Local Conference

431 Purpose

The local conference shall be the highest authority in the local church that it represents and shall consider those items of business or concerns which should be cared for under the direction of the bishop or cluster coach.

432 Personnel

The bishop, the cluster leaders, persons holding a local church minister’s license and who are members of the local church or national conference minister’s license, and all members of the local board of administration shall be members of the local conference.

433 Meetings

The local conference shall meet at the request of the bishop, the cluster leader, the pastor, or upon the written requests of three members of the local board of administration. Such members as are present at any regularly called meeting shall constitute a quorum.

The local board of administration, or its equivalent, shall make an announcement to the congregation about the date and purpose of the meeting. Any member or attendee of the church may attend a meeting of the local conference. Only members of the local conference, as spelled out in paragraph 432, shall have a vote or the privilege to speak at local conference meetings.

1. Chairperson

The cluster leader shall be the chairperson of the local conference (except in the case of a special session called by the bishop). A cluster coach who calls a session but is not able to be present may appoint an elder of the national conference, in consultation with the bishop, to preside.

2. Secretary

The secretary of the local board of administration shall act as secretary and shall keep a correct record of the proceedings of the local conference in a book provided for that purpose.

435 Duties

1. To Grant and Renew Licenses. The local conference shall grant and renew local church ministers’ licenses and shall recommend to the bishop those ministers who are qualified for national conference license to preach. The local conference shall be empowered to take all actions necessary to the licensing of lay ministers. The local conference shall have power to remove either local church ministers or lay ministers from office according to the further provisions of Discipline.

2. To Hear Reports and Review the Activities of All Agencies of the Local Church.

3. To Try Appeals. The local conference shall receive and try all appeals, references, and complaints that may come regularly before it. No members of the local church shall be denied the right to a trial according to Discipline.

4. Receiving the Pastor. All local churches shall receive the pastor appointed by the stationing committee (Colossians 4:10; Philippians 2:29; Hebrews 13:7, 17).

5. To Enforce Discipline. The local conference shall enforce Discipline in the local church under its charge.

6. To Disband a Local Church. The local conference shall have the power to disband a local church when in its judgment it is found impracticable to provide the necessary organization and support. It is recommended that money from the sale of closed churches be given to the US National Conference to start new churches.