Orlando, Florida

Monday, June 29, 2009

Highlights of legislative action taken throughout the 27th General Assembly (Note: All are unofficial until approved by the General Secretary's Office):

• Voted to honor James Diehl and Paul Cunningham with the titles of general superintendent emeritus and Nina Gunter general superintendent emerita.
• Re-elected the three incumbent general superintendents, Jerry D. Porter, Jesse C. Middendorf, J.K. Warrick.
• Authorized a Commission on the Nazarene Future that would study Nazarene ecclesiology, polity, and missional strategy, with particular attention given to the role of the general superintendency in the international church. 
• Rejected resolutions that sought to reduce the number of general superintendents elected at this assembly and voted overwhelmingly to enter the next quadrennium with a Board of General Superintendents composed of six members. 
• The delegates voted to accept the report of the International Church Committee's report with a strong vote, authorized the creation of a global Manual that would be streamlined in comparison to recent Manuals. The global Manual would consist of the Foreward, and Parts I, II, and III of the current Manual. It would also includes parts of Manual sections 100, 200, and 300 that are global in scope, retaining the universally appropriate polity and principles. The other parts of the current Manual would be adapted by the different regions to fit specific cultural contexts and would function as a "regional Manual policy handbook." The change authorizes a Global Manual Advisory Council that would give final approval to changes made by the regions to the handbook portions.

• Changed the requirement in Manual paragraphs 200.2 and 200.3 from "ordained elders" to "ordained ministers." This change includes ordained deacons among the number of ordained ministers needed to move districts from Phase 1 to Phase 2 status, and from Phase 2 to Phase 3 status. 
• Voted to allow the District Advisory Board to choose the place of the district assembly.
• Voted that lay career missionaries would be members of the district assembly where their church membership was located.
• Defined the district as "an entity made up of interdependent local churches organized to facilitate the mission of each local church through mutual support, and sharing of resources, and collaboration." (DA-201)
• Rejected a resolution that sought to place district assemblies on a biennial schedule.
• Voted that ordained ministers serving on the District Advisory Board be assigned ministers.
• Voted to allow the district journal to be prepared in a format permitted by the Office of the General Secretary. This allows publication in formats other than print, including their publication as digital products.
• Voted that an elder employed by the district office is ineligible to be elected or appointed superintendent of that district unless there is approval by the District Advisory Board and the jurisdictional general superintendent. 

• Rejected a motion that sought to raise the age limit for election as a general superintendent from 68 to 70. 
• Voted to designate Trevecca Nazarene University as an "historic landmark" of the denomination.
• Renewed for three more quadrennia Manual 902.10, "Historic Sites and Landmarks." 
• Authorized a committee with the responsibility to approach "like-minded churches in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition in order to pursue closer relations, with a goal of exploring the possibility of a merger or a collaborative relationship." 
• Authorized a committee to address the concern that a high percentage (as many as 40 percent in some world regions) of non-North American/non-United States delegates are unable to attend a General Assembly. The committee is to be composed of General Board members appointed by the Board of General Superintendents. 

• Determined church officers must be "active members" of the local church.
• Voted that gender inclusive language be used in church publications, including the Manual, and in other public language of the church, but that language changes must not be applied to scriptural quotations or references.
• Added a new paragraph on Christian compassion to Manual section "A.  The Christian Life." The new paragraph states in part that "throughout the Bible and in the life and example of Jesus, God identifies with and assists the poor, the oppressed, and those in society who cannot speak for themselves. In the same way, we, too, are called to identify with and enter into solidarity with the poor."
• Renewed for three more quadrennia Manual paragraph 903.9 "Evidence of Baptism with the Holy Spirit." 
• Affirmed that the church is committed to provide pastoral care and technical and financial assistance to immigrants. 
• Shortened Manual paragraph 903.8 "Creation" by eliminating all the text after the word "humankind." 
• Adopted a new paragraph on "Creation Care" that will be added to the resolutions section of the Manual. It states in part that the church "accepts the individual and collective responsibilities" of Christians to "exhibit the stewardship qualities that help preserve [God's] work."
• Amended Manual paragraph 34.3 to specify Freemasonry as one of the "oath-bound secret orders" to be avoided. 
• Renewed for three quadrennia Manual paragraphs 903.10 "Pornography" and 903.3 "Abuse of the Unempowered", deleted 902.4 "Dramatics", and added a new paragraph titled "Value of Children and Youth." 
• Specified that one who is to be ordained as an elder must be a person who "currently holds a district license for not less than three consecutive years." 

