The district superintendent is an ordained elder appointed by a bishop to oversee the pastors and local churches in a district. The superintendent carries a wide range of responsibilities for the local churches in the district and for the Annual Conference as a whole. Primary responsibilities relate to overseeing the work of the local churches, including presiding at Charge Conferences, and supervising the work of the pastors, including participating with the bishop in the making of appointments.
The 2016 Book of Discipline states:
¶ 418. Limitations on Years of Service—The normal term for a district superintendent shall be up to six years, but this may be extended to no more than up to eight years at the discretion of the bishop, in consultation with the cabinet and the district committee on superintendency.
No superintendent shall serve for more than eight years in any consecutive eleven years. No elder shall serve as district superintendent more than fourteen years. In addition, consideration shall be given to the nature of superintendency as described in ¶ 401.
