¶4.1 Board of Christian Education.
It is the purpose of the Board of Christian Education to research and
develop written theological materials for the promotion of the unity of the
faith, by teaching the person, purpose and program of God. The responsibilities of the Board are as
follows:
1. To research, document and provide written material, audio and visual tapes for the theological information or teaching of scriptural principals.
2. To
provide theological materials for the
3. To report to local annual church conferences and the General Conference.
4. To follow the scriptural revelation of God as He has revealed Himself in the Holy Scriptures.
¶4.2 Board of Church Extension. It is the purpose of the Board of Church
Extension to:
1. Attempt
to locate churches whose theology is similar to the
2. Conduct
preliminary investigations of churches which show an interest in the
3. Make recommendations to the Interchurch Council.
4. To work with the General Superintendent in finding and establishing new congregations.
¶4.3 Board
of Discipline Revision. It is the
purpose of the Board of Discipline Revision to develop, and revise, as needed,
a discipline specific to the Bethel Methodist Church Denomination. The responsibilities of the Board are as
follows:
1. Meet with all members of the Board as soon as possible after the General Conference elections in order to inform members of their responsibilities and to establish objectives for the year.
2. Set meeting dates that seem satisfactory to the members and send out letters informing the Board about dates set.
3. Assign areas of responsibility to individuals or churches so various groups can work on their projects and then come together for a joint discussion and approval meeting.
4. Assign one person to be in charge of taking minutes and accumulating all approved notes.
5. Work with the Interchurch Council to set dates for presentation, modifications and approval.
6. Do whatever is reasonable on revision to complete the revision responsibility.
¶4.4 Board
of Finance. The purpose of the Board
of Finance is to oversee the financial activities of the Bethel Methodist
Church Denomination. The
responsibilities of the Board are as follows:
1. Ensure that an annual financial report is prepared for the General Conference.
2. Ensure that an operating budget is prepared and presented at the General Conference.
3. Maintain copies of all budgets as approved.
4. Ensure all just debts are paid in a timely manner by the treasurer.
5. Ensure all financial records are properly kept.
¶4.5 Board
of Ministerial Relations. The Board
of Ministerial Relations is responsible to supervise the recruitment, training
and accreditation of prospective and current ministerial leaders within the
The
purpose of the Board is to make certain that each local minister is
divinely-called and enabled to preach the Gospel and perform all ministerial
functions including weddings, funerals, personal counseling, visitation and the
proper administration of the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. Further, the Board is responsible to protect
God’s Word from error and corruption, and to protect local congregations from
unqualified, incompetent or unethical ministers. The Board may use a course of study, oral or
written examinations, investigations, interviews and other means to validate
the qualifications of any man who would preach under the auspices of the
Ministers are ordained by God alone. When the Board recognizes that this divine act has taken place and an applicant has met various qualifications, it may issue ministerial credentials and conduct a public ordination ceremony. While each church is at liberty to call its own pastor, the Board of Ministerial Relations has the power to grant or suspend ministerial credentials when appropriate. In an emergency, the General Superintendent may act unilaterally to accomplish the stated purpose(s) of the Board, but must seek an overview of any such action(s) by convening the Board as soon as possible. Revocation of credentials is governed by the Judicial Administration Section of the Discipline.
The Board of Ministerial Relations shall be composed of the General Superintendent, who shall be its chairman, each ordained minister (who is actively pastoring a church) and at least one layman.
The Board shall meet at least annually, preferably at the General Conference to conduct any pertinent business and hear informal progress reports from each pastor.
¶4.6 Board
of Theological Research. It is the
purpose of the Board of Theological Research to both examine and draw
conclusions concerning any questions relating to God’s Truth and/or the
doctrine of the
¶4.7 Board
of World Missions. It is the purpose
of the Board of World Missions to carry out the objective of the Bethel
Methodist Church Denomination. The
responsibilities of the Board are as follows:
1. Oversee and direct all Bethel Methodist mission programs.
2. Report mission activities to the Interchurch Council and General Conference with recommendations to continue or discontinue support.
3. Research and present to the Interchurch Council and the General Conference any recommended mission programs.
4. Provide spiritual leadership and supervision in the mission field.
5. Take emergency action concerning missionaries with the approval of the General Superintendent.
¶4.8 Board
of Youth Activities. It is the
purpose of the Board of Youth Activities to develop, maintain and improve the
general youth program of the
1. Meet with all members of the Board as soon as possible after the General Conference elections in order to inform members of their responsibilities and to establish objectives for the year.
2. Review the budget for the new conference year, the financial status of the current account and the previous year’s financial records.
3. Review annual events and dates already established by the previous Board. Recommend changes to the Interchurch Council if needed.
