E. THE PASTOR
1. Recalling the Present Pastor
 
a. The conditions relative to the recalling of the pastor are:
(1) A pastor may be recalled at a church meeting duly called for this purpose and held at least sixty (60) days prior to the date of the next District Council.
(2) A majority vote, by ballot, is sufficient to recall the present pastor.
(3) The manner of recall is:
(a) The initial pastoral call shall be for a period of two (2) years.
(b) The subsequent recalls shall be for a minimum of three (3) years.
(c) A church may give the pastor an extended recall by a simple majority vote. An extended recall shall be understood to mean a call that will continue until either the pastor or the congregation deems it wise to terminate said call.
(d) Any recall, either three (3) years or extended, may be terminated at any time in the following manner:
[1] The pastor feels that his/her work is com­pleted in the church, shall notify the district superintendent and submit a resignation in writing to the church board to become effective in sixty (60) days, or sooner by mutual agreement.
 [2] The church, upon a recommendation of a majority of the local church board, shall vote to determine whether the call shall be terminated. This shall be done by a ballot vote taken in the business meeting publicly announced three (3) times, begin­ning at least two (2) weeks in advance of the meeting, and presided over by the district superintendent. If the pastor does not receive a simple majority of the congregational vote, his/her tenure shall terminate on June 30 of the current council year, or sooner by mutual agreement.
(4) All recalls are subject to the approval of the Pastoral Rela­tionship Board.
(5) Only members fifteen (15) years of age and older are eligi­ble to vote.
(6) Any protest of any recall must be submitted in writing to the Pastoral Relationship Board within fifteen (15) days after said election.
b. The procedure for recalling a pastor is:
(1) The recall meeting shall be called by the first elder in each church, after securing the permission of the pastor.  At this meeting the question shall be asked: “Shall our present pastor be recalled?”
(2) When the ballots are counted and it is determined that the pastor is recalled (simple majority), the first elder, with the knowledge and consent of the pastor, shall ask, “Is it your pleasure to give an extended recall?” If there is a motion and second, the congregation shall be given opportunity to vote on the motion by ballot.
(3) The second elder shall report within forty‑eight (48) hours to the Pastoral Relationship Board the following information:
(a) How many eligible voters in the church?
(b) How many votes, including absentees, were cast?
(c) How many yeas, and how many nays?
(d) How many votes were absentee?
(e) Was an extended recall given?
(4) The pastor, if recalled, shall be required to make a reply to the elders of the church either accepting or declining the recall within five (5) days after the date of the meeting held for the recall.
(5) If the pastor is not recalled, the pastorate shall terminate on June 30 of the current council year. The local church nominating board shall, as soon as possible after the special business meeting, submit to the local church its nomination or nomina­tions after having secured approval of the Pastoral Relationship Board.