¶3.1 The
pastoral duties include:
1.
To preach the unsearchable riches of Christ through the
Gospel.
2.
To administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's
Supper, to perform the marriage ceremony and to bury the dead. Unordained pastors or local preachers serving
pastoral charges may administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's
supper, and perform the marriage ceremony where the laws of the state permit,
within the bounds of their pastoral charge, as long as they are in good
standing and their local preacher's license is up-to-date. Only preachers who
renew their license annually have this privilege.
3.
To preach and teach the biblical principles of
Christianity.
4.
To preach on the doctrinal distinctives of the
5.
To preach on the importance of Christian education and
to urge all parents to train their children in public and private worship.
6.
To charge God's people with the responsibility to
maintain the highest standards of Christian Character and Conduct.
7.
To conduct regular services, prayer meetings, bible
studies and special services. The
preacher in charge of a church as pastor is not required to secure consent
before holding services in any church on his charge.
8.
To present the missionary program of the church and urge
its support by all the people in the church.
9.
To instruct candidates for membership in the church in
the doctrines, rules, and regulations of the church, to receive persons into
membership and to grant letters of transfer on request.
10.
To visit from house to house in order to give pastoral
guidance and help to members of the church and others in need of spiritual help
through Christ.
11.
Upon consultation with the board of stewards, to obtain
evangelists, missionaries, and Bible lecturers for a series of meetings such as
he thinks best for the spiritual welfare of the church at large in keeping with
the Discipline.
12.
To have oversight of the local preachers in his pastoral
charge, and to arrange opportunities where their talents can glorify God. He shall also encourage the young men under
his charge to be aware of the possibilities of God's call to pastoral ministry.
¶3.2 The
administrative duties of the pastor include:
1.
To administer all the provisions of the Discipline in
his church and see that the ordinances and regulations of the church are duly
observed.
2.
To make a written report to the General Conference and
the local annual conference of the work of the local church, plans for the
future, and other items of interest.
3.
To be amenable to the General Conference for the exercising
of his office. To be amenable to the
General Superintendent for the exercising of his office.
4.
To attend the meetings of the board of stewards and work
with them, providing inspiration and leadership in carrying out the program and
business of the local church. The pastor
may call the stewards into special session whenever it is deemed necessary for
the welfare of the church.
5.
To explain the importance and value of the Conference
Support, and urge its support by all the people in his charge.
6.
To keep a membership record for the church in which
shall be noted the name and time of reception and/or removal of each member of
the church.
7.
To keep an up-to-date working file of the membership of
the church which shall be ready to assist with addresses, etc., for visitation,
evangelism, finance campaigns, and shall be kept up-to-date for a new pastor or
general superintendent.
8.
To see that the people are supplied with all of our
literature and other theologically sound materials.
¶3.3 The
pastor's report to the local church conference may include the following:
1.
The spiritual condition of the church or churches in his
charge.
2.
The names of all who have been received into the church,
indicating the method of reception; and of all who have died, transferred, withdrawn,
or been expelled during the conference year.
3.
The enrollment, attendance, and spiritual condition of
the Sunday Schools within the charge, including noteworthy events, weekday
meetings of children, youth, and adults, as well as fellowship meetings of the
church.
4.
Pastoral work done with children.
5.
Pastoral calls.
6.
The Conference Support relationship to the conference.
7.
Plans for future work.
8.
Other items worthy of record.
¶3.4 Annual
tenure of service:
The
pastor, when it becomes known to him that he is to leave a church, shall give
at least thirty (30) days notice of his proposed move.