What does the church board do?
SUMMARY OF ROLE OF BOARD (Manual ¶137-145)
137. Membership: Every local church must have a church board that includes:
The pastor
Presidents of NDI, NYI, and NMI
Church stewards and trustees
If president of NDI, NYI, or NMI is the pastor’s spouse, they may choose not to serve on board (replaced by VP). Spouse may not take part in pastor review processes.
Maximum 25 regular board members
Ordained and district licensed ministers cannot serve w/o special approval.
Paid church employees cannot serve without special approval.
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Church officers must:
Be active members – actively attend and support church functions
Experience entire sanctification and give evidence of the grace of God that leads us to live holy lives.
Support and are in harmony with church doctrines and practices
Attend regularly and give tithes (10%) and offerings
Committed to a disciple-making lifestyle
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138. Meetings:
Board begins at start of church year
Meets at least every two months
Special meetings can be called by pastor or district superintendent
Electronic meetings and voting are allowed
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139. Business duties:
139.1. Care for church interests not otherwise provided for, working with pastor.
139.2. Nominate pastors after consulting with district superintendent.
139.3. Develop written goals with incoming pastors.
139.4. Hold yearly planning sessions to update goals and plans.
139.5. Arrange temporary pastoral coverage with district superintendent approval.
139.6. Develop annual budgets for all church departments.
139.7. Assign a committee to monitor church finances and report concerns.
139.8. Set pastor's salary and benefits, reviewing at least yearly.
139.9. Support pastor and staff financially and in ongoing education.
139.10. Provide sabbatical leave for pastor after every five years of service.
139.11. Determine financial support for evangelists.
139.12. License or renew licenses for local ministers and lay ministers.
139.13. Recommend ministry candidates to district assembly.
139.14. Recommend licensed minister credential renewals.
139.15. Recommend renewal of deaconess licenses.
139.16. Elect children's and adult discipleship coordinators (or committees).
139.17. Approve the NYI president.
139.18. Approve Nazarene school administrators.
139.19. Elect a church secretary from membership.
139.20. Elect a church treasurer from membership (not pastor's immediate family without approval).
139.21. Keep careful accounting of all church funds and report monthly.
139.22. Provide at least two people to count and account for church money.
139.23. Appoint an audit committee to examine financial records yearly.
139.24. Create an Evangelism and Membership Committee of at least three people.
139.25. Function as NDI Board in churches with 75 or fewer members if needed.
139.26. Appoint a five-person discipline board when charges exist against a member.
139.27. Elect paid staff with district superintendent approval.
139.28. Elect unpaid associate pastors with yearly district superintendent approval.
139.29. Create a long-range planning committee chaired by pastor.
139.30. Implement a plan to reduce the risk of misconduct of any church leaders in positions of trust and authority (pastor, board members, staff, teachers, etc).
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140. Follow directives from General Board and Board of General Superintendents for raising World Evangelism Fund and District Ministry Funds.
143. Remove inactive members after at least one year of inactivity.
144. Suspend or revoke local minister's licenses.
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Addendum:
In our unique situation at Five Mile Church of the Nazarene, the board will also function as:
Purpose, Mission, and Growth Team
Plan and implement strategies for healthy church growth, ministry, and outreach.
Creatively consider the needs of our church and surrounding community and seek to
implement appropriate outreach and discipleship strategies.Ensure that a missional and discipleship mindset and purpose permeates all that we do.
Organize membership classes and give input regarding potential members.
Cross-cultural and Intergenerational Integration Team
Pay attention to the concerns and well-being of FM cross-cultural ministry
Strategize ways to integrate and implement cross-cultural and intergenerational fellowship and
ministry opportunitiesEncourage increased interaction between English & Swahili-speaking congregations
Find creative to integrate the various languages and cultures of Five Mile members
Encourage increased interaction between age groups.
Develop and annual budget to be implemented at the beginning of 2026-27 church year.