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BOA ACTION: Forwarded to General Conference 2011 for consideration.
GCRCC Status: Forwarded for July 2011 General Conference action
GC11 ACTION: Amended and adopted
Introduced by: Board of Bishops
Written by: Matt Thomas
As amended:
Related to Paragraph(s) #: 4100-4200
Whereas, the 2007 General Conference directed the Board of Bishops to review and revise their roles and responsibilities to fit a leadership model for missional growth and submit to the 2011 General Conference their revision for debate and/or approval; and
Whereas, the 2007 paragraphs 4100-4200 were filled with vague generalities at points that did not fully address the comprehensive and targeted role of bishops as leaders; and
Whereas, the 2007 paragraphs were also filled with activities that could be easily deemed management responsibilities rather than leadership responsibilities; and
Whereas, some of the management and leadership responsibilities are items that could and perhaps should be delegated to other leaders and officers when appropriate; and
Whereas, the division between conceptual and practical fails to make a clear connection between the two, as the conceptual was a late addition and could better be incorporated into a single category; and
Whereas, the implied and stated notion that “bishops oversee the ordained ministry” is misleading as the bishops oversee the ministry of the whole church – ordained and lay; and
Whereas, no thorough statement exists that addresses the balanced need of character, skill and suitable experience equal to the scope of the role of bishop aside from Nominating Committee search criteria; and
Whereas, the bishops should be able to assign themselves with criteria of skill and experience in addition to geography as best suits their abilities;
Therefore, be it resolved that, paragraphs 4100-4200 be changed to read as follows:
Therefore be it resolved:
that, paragraphs 4100-4200 be changed to read as follows:
Bishops
¶4100 Bishops are the overseers of the church. They lead the church to fulfill its mission which requires them to be holy examples with skill and experience to provide that oversight. They must understand the nature and purpose of the church. They must also be able to communicate clearly the gospel, the church’s mission and the vision of the Free Methodist Church; possess a well cultivated understanding of other cultures; and, identify, develop and lead godly, competent leaders. Each bishop shall be amenable to the general conference for the discharge of his/her official duties and shall be responsible for his/her conduct to the annual conference to which he/she belongs.
The Nomination and Election of Bishops
¶4110
A. The general conference shall elect by ballot two or more traveling elders as bishops to serve as the pastoral overseers of various areas of the denomination who shall constitute the Board of Bishops. These are to be persons who exhibit exemplary character and leadership qualities, and who embody deep commitment to the mission, doctrine and theology of the Free Methodist Church. The term of office of bishops shall begin 30 days after the close of the general conference at which they are elected. They shall remain in office for the years of the interim between general conferences and, unless the general conference decides upon a lesser number of bishops, until others shall be elected in their places.
B. The nomination and election process shall be as follows:
- Call to Prayer: During the year prior to general conference, the Board of Bishops and the Board of Administration shall call the church to prayer, specifically focused on the election of bishops.
- Search Committee: A search committee will be formed by the FMCNA Board of Administration each quadrennium to prayerfully seek out qualified candidates and receive nominations from annual conferences. Members of the search committee must be spiritually mature. Some of them must also have experience in developing or searching for candidates of significant positions of leadership. The search committee must include at least one lay and one clergy member from the Board of Administration. Consideration shall be given to ethnic, gender, cultural and geographical representation across the breadth of the FMCNA.
- Candidate Qualifications: The nominees should have fruitful leadership experience related to the spiritual life and leadership responsibilities noted in Par. 4100 and 4120. Ethnic, gender, cultural and geographical considerations shall be given due attention in selecting nominees for bishop. Potential candidates must grant their permission to proceed through the nomination process. Nominations from annual conferences to the search committee must be accompanied by supporting rationale on a form designed and provided by the search committee. Sitting bishops, having already been previously qualified, who are willing to continue to serve, will be placed on the ballot with the other nominees.
- Procedures: The refined list of nominees, with supporting rationale, will be forwarded to the board of administration of the FMCNA. The board of administration may ask the search committee to consider (an) additional nominee(s). The total number of nominees for bishops forwarded to the board of administration will exceed by at least two the number of bishops currently serving. The General Conference secretary shall compile the nominee information in standardized format and distribute, by paper or electronic means, to all delegates no later than thirty days prior to the opening of general conference. The ballots for election of bishops shall consider the names of these nominees and the incumbent bishops who are willing to continue to serve.