• Voted to refer to the Nazarene Future Commission a resolution that would have resulted in one ordained order and eliminated the Deacon track.
• Adopted a new paragraph on "Wellness" that will be added to the resolutions section of the Manual.  It affirms health and exercise, makes a distinction between obesity and gluttony and discourages gluttony.
• Adds a new Manual paragraph 38.5 "Apportionments" that indicates the Board of General Superintendents, the General Board, national boards, regional advisory councils, and districts are authorized and empowered to raise funds for such needs as world evangelism, education, ministerial support, and district ministries. 
• Modified Article VI "Atonement" of the Articles of Faith to read "atonement is graciously efficacious for the salvation of those incapable of moral responsibility."
• Voted to refer to the Board of General Superintendents the resolution that would have made the sacrament of Christian Baptism a requirement for membership.
• Voted to refer to the Board of General Superintendents the Article of Faith on Holy Scripture.

• Voted to refer to the Board of General Superintendents the resolution that would have added a new Manual paragraph 504.3 "Convicted Sex Offender" (Layperson) that states individuals guilty of such conduct "shall not be considered for election to any church office or be allowed to service in any position that places the individual in contact with those at whom their misconduct was directed."
• Modified Article of Faith I, "The Triune God", by describing God as creator, sustainer, and one who is holy, love, and light.
• Modified Article of Faith XI, "The Church", by defining the mission of the church as "making disciples through evangelism, education, showing compassion, working for justice, and bearing witness to the kingdom of God."
• Voted to refer Article of Faith VI,  "Atonement", for a comprehensive study with particular attention being given to including, within the article, references to the love of God as a motivating faction in the atonement and broader references to other aspects of the atonement.
• By a strong vote, modified Article of Faith X, "Entire Sanctification". Renamed the article "Christian Holiness and Entire Sanctification." Clarified the meaning of entire sanctification by describing it as a work of God which transforms believers into the likeness of Christ. Emphasized that transformation occurred through the Holy Spirit both instantaneously in initial sanctification, entire sanctification, and glorification and in a continuing perfecting work of the Holy Spirit.
• Changed items in Manual paragraph 123 concerning the special church/pastoral review. One, it could be conducted in the absence of the pastor at the discretion of the district superintendent. Two, majority vote of church members would be required to continue the present church/pastoral relationship. Three, the local church board must vote by ballot. Also, adds the time frame when the church/pastoral relationship must end if a pastor submits a resignation.
• Voted to add to Manual paragraph 107, "Full Membership" a call for the local church leadership to seek to place every member into a ministry of service and a circle of care and support. Also, added a new Manual paragraph 107.3 "Voting and Office-bearing" that sets the age for holding church office at 15 years of age.

• Added a new Manual paragraph 116.1 to establish a process to remove a pastor from the appointed status.
• Voted to include the sale of property along with the purchase of property as being required to go through an approval process, Manual 103, 234.3.
• Changed Manual paragraph 128 to specify the church board shall have at least a bi-monthly meeting.
• Specified associates shall also submit their resignations effective concurrently with the pastor, Manual paragraph 160.5.
• Added a new Manual paragraph 127.1 that governs church board elections during pastoral transition. 
• Included independent examiners as those who could do audits and outlined the standards for audits for local and district records.
• Added a new Manual paragraph, "The Interim Pastor" providing the procedure for appointment and removal of an interim pastor and listed some of the duties. Created a District Interim Assigned (DIA), a designation applied to an elder "who would serve when called upon by the district superintendent and a local church board."
• Approved a process whereby an inactive member could request a reinstatement to active membership.
• Created an option for length of service for church officers by allowing them to be elected for two years and stipulated that church officers must be active members.

• Voted to amend Manual paragraph 413.11 to encourage pastors "to move toward a more frequent celebration of the Lord's Supper."
• Referred to the Nazarene Future Commission a resolution that recommended term limits for general superintendents.
• Adopted a new liturgy for the Organization of a Local Church, Manual paragraph 801.
• Reduced the length of time a deacon needs to hold a district license to be ordained to three consecutive years.
• Directed the education provider to issue a certificate of completion to the licensed minister who has completed a validated course of study and the licensed minister to present the certificate of completion to the District Ministerial Studies Board responsible for considering recommendation to the District Assembly for graduation from a validated course of study.
• Edited the liturgy on the Baptism of Infants or Young Children, Manual paragraph 800.2 by defining Christian baptism for the infant: "Christian baptism signifies for this young child God's acceptance within the community of Christian faith on the basis of prevenient grace. It anticipates his/her personal confession of faith in Jesus Christ ...  Baptism also signifies the acceptance of this child into the community of Christian faith."   

(Note: All are unofficial until approved by the General Secretary's Office. All days listed.)


GS Ballots

To view a tracking of general superintendent ballot results, click here.


Assembly Facts
General Secretary David Wilson reported that 562 delegates present and registered are from the USA and Canada (55 percent) and 461 delegates are from other world regions (45 percent). This was Wilson's first Assembly as general secretary. It was also the first Assembly for 44 percent of the delegates present.
--Compiled by Nazarene Archives, Olivet History and Political Science, and Kathy Jones (Ballot tracker)