Disbanding an Annual Conference

The US National Conference, during its June 2001 meeting, adopted the following procedure which allows an existing annual conference to disband.

Reasons for Disbanding

An annual conference may choose to disband. The reasons for disbanding an annual conference might include:

1. The churches of the conference lack the desire or the ability to maintain the structure expected of an annual conference, as stated in the Discipline.

2. An insufficient supply of qualified elders.

3. The number of churches no longer meets the Discipline's requirement for an annual conference.

4. A desire to merge churches of the conference into another conference or conferences.

5. The churches feel that their interests would be effectively served under the supervision of the general church

Procedure

The disbanding of an annual conference must follow these steps.

1. The board of administration of each constituent church is notified at least 60 days before annual conference of any impending motion to disband the conference.

2. A majority of the delegates vote to disband.

3. The US National Board, or the US National Conference, approve the disbanding of the conference.

Duties of the US National Board

If the National Board approves the decision to disband the conference, the national board will determine the following:

1. How the local churches are supervised.

2. The status of any annual conference ministers.

3. The disposition of any conference assets, including property and fund balances.

4. Any other matters which might arise.