Excerpts from our Faith and Practice
Formation
The Yearly Meeting may authorize the grouping of new or existing local churches with their sponsored extension churches and mission points into administrative entities known as Areas. Division into Areas is made on the basis of geographical proximity or accessibility, with consideration given to local preferences. Which churches belong in which official Area can be seen by selecting an Area from the sidebar.
Membership
An Area consists of all the local and extension churches and mission points within its limits and all their listed members.
Officers
The Area officers, active resident members appointed annually, are as follows: An Area Clerk, Recording Clerk, a representative to the Yearly Meeting Nominating Committee, and an Area Treasurer (if needed). All officers are nominated to the Area in business session by the official representatives of each church. The Representatives serve as the Area Nominating Committee. The Area superintendent convenes and instructs the Nominating Committee, presiding until a clerk is named.
Rallies and Conferences
Each Area holds rallies or gatherings twice a year: fall and spring. These rallies or gatherings are planned and supervised by the Area Clerk in cooperation with the other officers. The fall gathering will involve workshops led by different YM Boards. The spring gathering will focus on a business meeting to name officers and consider the business agenda for Yearly Meeting sessions. An Area can have a business session in the fall as well. The Areas also provide opportunity for public information and support of special programs of the Yearly Meeting. Worship and inspiration should be balanced with program promotion.
Business Meetings
Areas have at least one business session a year in the spring, to elect officers, hear any financial report, receive and approve an annual budget (if they have one), and consider and approve concerns to be forwarded to the churches or the Yearly Meeting. Adjourned sessions may be scheduled if ample notice is given to the churches. A special business session may be called by the Area clerk at the request of two or more clerks of local churches or the Yearly Meeting general superintendent. Notification and agenda are sent to the clerks of local and extension churches in time for announcement in a Sunday meeting for worship.
