1602. 1. Membership--a) The board shall be composed of two bishops, elected by the Council of Bishops; four members from each jurisdiction, elected by the respective jurisdictional conferences; six members, with not more than two from the same jurisdiction, elected by the General Conference on nomination of the Council of Bishops; and eight additional members for the purpose of bringing to the board special knowledge or background, not more than two from the same jurisdiction, nominated and elected by the board in such manner as it shall provide in its bylaws.
The aforementioned electing bodies shall give consideration during the nominating process to representation by women and racial and ethnic groups. The effective date of this paragraph will be at the close of the 1992 General Conference.
b) The clergy membership of the board shall be limited to clergy members of an annual conference.36
c) The general secretary of the board shall be an ex-officio member thereof, without vote.
d) The terms of all members so elected shall be four years, to take effect at the annual meeting of the board following the General Conference. Members shall serve during the terms for which they are elected and until their successors shall have been elected and qualified.
e) A vacancy in the membership shall be filled for the unexpired term by the board.
f) The members of the board shall constitute the membership of the respective Boards of Directors of the constituent corporations. The general secretary shall be an ex-officio member of each, without vote.
2. Meetings.--The annual meetings of the board and of the boards of directors of the constituent corporations shall be held at the same date and place, at which time the board shall review and consider responsibilities committed to its care and take such action as it deems advisable in the furtherance of the best interest of the funds, plans, and programs administered by the board. Special meetings of the board may be called by any two of the officers hereinafter named in 1603.
3. Quorum--A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum.
36See Judicial Council Decision 558.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 1602
1996 United Methodist General Conference