Proposed Legislation - Part II

In the Christian Recorder Online English Edition, May 12, 2006, the editor states, “The stewards should work harmoniously with the pastor, but must always remember that they are the congregation’s representative[s].”  Under the current system, the stewards represent the pastor more so than they represent the congregants.  This is expected because the pastor nominates the stewards.  When the pastor has a private agenda (becoming a bishop) and neglects the congregation’s views, the Steward Board, to which the pastor appointed the members, will follow suit and grants the pastor what she or he wants at the detriment of the congregation.  This proposed legislation suggests the pastor appoints nine (9) members to the Steward Board and the congregations elects ten (10) members to the board, which comprise of the required 19 members.  Such an environment creates true representation of the congregation.  This section serves as a guide for one who wishes to submit proposed legislation to the 2008 General Conference. 

 

According to the General Secretary of the AME Church, Dr. Clement Fugh, the following is the criteria for proposed legislation.

 

                        There are five (5) parts to Bills that are submitted for consideration

                        as legislation.

 

                        1.  The Bill should have a title that identifies the subject matter.

 

                        2.  The Bill should include references in the CURRENT DISCIPLINE

                              that the Bill impacts.

 

                        3.  The intent of the Bill should be clearly stated – What purpose is

                              the Bill intended to accomplish.

 

                        4.  The Bill should include the rationale behind the submission.

 

                        5.  The text of the Bill should be written double spaced, with each

                              line numbered.

 

This is the proposed legislation for the Forty-Eight Quadrennial Session of the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Saint Louis, MO., Year 2008.

 

TITLE: Local Church Organization: STEWARDS: Composition of Board

 

REFERENCE:            Part IV, Church Membership, Section II, Local Church

Organization, A. Boards, a.  Stewards, 1 Composition, c. Nomination, The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2004, Page 67.

 

INTENT:                     Amend the method by which members of the local churches are appointed to the Board of Stewards so that the congregants can have an active role in choosing who represents the congregation on the Board of Stewards.  The Board would then be comprised of nine (9) pastoral appointees and ten (10) congregational elected appointees.

 

RATIONALE            :            i)  Under the current method, lay members’ participation is meaningless

and insignificant in the composition of the Board of Stewards. Approval of stewards is limited only to members of the Quarterly Conference as opposed to representation from the entire congregation.

 

                                    ii)  The inclusion of congregational appointees will provide true

representation of the congregants.  Such appointments immune board members from being subjected to dismissal and/or reprisal from pastors when congregational appointees express independent views in response to actions and proposals by the pastors.

 

iii)  The lay membership, not the itinerant pastorate, is the body that bonds to the local churches through a lifetime of committed service.  Out of deference to the local church membership, the Discipline should change to allow the congregants an active role in nominating and electing some stewards to the board.  The congregation is aware of members whom they are certain to be worthy of membership and would truly represent the interest of the congregation.

 

iv)  The current method directs the pastor to identify all representation on the Steward Board whereas the proposed method allows the congregants to identify those they wish to present the congregation. 

 

 

 

Composition of the Board of Stewards

 

 

Amend Part IV, Church Membership, Section II, Local Church Organization, .A. Boards, a. Stewards, 1 Composition, c. Nomination, The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2004, Page 67.

 

 

Amend Section II A.1., page 67, so that the title reads:

 

1.)            Composition, Appointment, and Election of the Board of Stewards

Amend Section II A1.a)  1, Composition, item c) on page 67 to read:

            c)            i)  At a local church meeting, the pastor shall first appoint nine (9), one-half (1/2) minus one of the members of the Board of Stewards.

                        ii)  At the same local church meeting, when the civil law does not intervene, the congregation shall elect ten (10), one-half (1/2) plus one of the members of the Board of Stewards. The congregants will first nominate no more than twice, twenty (20), the number of congregational slots allotted on the Board.  The mode of election shall be in accordance with that of the law of the land whenever the law of the land requires a specific mode of election.

 

Amend Section II. A. 3, The Accountability of Stewards, item b) on page 69, to include the following statement at the end of the paragraph.

            b)            “...dispose of the case.”  The minister in charge may suspense congregational appointees for cause.

 

ALL LAWS AND PARTS OF LAWS IN CONFLICT WITH THIS LAW ARE HEREBY

REPEALED