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BOA ACTION: Motion to strike sentence “A maximum of one lay member and one elder may be elected from a given annual conference.” from item C4 was approved unanimously. Motion to amend the wording of B4 and the third paragraph of C was approved unanimously. Paper approved as amended.
GCRCC Status: forwarded for April 2011 BOA action
Introduced by: Board of Bishops
Written by: Matt Thomas
Related to Paragraph(s) #: 4300-4320
Whereas:
the Board of Administration of the General Conference shoulders a high responsibility for the operations of the FMCNA and requires due time, diligence and consideration for the selection of its members; and,
Whereas, the current process of caucus “in the time gaps of General Conference” and in the hallways has not proven effective or fairly representative of the high responsibility and authority of this group; and,
Whereas, information on nominees of such important positions should be made available to the General Conference delegates well in advance of General Conference; and,
Whereas, the need for BOA members to be fully engaged in the process is critical for successful oversight and fair representation of the full church; and,
Whereas, the focus of leadership must be more than “board experience” but missional in nature; and
Whereas, more clarity is needed for the nomination refinement itself at General Conference;
Therefore be it resolved:
that Paragraph 4300 be changed to read as follows:
Board of Administration
The Nomination and Election of the Board of Administration
¶4300
A. The general conference shall elect a board of administration, determine its powers, and prescribe the qualifications of its members and manner of their selection. The board shall be comprised of:
1. all the U.S. bishops;
2. sufficient additional elders to give a total of twelve clergy (equal representation from each U.S. area- Eastern, Central and Western);
3. twelve lay members (equal representation from each U.S. area);
4. honorary members to include president of Women’s Ministries International, executive director of Men’s Ministries International, president of Association of Human Services Ministries, president of Association of Free Methodist Educational Institutions, president of Free Methodist Foundation, president or director of the FMCNA Infuse, endorsing agent of Free Methodist chaplains, and denominational executive directors.
B. Each annual conference may, if it desires, submit up to two clergy and two lay nominees for election to the board of administration. Such a nominee shall:
1. be widely known in the community, church and conference as a follower of Christ in word, wisdom, attitude and deed;
2 have exercised leadership gifts in the Free Methodist Church;
3. have provided quality leadership in both the local church and conference;
4. have served, or be serving, as a delegate to annual conference, or be an ordained elder in the conference;
5. have demonstrated strong ability to engage in a meaningful way on matters of mission and vision of the church- locally and globally; and
6. have demonstrated commitment to attend and positively participate in scheduled meetings.
C. Submission of such nominees must be completed by the nominating annual conference no later than sixty days prior to the general conference, and must be submitted on the provided nomination form, including biographical data. A one-paragraph introduction from the conference may be attached to the nominating form.
Nomination forms from each U.S. area will be sent to the general conference delegates from that area no later than thirty days prior to the general conference. The forms will also be distributed prior to balloting for election of the board of administration.
The delegates from each area will caucus during general conference as a regular part of the agenda with a current bishop serving as chair of the caucus for the purpose of nominating its representatives to the next board of administration. Prior to general conference, the nomination forms will be electronically distributed to all delegates within the respective caucus area. The general conference delegates from each area shall select their nominees by ballot from the nominee slate and present them to the general conference for election to the board of administration.
A maximum of one lay member and one elder may be elected from a given annual conference. A majority of the board of administration members shall be delegates to the general conference electing them.
And, Furthermore be it resolved:
that paragraph 4320 E. be changed to read,
E. The board of administration shall have power to accept resignations, fill vacancies and remove for cause any of its members during the interim between general conference sessions subject to the provisions of the Book of Discipline. Persistent neglect of duty and excessive absence of planned meetings qualifies as cause.
Does the resolution have a direct relationship to the vision and mission of the Free Methodist Church?
Yes.
How will the proposed change help us accomplish our vision and mission?
The Resolutions Committee rates this resolution as:
(A) Support – recommend adoption
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