2533. Board of Trustees--Powers and Limitations--1. Subject to the direction of the charge conference, the board of trustees shall have the supervision, oversight, and care of all real property owned by the local Church and of all property and equipment acquired directly by the local Church or by any society, board, class, commission, or similar organization connected therewith; provided that the board of trustees shall not violate the rights of any local Church organization elsewhere granted in the Discipline; provided further, that the board of trustees shall not prevent or interfere with the pastor in the use of any of the said property for religious services or other proper meetings or purposes recognized by the law, usages, and customs of The United Methodist Church, or permit the use of said property for religious or other meetings without the consent of the pastor, or in the pastor's absence the consent of the district superintendent; and provided further, that pews in The United Methodist Church shall always be free; and provided further, that the Church local conference may assign certain of these duties to a building committee as set forth in 2544 or the chairperson of the parsonage committee, if one exists.
2. The board of trustees shall review annually the adequacy of the property, liability, and crime insurance coverage on Church-owned property, buildings, and equipment. The board of trustees shall also review annually the adequacy of personnel insurance. The purpose of these reviews is to assure that the Church, its properties, and its personnel are properly protected against risks. The board shall include in its report to the charge conference (2550.7) the results of its review and any recommendations it deems necessary.
3. When a pastor and/or a board of trustees are asked to grant permission to an outside organization to use Church facilities, permission can be granted only when such use is consistent with the Social Principles (70-75) and ecumenical objectives.
4. The chairperson of the board of trustees or the chairperson of the parsonage committee if one exists, the chairperson of the committee on pastor-parish relations, and the pastor shall make an annual review of the Church-owned parsonage to assure proper maintenance.
5. Subject to the direction of the charge conference as hereinbefore provided, the board of trustees shall receive and administer all bequests made to the local Church; shall receive and administer all trusts; shall invest all trust funds of the local Church in conformity with laws of the country, state, or like political unit in which the local Church is located. The board of trustees is encouraged to invest in institutions, companies, corporations, or funds which make a positive contribution toward the realization of the goals outlined in the Social Principles of our Church. The board of trustees is to act as a socially responsible investor and to report annually to the charge conference regarding its carrying out of this responsibility.
6. The board of trustees in cooperation with the health and welfare ministries representative shall conduct or cause to be conducted, an annual accessibility audit of their buildings, grounds, and facilities to discover and identify what physical, architectural, and communication barriers exist that impede the full participation of persons with handicapping conditions; and shall make plans and determine priorities for the elimination of all such barriers. The Accessibility Audit for churches shall be used in filling out the annual Church/charge conference reports.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 2533
1996 United Methodist General Conference