4. Plan and organize all activities and programs of the general youth including youth camp, retreats, seminars, General Conference youth activities, competitions, etc.
5. Encourage and aid in establishing effective local youth programs.
6. Report all activities, plans, goals and finances to the Interchurch Council and the General Conference.
¶4.9 Forms
Committee. It is the purpose of the
Forms Committee to design and develop all forms needed by the Bethel Methodist
Denomination. The responsibilities of
the Committee are as follows:
1. Take requests for all new forms.
2. Determine whether or not a requested form is necessary.
3. Design necessary forms.
4. Get forms produced.
5. Distribute forms.
¶4.10 Minutes
Committee. The function of the
Minutes Committee is as follows:
1. Record minutes of the General Conference.
2. Submit the minutes of the General Conference at the next Interchurch Council meeting for preliminary approval.
3. Submit minutes approved by the Interchurch Council at the next General Conference for final approval.
4. Present Historian with a copy of the approved minutes.
¶4.11 Nominating
Committee. The Nominating Committee
shall be composed of one delegate from each local church and chaired by the
General Superintendent. The Nominating
Committee shall meet prior to the General Conference and prepare a slate of
Officers, Boards and Committees for consideration by the Conference, with the
exception of the Nominating Committee for the succeeding year, which shall be
nominated by the Interchurch Council. These nominations, along with any
nominations from the floor, shall then be voted on by the Conference.
¶4.12 Publications
Committee. The purpose of the
Publications Committee is to oversee all forms of publication distributed from
the denominational level, including Christian Education literature,
newsletters, brochures, etc. Their
responsibilities include:
1. Production of all publications (formatting, editing, obtaining final approvals through the final printing phase).
2. Coordinating and distributing publications throughout the denomination.
3. Maintenance of all publications as to reprinting, changes, etc.
¶4.13 Director
of Administration. The Director of
Administration shall administer the affairs of the church in keeping with the
Discipline, the General Conference and the Interchurch Council. The responsibilities of the Director of Administration
are as follows:
1. To provide a time and place for the quarterly meetings of the Interchurch Council, changing the time and place of their regular meeting if circumstances require it.
2. To counsel with the General Superintendent, as he may request, concerning all phases of his work, and to coordinate the work of all the officers, boards, committees and auxiliaries of the church.
3. To receive quarterly reports from the General Superintendent, treasurer, local pastors, boards, committees and auxiliaries of the church and any other reports the General Conference and/or Interchurch Council shall require.
4. To keep the record of the minutes of the General Conference, Interchurch Council, and any other special denominational meetings and to maintain these and all reports of the church in a central file.
5. To recommend to the General Conference and the Interchurch Council an annual calendar of events.
6. To appoint such sub-committees as he shall deem wise and to delegate duties and powers to the same.
¶4.14 Director
of Finance. This position shall be
defined and elected as needed.
¶4.15 General Superintendent. The duties of the General Superintendent
shall be:
1. Theological studying, researching, recording, teaching, and communication.
2. Contacting, qualifying, recruiting, and training the best possible ministers for our churches. (He shall establish and maintain a regular and continuing “Ministerial Training Program.”)
3. Church Extension - Finding, nourishing, and qualifying new congregations to affiliate with our denomination.
4. To be a theological/spiritual “Watchman on The Wall” for the protection and future well-being of God’s work.
¶4.16 Historian. The Historian shall retain the history of the
Bethel Methodist Church Denomination in written, pictorial, audio and video
form. The responsibilities of the
Historian are as follows:
1. Maintain a copy of all General Conference and Interchurch Council minutes.
2. Maintain a copy of all General Conference and Interchurch Council financial statements.
3. Maintain a copy of all General Conference newsletters and brochures.
4. Take pictures of various denominational activities, such as trips members might take for missionary purposes, General Conference activities, special church services and youth activities.
5. Communicate with the local church historians as needed.
¶4.17 Interchurch
Council Chairman. The purpose of the
Interchurch Council Chairman is to chair quarterly Interchurch Council meetings
in such a way that provides for the spiritual awareness of denominational
issues. Further responsibilities
include:
1. Schedule and arrange quarterly Interchurch Council meetings.
2. Preside over meetings.
3. Present a written report to the General Conference describing the Interchurch Council’s work for the past year.
¶4.18 Treasurer. The responsibilities of the treasurer are as
follows:
1. Receive and record all monies sent to the denominations: Conference Support, Share Support, and love gifts.
2. Pay all bills upon approval by the Interchurch Council.
3. Submit a monthly report to the Interchurch Council.
4. Submit a year-end report to the General Conference.
5. Assist the Board of Finance in forming an operating budget.