- Lead Bishop: Following the election of the bishops, the Bishops Search Committee shall convene to name a lead bishop and bring its recommendation to the General Conference for its affirmation prior to the conclusion of the General Conference.
C. In the event of a vacancy on the Board of Bishops during the interim between sessions of the general conference, the preceding general conference shall fill the vacancy with an election held by paper or electronic ballot. Existing rules for the election of bishops by the general conference shall apply.
The Role of a Bishop:
¶4120 To assist the bishops in directing the church, these leadership priorities are set forth.
A. Regarding Self and Family, the bishop shall:
- feed his/her soul (heart, mind, spirit), diligently attending to the means of grace;
- love his/her spouse and family, maintaining a household of faith; and
- fulfill his/her vows as a baptized disciple and elder called to leadership.
B. Regarding the General Church, the bishop shall:
- lead in word, sacrament and order. The task of the “word” applies to bishops in two regards, to teach the apostolic gospel and to protect the church from error. Regarding “sacrament” (and worship) the church gives praise to God, pleads with Him for mercy and receives the grace God mediates to His people. Bishops lead the church in its adoration and petition of God and in upholding the sacredness of the Lord’s Supper and baptism as means of grace. Regarding “order,” bishops lead the church by articulating its mission and vision. Thus, bishops must have a deep commitment to the church’s mission, insight into the complexities of human nature and skill at guiding others.
- cast the vision of the Free Methodist Church and inspire its leaders, members and attendees to advance the vision, live according to Kingdom values, love God and serve him sacrificially and faithfully.
- encourage every church to be a healthy biblical community of holy people, multiplying disciples, leaders, groups and churches.
C. Regarding Annual Conferences. The bishop shall or delegate his/her authority to:
- multiply godly, competent leaders, who disciple and equip others;
- train, ordain, transfer, cite, suspend pastors and leaders as need and circumstances require;
- serve with executive authority as the conference president;
- disciple superintendents and conference leaders to:
a. grow spiritually and develop professionally in their calling.
b. identify, recruit, equip, deploy and encourage godly, competent leaders.
c. encourage and equip pastors and leaders to achieve missional priorities.
d. develop growth strategies.
e. maintain our Wesleyan and Free Methodist distinctives.
5. serve as chair of the ministerial appointments committees of his/her assigned conferences (see ¶5220);
6. form new provisional and annual conferences as the needs of the work demand, subject to the approval of the general conference board of administration.
7. decide all questions of law at annual conferences, subject to an appeal to the general conference. A bishop’s decision upon a point of law arising in annual conference session shall be the rule unless reversed by the general conference.
Retirement of Bishops
¶4150
A. A bishop shall retire:
- following his/her sixty-second birthday if the bishop so chooses; or
- at any time because of failing health. Disability status shall be determined by the board of administration upon recommendation from either the human resources department or the board of administration benefits committee, based upon medical evidence.
B. When a bishop, or former bishop, retires he/she shall be given the title of bishop emeritus. Such shall be granted by the FMCNA Board of Administration, provided he/she has given honorable and distinguished service to the church as bishop for a minimum of six years.
C. The title of ‘Bishop Emeritus’ may, due to extenuating circumstances as verified by the conference MEG Board, be reviewed and/or adjusted by the FMCNA Board of Administration.
Board of Bishops
¶4200 The Board of Bishops are the primary pastoral leaders of the denomination with ecclesiastical authority to lead and direct the church, and develop and articulate the purpose, vision, values and expected outcomes of the church. They shall convene immediately following the General Conference in which they are elected to determine their roles and titles on the Board of Bishops other than the role and title, “Lead Bishop”, and their assignments for fulfilling their duties and responsibilities as articulated in par. 4120. They shall assume responsibility for the fruitfulness and vitality of the annual conferences and shall recommend to the General Conference Board of Administration changes in an annual conference’s status resulting in merger, closure or realignment.
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