importance and values of the Conference Support, and urge its support by all the people in his charge.

( 6) To keep a membership record for the church in which shall be noted the name and time of reception and/or removal of each member of the church.

( 7) To keep an up-to-date working file of the membership of the church which shall be ready to assist with addresses, etc., for visitation, evangelism, finance campaigns, and shall be left up-to-date for a new pastor or district superintendent.

( 8) To see that the people are supplied with all of our literature and other sound evangelical materials.

¶623. The pastor shall make a written report to each Annual Church Conference on the following:

( 1) The spiritual condition of the church or churches in his charge.

( 2) The names of all who have been received into the church, indicating the method of reception, and of all who have died, transferred, withdrawn, or been expelled during the conference year.

( 3) The enrollment, attendance, and spiritual condition of the Sunday Schools within the charge, including noteworthy events, weekday meetings of children, youth, and adults, as well as fellowship meetings of the church.

( 4) Pastor work done with children.

( 5) Pastoral calls.

( 6) The Conference Support relationship to the conference.

( 7) Other items worthy of record.

( 8) Plans for future work.

¶624. Annual tenure of service:

( 1) All pastoral changes should be made as soon after the last Sunday in July as possible.

( 2) The pastor, when it becomes known to him that he is to leave the church for another appointment, shall give the local church at least thirty days notice of his proposed move in order to give the church time to secure another pastor. (See ¶ 257.)

Chapter 4. The District Superintendent

¶641. Qualifications. See ¶ 425.

¶642. Elections. See ¶ 103, 425.

¶643. Duties:

( 1) Annual Church Conference. See ¶ 231, 233, 243, 251, 252, 253.

( 2) District Conference. See ¶ 402, 403, 408, 423, 429, 431, 435, 441.

( 3) General Conference. See ¶ 506 (5).

( 4) To preach the Gospel in the churches of his district when invited by the pastor in charge or by the board of stewards when there is no pastor, or when filling his duly appointed office.

( 5) To have general oversight of the spiritual and temporal affairs of the churches of his district.

( 6) To supervise the work of all preachers in his district, holding them responsible to administer the Discipline and for fulfilling the trust placed in them by the District Conference and the local church.

( 7) To counsel with the preachers in his district in regard to their work and ministry.

( 8) To give due regard to the advice of his General Superintendent and to consult with his General Superintendent on critical matters, especially those that relate to General Conference matters.

( 9) To report the names and addresses of all local preachers within his district to the secretary of the District Conference for insertion in the minutes; to report the names and addresses of all who have been licensed to preach during the year; and to report all candidates for the ministry to the Board of Ministerial Relations.

(10) To advise and encourage local preachers, candidates for the ministry, and conference under-graduates in their studies.

(11) To prepare and deliver to his successor an official list of all district property, along with a list of all endowments, annuities, trust funds, investments, etc. in his district.

(12) To procure statistics from every charge and report them to the District Conference in case the church should fail to make a report.

(13) To approve, change, or remove preachers during the year according to the Discipline; being careful to use only preachers whose record and character are in keeping with the Discipline.

(14) To establish new preaching places and organize new congregations whenever possible, following procedures designated in the Discipline.

(15) To perform such other duties as the Discipline may direct.

Chapter 5. The General Superintendent

¶651. Qualifications:

( 1) A member of a District Conference of the Evangelical Methodist Church as an ordained elder for at least 4 years.

( 2) Shall have had acceptable ministerial experience.

( 3) Proven administrative ability.

( 4) Eminent in piety, blameless in character, and mighty in prayer.

¶652. Elections. See ¶ 102, 521.

¶653. Duties:

( 1) General Conference. See ¶ 521, 550, 551.

( 2) General Council. See ¶ 506, 511 (1).

( 3) District Conference. See ¶ 403, 438, 475, (6).

( 4) To preach and to oversee the spiritual and temporal affairs of the general church. The General Superintendent shall cooperate with and respect the administrative roles of the District Superintendent and the local pastor.

( 5) To promote the interests of Christ in cooperation with the preachers and the people in the churches.

( 6) To send immediately to the secretaries of both conferences involved, written notices of the transfer or change of a membership with the standing or official relationship.

( 7) To promote the evangelistic activities of the church.

( 8) To remit to the General Conference Treasurer all gifts and honoraria, excepting birthday and Christmas gifts.

( 9) To discharge such other duties as the Discipline may direct.