New Jersey § 16:10a-8

§ 16:10a-8.

The board of trustees of any local church of The United Methodist Church shall consist

of three, six or nine members, as may be provided by the certificate of incorporation,

each of whom shall be not less than 18 years of age, and at least 2 / 3 of whom shall be full members of The United Methodist Church. The members of the board of trustees shall be divided into three classes, each class

having an equal number of members, and the terms of office of one class shall expire

at the end of each annual conference year. An election of trustees of a local church of The United Methodist Church shall be

held annually at a meeting of the charge conference. Trustees shall be elected by the charge conference unless the charge conference

shall have previously ordered that election shall be by the membership of the church. At least 10 days' notice of the time and place of meeting for election of trustees

shall be given to the members of the church in writing or from the pulpit or in the

weekly bulletin. Such notice shall be given by the pastor or the charge conference or the district

superintendent, and shall state the names of those trustees whose successors are to

be elected. Trustees shall be elected to succeed those whose terms expire at the end of the annual

conference year in which such meeting is held, and to fill a vacancy or vacancies

in any other class which has occurred since the last annual election; provided, however,

that a trustee may be elected to succeed himself. The persons elected shall take office at the beginning of the ensuing annual conference

year, to serve for a term of 3 years or until their successors have been duly elected

and qualified; but any trustee elected to fill a vacancy shall serve only for the

term of such vacancy. Any vacancy in the board of trustees of a local church of The United Methodist Church

may be filled until the next annual election by the charge conference of such church

at any regular or special meeting.