CHAPTER 15

US National Conference

501 Purpose

The United States National Conference shall oversee all affairs pertaining to its various ministries. The US National Conference shall establish policies pertaining to the ministry of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, United States of America.

502 National Conference Covenant

The National Conference Covenant is the church's opportunity to reaffirm its relationship with sister congregations and the US National Conference. Through this covenant, a local church expresses its desire to strengthen and support the ministries of the United Brethren Church in its effort to fulfill the Great Commission.

1. Responsibilities of Individual Congregations

Every congregation shall do the following:

a. They shall reaffirm their support of and membership in the US National Conference by signing a covenant which includes affirmation of these points:

(1) They are committed to the Confession of Faith.

(2) They agree with the core values of the United Brethren in Christ, International.

(3) They agree to abide by the Constitution and Discipline of the US National Conference.

(4) They are passionate about fulfilling the Great Commission through their local church.

(5) They support the ministry and mission of the United Brethren Church, USA, through the annual partnership fee.

(6) They will participate in a cluster.

b. They shall renew the covenant every two years prior to the National Conference session.

c. The covenant shall be approved by vote of the highest governing body within the local church.

d. The covenant shall be signed and dated by the chairman of that governing body and by the senior pastor (or a leading layperson, should the senior pastor be chairman of that body).

e. The covenant shall be submitted to the national office 90 days prior to the National Conference session.

2. Responsibilities of the US National Conference

a. If a church does not sign and submit the covenant to the national office 90 days prior to the National Conference session, the bishop shall establish a procedure for determining whether or not the church desires to remain part of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA.

b. The bishop shall give churches opportunity to comply with the covenant. If they fail to comply, the bishop may call a special local conference to determine if they desire to sign and continue in a covenant relationship with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA, or to withdraw from said relationship. If a majority of the church’s members at a duly called meeting determine not to sign the covenant, then the church shall be considered to have withdrawn from the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA.

c. Having followed the above procedure, churches that hold title to their property and do not sign the covenant shall be considered to have withdrawn from the denomination.

d. If a church does not keep its commitment to the standards of the national conference covenant, and has been advised by the Bishop, the ELT may, with a majority vote, revoke the covenant.

e. The ELT shall handle any situations which may arise concerning the status of churches, but which are not already covered in the Discipline.

503 Delegates to the National Conference

The voting members of the United States National Conference are the US bishop, the national directors, the ministerial delegate(s) from each congregation, and the lay delegates chosen by each congregation according to Paragraph 423.3n.

1. Clergy Representation

Ministers are eligible to serve as voting members if they meet both of these conditions:

1. They hold a specialized Ministry license, a national conference license, or are ordained elders in the United Brethren church.

2. At the time of the National Conference, they meet one of these criteria:

a. Are employed by a United Brethren church in the US National Conference.

b. Serve the national conference in an appointed or elected position.

c. Hold a leadership position in a non-United Brethren ministry recognized by the Executive Leadership Team. Persons desiring this recognition must send a letter to the bishop requesting such recognition.

2. Lay Representation

The following formula will be used to determine the number of lay delegates from each congregation.

3. Expenses

The local church shall pay the expenses of its delegates.

504 Officers

1. The Bishop

The US bishop shall be chairperson of the US National Conference.

2. The Secretary

The Executive Leadership Team shall appoint a secretary to record the proceedings of the US National Conference.

505 Responsibilities of the National Conference

1. The US National Conference shall determine the mission and ministry of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA, and provide appropriate plans and policies for its administration.

2. The US National Conference shall review the work of its elected officers, appointed leadership teams, committees, and other personnel.

3. The US National Conference shall consider the revision of the Discipline.

4. The US National Conference shall establish financial policies for developing the annual budget for the US national church. The Executive Leadership Team will adopt the budget the years that the US National Conference does not meet.

5. The US National Conference shall oversee its relationship with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ International.

6. The US National Conference shall guard the church's historic position of firmly upholding biblical absolutes, allowing freedom in areas not clearly mandated by Scripture, and encouraging tolerance and unity when differences arise.

7. When practices, teachings, or decisions within a local church or by US National Conference officials and institutions challenge the doctrinal integrity (as defined by the Confession of Faith), cooperative relationship, and/or ministry of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA, the US National Conference shall have the authority to apply whatever disciplinary action it considers appropriate.