1. Roberts’ Rules.
The latest edition of ROBERTS’ RULES OF ORDER is the basis of parliamentary procedure.
2. Bar.
The bar of the conference shall be established by declaration of the presiding officer of the Conference.
3. Roll.
Roll for the purposes of VOTING is established by the receipt of delegate and ministerial credentials received by the Conference Secretary in advance of the conference.
Roll for the convened annual conference is established by delegates and ministers attendance at the event.
4. Delegates’ Seating.
Delegates will have a seat within the designated bar.
5. Honorary Seats.
If not otherwise members of the Annual Conference, honorary seats shall be granted to the conference secretary, lay members of the Ministerial Appointments Committee, the Board of Administration, the Conference Treasurer, Board or Committee members expected to report to the Conference, Ministerial Candidates, supply ministers and honorary members of the Conference. Each church planting project and fellowship shall be entitled to one lay representative who shall be granted an honorary seat in the Conference. Each congregation in a multiple congregation church shall be entitled to one representative who shall be given an honorary seat if the duly elected delegate(s) from the church is(are) not elected from that congregation.
6. Secretary/Tellers.
The Secretary of the Annual Conference is empowered to appoint assistant secretaries, a statistical secretary and at least two panels of tellers who, unless otherwise instructed, are to retire to count all ballots while Conference business proceeds.
7. Minutes.
The Conference shall elect a “Minutes Review Committee” consisting of two ministers and two lay delegates who will review the table minutes of each sitting. The Committee shall provide the secretary with additions and/or corrections to the table minutes. All minutes are to be referred to the Board of Administration for approval at their first regularly scheduled meeting following the adjournment of Annual Conference. Minutes of all sittings are to be posted and made available to all persons present for any sitting following the close of the conference.
8. Communications.
All communications are to be referred in writing to the secretary.
9. Motions.
All motions (except incidental motions), resolutions, recommendations and the organization of boards and committees are to be submitted in writing to the secretary of the Conference. Typewritten copies are preferable. At the discretion of the presiding officer floor debate on motions will be limited to three (3) comments in favor and three (3) motions against before a vote or amendment of the motion.
10. Terms of Office.
All newly-elected board and standing committee members and directors are to take office at the close of the Annual Conference Session. In the case of the Board of Administration, an organizational meeting will be held at the close of Annual Conference to elect officers from among the newly elected Directors.
11. Adjournment.
When the Conference adjourns, it adjourns to meet at the call of the Area Bishop.
Policies
12. Organization.
The standing boards and committees of the Conference are as follows:
- The Board of Administration (BOA)
- The Property & Finance Committee (P&F)
- The Boards of Ministerial Education & Guidance (in accordance with the Regional needs) (MEG)
- The Ministerial Appointments Committee (MAC)
- The Nominating Committee
13. Recommendations & Budgets.
Any report to the Conference containing recommendations or financial considerations is to be printed and distributed at least two hours preceding the time the proposition is to be considered. After Annual Conference begins, printing is the responsibility of the proposer.
14. Reporting.
All reports from boards or ministries to be included in Annual Conference materials must be submitted 45 days prior to the first session of Annual Conference. If a report contains recommendations requiring Annual Conference action, the chairperson of the board or committee is to designate a representative to present or answer questions pertinent to the recommendation. Written, audio and video reports will constitute the board, committee or ministry report unless permission is not granted by the superintendent(s) or chair of the annual conference. Oral reports will be limited to 3 minutes unless otherwise approved by the superintendent(s) or chair.
15. Ministerial Appointments Committee (MAC)
- The committee shall consist of eight members of equal lay and clergy
- The Superintendent from each Region shall serve as the clergy representative by virtue of their elected office
- Four Lay members will be presented to the Annual Conference by the Nominating Committee
- Per the Book of Discipline of the FMC, the Bishop is recognized as committee chair and the lead Superintendent as vice-chair
16. Nominating Committee.
The Nominating Committee shall consist of eight members of equal lay clergy representation as follows:
- The Conference Lead Superintendent serves as a voting clergy member by virtue of his office.
- Each Region within the Conference will elect one lay member and one clergy member to the Committee.
