CHAPTER XIII
THE OFFICIAL BOARD
¶ 176. 1. An official
meeting, composed of the pastors, local preachers, exhorters, evangelists,
deaconesses, stewards, class leaders, Sunday-school superintendents who
are members of our church and belong on the circuit, the superintendent
of the local Y. P. M. S., and trustees of church property when such trustees
are members of our church on the circuit where the church property is located,
shall be held on each circuit once a month whenever practicable.
2. The preacher in charge shall be chairman
of the official meeting, except as provided for in Paragraph 208(6), and
in his absence a chairman shall be elected.
3. A secretary and treasurer shall be elected
by the official board. The secretary shall keep in a suit able book, provided
for that purpose, faithful minutes of the proceedings of the official board,
and also of the meetings of the circuit and shall properly record all marriages
and baptisms. The treasurer shall keep a record of all money raised on
the circuit for religious purposes, and of the manner in which the same
was expended, and give a full report of the same at the annual circuit
meeting.
4. The official board shall look after the
spiritual and temporal interests of the circuit.
5. It is recommended that a budget or finance
committee be elected by the official board, who shall be members of the
church, of whom the treasurer and pastor shall be members, to make an estimate
of all moneys needed for the support of the preacher and the running expenses
of the church, which estimate shall be subject to the approval of the official
board.
6. The members of the finance committee
shall see •that each member of the society is solicited for the support
of the local work and recommend that each individual give according to
his means for its support regularly, either weekly, monthly, or quarterly.
Order of Business for Official Meeting
¶ 177. 1. Devotional
exercises.
2. Election of a secretary.
3. Calling of the roll.
4. Reading of the minutes of the previous
meet ing.
5. Election of a treasurer.
6. Election of an auditor.
7. Election of a committee on charities.
8. Inquire (1) Are there any sick?
(2) What is the status of membership?
a. Rave any
been received on probation?
b. Are there
any whose probation has expired?
c. Have any
been received into full connection?
d. Have any
died?
e. Have any
been otherwise removed?
(3) Are there any violating our rules of
church membership and who will not be reproved?
(4) Are there any recommendations from the
society for exhorter’s license? (No person should be licensed to exhort
without a recommendation from the society of which he is a member.)
(5) Are there any exhorters’ licenses to
be renewed?
(6) Are there any exhorters to he recommended
for local preachers’ license?
(7) Have any been married or baptized?
(8) Treasurer’s Report:
a. Amount
raised as ordered by the conference.
b. Amount
raised for pastoral support.
c. Amount
raised for district elder’s claim.
d. Report
of other money received and disbursed..
e. Balance
in the treasury.
(9) Are there any claims to be presented?
(10) Is there any unfinished business, or
are there any committees to report?
(11) Is there any new business, or are there
any committees to be appointed?
(12) Reports of department heads:
a. Report
of the Sunday-school superintendent.
b. Report
of the president of the W. M. S.
c. Report
of the superintendent of the Y.P.M. S.
(13) Are there any vacancies in the board
of trustees?
(14) Is the title of the church property
secure?
(15) Are the legal documents for this circuit
de posited for safe keeping; and, if so, where?
(16) Is the church property insured?
(17) Are the advices and requirements regarding
the cultivation of vocal music found in Paragraph 81 being observed?
9. Reading the minutes.
10. Adjournment.
This order of business is suggestive but
not mandatory.
|