- One additional lay member is to be elected from the Conference membership.
17. No Duplication.
No person shall serve concurrently on both the Ministerial Appointments Committee (MAC) and Nominating Committee. The Ministerial Appointments Committee shall be elected before the Nominating Committee.
18. Vacancies.
The Nominating Committee is empowered to fill any vacancies on temporary committees as they occur. In the interim between Annual Conference Sessions, boards and standing committees may receive resignations from their members. Replacements are to be elected by the Board of Administration or Annual Conference.
19. Ex Officio Memberships.
The Lead Superintendent is an ex officio member of all Conference boards, standing and temporary committees, except where otherwise identified by the current Book of Discipline.
20. Conference Employees.
With exception of the Superintendent(s), an employee of the Free Methodist Church in Southern California must be approved by majority vote of the Annual Conference, or by the BOA in between annual sittings, to serve on the Conference Board of Administration, Ministerial Appointments Committee, and Ministerial Education and Guidance Board. Otherwise they may serve only in advisory roles.
21. Board Tenure.
The Nominating Committee shall seek to staff each board with the best qualified personnel without regard to length of previous service. As terms expire and other vacancies occur, they shall seek to replenish boards with new personnel so as to provide continuity of leadership and expertise and broaden the base of involvement.
22. Secretary of the Annual Conference.
The Secretary of the Annual Conference is to be understood with duties as defined in Paragraph 5120 of the Book of Discipline and as separate from the Secretary of the Board of Administration which serves as a legal officer of the corporation. Under the new leadership structure adopted by the FMCSC in 2010, the Assistant Superintendent for Administration will serve as the Secretary of the Annual Conference by virtue of the position.
23. Business Overlooked.
Any business overlooked by session of the Annual Conference and routine business during the conference year is referred to the Board of Administration.
24. Regional Leadership.
Each Regional Superintendent may, at their discretion, designate ministerial members to serve as Regional Leaders for the purpose of assisting with the work of the Superintendency.
Board & Committee Organization and Procedure
25. Board/Committee Organization.
The newly elected Board of Administration, Board of Ministerial Education and Guidance, and the Nominating Committee shall convene at Annual Conference to organize themselves.
26. Reporting.
The Chairperson or secretary of each board and committee shall complete and return minutes of the actions to the conference secretary within ten days of the adjournment of Conference.
27. Member Notification, Job Description.
The secretary of each board and standing committee is to notify all new members of their election and to inform them of the date of the next meeting. The secretary is to include a copy of the board’s or committee’s job description as approved by the Board of Administration with the letter notifying them of their election.
28. Attendance Record.
All board and standing committee secretaries are to prepare an annual report of the attendance record of members at regular meetings and send the same to the chairman of the Nominating Committee by April 1 each year.
29. Absences.
In the event of an intended absence from any board or standing committee meeting, members are instructed to inform the chairman or secretary of the board of committee prior to the date of meeting. All secretaries are to record those present, absent (no notice) and excused (prior notice given) at all meetings. The Nominating Committee is to take notice of the attendance of board and standing committee members and when it is observed that a member has a pattern of not attending regular meetings, it is authorized to nominate a replacement.
30. Minutes.
All board and standing committee secretaries shall, within ten days, send copies of the minutes of meetings to all members of the board or committee and a copy to the Conference Secretary.
31. Board of Administration Executive Committee.
The actions of the Board of Administration Executive Committee must be ratified by the full Board except when given power to act.
32. Pastoral Appointments & Transitions.
The outgoing pastor is responsible for services at the church they are leaving through the Sunday following the adjournment of Annual Conference or the final Sunday of May, whichever is later unless special arrangements are made by the Superintendent or Ministerial Appointments Committee.
33. Electronic Voting.
At the direction of the Board of Administration, voting for conference actions, motions, resolutions, or the like, may be executed through electronic means (such as, email, discussion groups, or similar method). Notifications will be sent to the delegate(s) and minister(s) through the credentials on file with the Conference Secretary for the current conference year. Voting results will be ratified by the Annual Conference delegation or by the Board of Administration in between sittings of the Conference.